I want to create the "Best Sanding Blocks Ever"
- Thread starter Dean Jenkins
- Start date
crashtech
Combo Man & Mod
I wrote this in a message to Dean but he said it was okay to make it public:
Got my blocks last week but haven't had a chance to give feedback. I like their high quality and polycarbonate face, but I had a few minor criticismsthat I thought might be better shared in private, that way you can decide whether to make any of them public, you have my permission if you wish to do that.
1. The polycarbonate faces, while precisely cut, have slight burrs along the edges that could affect sanding. Not only that, but a sharp edge on a hard block face, in my experience, can cause problems that I call "digging" or "cutting." This can occur when sanding up against an obstruction or near a concave area, the sharp edge of the block can easily dig into the substrate and leave a line or a mark, especially if the block is accidentally pushed in a straight line for even a short distance. For this reason, I put small quarter round radii around all edges of my hard blocks, this lessens the chance that an edge will inadvertently dig in. I will be doing this to these new blocks, but it would be really awesome if they shipped that way.
2. The longer block in particular is pretty heavy, I have a lot of blocks and it is by far the heaviest. The one that I own that is closest to this new one is a wood, aluminum, and foam one that I glued a piece of polycarbonate to, and it weighs 605 grams. Yours comes in at a rather beastly 1161 grams with all rods installed. Not an issue with horizontal surfaces, but on sides, the weight might contribute to fatigue, especially for an old guy like me! I'm not sure what could be done about that, probably nothing except to make a large hole longitudinally inside the handle portion. Not something I want to tackle!
3. I like the storage box and am keeping them in it. It's a really nice touch, thank you for that. I have modified the foam insert with a razor such that I can store the blocks with the rods installed. I feel that I'll be using them with rods installed most of the time, and I don't want to have to remove them each time I store the blocks. I thought about sending a picture of the mod, but it might be self-explanatory. Just a little pocket to accommodate the rod ends at one end of the cutout.
Anyway, I do like them and am looking forward to using them. It remains to be seen if I will get a better arm workout from the longer block or not!
Got my blocks last week but haven't had a chance to give feedback. I like their high quality and polycarbonate face, but I had a few minor criticisms
1. The polycarbonate faces, while precisely cut, have slight burrs along the edges that could affect sanding. Not only that, but a sharp edge on a hard block face, in my experience, can cause problems that I call "digging" or "cutting." This can occur when sanding up against an obstruction or near a concave area, the sharp edge of the block can easily dig into the substrate and leave a line or a mark, especially if the block is accidentally pushed in a straight line for even a short distance. For this reason, I put small quarter round radii around all edges of my hard blocks, this lessens the chance that an edge will inadvertently dig in. I will be doing this to these new blocks, but it would be really awesome if they shipped that way.
2. The longer block in particular is pretty heavy, I have a lot of blocks and it is by far the heaviest. The one that I own that is closest to this new one is a wood, aluminum, and foam one that I glued a piece of polycarbonate to, and it weighs 605 grams. Yours comes in at a rather beastly 1161 grams with all rods installed. Not an issue with horizontal surfaces, but on sides, the weight might contribute to fatigue, especially for an old guy like me! I'm not sure what could be done about that, probably nothing except to make a large hole longitudinally inside the handle portion. Not something I want to tackle!
3. I like the storage box and am keeping them in it. It's a really nice touch, thank you for that. I have modified the foam insert with a razor such that I can store the blocks with the rods installed. I feel that I'll be using them with rods installed most of the time, and I don't want to have to remove them each time I store the blocks. I thought about sending a picture of the mod, but it might be self-explanatory. Just a little pocket to accommodate the rod ends at one end of the cutout.
Anyway, I do like them and am looking forward to using them. It remains to be seen if I will get a better arm workout from the longer block or not!
theastronaut
Promoted Users
Got my order in, looking forward to testing them out!
Chris_Hamilton
Trying to be the best me, I can be
I like the weight and feel of them. Like Boris the Blade said in "Snatch" " heavy is good, heavy is reliable " 
Nice Blocks Dean
I received mine and they look like quality pieces I have not used them yet but will soon.. I like Crashtech ideas too.
I have several of the top name blocks that are made of poly but what I have noticed with all of them if you want it to be really dialed in you have to hone them on a very flat surface table which will really true them up. Has anyone checked yours on a surface table yet?
I received mine and they look like quality pieces I have not used them yet but will soon.. I like Crashtech ideas too.
I have several of the top name blocks that are made of poly but what I have noticed with all of them if you want it to be really dialed in you have to hone them on a very flat surface table which will really true them up. Has anyone checked yours on a surface table yet?
Chris_Hamilton
Trying to be the best me, I can be
Been using raw acrylic and PC and have not noticed that. Stuff is plenty straight as is. If it is off a couple of thousandths I don't see where that is going to hurt anything.
Chris, I think the poly gets distorted when the handles get glued on. The reason I say that is the one that had the least amount of distortion from side to side and end to end was one I had with a rubber t handle which apparently did not take much to press glue I suppose.
Chris_Hamilton
Trying to be the best me, I can be
Oh. I've been using them mostly with just duct tape for handles. They don't distort doing that. Several though I glued to other blocks, used a spray adhesive and tried to get it on even. Seem like they work well. Little wary of trying to level them on a surface plate though as they are .030 PC/Lexan.
Dean Jenkins
Promoted Users
I'm happy when any customer likes them blocks. Even happier when a customer with a YouTube channel likes them
I have 24" version in the *****!******. Little worried about the weight of those given some comments on the 16". Looking into ways to reduce the weight without compromising the essential attributes.
MJM
Promoted Users
I really like the idea of a 36" blocks for roofs and hoods. I also like the weight behind these blocks when sanding horizontal surfaces. I won't have to apply much pressure, if any, letting the block do the work. This is a huge plus for me.
For Sale.....one slightly used wife. Comes with cell phone camera
That’s great! I keep my 21” AFS guarded with a hungry Doberman! Your 24 sounds like a great replacement. As far as the weight I think it’ll be fine. I like the weighted feel and I think it’ll be ok since I find myself leaning on the AFS. SPI forum people are going to build some biceps that’s all!I'm happy when any customer likes them blocks. Even happier when a customer with a YouTube channel likes them
I have 24" version in the ************. Little worried about the weight of those given some comments on the 16". Looking into ways to reduce the weight without compromising the essential attributes.
crashtech
Combo Man & Mod
For some reason, p i p e l i n e is a forbidden word, if you want to know what was censored out of @Dean Jenkins post.
Dean Jenkins
Promoted Users
I saw that and was scratching my head.
Dean Jenkins
Promoted Users
AAE
Learner
OH! I thought he was cussing! I couldn't figure out what has that many letters.
crashtech
Combo Man & Mod
I decided to break out my big old thrift store mirror (very thick glass) and put some radius on the edges of one of the blocks as well as true it up. Note that any block of this type of construction will never be perfectly flat, I've made many myself and it's just the nature of the beast. I true up blocks by sticking several strips of sandpaper to the mirror and blocking the surface of the polycarbonate down until it's level. If you do this to ANY block, you will be surprised, I've never seen one yet that couldn't be improved. I can't prove that doing this improves the final finish or not, it's just my opinion that it can.
BTW this is by no means a knock against the product, it's just a commentary about my personal preferences!
BTW this is by no means a knock against the product, it's just a commentary about my personal preferences!
Crash thats what I was referring to is with a little more work it could be trued up. What grit of sandpaper did you use