A sanding block is an essential piece of woodworking equipment, with designs ranging from basic to high-tech. I’ve had good luck with this bandsawn block for many years. It can be made quickly and sized to fit a strip of sandpaper cut from a conventional sheet. The key is the wedges, which go in easily and pull the paper taut.

I usually make the block by gluing up two pieces of maple, which stands up well to the wedging action. The wedges are bandsawn from the ends and fit right back into their notches after the paper is inserted. A few taps on the edge of the bench and the wedges are tight.

I make a few other cuts and contours on the block for comfort, but that’s about it. You can make more than one block and keep your key sandpaper grits locked and loaded.

Be sure to tear the sandpaper sheet crosswise into four equal strips, each about 23⁄4 in. wide by 9 in. long.

—STEVE ALLING, Romeo, Mich.

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