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People sand for various reasons, it can be to smoothen edges, prepare for a paint job or a finishing touch on a project.
A variety of furniture, doors, cabinets and windows come with different designs.
The designs are further elaborated with grooves; it can be tricky to sand in grooves because they are hard to reach sometimes.
Since the spaces are narrow, it’s difficult for the traditional sandpaper to do the job.
But when you are a DIY enthusiast like I am, you will try to figure out a solution. I was faced with the same problem countless times through the many DIY tasks.
Ever since finding these tips, it has been easier to sand in grooves. That’s why I thought it best to share them with you to help with your future projects.
Step 1: Make A DIY Sander
Grooves are among the hard-to-reach places when you are trying to sand furniture and other equipment.
Before going too far, the first thing you need to do is try making a DIY sander at home.
Use a dull blade to cut the sandpaper and customize it to fit the groove you wish to tackle. You can use adhesive to stick it on a suitable tool and keep renewing it when it wears out.
With a quick sweep of your local market, you can find curved accessories. If not, you can use scrapes and find your way to the perfect sander for the grooves.
- 12 Grits Assortment：120/150/180/240/320/400/600/800/1000/1500/2500/3000 Grit, each grit got 2 sheets
- Convenient size and easy to identify: all sandpapers are 9 x 3.6 inch, also can be cut into any size you need. Soft-backed sandpaper ensures good hand grip and can be used to polish objects smoothly with only moderate effort, with high resistance to slipping or loose during use. Grit specifications are printed on the back of the sanding papers for easy identification.
- Wet or dry sanding: waterproof and tensile resistant technology allows these abrasive paper sheets to be tough and last long on your projects, and can be used for both wet and dry purposes.
- Compatible with: this fine sandpaper is perfect for handling all kinds of odd jobs and small fasteners, from removing scuffs and abrasions on walls and baseboards to smoothing wood or mildew on toys or furniture, refinishing handrails or lawn furniture and even wet sanding stains from your vehicle
- Compatible with: perfect for handling all kinds of odd jobs and small fasteners, from removing scuffs and abrasions on walls and baseboards to smoothing wood spurs or mildew on toys or furniture, refinishing handrails or lawn furniture and even wet sanding stains from your vehicle. Doing this work can not only save money, but learn a valuable skill.
Step 2: Use Contour Sanders or Steel Wool
If you are not aware of the contour sanders, now is the best time to know.
They are used for sanding deep profiles; they will help you with detailed DIY woodwork.
You can find them in the form of rubber pads, with concave and convex ends.
They also come in different sizes to fit different types of grooves. The other hack you can use is to use steel wool; it can be great for sanding congested surfaces.
Ensure you use fine steel wool to avoid devastating cuts on the wood. They are flexible and can get to the hard-to-reach areas.
- Ideal for uncoated cookware
- Great for pots, pans, grills, broilers and more
- Long-lasting & Durable
- Cuts through and removes tough soil & burnt-on food FAST!
- Easy to rinse out
Step 3: Modify the Sandpaper
The other way to sand in grooves is to modify your sandpapers. Use duct tape to help make the sanding paper more flexible.
Place the duct tape at the back of the sandpaper before cutting it into smaller stripes that fit the grooves you are working on. It will give you a firm and delicate sanding technique that works miracles.
With a combination of the two, the tricky places will easily be sand. This DIY trick will prove very handy when you want to smoothen surfaces for complex projects.
- Recommended for temporary household repairs including holding, seaming, sealing and bundling
- Works on a variety of surfaces, including wood, vinyl, plastic, leather, metal and laminate
- Tears easily by hand without curling for quick fixes
- Conforms to uneven surfaces for difficult DIY projects that involve corners, bends and curves
- Strong adhesion with waterproof backing for both indoor and outdoor use
Step 4: Use the Rotary Tool
Sometimes the details on furniture can be a mystery, but the complex designs are sometimes suitable.
The rotary sander has been used to reach grooves, especially on big furniture like cabinets.
They are narrow enough to get to the hidden places and give you a smooth surface to work with.
Do not be very aggressive with the tool; progress slowly and gradually to get the perfect finish. They are available in the market; you can buy and use them for future home projects.
- 【Versatile Rotary Tool Set】This rotary tool set includes a high-performance and low-noise rotary tool with 69 of the most popular power rotary tool accessories for fine DIY work. Ideal for carving, sanding, grinding, polishing, or cutting, this electric rotary tool is perfect for creating resin crafts. It's like having a whole toolbox in one convenient package. Note: Not suitable for heavy-duty projects
- 【5-Speed Settings】The cordless rotary tool has 5-speed adjustments (5000/8000/11000/14000/18000RPM) for easier speed control and to meet the power demands of different tasks. This allows for safe and careful sanding in stages, even for beginners who can easily control the speed. With the micro rotary tool, your creations are always handy
- 【Compact and Lightweight】This rotary tool is powerful yet small and light, giving you ultimate control and precision, as well as comfort, just like holding a pen
- 【Quick USB Charging and Longer Running Time】The cordless rotary tool comes with a 3.7V rechargeable battery that can work continuously for 200 minutes. A single charge can be used multiple times, making it no worries and convenient. Battery-powered rotary tool allows you to work one after another. (The indicator light will turn green when fully charged)
- 【Rotary Drill with LED Indicator】The upgraded small cordless rotary tool has a blind spot lighting LED design, which reduces backlight shadows and overcomes the adverse effects of dark areas on the use of the drill for resin. This provides you with a better experience and more precise work
How to Sand In Grooves For Cabinet Doors and other Furniture
Employ the four tips mentioned above and sand in grooves. They will make your work easier, some of the tools you can easily make at home.
If you need to purchase some of them, go ahead because they will last longer.
Sanding grooves is not a one-time task; you may need to do it again in the future.
Last update on 2025-03-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API