DISCLOSURE: TheRuggedRooster.com is reader supported so if you buy any products featured on this site I may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my full disclosure here.
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.
- Steel wool super fine grade #0000 used in cleaning, polishing, buffing and refinishing
- Uniform, high quality metal strands with gentle abrasiveness
- Each bag has 16 steel wool pads
- Flexible to reach in and around corners
- Use to smooth wood, lacquer, varnish, shellac and polyurethane; remove finish and buff furniture; clean precision tools; DE gloss painted surfaces
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.
- Perfect for cutting, sanding, grinding, polishing, drilling, deburring, shaping, and more
- 1-amp variable speed motor goes anywhere from 10,000 to 32,000 RPM
- Attach the included 3-foot flex shaft for jobs requiring intricate and complex detail work
- Carrying case allows for easy organization of your tool, flex shaft, and all 100+ included accessories
- Includes felt polishing wheels, sanding bands, drill bits, diamond-coated bits, stone grinding bits, a dressing stone, cut-off wheels, sanding discs, a 1/8-inch collet, a 3/32-inch collet, and more
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 2023-12-10 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
