Woodworker's Journal 2008-32-3, страница 55

Hand sanding means frequent paper changes. Ian's jig enables you to divide a standard sheet into six equivalent pieces quickly and without measuring.

With a full sheet of sandpaper positioned against the first fence (as shown above), press the blade down and tear upward. Repeat twice to create three long strips.

As described in my article "Clean Up and Polish" {February 2008), I seldom use a portable sander. I prefer to plane my stock smooth, then complete the polishing process by hand sanding with a cork-soled sanding block. I use this simple jig to get the most efficient use from full sheets of sandpaper. Two different fences (cut from the same piece of wood) position a full sheet of sandpaper so it can be torn into six identically sized smaller pieces. As demonstrated in the photos at right, the jig allows this to be done quickly and accurately.

Two Fences Turn Three into Six

To make this simple jig, first cut the base from scrap plywood. Next, create the two offset wooden fences. One is used for the first tear-off of paper, the other for the second tear. Glue them to the long edge of the base as shown in the Drawings. The two spacers are made of cardboard (often called chipboard) that you find on a pad of notebook paper. The cardboard's thickness holds the hacksaw blade off the base so you can slide the sandpaper underneath and up against the appropriate fence. Mount the blade 3^lV' away from the "first tear" fence with two screws driven through the blade holes. Face the toothed edge out.

Use the first fence to divide the sheet across its width into three equal pieces, then abut these strips against the second fence to tear each of them into two equivalent 4V2^M-long pieces.

Simple yet effective, this jig is an asset to my shop, and I am confident it will be to yours, too.

Ian Kirby is a master woodworker, designer and author. His work is a regular feature of the Woodworker's Journal.

Divide each new strip into two sanding block-sized rectangles using the second fence as your index. The fence offset eliminates measuring.

The author's jig creates properly sized sandpaper for the sanding block shown in the Drawings at left — getting the most use from each sheet.

Woodworker's Journal June 2008

55