Cut Your Sanding Time In Half With An Unexpected Little Tool

Sanding is a necessary part of just about any woodworking project, whether you're assembling a new set of drawers, building a floating kitchen shelf, or putting the finishing touches on a new decor piece. Unfortunately, it's often a time-consuming process that can quickly get exhausting, especially if you're just using standard sandpaper sheets. Instead of spending hours attempting to get the perfect finish, it might be time to consider purchasing formal sanding tools. If you're going to invest in a power sander, you'll want to read up on the differences between a palm sander and an orbital sander. However, if you're looking to spend a bit less and still need to cut down on sanding time, you might want to consider getting a card scraper.

A card scraper is a rectangular metal tool with a burred edge that removes a thin layer of wood and leaves behind an even finish. A great video on Instagram from @epicwoodworking swiftly demonstrates how this tool works for sanding. Simply use one hand on each side of the card, and run it at a tilted angle along the wood surface, with the sharpened side facing down. With the proper use of a card scraper, you can skip ahead to the priming and painting phase of your project faster than ever.

Learning how to use a card scraper is fairly straightforward, but mastering its use takes time. Once you've got a handle on how it works, however, you can often skip running through your normal series of sandpaper grains. Put your thumbs on the back of the card, hold it at an angle, and avoid applying heavy pressure when you're pushing it across your wood.

When used properly, your card scraper also allows you to remove small bumps and blemishes from the surfaces of your wooden materials. If you're ready to pick one up, the DFM Tool Works rectangle card scraper is a great choice for flat surfaces. Card scrapers also come in other shapes and sizes that better handle curved furnishings and dowels, but most of the time, a rectangular scraper is all you'll need. To sharpen your scraper, you'll need a burnisher tool, also available from DFM Tool Works, which is specifically designed to handle the burred edge without damaging it.

Though a card scraper is definitely a handy tool, it does have some limitations. If you need to sand down a large surface, such as a cabinet door, you may want to invest in an orbital sander instead. If you don't already have one, the DeWalt orbital sander kit is a solid pick. To make sanding hard-to-reach places easier, you might want to use sanding sponges instead, since they can contour around small grooves and edges and give them the perfect finish.