Flashing Shield for Sanding

Family Handyman

Careful! When you’re sanding in the corner of that next masterpiece, your vibrating or random orbital sander can dig some nasty scratches or dents with the sander body and the sandpaper on adjoining surfaces. And they’re nearly impossible to fix.

Try this bulletproof tip from Leo Tellgren. Hold a small sheet of metal flashing or plastic laminate between the sander and the surface you don’t want dinged up, and then sand as close as you want with no worries. Scratches go on the metal, not on the wood.