How to Use Sandpaper
If you ever need to smooth something out for a project, or get an unwanted collection of grime or paint off a surface, here's how to use sandpaper.
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You Will Need
- Small block of wood
- Small piece of felt
- Coarse and fine sandpaper
- Staple gun
- An object to sand
- Dust mask
- Well-ventilated area
- Rag
Steps
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Step 1
Put the felt on the block
Wrap your small block of wood in a small piece of felt and use your staple gun to staple the felt to the wood. This will create a pad for your sanding block.
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Step 2
Add sandpaper to the block
Wrap the felt-covered wood block with sandpaper, coarse side facing out. Adhere the paper with the staple gun.
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Coarse sandpaper works best on hard woods and fine sandpaper works best on soft wood and light paint or varnish removal jobs.
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Step 3
Prepare to sand
Put on your dust mask and make sure you're in a well-ventilated area before you begin sanding.
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Step 4
Sanding wood
Stroke the object with the sanding block, using evenly distributed pressure. Always sand with the grain of the wood.
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When removing paint or varnish from wood, start with coarse sandpaper, and gradually shift to finer grits.
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Step 5
Sanding metal
Sand paint or rust from metal the same way as wood, but be conscious of how hard you sand rust -- you don't want to break through the metal if it's heavily corroded.
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Step 6
Wipe with a rag
Use a rag to wipe off your work to better see your progress. Continue sanding with different grits of sandpaper until you're satisfied.
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Because of concerns that the bobsled track at the 2010 Winter Olympics was too fast, officials contemplated scuffing the sleds with coarse sandpaper to slow them down.
