Sanding can sometimes be tedium writ large, even more boring than boring itself. I've found some relief, by considering improvements to processes such as this.
Artificial fingers come to mind for sanding small hollow forms. I cut vinyl tubing long enough to span a screwdriver shank. I attach sandpaper strips to the tubing with short pieces of tape, wrapped to leave a trailing edge at the sanding location. For some forms, it may be useful to wrap strips of the same grit in each direction on two tubes, to attack in both directions. I don't think it's a good idea to wrap both directions at two ends of the same tube, because the inactive strip could be hard to control.
There are several benefits to this technique. The small contact area localizes wear of the sandpaper, so that less paper is wasted; the worn paper can be torn off, or folded under a new trailing edge. There's less need to copy the grit identification all over the back of the paper, as is often recommended. And finally, it reduces the likelihood of surgical replacement with prosthetic artificial fingers.
To reduce distractions, I usually refresh the strips at the beginning of each sanding cycle. But once in a while, the distraction of attaching new strips of sandpaper is a welcome interruption.
No good deed goes unpunished, of course. If widely adopted, starving doctors and lawyers might have to seek other vocations. Reduced waste of sandpaper could increase unemployment in the sandpaper industry, although using sandpaper as if somebody else was buying it (also often recommended) might help.
Use of the toolrest is optional; locate it for maximum protection. BTW, the bandage on my thumb is protecting cracked dry skin, not a turning injury.
Joe
Artificial fingers come to mind for sanding small hollow forms. I cut vinyl tubing long enough to span a screwdriver shank. I attach sandpaper strips to the tubing with short pieces of tape, wrapped to leave a trailing edge at the sanding location. For some forms, it may be useful to wrap strips of the same grit in each direction on two tubes, to attack in both directions. I don't think it's a good idea to wrap both directions at two ends of the same tube, because the inactive strip could be hard to control.
There are several benefits to this technique. The small contact area localizes wear of the sandpaper, so that less paper is wasted; the worn paper can be torn off, or folded under a new trailing edge. There's less need to copy the grit identification all over the back of the paper, as is often recommended. And finally, it reduces the likelihood of surgical replacement with prosthetic artificial fingers.
To reduce distractions, I usually refresh the strips at the beginning of each sanding cycle. But once in a while, the distraction of attaching new strips of sandpaper is a welcome interruption.
No good deed goes unpunished, of course. If widely adopted, starving doctors and lawyers might have to seek other vocations. Reduced waste of sandpaper could increase unemployment in the sandpaper industry, although using sandpaper as if somebody else was buying it (also often recommended) might help.
Use of the toolrest is optional; locate it for maximum protection. BTW, the bandage on my thumb is protecting cracked dry skin, not a turning injury.
Joe
