Folding Trick Makes Sandpaper Last Longer

Sandpaper origami

Roe Osborn, from Harwich, Massachusetts writes:

To make the most efficient use of sandpaper, fold a standard 8 1/2 by 11 sheet in half in both directions with the abrasive side facing out. With a utility knife, cut outward from the center on any one of the four fold lines. Now fold up the sheet of sandpaper so that the resulting shape is 1/4 of a sheet. The folded sheet you're left with fits your hand better, the four plys are easier to hold onto, no abrasive surface is rubbing on another, and when you've worn out the two outside surfaces, fold them into the center and you have two fresh surfaces to work with. Also, if you use a 1/4-sheet vibrating pad sander, you can always zip one of the four sections off and fold up the rest.