Blacksmithing
and Cutlery
by Gérard HEUTTE
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Making a sanding block
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Since I do n ot have a Backstand, I make grinding and polishing of my blades with
elbow grease. I start with the bastard
file, then with the fine file, to continue and complete with
abrasive papers. I use coachbuilder's paper (grit
120, 240, 400, 600 and 1000 successively). To ensure a good
flatness or to make regular convex surfaces, you cannot use paper
without support. You need a Sanding Block for the paper.
Commercial models being deceptive, here is a small gadget
which will provide many services...
Interest
Compared to sandpapering by the hand, the use
of a sanding block gives many advantages:
- Abrasive paper is maintained.
- The hand is far from the blade. Thus, you can avoid
cutting yourself accidentally.
- You can make long movements and thus increase the
effectiveness of sandpapering.
- Paper has a plane and rigid support, you can thus draw up the
blade easily. This avoids forming holes. The aspect and
final quality is better!
Realization
One needs little material:
A small plank of 10x30mm of section, a wood round of diameter 15
or 20, some wood screws of 3x20, strong wood glue, 2 spring
clips (width 30, spacing > 10), abrasive paper for the completion, some wood
varnish.
See opposite the spring clips....
Here a profile sketch of the sanding block:
It is necessary to round the ends to avoid tearing the
paper.
With an useful surface area of 200x30, it is ideal for bands of
abrasives of 30x297. I cut out 7 of them with a cutter in a sheet of
A4 abrasive. The surplus length is used for fixing at the ends
thanks to the spring clips.
And here is the sanding block with a paper band:
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