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during the warmer months, i sand my pieces outdoors. I'm curious how everyone handles sanding indoors-the dust, etc. I don't have a special indoor studio for crafting, so how do y'all cope with the mess?
thanks, and I've got to say, I love this sight!!!!
Suzy
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Hi Suzy,
Sanding is one of my pet hates! Like you, I do it outside if at all possible, or in the shed. If it is a small item and I have to sand it indoors, I place it in a large plastic bag - it helps to contain most of the dust.
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I hate sanding, too, so I may never have porcelin smooth pieces!
Thanks for the idea, I'll give it a try.
Suzy
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I've never actually done it, but it occurred to me that I could tape the vacuum hose to the top of the table and sand in front of it!
Or, maybe I won't. Just for fun, I figured the cost... about $0.80 per hour. (At today's exchange rate, that would be about £0.55 or €0.6).
(70 amps x 120 volts = 8400 watts of power (8.4 kilowatt hours) x $0.09/hr, plus taxes)
Of course, that's assuming that I would have the patience to sand anything for an hour!
Sue
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Or maybe I could have dear husband stand there with the vacume while sanding...something tells me this won't work either...
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He might take the vacuum apart, and he might even do the sanding, but hold the vacuum? I don't think so. It's a guy thing.
Sue
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if he'd do the sanding, i might clean the house. hahahaah...suzy
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"if he'd do the sanding, i might clean the house. "
Now, don't get crazy!
Sue
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This is going mad. He might even enjoy it and clean the whole house!???
I only would do the smallest amount of sanding indoors. Normally, even in cold weather, I go outside but we don't often go below zero. Take care not to breathe in the dust. Mask up.
Generally, though, I aim to get my surface so smooth that it only needs minimal sanding. The techniques for this have been discussed in several other threads.
DavidO
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Yes, I feel that if I have to do much sanding, I made a mistake earlier. Or was too sloppy.
I've found that the best way to keep my surfaces smoother is not to use pieces of paper that are too large. If your PM shows pleats, your paper is usually too large for that spot. Smaller pieces seem to take more time, but since they give a smoother surface, what time you spend applying them is usually offset by not having to sand. Did I say I hate sanding?
Sue
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Thanks to all for the advice, I think I will try harder to keep a smoother surface during the papering process. I really hate to sand,too. Actually, I have sore hands from arthritus (sanding hurts), but the papier mache process itself is very soothing to these old hands.
Suzy
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ok, i know i'm hard headed and impatient, but i finally followed directions about cooking the flour and water paste on the stove top and WHAT DO YOUKNOW...i get a MUCH smoother paste...less sanding, i am so dumb (and so happy!). well, now i know better...sheesh
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"... I am so dumb."
No, you are just open to learning. It's not the same thing.
Life is a learning experience. Some people do, some people don't.
Sue
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I just leave my sanding dust on the floor, just like all the other bits and pieces I have left over while working. Yes, I'm a slob, but those odds and ends sometimes come in handy--I often literally hunt around on the carpet to find pieces to use on a project I'm working on.
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Patraw wrote:
I just leave my sanding dust on the floor, ... Yes, I'm a slob ...
Thankgod it's not just me! I do try and aim the dust in the general direction of the coal bucket or the hearth, but y'know, that's why we own a hoover 
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"I just leave my sanding dust on the floor, just like all the other bits and pieces I have left over while working."
OMG! Someone who is a worse housekeeper than I am!
Sue
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Yeah,leaving it to the floor but always clean it up at the end of the day.I agree,life is a continuous learning process that everyday is a new lesson.
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