Homemade sanding sticks

[Brian5582]

I was looking for small sanding sticks but they get expensive after a while and don’t last very long. I was looking for something small for sanding in tight areas such as between the bed rails on my bobbed LC70. Was using popsicle sticks with different grits hot glued to them but then had a better idea...

So being the hoarder I am I started looking around for something reusable.
Take an old windshield wiper (not the new molded plastic kind) and peel out the 2 stainless steel reinforcement strips. Cut to whatever length you like. I went with 5”. Make sure you round off the ends so it doesn’t dig into the plastic or whatever you are sanding. You will end up with this:



Then take whatever grit you want to use and glue it on. I made mine double ended. Once the glue is dry you trim off the excess and you are left with this:



I like them, they are reasonably ridged. Can be bent to match contours or to fit in tight areas. When the sandpaper gets worn out a little heat from a heat gun and you can peel the paper off and replace it. Not exactly life changing but it’s working good for me. I have also made so wider ones out of sheet metal and round ones from tig rod and larger welding rods.

[Rkilkowski]

gluing sandpaper to stuff is key , great idea on the slim stainless

[GrittyMug345]

Great idea! As a true newbie these are the little tidbits that will (hopefully) make life a little easier and allow me to enjoy more of the hobby without succumbing to the pitfalls encountered by all who have come before me!

[QuesoDelDiablo]

Clever use of of the WW blades. I've been doing the same thing but on the bamboo/wood stir sticks from the coffee shop, yours would probably be more durable

[Natedog]

Very nice! What glue do you use?

[Voodoobrew]

I use these from thingyverse https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2259838