Video #762: Sanding pads have advantages over using just the sandpaper alone, but they are expensive. Here’s how to make them yourself for pennies.
Sandpaper pads or blocks work really well for sanding polymer clay and other craft projects. They are easy to hold… have some give to them, which means that they sand rounded surfaces nicely without leaving flat spots… and they last longer than if you were to just use sandpaper by itself.
The problem is that the pads or blocks can be quite expensive, and they aren’t always available in the grit that you want.
In this video, I will show you how you can easily (and cheaply) create your own custom sanding pads in any size, grit or type of abrasive that you need.
The links to the products I use, are posted below the video. They are Amazon affiliate links.
- Amazon Affiliate Link: Extra Thick Craft Foam Sheets
- Amazon Affiliate Link: Score Pal Double Sided Tape
- Amazon Affiliate Link: Tim Holtz Design Ruler
- Amazon Affiliate Link: Self-Healing Cutting Mat
- Amazon Affiliate Link: PenBlade Craft Knife
- Amazon Affiliate Link: 42 Pcs Wet/Dry Sandpaper 120-3000 Grit
- Amazon Affiliate Link: 3M Polishing Paper Assortment Pack
- Amazon Affiliate Link: White Gorilla Glue
- Related Video: Polishing Papers For Sanding Polymer Clay Beads
- Related Video: DIY Polymer Clay Kit from Penn State
- Related Video: Micromesh Sanding Abrasives
- Related Video: JoolTool Intro To Buffing Polymer Clay
- Related Article: Wet Sanding Polymer Clay To Make Your Beads Shine
Do you have any suggestions for videos on tips, techniques or products you would like to learn more about? Let me know in the comments section below!
My goal is to help you to learn quicker and easier ways to bring up the professionalism in your polymer clay art.
Oh and don’t forget to give these videos a Thumbs Up click at YouTube if you are enjoying them. The more Likes a video gets, the higher it rises in the searches. And that means even more people will be able to join in on this polymer clay journey of a lifetime.
Also, by subscribing to our YouTube Channel directly, you will receive notifications as soon as new videos are uploaded. To subscribe, click here… DIY Sanding Pads for Polymer Clay, Wood or Metal … the Subscribe Button is right near the top of that YouTube page.
Looking forward to hearing from you!
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Happy New Year! Thanks for another great video with awesome tips!
I have a Dremel tool and was wondering if it would be a good option for sanding polymer clay. Have you ever tried it? If so, what’s your opinion? It has sanding discs, both round and flat that I’m guessing I could cut finer sanding grits and use?? I’m trying to see if this is an option since if I use my hands for lengthy periods for sanding they become very painful.
Nancy
Happy New Year to you too Nancy! I have never really liked the Dremel (with the typical sanding disks) for sanding polymer clay. The speed is pretty fast, the disks are too small and it is difficult not to get large gouges in the clay from the edges of the discs. But using the small bristle brushes may be a good option. I have some brushes that I have been planning on testing, so when I do that I will be sure to share with everyone what I learn.
Cindy,
Yay it worked! While I was waiting to for you to get me setup with Beginners Course, I watched the Zinnia Cane Video again. I am going to try it soon because zinnias are my absolute favorites!
I live in a small town in Southeast Texas, and I don’t know anyone who works with polymer clay. To be honest, I am not too sure I had even really paid much attention to it at all except to see it on my way to the yarn at the craft store. I crochet and saw a video about how to cover a crochet hook with polymer clay. I did it with moderate success, so I decided to cover another one. Unfortunately, there is a limit to how many crochet hooks one person needs. Thank goodness for YouTube and books! I now want to make every project and try every technique I see!
Maybe you will not mind if I gush a little bit about how much I LOVE your videos. You are so practical and down-to earth. With your bubbly personality and wealth of information, you are a natural-born teacher! (I am a retired teacher, so I know what I am talking about. You should listen to me. LOL!) This is just all soooo exciting, and I am glad to have you to turn to on this journey.
Thank you so very much!
Phillys Morian
Good news that all is working for you now… thanks for letting me know. And thanks for the kind words… I’ll take all the “gushing” I can get :) Happy to be with you on your creative journey, Phillys
You are a great teacher!
Thanks for you ever-informative videos and tips!
Angela
Thank Angela, that is sweet of you to say! :)
Cindy,
I have just started sanding a piece I made. Perhaps I didn’t bake it long enough? I used the wet/dry sandpaper, starting with 220, then 600, then 1500. After I dried it, the piece had a chalky appearance. I’m bummed. What have I done wrong?
Hi Hope, when you see a chalky finish it means that there is sanding dust stuck in the grooves on the surface of the piece. You are jumping from a super coarse grit 220g, to a fairly high grit 600g, to a really high grit 1500g. Which will cause exactly the problem you are having. Watch this video, it will help.
How to Sand Polymer Clay Using Wet/Dry Sandpaper
Thank you so much, Cindy!
Hi, I recently watched your YouTube video on making your own polishing pads. Excellent video! How well does the foam hold up when using on the Jool Tool? Also does the thinner foam sheets work for Jool Tool? I was thinking of trying to cut on Shiloutte die cut machine.
Thank you,
Lydia
Hi Lydia, Thank you for the kind words! The foam holds up wonderfully on the JoolTool. Can even replace the abrasives without needing to replace the foam. I have replaced mine a couple of times now with no issues. The thinner sheets would be fine as well, though you wouldn’t get the same level of cushioning. But I can’t think of any reason why you couldn’t cut out a few and layer them, since your machine wouldn’t be able to cut thick foam. Just make sure you stick the layers down really well so they don’t peel apart. Another option for gluing the layers besides double stick tape would be to use that rubber cement the Cosplayers use for EVA foam. I saw some at Michaels the other day. Though you probably wouldn’t want to use it to stick the foam to your Ninja Disk or you’d probably never get it off… the tape would be the best solution for that job! (I really want to get a Cricket Maker… cutting foam backer pads for my JoolTool is just one more reason why I should get one!)
Can you tell me how to make your sanding pads? My fingers are raw from sanding!
Hi Cindy – nice to hear from you. Scroll up on this page and watch the video for making your own sanding pads. And for a ton of other sanding tips, you can use the search box. The first results after doing a search will be Google Ad links that will take you away from this site. Then below the ads will be links to articles on my site. if you have additional questions, leave a comment under any relevant article, and I will be sure to respond. Hope this helps.