Sanding Blocks
- This topic has 15 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 1 month ago by .
- Posts
What type or brand of blocks are you guys out there using? I am currently using Dura-Block but I don’t really like them. I feel like over time they tend to “Banana” on me and lose their shape. What do you guys prefer for a sanding block that is not wooden or hard plastic?
I’m pretty happy with my KBlocks, but the top part isn’t all that tough. I suspect full time use in a body shop you would wear them out pretty quick. But the bottoms of them have stayed nice and flat.
for me i also use the kblock but for large panels i use the 3M long board.
I use the 3m blocks (which are hard) as well as the couple of soft foam 3M blocks
A D/A! :blush:
[quote=”Ben” post=15102]I use the 3m blocks (which are hard) as well as the couple of soft foam 3M blocks[/quote]
me 2, very ergonomic and easy to use
I love my 3M long board. Very easy to handle and dosent flex
does 3m make a large soft block? I love their little stikit soft block.
I haven’t found a large 3m soft block.
A customer of mine (I’m a wiring guy) rebuilds lots of cars, and his current ’67 GTO project he used a longboard he got from some sailboat repair outfit on the east coast. It’s a 4.5″ wide by about 3′ longboard. the giant quarters on a classic car, and the roof of anything, really are helped by such a giant block.
I’ve got up to a 24″ Kblock, flexible. It’s great for large curvy panels.
This discussion has my mind wondering about sandpaper types for blocking – I know PSA paper cuts flatter, but I’m wondering if Hookit/Hookit II would be good for an inital knock down, since those rough grits of block paper aren’t cheap… any thoughts?
Bob, that is called a fairing board and is made by 3m. Its only in their marine catalog. They make 4.5″ stickit roll paper for it as well we just never see that stuff on the automotive side.
I like the 3m blocks myself. I know what you are talking a oit with the durablocks and i dont like them either except the odd shapes and the small thin one they call the scuff pad, that this is awesome. For a larger block with some flex look into the afs sanders. They are really nice.
That is what I was looking for! I knew they were sold for boat repair, but I didn’t know who made them.
http://www.hutchinsmfg.com/content/Speedfiles.pdf
Hutchins makes nice traditional longboards. I have the F16, commonly replicated. I see they make a plastic flexible board and a fairing board too. sweet
What are you guys talking about when you say 3m Long boards?
All I’ve ever seen were the little stubby rubber and foam ones, and then the Wooden or structured plastic Sanding Files. (Which weren’t all that big)The little stubby stick it blocks are okay, but I never liked any of the files I got because they all were meant for standard paper with the little grabber clips on each end, rather than for the stick it paper.
And I always felt like I didn’t get as flat of a cut with the paper flopping around like that.Or they were meant for the hookit paper. Which I sort of got the feeling of not quite as straight as stick it again (Because of the inconsistent “Fluffy” surface between the hook and loop.)
I’ve been looking into the Kblocks with the hard plastic plate on the bottom so that the edges of the board don’t round, and it stays flat and what not.
I did have the same problem with my durablocks. Amazingly my durablocks that are still as straight as the day I got it is my 26″ and 36″ even though I use them more often. I’m pretty sure it’s water that fucks the Durablocks up (As far as making them bow). My worst off ones are the ones I’ve used for wet sanding.
You have to “true” Durablocks.I put 80 grit stickit paper on a 24 inch mirror(nuthin straighter than that) than spray the dblock with white spraypaint and run the block over the mirror till im down to black.Perfect every time.I think anything longer than 17 inches is a waste of time.How do u keep a 36 inch block flat to the surface.U guys must have long arms and im 6 1.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.