While I have been building my own fishing rods for nearly twenty years, my skill level is probably best described as "marginally adequate". If it were not for this forum, it wouldn't even be that. But if you do read what some have to say here, from time to time, you can learn something. Recently, Roger Wilson mentioned using a "backing board" when sanding cork. I'm not sure I know what a "backing board" is. Regardless, its mention inspired me. I don't know if I constructed the thing to which he was referring, but... I acquired a 2' X 3" X 3/4" piece of poplar, a three inch roll of 80 grit sandpaper, and a can of Elmer's Craft Bond. I affixed a strip of the sandpaper to the upper third of the board and wrapped about 4" around to the back side. This served exceptionally well in eliminating glue buds, and insuring that the handle was concentric. The Craft Bond allows me to easily replace the sandpaper when needed. Most importantly, it saved me the expense of an $80 gouge, which would have been a bit of overkill. I imagine my little board also sits more reliably on the tool rest than a gouge would in my hands. Roger also mentioned a few more thoughts that have been especially useful, if not incredibly more efficient than the methods I was using. Sadly, I am so embarrassed that they had not occurred to me years ago that I feel compelled to let them go unacknowledged. So, thank you ever so much Roger Wilson. You remain proof positive of what a wonderful resource this forum is. Slainte!

From ghoulies and ghosties,
and long leggedy beasties,
and things that go bump in the night,
Good Lord deliver us!



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 03/19/2022 03:54PM by Hunter Armstrong.

Roger has always been very patient with me and he's helped me many times.

He's helped a good many of us.

Hunter,
Well done.

Another thing to do, is to simply take a piece of wood, fold the sand paper around the board, and go to work.

But, no doubt - using the sand paper glued to the board is the way to go.l

When I use my backing board, it is typically 1/8th thick plywood that I have had around for years.

When I was doing my other craft many years ago, and I had to do some sanding over a very large surface, and needed it free of humps or valleys, I would use a piece of T aluminum that was 1/16th inch thick. Again, glue the sand paper to the flat surface, and use the vertical part of the T aluminum for a handle.

You are welcome and you may continue to build well.

Roger is the man. The equipment guru, no doubt. Has helped many with his posts, including me. That is what is so good about this forum. Sometimes we get a myopic view of what we are trying to accomplish without considering a different approach, this forum gives us this “other view” that many times works better.