Thread: (New?) Hand Sanding Technique

Adding pictures to the thread since I can't figure out how to edit my first post... Also, excuse my poor photography. It was the best I could do with my camera phone and only me to take the pictures and hold everything.

In the first picture we have all the things you need for this handsanding method: a razor (preferably separated from the scales), a standard dish sponge, and some sandpaper. Here I have a "wavy" pattern sponge shown, only because that's the only kind of sponge I had laying around when I thought of this. A rectangular sponge works much better. I also like having the abrasive backing because it's more firm than the sponge side, so if I need a more rigid backing for the sandpaper, I have it.


Second picture shows the sponge folded in half with the spongey side out (which is what I usually do). If you want a more shallow bend, you can either bend the sponge into more of a "U" shape, instead of this, which is what I'd call a "V" shape, OR put something small into the bend and that should flatten it out.


Third picture is of the sandpaper wrapped around the bend of the sponge. This piece of sandpaper is a little bigger than the sponge. I usually cut it so it's the same size, or a little smaller, but I was lazy tonight and just used what I had. Now it's ready to sand.


Fourth picture is of the same thing only with the abrasive side out. Works just as well, it's just a little firmer and more rigid for the paper. If you were sanding a wedge this would probably be the way to go.


Fifth, sixth, and seventh pictures show (sortof) how I sand using the sponge. I hold the tang in my left hand, and the sponge in my right, and make lengthwise strokes across the blade. I couldn't exactly show that here because I was the only one around and couldn't hold the camera and the blade at the same time. As you can see, the sponge fits nicely into the concave of this hollow ground razor. When I want to sand the tang, I either hold the blade (carefully!) in my left hand, or lay it flat on the table and use my left hand to keep it steady.


Thanks everyone for all the feedback.