Abrasives?

[JimD]

I've been using the Squadron and Flex-i-File sanding sticks exclusively since I began the hobby. I hate them both equally. I find they both become useless rather quickly. I think the Squadron ones are the worst of the two, but I don't find the F-I-Fs to be much better.

I know this is an insane amateur hour question, but I was wondering if anyone can recommend alternatives. I'm considering some Alpha Abrasives, but I'm open to ideas. Err...thanks.

[M1Carbine]

Well my wife is an abrasive.........im going to burn in hell for that one!

I use a mix. Some squadron, flexi file, and i buy several different grits at home depot. The larger sheets are great, cut the size you need and good to go. I get them wet/dry as I tend to wet sand to cut down on dust.

Hope that helps.

Bob

[TRM]

Jimmy,

I found decent luck with going to CVS, Walmart and Walgreens...with the nail care products they sell the same or similar sanding sticks a heck of a lot cheaper. Even a quick search for sanding sticks will produce several outsourcings.

[wing_nut]

Ditto the beauty supply stuff. "round here we have "Sally's". Lots of different grits available and generally less than a buck each. I used a Sears Handi Cut to chop 'em up into different shapes for different situations. It also is more economical a as found I tended to use just the ends or edges, leaving the middle part almost untouched.

[JimD]

Thanks, guys. A while back I picked up a couple of the nail files from Target when I was suffering...err...shopping with the wife. They must have been bad ones because the grit just shed off of them almost immediately. I had pink dust all over the model. I'll go to a proper beauty supply and give some of those a try.

I do use sheets of sandpaper I get from Lowes too...I just like the sticks for a lot of things. I do need to get a pair of those clippers too...I have found that if I don't cut them up a lot goes unused...hacking them up with an xacto isn't easy

[TRM]

I think your best bet will be to try a beauty shop or maybe CVS. Some of the Asian supplied products can be fickle with regards to the abrasives coming off after one use. It seems to be that quality control issue thing again. Choping them up is excellent, not fir just being able to use the part that gets unused but the custom shapes make your life in sanding much much easier. You can use standard sandpaper but as you found, the sanding sticks just tend to work a lot better from what I have found.

[Deano]

I find Salon nail files to be the hardest wearing , last a good while and even when the grit is worn down its good for fine sanding .

[wbill76]

The beauty supply store ones are the best...because they are designed to be reused and are much more durable. I have a stack of ones from Sally's (we have them here too Marc! ) that have lasted ages, both in cut-up form as well as in their original size for larger work. They have the brand name 'Tropical Shine' and are washable and disinfectable, which is why they are so durable I'm sure.

If you can't find something good local, there's always the web! Sally Beauty Supply

They offer dual grits (one per side) ranging from the Fine (400/600), Medium (220/320), and Coarse (100/180) which should cover just about any eventuality you would encounter. And they are much cheaper than any 'hobby' specialty item to boot.

[JimD]

Awesome, Bill. Thanks for the specifics of what to look for. We do have Sally's. In fact I'm guessing they are owned by the Target parent company since every Target here seems to have once attached.

[deafpanzer]

Jeez, I didn't join this forum to learn about how to have our nails done properly...

Nah, this is great stuff!!!

[JimD]

Consider it value added content, buddy. You get pretty nails and rusty armor. Win win my friend.

[JimD]

I'm liking these Tropical Shine sticks. The wife stopped of and grabbed me a couple to try and they seem like they will do the trick nicely. Again, thanks for the recommendation...

And don't worry, Andy, I will get enough to do my nails too...now just to pick the RLM shade I want to go with for the polish.

[wing_nut]

Also, get one of the boards that has the 4 different grits for polishing. The 2 really coarse grits are good for removing a lot of material. Careful with these on plastic as it leaves Grand Canyon like marks. Save it for things that won't be seen. I use the 2 polishing grits to check a surface just sanded to see if there are any imperfections before painting.

Take the spine of a fuselage for example. I start the usual which may start with a medium grit,a blue Tropical Shine (TS) board, then both sides of the fine, pink TS board. It's at this point some guys prime to see if there's any gaps that need to be filled or sanded more. Tough to see flat spots though. Take the polishing side of the 4 grit boards and give it a buffing. In seconds you have a near glass like surface. Catch a reflection in the shine and tiniest imperfections stand out like crazy. Catch a little distortion and those are flat spots. After you get it just right a light once over with the fine board puts back the "tooth" to help the paint stick. Saves having to set up the AB for primer until it's really needed.

[JimD]

Great tips, Marc, thanks. I will absolutely get some one the finer ones for finishing polishing as well. I generally don't prime seams and things to check for imperfections. I've found that using a bronze colored Sharpie highlights them fairly well, and that's worked good for me. I just wipe the marker away with some alcohol before priming. I've gotten pretty religious about polishing off plastic before priming too. I like to use Novus stuff.

[wing_nut]

Dueling tips? Those are good tips back. Thanks bro.

[wbill76]

Glad you got what you needed Jimmy! Plus you got your wife to do it for you so no awkward conversations about needing them 'for a friend'.

[sturmbird]

Feb 17, 2015 9:27:06 GMT -5 JimD said:

Thanks, guys. A while back I picked up a couple of the nail files from Target when I was suffering...err...shopping with the wife. They must have been bad ones because the grit just shed off of them almost immediately. I had pink dust all over the model. I'll go to a proper beauty supply and give some of those a try.

I do use sheets of sandpaper I get from Lowes too...I just like the sticks for a lot of things. I do need to get a pair of those clippers too...I have found that if I don't cut them up a lot goes unused...hacking them up with an xacto isn't easy

reading these posts, please allow me to tell you not to worry about buying sanding sticks, and simply buy some good warm blankets!! I can see you all needing them in the very near future. Garage is a cold place to sleep!

gary

[sturmbird]

Feb 17, 2015 14:36:23 GMT -5 wbill76 said:

The beauty supply store ones are the best...because they are designed to be reused and are much more durable. I have a stack of ones from Sally's (we have them here too Marc! ) that have lasted ages, both in cut-up form as well as in their original size for larger work. They have the brand name 'Tropical Shine' and are washable and disinfectable, which is why they are so durable I'm sure.

If you can't find something good local, there's always the web! Sally Beauty Supply

They offer dual grits (one per side) ranging from the Fine (400/600), Medium (220/320), and Coarse (100/180) which should cover just about any eventuality you would encounter. And they are much cheaper than any 'hobby' specialty item to boot.

years back I had a project at work that was made of Plexiglas and Lexan. Many surfaces had to be in a very fine micro finish. Never heard of sanding sticks, and made my own out of black paper glued to thin strips of bass wood. You can get black paper all the way out to 800 grit and beyond, and it's fairly cheap.
gary

[TomN]

The beauty supply shops also sell sanding sponges...handy for smoothing irregular shapes.

And I picked up some acrylic nail powder, gonna try and make some snow with that.

Tom