How to cut sandpaper

[Gordy Hill]

Everyone seems to have a favorite way of cutting sandpaper.

I use the back side of a hacksaw blade after folding the sandpaper sand side out.

My hacksaw is one of my few tools that has a 'place'. It hangs on the wall over the workbench, is immediately available and goes right back when I'm done.

This little bit of efficiency is a bright spot in the wilderness of my world.

Try it once or twice. Slip the paper over the blade, zip, and it's cut neat and straight.

[Gordy Hill]

Ok, I added three photos. Where'd they go??

[hokeyhydro]

Me old school - metal straightedge and utility knife. For #220 wet/dry and finer I fold, crease, rip . . .

[Ronny B]

I buy mine round.

[Hirilonde]

I buy rolls of 2 3/4" psa paper for hand sanding.  Production paper slides around too much no matter how you cut and fold it.

[Tarbaby]

I fold and use the sharp edge of the cast iron table of my tablesaw.

[Tom Lathrop]

I do what Tarbaby does.  Nothing to find in a hurry. 

[Scott Dunsworth]

I'm so sloppy with epoxy I just rent a five hp floor sander!!!!   ;) 

[Tom the rower]

I am assured from all the big boys on Duckworks that once you try Mirka arbonet instead of sandpaper, you will never go back to sandpaper.  As I am still working on my Core Sound 20, I will be ordering some.

[Chick Ludwig]

I knew an old rigger who always kept his scissors sharp by cutting a sheet of sandpaper now and then. Used his scissors for cutting line for running rigging. he did it all for the old Morgan Yacht Company.

[Tom Lathrop]

I knew an old rigger who always kept his scissors sharp by cutting a sheet of sandpaper now and then. Used his scissors for cutting line for running rigging. he did it all for the old Morgan Yacht Company.

 

Methinks your leg has been pulled.

[PAR]

I have a12" very fine hack saw blade that's screwed to the edge of a work bench. The teeth are just proud of the bench edge and the two screws counter sunk flatheads. The paper storage is just above, so a natural place for the cutter.

[Chick Ludwig]

I know that it sounds strange, but I watched him do it many times. I actually do it myself. It works for awhile between real sharpenings. I used heavy scissors for years to cut F.G. fabrics when I was a boat manufacturer.

[Hirilonde]

If cutting sandpaper with scissors is giving you the illusion of sharpening them,  then all it is doing is adding a burr to the edges the same way a steel adds a burr to the edge of a chef's knife.  I guarantee that it is significantly shortening the life of the scissors over all.  There is no good substitute for sharpening a tool properly when ever it is needed.  Using a hack saw blade to cut sandpaper is dulling the blade significantly.  It is justified by the fact that the blade is cheap and the convenience makes it worth while.

[Gordy Hill]

Dave,

The photos didn't get through. Use the BACK side of the hacksaw blade. Fold the sandpaper, Slip it over the back side of the blade at an angle and 'zip!' It's done, neat and clean. Try it once.

My photo is too large and I don't know how to reduce it.

[Chick Ludwig]

Sure is fun to see everyone riled up. Now if only I can put a motor on the hacksaw blade...

[hokeyhydro]

Sure is fun to see everyone riled up. Now if only I can put a motor on the hacksaw blade...

Sawzall?

[Chick Ludwig]

Yeah! Cut a whole sleeve at once! Efficiency!

[PAR]

I have two hack saw blades screwed to different benches, both where well spent when installed and they've been cutting sand paper (fold, no fold, it doesn't matter), for about 12 years without complaint.

[Ken_Potts]

Fold, crease, rip. No tools necessary.