A sanding block can make the process of sanding a whole lot easier, but what about sanding small objects that are too small for a sanding block? Rather then trying to move the sand paper over the object, it's sometimes easier to move the object against a piece of sandpaper. One problem with this though, is the sheet of sand paper tends to move around, so you need to use one hand to hold the work piece and one hand to keep the sandpaper from moving.
I needed a better way to sand the 24 different blocks that made up the blocks and marbles toy I've been working on. I'd recently been reading about bench hooks and though maybe I could adapt one to my problem.
A bench hook is a simple jig made with a flat piece of wood and two cleats, one on the bottom and one on the top. The bottom cleat is held against the edge of your workbench or in a bench vise while the upper cleat it used to provide a stop for your work piece whether you're sawing, planing, or performing some other operation.
Fashioned after a bench hook, the sanding hook, as I'm calling it, has the same bottom cleat as a bench hook, but instead of another cleat on top, it has two hold downs for keeping a sheet of sand paper stationary.
I needed a better way to sand the 24 different blocks that made up the blocks and marbles toy I've been working on. I'd recently been reading about bench hooks and though maybe I could adapt one to my problem.
A bench hook is a simple jig made with a flat piece of wood and two cleats, one on the bottom and one on the top. The bottom cleat is held against the edge of your workbench or in a bench vise while the upper cleat it used to provide a stop for your work piece whether you're sawing, planing, or performing some other operation.
Fashioned after a bench hook, the sanding hook, as I'm calling it, has the same bottom cleat as a bench hook, but instead of another cleat on top, it has two hold downs for keeping a sheet of sand paper stationary.
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Signing UpStep 1: Materials
Here is a list of materials I used in constructing the sanding hook
- 1/2" Baltic Birch plywood (at least 10" by 19")
- 2x4 lumber (at least 10" long)
- Four 1-1/4" Construction screws
- Four 1-1/2", 10-24 round head machine screws
- Four 10-24 wing nuts
Your material list will vary depending on the size of sanding hook you want to make. I sized mine to fit a regular 9"x11"sheet of sand paper, so I made it 10" wide by 14-1/2" long. To reproduce the sanding hook I built, this means you'll need a piece of plywood at least 19" long by 10" wide and a 2x4 at least 10" long.
- 1/2" Baltic Birch plywood (at least 10" by 19")
- 2x4 lumber (at least 10" long)
- Four 1-1/4" Construction screws
- Four 1-1/2", 10-24 round head machine screws
- Four 10-24 wing nuts
Your material list will vary depending on the size of sanding hook you want to make. I sized mine to fit a regular 9"x11"sheet of sand paper, so I made it 10" wide by 14-1/2" long. To reproduce the sanding hook I built, this means you'll need a piece of plywood at least 19" long by 10" wide and a 2x4 at least 10" long.
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Since this is very flat, and very heavy, I find it's an ideal surface for this sort of application. Using Super 77 aerosol adhesive on the sand paper and NOT on the marble, I get a tight bond that is totally removable after I am done or I run out the grit.
this is also a great way to hone plane irons and chisels. Keep changing to higher and higher grits until the desired effect is achieved.
As a bonus, the slabs make great pizza stones in the oven, but don’t use one that has adhesive residue on it.