• It's time to cast your vote in the April 2025 Turning Challenge. (click here for details)
  • Congratulations to Steve Bonny for "A Book Holds What Time Lets Go" being selected as Turning of the Week for 28 April, 2025 (click here for details)
  • Welcome new registering member. Your username must be your real First and Last name (for example: John Doe). "Screen names" and "handles" are not allowed and your registration will be deleted if you don't use your real name. Also, do not use all caps nor all lower case.

Sandpaper storage

Andrew Hale said:
In an effort to regrow my fingerprints, I purchased an angle drill and sanding bundle from Woodturner’s Wonders. Excitement turned to dread as I realized that I now have hundreds of tiny discs to corral. Any suggestions as to effective and efficient storage?
Click to expand...
I made a simple storage drawer set - Look up Steve Ramsey on Youtube, it is where I got the design from - quick and easy, I think he has a video on making the drawers (I hung mine on french cleat right by the lathe) Optionally, you could get a set of plastic storage drawer bins from Harbor Freight (But, it was cheaper for me to build mine from the scraps and offcuts I had laying around than to buy one from H.F.) It holds all my grits from 80 to 600 grit in both the 2 inch and 1 inch sets one to a drawer and since I got extra pads (medium-firm) for the roloc drill adapter, also quick and easy to change grits, just spin the old one off, spin next grit on, and keep on sandin'
 
5cc26328-5ef3-48c8-8d81-8f5c057e44b7-jpeg.49292
 

Attachments

  • 5CC26328-5EF3-48C8-8D81-8F5C057E44B7.jpeg
    5CC26328-5EF3-48C8-8D81-8F5C057E44B7.jpeg
    374 KB · Views: 1,038
I use a few of these. Not the cheapest, but really nice bins.
www.woodcraft.com

WoodRiver - 8 Door Tilt Out Storage Bin

Nothing will slow down your project like “missing” joinery components. The WoodRiver® Tilt-Out Bins are the perfect solution to this dilemma. This storage system contains 8 individual tilt-out bins, each measuring 2 -1/2" x 2-3/4" x 3-1/2" – the ideal size to store anything from hardware to...
www.woodcraft.com www.woodcraft.com
 
Being such a cheapskate that I am, I save peanut cans. I knew they'd come in handy for something! :)

-----odie-----

This is an old photo, but I now keep the lids on them all the time....
Power lock disc storage (2).JPG
 
Andrew Hale said:
In an effort to regrow my fingerprints, I purchased an angle drill and sanding bundle from Woodturner’s Wonders. Excitement turned to dread as I realized that I now have hundreds of tiny discs to corral. Any suggestions as to effective and efficient storage?
Click to expand...
I bought that same kit recently and have found that the disks tend to slip on the pad. I'm sure I'm doing something wrong but expected that it would work better than it has for me.
 
I’ve been using these cases for my sanding discs for several years. Now after starting to use the WW attachments I need to get a third one. BTW - I’m very happy with the WW pads and have not had any issues with discs coming off, in fact by dedicating pads to each sanding grit I’m finding that my sandpaper discs are lasting longer.
1673459641878.jpeg
 
Maybe some day I will learn to post pictures..... Or maybe redo my sanding video... So, I set up some angle bracket type boxes with partitions in them that I can clamp to my lathe, both for 2 and 3 inch discs, well, the over sized discs from Vince. I put grit number on the plywood so I know which is which grit. All 'new' discs are cutting side up. All 'in use' discs are loop/fuzzy side up. I keep the packs of discs in boxes on shelves till I need to replace the ones in my 'angle bracket shelf'...

robo hippy
 
I like the idea of the wall or peg board hung bins, but my solution is stupidly simple (like me), cheap (ditto), and has worked well for me. It's a plastic Plano box, 3" deep, much like Ron shows, bought at Ace Hardware, if I remember correctly. Vince's oversized 3" disc would get scrunched if I closed the lid tightly, so a little dust gets into the box. Steve's 3" Mirka discs fit fine.

It's quite portable, so it can sit in the less dusty part of the shop until it's time to sand, then the whole box can come over next to where I'm working. 1 box can hold a pretty complete range of both 2" and 3" discs, but I have a couple boxes to keep my full variety of material. I put cut up 3X5 cards with the grit number in the bottom of each compartment so I can know which disc to grab.
IMG_1198.JPG
 
I buy my sand paper in bulk by the square metre and usually cut it with a Stanley knife or similar and most often it will square. If I need round, I will just trim it on the sanding head as needed.
 
1st step is to decide if you want a permanent location or a box(es) that can be stored or moved around easily, and of course whether you want to make it, as many have shown, or buy it.

Most all of my tools are wheel/castor mounted to reconfigure for primary focus - turning, flatwork, motorcycle mechanics and other things. I like things to be portable so I can get them out of the way. I may go several months at a time and turn nothing. I like the plastic compartmented boxes several have posted. They stack well on a shelf out of the way, and are easy to redeploy for turning time.
 
I also use one of the divided yellow boxes. I picked it up at one of the big box home supply stores.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1701.JPG
    IMG_1701.JPG
    431.3 KB · Views: 20
I have an open metal box (tool box?). Just cut up a cardboard tube suitable size for discs. Thin wall S&D PVC pipe could also be used. I also have a second box with wavy discs I haven't used for many years. The other drawers are office supply items used to store sheets and other abrasive items.
 

Attachments

  • P1070291 2.jpg
    P1070291 2.jpg
    715.6 KB · Views: 50
  • P1070292 2.jpg
    P1070292 2.jpg
    768.5 KB · Views: 52
Tom Gall said:
I have an open metal box (tool box?). Just cut up a cardboard tube suitable size for discs. Thin wall S&D PVC pipe could also be used. I also have a second box with wavy discs I haven't used for many years. The other drawers are office supply items used to store sheets and other abrasive items.
Click to expand...
What impresses me, is when others use a little ingenuity to solve needs in the shop.....rather than to buy commercial solutions.

How did you cut the cardboard tubes, Tom? ...... bandsaw?

-----odie-----

1673548548932.png
 
odie said:
What impresses me, is when others use a little ingenuity to solve needs in the shop.....rather than to buy commercial solutions.

How did you cut the cardboard tubes, Tom? ...... bandsaw?

-----odie-----

View attachment 49335
Click to expand...
Yep! Will also work on the PVC pipe ... just sand off the fuzzies. You can also use a touch of hot melt glue to keep them together - especially if your container allows for too much movement.
 
For those of you who use tubes of some sort to hold your round discs--how do you get ahold of one disc to take it out of the tube? If the tube is full, it would be easy, but when you get a couple inches down to the last few discs....
 
Dean Center said:
For those of you who use tubes of some sort to hold your round discs--how do you get ahold of one disc to take it out of the tube? If the tube is full, it would be easy, but when you get a couple inches down to the last few discs....
Click to expand...
Havent done it but great idea - I’d guess you need a tube ID ~1/2” or more larger than the disc to get a finger tip at the edge.
 
Dean Center said:
For those of you who use tubes of some sort to hold your round discs--how do you get ahold of one disc to take it out of the tube? If the tube is full, it would be easy, but when you get a couple inches down to the last few discs....
Click to expand...

I haven't had this problem with the peanut cans, because the diameter is significantly larger than the discs themselves. I might have a problem with the very last one, but I usually replenish the supply before I get down to the last one. I simply dump out the last one or two to get to them. (The older discs go on top, so that there is a continuous cycling of the available stock.)

I can't speak for @Tom Gall , but if the bottom of the tubes aren't sealed, then picking up the tube would expose what's at the bottom. Looks like @Dave Landers would simply pick up the pvc caps, and dump the last one out......

-----odie-----
 
Last edited:
odie said:
Looks like @Dave Landers] would simply pick up the pvc caps, and dump the last one out......
Click to expand...
I put the disks in the caps velcro-side-up. So all I have to do is dip my drill mandrel in there and pull one out. I don't try to center it on the mandrel in the cap, just use the mandrel to grab a disk, then apply it properly once retrieved.
I also have a little loop of velcro in the drawer to grab a disk if I'm not using the mandrel.
(Velcro-side-up also means I have to remember to keep the drawer closed)
 
Dean Center said:
For those of you who use tubes of some sort to hold your round discs--how do you get ahold of one disc to take it out of the tube? If the tube is full, it would be easy, but when you get a couple inches down to the last few discs....
Click to expand...
My tubes are 3" ID and discs are 2-3/8", about 3" tall. No problem for retrieval. If you have fat fingers use something like a pencil. ;) If you want to get fancy put a piece of velcro on the end of a dowel.:)
 
Dean Center said:
For those of you who use tubes of some sort to hold your round discs--how do you get ahold of one disc to take it out of the tube? If the tube is full, it would be easy, but when you get a couple inches down to the last few discs....

A wide slot in the tube?
 
like Dave Landers I keep an extra short mandrel handy to pick the disks out of the tubes. Rather than PVC caps I cut PVC into lengths standing on end and hat-glued into a plywood box. Box is portable and can be stored on top of a cabinet to keep the flying chips out.
 
Nothing fancy for storing my sanding disks and other sanding material, also the storage of the mandrels, this works for me, it is simple and effective in having it all right at hand, plus keeping the shavings away rom it.

Sanding disks.jpg Sanding rolls.jpg swing away mandrell storage.jpg,
The mandrel storage is hinged and double sided, folding flat against the wall, 3" mandrels on one side, and 2 " on the other side.
 
Andrew Hale said:
In an effort to regrow my fingerprints, I purchased an angle drill and sanding bundle from Woodturner’s Wonders. Excitement turned to dread as I realized that I now have hundreds of tiny discs to corral. Any suggestions as to effective and efficient storage?
Click to expand...
As I love fishing, there are so many tacklebox storage containers you could choose from that I used from 1" to 3 " sanding discs that work wonderfully, I usually choose the transparent ones that inside the box I can write the size so when I open up the lid I could easily read the grit I need. You might want to look up Tackle Warehouse for your needs.
Andrew Hale said:
In an effort to regrow my fingerprints, I purchased an angle drill and sanding bundle from Woodturner’s Wonders. Excitement turned to dread as I realized that I now have hundreds of tiny discs to corral. Any suggestions as to effective and efficient storage?
Click to expand...
 
Dave Landers said:
PVC caps - the ones with flat bottoms - in a drawer. I hot-glued a thin plywood divider in the drawerto keep them from shifting around.

View attachment 49327
Extra disks (that don't fit in the caps) are in a bottom drawer somewhere.
Click to expand...
You win, since they're my disks
 
I see many people have individual pads for each grit. Is this to lessen the eventual separation of the hook and loop from the pad, or is there worry of cross contamination of if you use the same pad for a variety of grits?

I have many pads but find it faster to just change the sandpaper grit.
 
Clayton MacGregor said:
I see many people have individual pads for each grit. Is this to lessen the eventual separation of the hook and loop from the pad, or is there worry of cross contamination of if you use the same pad for a variety of grits?

I have many pads but find it faster to just change the sandpaper grit.
Click to expand...

If you're going to use hook and loop sanding discs, then having many mandrels is the only way to go. I don't use H&L anymore, but when I did, I found that attaching the discs and then removing them over and over again, wears out the H&L. Eventually they don't stick as well as they did when new. The pads for the mandrels.....same thing......the H&L will wear out with use, and will eventually need to be replaced.

I see this thread is mostly about sanding disc storage, but a big part of sanding is using sheet abrasive, too......I'll post my sheet sandpaper storage shortly when I find a good photo.....

-----odie-----
 
Last edited:
OK, for sheet sandpaper storage, I built this little box with individual shelves. Cheap and efficient.

The paper cutter, courtesy of my dear old mom, who was a career school teacher.....gave me this antique paper cutter. Works great for cutting sandpaper into strips. The bulk strips of sandpaper are then stored in pvc tubes. I normally cut enough sandpaper strips to last me a couple months at a time, so cutting the strips isn't something that needs to be done very often. (In this photo, it looks like I'm getting pretty close to taking some time off to cut sandpaper strips! :))

-----odie-----


IMG_2394.JPGIMG_3759.JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top