Sanding Table

This is about as simple as it gets, but I'm so pleased with myself, I have to show it off. I needed to do some heavy-duty sanding of small parts this morning, & was about to do my usual trick of clamping a couple of strips of sandpaper across the tablesaw. Every time I do that, I end up wanting to use the saw within 5 minutes of setting up the paper strips, which of course get in the way, & I have to take them off while I use the saw. :~

But as I was casting about for a couple of bits of wood to clamp the paper with, my eye fell on a piece of cutout from the last kitchen counter-top job, and a light-bulb moment occurred. (I don't get these very often, & they are painful when they happen! :;)

A bit of trimming, a couple of cleats to screw onto the ends and my new sanding board was ready to go:

Attachment 294666

Worked perfectly. No moving parts & nothing to go wrong, I can use it in any of several locations, so no more paper strips getting in my way on the tablesaw. Dunno why I took so long to think of such a simple solution!

And lookit my new all-wood hold-downs doing a grand job - first time I've used them in earnest...

A very happy camper,
Cheers,

The simplest ideas are often the best
And u recycled to
Well done

Hi Ian, thanks for sharing this. I can't quite figure out how you have done this jig, and how it works. Any chance of some details please that would help us make something like it, as it certainly solves an annoying problem.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dengue

Hi Ian, thanks for sharing this. I can't quite figure out how you have done this jig, and how it works. Any chance of some details please that would help us make something like it, as it certainly solves an annoying problem.

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Hi Dengy - you must be looking for subtle details - there aren't any! It's simply a flat surface that I can stretch strips of sandpaper over. At each end, I've screwed a cleat that I can tuck the ends of the paper under, then tighten the screw to hold it. The cleats are slightly 'sprung' so they only need one screw in the middle, to make things easier. The MDF is nice & flat, and thick, so it doesn't distort when pressed on. I can make small pieces flat & square on it, just as well as I could on the saw table.

It doesn't 'work' - I have to do that. :;
:U
Cheers,

Too easy !! Thanks for this Ian. Your gizmo at the back of the photo threw me. What is that for?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Dengue

... Your gizmo at the back of the photo threw me. What is that for?

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Aah, those are my new all-wood hold-downs keeping the back of the board steady. See here, (go back a page or so for the full story)...
:U

Those light bulb moments are great aren't they. :U
I have a sink cutout from a granite top bench. I just tuck the sandpaper ends underneath and the weight is enough to hold it all in place. But I did use the tablesaw for a fair while before I had the same :zap:revellation. (Light bulb, lightning bolt ..it was the best I could do :shrug:)