Hand sanding pressure

[jred]

So I'm still hand sanding, and my eyes (and brain) needed a break.

I'm not dealing with a lot of pitting, mainly just surface spots. Working with 220 w/d & oil. It seems like it's taking forever and not really getting much better. I'm not using a lot of pressure, and I'm wondering if maybe a bit more pressure would help, but I don't want to mess anything up. Other than hand fatigue, what are the disadvantages of sanding with pressure? Deeper scratches to get out when I move up a grit?

 

[prsman23]

That's what I find. It really doesn't save you time. The last two razors I've done by hand have taken me at least 15 hours. Usually a couple hours a night for a week or week and a half. It's worth it though.

 

[Sando]

Try wrapping sandpaper around an old cork. It'll save your fingers and spread out the pressure more evenly. 220 should do the trick pretty quickly but make sure to leave even strokes before moving up in grit.

...Ray

 

[jred]

The cork idea does sound good. I've been using strips wrapped around a chapstick tube. Cork would deform to the curve of the grind better.

Strangely enough, I decided to try a bit more pressure, but using a worn out strip. It seemed like it did a much better job, but without leaving deep scratches. When I say better, I mean I got the same results in 3 minutes that would have taken 30 minutes using fresh paper and light pressure. Weird, but I'm not going to complain. I'm almost ready to switch to the other side, now

 

[Kentos]

I used folded over leather as a backing for sanding. 220 was too fine for heavy work for me, and I started with 120, but had a lot of work with the 220 getting out the 120 scratches, so it's all relative.

 

[Sando]

Oh yeah that reminds me I once spray glued a piece of sandpaper to a thick piece of leather. It worked great but I usually don't go thru all that now.
I do prefer hand sanding over buffers(too fast) and dremels(way too fast) as details like stabilizers and shoulder edges remain more defined. But I only refurb for myself and not running a production business.

...Ray

 

[jred]

I used folded over leather as a backing for sanding. 220 was too fine for heavy work for me, and I started with 120, but had a lot of work with the 220 getting out the 120 scratches, so it's all relative.

Leather is probably a better idea. I started looking for corks today and I guess everyone I know is on the wagon

I *know* I've got some heavy leather.