Shop Tip: The 1/6 Sheet Sanding Block You’ll Actually Use

By Chris Black

1/6 Sheet Sanding Block

At The Lumber District we carry a unique sanding block. What’s the big deal, you say. You can

wrap sandpaper around any old block of scrap wood. What makes this sanding block so

special is its size and construction. It’s made to fit exactly 1/6th of a sheet of standard

sandpaper so that the long edges fold up to allow your fingers to be the clamps. So, no special

paper, tricky fasteners or messy adhesives. The block is made from 11 ply 1/2” Baltic birch

plywood attached to a 3/8” thick pad of high density, closed-cell, neoprene rubber. The

extremely resilient pad makes it perfect for sanding flat panels with just the right amount of

give to handle concave surfaces. Here’s the directions for cutting the sandpaper:

1. Fold a standard sheet of 9”x11” sandpaper lengthwise and cut it along the crease.

2. Fold each half into equal thirds and cut. You should have 6 small sheets about 3 5/8” wide

x 4 1/2” long.

3. Center the sanding block rubber side down on the non-abrasive side of the sandpaper

lengthwise.

4. Fold the sandpaper not covered by the sanding block up covering its long edges.

5. Your fingers are the clamps! Enjoy!