My furniture style incorporates lots of curves, and I often make custom sanding blocks in various sizes to smooth those curved areas. To help use expensive sandpaper efficiently, I built this fixture, which allows me to rip sandpaper sheets to any size quickly and easily, with little waste.

The grid surface, which serves as the cutting guide, is a self-healing cutting mat from a dollar store or office-supply store. Following the grid, I can rip perfectly sized sheets not only for my various odd-size sanding blocks but also for my half- and quarter-sheet sanders. Just be sure the lines of the grid are square to the edges of the platform; otherwise, you’ll be cutting on an angle.

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This is one of the most frequently used fixtures in my workshop. I’m on my second-the first gave out after 30 years.

Drawings by Jim Richey

Drawings by Jim Richey

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