[Maverick]

As you see by the Truck in the photo to the left there is hardly a flat surface on it. I cant find a long flexable sanding block local, Eastwood's wants 50 bucks for thiers. Any ideas on what I can use for a long flexable sanding block? I am curently working on the fenders I had to do some banging and little filling right were it curves down on the sides just above the wheel well. Willys and HK what do ya'll use?

Thanks

[TurboS10]

Well, I am not Willys or HK, but I use the 6 inch 3M rubber block. It conforms well to curved areas. Just dont use it on flat panels for sanding filler. It tends to ride in and out of high/low spots and you know what that means. I think they are about $10 at NAPA or ORiellys. They also sell a longer block for a bit more, but the small one usually does the trick on curves.

Chris

[Maverick]

Thanks Ill check orielly's only one I can find is a foam one. Dosnt seem like it would work well. Thanks

[ April 09, 2003: Message edited by: Maverick ]</p>

[Dragon J]

I usually use the 6incher also, but have made blocks from styrofoam, rubber hose and flat rubber sheet (- there's a company in town that uses it in inch thick sheets) I've also used paint sticks wrapped in sandpaper but you don't want something so small that you leave grooves. An inline pneumatic is just what you need... then finish with the small block. If you use long strokes you'll get a smooth slick surface- look at my 'J.... lotsa curves and not too many straights either!!!

[Halloweenking]

Like others have said the 6" sanding blocks are very good to have around. I usually have 10-20 from 3M laying around. They are good for both dry and wet sanding. Also when wet sanding the sides work superbly as sqwee-g's to sqweeg the water and sanding residue off. Also just as dragon J suggested any completely flat and smooth surface can be made into a sanding block. You can buy volcanized rubber stock and cut it to any size or shape you need. You can purchase any of 3M's products <a href="http://www.autobodydepot.net" target="_blank">here.</a>

HK

[Maverick]

I Made one that works great. I work for a trucking company and I was leaving work yesterday behind one of our trucks thinking about what I could use to make a flexable long sanding block with and it was right there in front of me on our truck. A rubber mud flap. So I turned around and went back to our shop and found a old one took it home cut it to the size I wanted and wraped a piece of sand paper around it and went to town. worked great! Got a nice smooth rounded service.

[willys36@aol.com]

[quote]Originally posted by Maverick:
<strong>I Made one that works great. I work for a trucking company and I was leaving work yesterday behind one of our trucks thinking about what I could use to make a flexable long sanding block with and it was right there in front of me on our truck. A rubber mud flap. So I turned around and went back to our shop and found a old one took it home cut it to the size I wanted and wraped a piece of sand paper around it and went to town. worked great! Got a nice smooth rounded service.

</strong><hr></blockquote>


BINGO! I have bought various trick commercial doo-dads over the years but when it come to doing the work, I usually just make something up using what I have lying around. For expansive compound curves on the top and sides of my king cab '53 Chev pickup, I plan on using a 3' long piece of 1/8" plywood w/36 grit glued on to get a uniform global shape B4 I start localized finishing. This will get rid of the long waves.

[ April 10, 2003: Message edited by: willys36@aol.com ]</p>

[Maverick]

A mud flap would work for that too they are about 30-35 inches long. Heck I see them on the side of the HWY all the time.
It just takes a little redneck know how some times to fiqure something out!