(New?) Hand Sanding Technique

Decided to try and clean up a few vintage blades I've picked up here and there over time, just to clean off the rust and crud and make them usable. Tried something I've never seen on here, so maybe it's a new technique? I took a standard dish sponge(a new one), folded it in half, wrapped the sand paper over the folded part, and used that to sand the blade. It's contoured, so it fit the hollow part pretty well. Got the inside of the money tail pretty well too.

Just wanted to put that out there in case anyone else is looking for something to try. It worked out pretty well for me and kept my fingers away from the blade for the majority of the sanding.

I would like to try it myself. Thanks.

good idea, and cheaper than buying something similar from lowes or hone creepo.

Good idea and I'll give it a try. I like using an old wine cork, too.

...Ray

This is a really good, inexpensive solution to cutting ones fingers to death,,,
You always have to be careful, but I wish I had thought of this way back when :tu

Added to the "Workshop Sticky"

And if you get a second a Pic would be great :)

I don't know why I didn't think of this!
I use this all of the time on my turnings and milled items.
In fact I even have a lot of sandpaper that is made with a foam backing.

Great idea, I have a couple of blades just itching for this treatment, and a couple of cuts on my fingers that will also agree.
Thanks for posting.

Wonder if one of the sanding sponges they make for drywall would work? The sandpaper would be pretty coarse, but maybe for the first go around???

Great idea, thanks.

Great idea, and since it's a soft sponge it should more readily conform to the shape of the razor. Which would for a more even sand, IMO.

Glad to know this seems like it will help some people out. I'll add pics next time I'm around the house (after the long weekend - Happy 4th everyone!).

why didn't you think of this last week?? my fingers would be not stiff now.

cheers for nothing..

;)

I wrap the sand paper around a dowel rod, around 3/8 if I remember correctly. It is small enough that it fits the contour of the hollow grind.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by JoeSomebody

Wonder if one of the sanding sponges they make for drywall would work? The sandpaper would be pretty coarse, but maybe for the first go around???

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Yes, they do....they actually make them for metal and wood too. I bought one and used it, but in teh end regular paper is just cheaper.

now if you use zapps idea, you can get those sponges at the dollar store. prolly in a 2 pack. cost effective and worth it IMO.

I will most certainly use his brainpower to save my fingers

Gave it a try last night, sanding went MUCH faster. Good job zapp!

Some kind of backing is a very good idea, but if it is soft, if will not only adapt to the contour of the hollow grind, but curve over the edge if it contacts it. A little of this is fine on a hollow-ground razor with a longitudinal reinforce behind the edge, as it will reduce the visible hone wear. But too much, or doing it with coarse paper, will add greatly to your honing job.

I've got some pieces of cork notice-board. To some of them various grades of wet and dry abrasive paper are glued, ready to be cut into strips with old scissors. The other is impregnated on one side with hard candlewax, and a little heat will stick it to the side of the razor which isn't being sanded, to prevent the sanding strip from bending over the edge.

The hollow grind of most razors requires something of considerably larger radius than a dowel or bottle cork. The trouble is, if you try to sand with an object four to six inches in diameter, you are holding it two to three inches from the surface you are sanding, and with fingers four to six inches apart. So it is difficult to make it follow the lines of the razor accurately. A slice cut from the surface of a wooden drum should work, or a piece of cork or eraser sanded to the contour you want. I think resilient backing substances produce slower clogging or wearing out of the paper than hard ones.

Something else that works well is a straight section of radiator hose. I had replaced mine a year or so ago to prevent a mishap at the wrong time and took some sections to the shop...glad I did.

I like to use a large diameter wooden dowel that conforms to the contour. I place the blade on an anchored, substantial but disposable, board and clamp the blade thereon. Then, lay the piece of sand paper over the contour to be sanded and press the dowel in place with the other hand. Pull the sand paper and a poor man's belt sander is at work. According to your dexterity, you can hold another dowel of smaller size maybe even brass rod against the wooden dowel threading the sand paper away from any of the edges that need not be sanded. An industrious person would go so far as to drive in a small staple into the far end of the dowel, hook one end of a rod under it and bend the rod so as to conform to the long axis of the dowel. That would make it easier to hold the sand paper away from those other fine edges you don't want to sand away. In fifteen years, some fellow will gaze upon the contraption with a bewildering number of puzzlements plowing furrows across his curious brow.

Very Respectfully

Chasmo

what grits did you use on the sponge? i have a blade thats in pretty shiny but had a few rust spots.

This is a terrific idea. You could even use tape to fold the sponge into a tight roll.
Man I wish I thought of this before I cut my fingers. Several times. :)

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.
Attachment 72953

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.
Attachment 72954

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.
Attachment 72955

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.
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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.
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Thanks everyone for all the feedback.