Sanding block thread

eyeeatingfish

eyeeatingfish

Joined
Dec 9, 2003
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4,804
I did a search and could not find anything. I was reading a length thread with pictures of a guy making a knife from beginning to end. In it he showed some sanding blocks of different shapes and materials and now I want to make or buy some to help the hand sanding portions of knife making.

There were wood ones and metal ones. Some had a rubber layer to prevent the sandpaper from giving any hard edges while others were just straight metal or wood. Some were flat, some were rounded.

Also I wondered about various ways of attaching the sandpaper. Glue or wrap and hold, or some sort of clamp type.

I find hand sanding to be tedious and slow but in some ways more precise and thus even faster in a way. Somewhat soothing maybe, as long as you don't have a lot of pieces...
So post pictures of your sanding blocks or places to get them!
 
My sanding blocks are either pieces of micarta that I hold the paper onto or my metal/leather one. It's a piece of 3/16" x 1 1/4 mild steel, pointy handle ends with golfballs covering the points. I use spray adhesive to hold paper on the metal side and on the leather side I wrap the paper around the block. I'll try to get a picture up later.

The micarta blocks are all different shapes to get into nooks and crevices.
 
I just started using one of those hard-rubber sanding pads you find at auto supply houses. The rubber is hard enough that it doesn't give too much, and it's very comfortable to hold. I use cheap spray-on adhesive to hold the paper in place and can reach deep into the plunge line.

I also use a 12" piece of 1/2" angle iron. I need to cut it a bit shorter because I see some slight rocking with my hands so far apart. I was just wrapping the paper around it, but soon switched to glueing it on because it keeps my sharp edges sharp.

Nothing fancy, to be sure, but they work very well. Glueing the paper on makes a world of difference.
 
My grinder is only able to do hollow grinds (10 inch wheel) what do other hollow grinder's use for sanding blocks? it's a real pain in the butt trying to get a nice finish on my blades with flat sanding blocks. Also what type of glue are you all using to stick the paper onto the blocks? I've tried a couple diff. brands of spray adhesive and they all come un stuck after a couple passes due to the oil / water being used.
 
Some of my favorite sanding blocks for hollows are a pink pearl eraser, a wine cork, a segment of a skate board wheel, and a hard rubber drum from a 1” sanding drum. I just wrap the paper around the sanding block to hold it on.

Charlie
 
does the block not need to mirror the curve of the wheel used to grind the knife? using a smaller dia. block would it not sand grooves into the blade?
 
Hand sanding steel goes so slow for me I do not worry about grooves. I like sanding block radius to be smaller than the contact wheel.

Charlie
 
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I use green painters tape to attach my sandpaper. That makes it much easier to change around

Very simple, but I plan to add a triangular sanding block to my arsenal soon, should help getting into those plunge areas.

I sometimes just wrap sandpaper around a file too... just make sure it doesn't eat through and cover your work in file marks ;)
 
brand spanking new to making knives, I have yet to finish my first, its just roughly profiled at the moment. but when its time this is what I'll hit it with...

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Here are some threads that may be of assistance...
 
Hmmm, I think I know a guy who did a thread like that...;) :foot: :)

The problem with some of the ideas in this thread is they require time and effort to change the paper/move to fresh clean grit. When sanding blades you should use the paper like it's free... so either a strip of paper or belt that you pinch or pull around a block, or strips you pre-cut and spray with adhesive that you can just slap on and strip off quick are definitely the way to go. :)

I bet the guy who did that thread had a drawer full of sanding blocks like this one... ;) :p

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NickWheeler said:
Hmmm, I think I know a guy who did a thread like that...;) :foot: :)

The problem with some of the ideas in this thread is they require time and effort to change the paper/move to fresh clean grit. When sanding blades you should use the paper like it's free... so either a strip of paper or belt that you pinch or pull around a block, or strips you pre-cut and spray with adhesive that you can just slap on and strip off quick are definitely the way to go. :)

I bet the guy who did that thread had a drawer full of sanding blocks like this one... ;) :p

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nice drawer :)

hmmm, now if I could only figure out what the nail polish is used for:confused:
 
Here is one that works for me for hollows. I get card like hotel room key card that free from embossing cut a strip one inch in width length wise {I cut my sandpaper strips at one inch so this works for me} I Use this strip as a backer for the sandpaper and forums to the hollow very well and also allows you to get in the plunge with little effort.
 
NickWheeler said:
Hmmm, I think I know a guy who did a thread like that...;) :foot: :)

The problem with some of the ideas in this thread is they require time and effort to change the paper/move to fresh clean grit. When sanding blades you should use the paper like it's free... so either a strip of paper or belt that you pinch or pull around a block, or strips you pre-cut and spray with adhesive that you can just slap on and strip off quick are definitely the way to go. :)

I bet the guy who did that thread had a drawer full of sanding blocks like this one... ;) :p

standard.jpg
Click to expand...

Hmmm... I seem to recognize some of those sanding blocks.....
 
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