Modify a sanding stick?

[Jon Cole]

I need a sanding stick trimmed to a point. What would be the best way to trim it?

[Bobdude]

I would say a good pair of scissors,whether the sanding stick has a foam center or not.

[Harry P.]

Simple. Lay it down flat and use your X-acto knife to cut the tip to whatever shape you want.

[RJWood]

A "Stanley knife" may be your best bet here, the blade is thicker than a #11 x-acto blade, so no chance of it breaking. Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

Just don't cut off a finger.

Don't try to cut the sanding stick all at once, score it a few times first, then gradually use more force to cut through. Hope this helps.

Rol

Edited July 25, 2010 by RJWood

[LDO]

If you don't want to cut up your foam-core sanding sticks, make one from wet/dry sandpaper glued to sheet styrene. Choose thickness based on what you need. Trim with X-acto and stainless straightedge. I make these all the time. One is a "flat board" type sander. Paper is not glued on because it's big and I want it to be reusable. It's about 8 inches long with 2 laminated sheets of .125" for a base, plus a sheet plastic handle glued on that also makes it stiffer. I used it for smoothing out the roof of Tamiya's 1/12 scale "Lunchbox" van. That van has a sunroof that I filled in. The roof is depressed all around that hole. The big flat board allowed me to fill in that shallow depression.

[Mr. Can Am Garage]

Squadron (IIRC) sells pointed sanding sticks.

Just a thought.

[Brett Barrow]

I make 'em. I use different materials depending on whether I need them firm or soft. I make the stick from balsa, sheet plastic, or brass strip. The paper can be stuck on with spray glue, multiple layers of golf grip tape, or double-sided foam tape, each gives more flex to the paper.

Store-bought sanding sticks can be hard to cut without tearing the paper, if you have access to a belt sander or bench grinder, you can sand/grind them to shape.

[Harry P.]

I like the idea of making your own. Probably a whole lot cheaper, too.