New flattening board

[TTIT]

Not sure how many others use a sanding board to flatten boxes but I use one for so many things it's ridiculous . . . and so is my laziness when it comes to replacing the paper. Went to use my old one last week and it wasn't cutting enough to take the skin off a mushroom!!! Time to come up with an easier method that might encourage me to replace the paper when it stops cutting efficiently

Going from a single sheet of MDF that I had been using, I had to make the board thicker to make room for the tensioner so I went sort of torsion box style. A few benefits to this - takes the flex out for a flatter experience if I don't have it sitting on a flat surface and now gives me clamp slots along the sides so I won't have clamps on top of the board to get in the way.
The paper-clamps are just some 20mmSHS split down the length with 4 screws through them first up to see if they would hold well enough - seems to
Used 40x5mm flat bar on the tensioner mainly to get the thickness for reliable threads - after loading it up I reckon I could have got away with 3mm.

Got it loaded successfully on the second shot - paper was too long on the first try and didn't pull 'flat' across the width. Gave it a quick try with a small box - works exactly as expected so far at least . . . and fits in the hole in the wall just like the old one did!

[labr@]

I've never been game enough to try clamping the paper - always glue it down- but it obviously works if done right.
I rather like the torsion box idea - consider it stolen.
Where do you get the large sheets of abrasive and what grit do you use?

[powderpost]

Top job again Vern. i also use sanding boards, probably six or seven, but all glued. As you say, they get used a lot until very dull and changing the paper is not s job I look forward to. In the past I had turned them over and used the worn side as a "non slip" surface on the bench top and glue new paper to the fresh side. Then the board was replaced rather go through the bothersome job of replacing the worn out paper. Your idea is one of those,"Why didn't I think of that".

I use 250mm wide 80# floor sanding paper on the sanding boards.

Excellent Idea, consider it replicated, thanks.

Jim

[Picko]

Yeah, what they said. Excellent idea.

[AnthonySeiver]

Would be a magnificent back-scratcher when not flattening boxes.

Sure beats A4 sheets double sided taped to an MDF board.

[TTIT]

I've never been game enough to try clamping the paper - always glue it down- but it obviously works if done right.
I rather like the torsion box idea - consider it stolen.
Where do you get the large sheets of abrasive and what grit do you use?

You can get the 300mm wide rolls at a few places and the prices vary dramatically! Best value at the moment looks to be SEQ Woodturning supplies . . . Woodworking Supplies S/E QLD - Colour Coded Cloth Back Abrasive 1 metre 120 Grit white Search for 'color coded sandpaper' and you'll find the others.

I'm currently using 180# but when that roll runs out I'll switch to 120# to see how it goes.