How to Use Sandpaper

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If you ever need to smooth something out for a project, or get an unwanted collection of grime or paint off a surface, here's 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.

Did You Know?
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.