Maintaining sharp edges while contrast staining

[JonBood]

Hi everyone!

I'm in the making of my first Rhodesian and I was wondering if any of you have a tip regarding how to maintain sharp edges while sanding down the dark underlying contrast stain?
I have noticed that while doing so I generally tend to smoothen the edges, which I really don't want to to on this one.

Any one that would like to share a point of view on this?
(Or is the trick just to be more careful and precise? )

Best regards
Jon

[wdteipen]

If you're using alcohol based stains you can minimize the amount of buffing by using plain denatured alcohol to remove some of the excess dark stain. Another option is to sand it off with high grit sandpaper instead of buffing.

[JonBood]

Thanks Wayne!

I am sanding it down with high grit sanding paper at the moment but I am constantly managing to smoothen out the edges while doing so..maybe I need to use tiny pieces of sandpaper, but then the problem becomes to hold them=)

[Ironpenny]

I use these and they help a lot for tight spots and edges. I'm sure it's not the easiest way, but I like them.

http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.a ... at=1,42500

[SchmidtN]

Build yourself one of these...

http://www.modelbuildersonline.com/Tuto ... 90&k=pHNUy

[Blueb3]

Build yourself one of these...

http://www.modelbuildersonline.com/Tuto ... 90&k=pHNUy

That's awesome :p

[baweaverpipes]

Build yourself one of these...

http://www.modelbuildersonline.com/Tuto ... 90&k=pHNUy

That's so much trouble.
Learn how to sand by hand and that will cut costs and time.
Think of it this way: For every five minutes wasted on folly one could make an extra pipe per year. Gimmicks are just that. Hone your skills..............Hone your skills!!!!!!

[SchmidtN]

But if you make little gizmos to do it for you, you never had to admit to yourself you have no skills!

[JonBood]

I like the innovativeness but I don't think I'm willing to sacrifice a perfectly good toothbrush for that;) Haha..

Yeah, I guess I just have to practice and learn how to take it slow! Those rubber thingies looked quite nice to get a better grip of the sandpaper..

[W.Pastuch]

Maintaining sharp edges is really a matter of practice and skill (which comes with practice)
However sometimes small tricks are useful- though I really couldn't understand the need to buy ready-made sanding gizmos, if you can make any kind of sanding pad/block you want with cork- just shape it on the disc, wrap sandpaper around it and there you go.

I'd also like to share a trick I came up with just yesterday- probably experienced pipemakers have already tried it. It's an idea I got while sanding rounded spots, such as at the bowl/shank junction. A piece of thick and soft leather makes the perfect backing for sandpaper! The rough side of the leather makes a lot of friction so the sandpaper adheres nicely, and you can fold it to make a perfect soft and round edge. Try it

[JonBood]

Will try it, leather seems like a good idea!
Thanks!