No Southern-fried Southern boy wants to be called a Yankee, but we share the characteristics of shrewdness and thrift. Thus, each month I share a money-saving tip. It’s OK if you call me “cheap.”
Regular readers already know that I don’t pitch the handles of disposable foam brushes when they are used up. And, we’ve previously discussed using those 3/8″ diameter handles as guides for installing sanding disks onto random-orbit sander pads.
Lately, though, I’ve run into some handles that are a little rough on the outside. I’ve begun to chuck them into the drill press and sand to 400 grit to make the job easier and faster.
Run the speed up pretty high and it will take only a minute or so to get a perfectly smooth surface with a scrap of 400-grit paper. Swap ends and smooth the entire rod. Be conservative with chuck pressure.
The handle slides into the sander’s pad more easily, and the disk glides down into position with less effort, too.
Jim Randolph is a veterinarian in Long Beach, Mississippi. His earlier careers as lawn mower, dairy farmer, automobile mechanic, microwave communications electronics instructor and journeyman carpenter all influence his approach to woodworking. His favorite projects are furniture built for his wife, Brenda, and for their children and grandchildren. His and Brenda’s home, nicknamed Sticks-In-The-Mud, is built on pilings (sticks) near the wetlands (mud) on a bayou off Jourdan River. His shop is in the lower level of their home.Questions and comments on woodworking may be written below in the comments section. Questions about pet care should be directed to his blog on pet care, www.MyPetsDoctor.com. We regret that, because of high volume, not all inquiries can be answered personally.