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Thought Shares

Hand sanding is a waste of time, and I'll die on that hill. | Cabinetmakers - Thought Shares

Hand sanding is a waste of time, and I'll die on that hill.

I used to hand sand everything until my arms ached. Then I got a decent orbital sander and learned to use it right. The finish is just as smooth, but it takes a fraction of the time. For example, a drawer front that took an hour now takes ten minutes. My work looks better because I'm not tired and rushing. If you're still doing it by hand, you're working too hard for no good reason. Just try it once and see.

4 comments

4 Comments

phoenixwood7mo ago

But what about detailed work or curves where a sander can't reach? I still hand sand my turned table legs because the contours are impossible to hit with a power tool without leaving marks. Sometimes the control is worth the extra time for that perfect finish.

sarah_nguyen327mo ago

Complain all you want about hand sanding, but it beats explaining scratched table legs to clients. Power tools just can't handle curves without leaving marks. So grab some sandpaper and get used to the slow work.