Sanding old paint or coatings off an item can be a tedious jobs but there’s certain cheap or free tech tips that may help speed up your next sanding job. below is our top 5 tips.
- Compressed Air to Clean Sandpaper- The biggest thing that can make your sandpaper seem like it has gone “dull” is that the sandpaper is clogged. If you’re sanding body filler or old paint it can chalk up and fill the pores of the paper and actually decrease the abrasive traits of the paper. Occasionally take a blow gun with your air compressor and blow out the sandpaper to extend its life.
- Paint Stick Sanding Blocks- Need to get into a tight area or sand into a really sharp crevice or corner? Take an ordinary paint stick and wrap it in sandpaper. If you’re using sticky back sandpaper it should stick right to the wood stir stick and act as a thin sanding block. This is great for refining body lines during the body working stage where a traditional sanding block might deform or not fit.
- Use Guide Coat or Permanent Marker- If you want to get an ultra-flat finish when block sanding your project you’ll need some help. For large areas dust the entire area with guide coat to give you a contrasting color over the surface. As you sand the areas where the guide coat is left is generally low and need more work. You can use a permanent marker scribbled over a smaller area to do the same. Both of these methods give you an easy way to spot check your work and refine the final paint job.
- Save the Surface- If you’re sanding a small part or a part that is on the workbench you may need to spin it around or flip it over as you work and that could cause scratches to be put in the surface from moving around as you sand and it can cause more work. Take an old moving blanket or old carpet to set down on the work bench to save your workpiece from getting scratched up during sanding.
- Save your Fingertips- Unless you’re trying to take up a life as a bank robber you probably want to keep your fingertips intact. Get in the habit of wearing a pair of thick nitrile gloves when sanding to save wear and tear on your hands. There are different grades of nitrile gloves so make sure you don’t get the ultra-thin style as they’ll rip quite easy. Find all of our gloves HERE.