How to Use Sandpaper

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.
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.
TIP: Coarse sandpaper works best on hard woods and fine sandpaper works best on soft wood and light paint or varnish removal jobs.
Step 3: Prepare to sand Put on your dust mask and make sure you’re in a well-ventilated area before you begin sanding.
Step 4: Sanding wood Stroke the object with the sanding block, using evenly distributed pressure. Always sand with the grain of the wood.
TIP: When removing paint or varnish from wood, start with coarse sandpaper, and gradually shift to finer grits.
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.
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.
FACT: 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.

Lessons in this Guide