Thread: Observations and request for pointers on hand sanding

My feeling about the WD-40 is that it helps keep the paper from loading up. I don’t think it changes scratch pattern depths or how aggressively the paper cuts, but does give it a wee bit more life.

Originally Posted by RezDog

My feeling about the WD-40 is that it helps keep the paper from loading up. I don’t think it changes scratch pattern depths or how aggressively the paper cuts, but does give it a wee bit more life.

I was wondering if that was the advantage. That is what I would expect.

A lot depends on the goal, hogging off material or polishing. Most knife guys that hand sand, sand dry to shape / refine and use oil, Windex or Simple green to finish.

I don’t use oil to hand sand because of the mess and I don’t see an improvement that is worth the hassle. What works for me, is using a protocol that keeps fresh sharp cutting paper on the steel, switching to new paper when cutting power decreases, and when cutting, use pressure.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

I've tried different lubricants and have never felt like they improved the performance enough to make up for the hassle and mess of using them. I'm open to trying them again though and will experiment this morning with some WD40.

OK, I'm sold on WD40 after trying it again this morning. It does dissolve the rubber backing on 3m paper, but it doesn't seem to be much of an issue.

Rubber backing, Vic?

He's using the special stuff

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Rubber backing, Vic?

It's the new 3M Cubitron stuff that Home Depot is carrying. There is a non slip surface on the back. It's probably less than .001"

Oh! I am still on old paper-backed body-shop stuff. WD does not seem to effect it.

Like I said, it's not really a problem, I just noticed it.

Don't worry, Vic!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-diB65scQU