How to Sand Curved Surfaces

If you’re thinking of refinishing furniture, one of the necessary steps is sanding the surfaces. However, sanding a flat surface is not the same as sanding curved surfaces. Sanding curved surfaces can be daunting if you don’t know the tricks that make it easy!

In this blog post, we will guide you through how to sand curved surfaces with ease. With a little bit of patience and the right tools, you’ll be able to tackle any curved surface on your furniture and achieve the smooth finish you desire. So, let’s dive into the details of how to sand curved surfaces!

sanding curved surfaces with sander and contour sanding grip

Sanding curved surfaces can be a difficult and time-consuming task. Luckily, there are tools and techniques that can help you achieve a smooth, flawless finish.

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We’ll show you how to use SurfPrep Foam Sanding Pads and Sanding Contour Grips for sanding curved surfaces so you get the perfect finish every time.

With these tools, you’ll be able to quickly and easily sand any curves or contours on your furniture without having to worry about uneven edges or scratches in the wood. Plus, they’re designed specifically for this task so you know that it will look great when finished!

Why is Sanding Curved Surfaces Different?

Sanding curved surfaces can be a challenging task if you don’t have the right tools or know how. It’s very difficult to use an orbital sander on curved surfaces because the flat sander will sand the curve unevenly.

Check out the Best Sanders For Furniture here.

Additionally, because curved surfaces are more delicate than straight ones, using too much pressure or the wrong type of sandpaper can cause irreparable damage to your furniture.

To ensure that you get a perfect finish every time, it’s important to use the right tools and techniques when sanding curved surfaces.

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Best Tools for Sanding Curved Surfaces

SurfPrep Foam Sanding Pads and Sanding Contour Grips are the ultimate tools for sanding curved surfaces. These tools are specifically designed to make sanding those tough to reach contours and curves effortless.

SurfPrep 1/2″ Foam Sanding Pads

The Foam Sanding Pads have a flexible design, which allows you to sand even the tightest radius with ease. (Use code RAY10 to get 10% off your order at SurfPrep!)

These pads come in various sizes, making them suitable for all kinds of power sanders, including SurfPrep Sander Alternative, which can help you speed up your sanding process.

foam sanding pads for circle, rectangle and triangle sanders

Here is a link to the foam sanding pads for other brand sanders that come in all the different shapes and sizes. (Use code RAY10 to get 10% off your order at SurfPrep!)

Additionally, you can also use these pads by hand, making it possible to sand even more intricate details on your furniture.

The soft foam construction of the pads allows for a smoother sanding experience, reducing the risk of gouging or uneven sanding.

With this tool, sanding any kind of detail on your furniture is easy, whether you’re working on the edges of a tabletop or a curved back of a chair.

The SurfPrep 1/2″ foam sanding pads are an excellent addition to any toolkit!! I use them on almost every furniture project!

1/2" foam sanding pad for sanders

Sanding Contour Grips

The Sanding Contour Grips are perfect for sanding around edges and in tight corners. The grips are made of durable materials that won’t damage or scratch your furniture.

You can wrap your choice of sandpaper around the different shapes of grips to allow you to reach tight crevices and corners that would otherwise be difficult to sand.

They are also shaped in different ways to help you hand sand different curvatures that you typically find on furniture.

Check out the best Sandpaper For Furniture that you can use with Sanding Contour Grips here.

sanding a curved surface on wood furniture with a sanding contour grip

I used to fold my small piece of sandpaper up a couple of times to help sand these areas, but these grips save my hand and make it easier to sand these hard to sand areas.

With these two tools, you can achieve a smooth and flawless finish on any curved surface. They are a must-have for anyone looking to refinish furniture or tackle any intricate sanding task.

How to Sand Curved Surfaces

SurfPrep Foam Sanding Pads and Sanding Contour Grips are designed specifically for this purpose, allowing you to quickly sand any curves or contours on your furniture without having to worry about uneven edges or making your hand cramp.

Let’s take a look at how to use them.

Using the SurfPrep Foam Sanding Pads

These pads are ideal for sanding curves and contours. To use them, you’ll need to attach the hook and loop backing of the foam pad to the hook and loop on your power sander of choice.

These 1/2″ foam pads were first made for the 3″x4″ SurfPrep Sander, that is the perfect size and shape for furniture projects. Learn more about the 3″x4″ SurfPrep Sander here.

Learn the difference between SurfPrep VS Festool Sanders in this review to help you choose the best one for your needs!

Once attached, you can begin sanding by lightly applying pressure while moving the sander slowly back and forth.

You can offset the pad to help you get into corners without messing up the pad of your sander as well.

Be sure to move the sander slowly and evenly over the surface to avoid uneven sanding or scratches.

closeup of a surfprep sander with foam pad to sand detailed wood

And it’s best to start with a higher grit pad until you get used to sanding the details, so you don’t accidentally sand too much off.

If you use a coarse sanding pad, slowly work your way up through the different grits until you get to a medium+ or fine grit sanding pad. This will help remove excess scratches in your wood, and make it feel smooth, perfect for refinishing or painting the surface.

Using Sanding Contour Grips

The Sanding Contour Grips are perfect for getting into tight corners or curved edges where a power sander can’t reach.

To use them, pick the grip that best matches the curves or corners that you need to sand.

Then simply wrap a small piece (about 3″x4″) of your choice of sandpaper around one of the grips and start sanding by hand. (Use code RAY10 to get 10% off your order)

Be sure to move the grip back and forth while lightly applying pressure, so you don’t scratch or gouge your furniture or accidentally sand against the wood grain.

sanding contour grip wrapped with sanding screen

The different shapes of the grips make it easier to reach tight corners and intricate details on your furniture quickly and efficiently, saving you time and effort.

If you use a coarse sandpaper, slowly work your way up through the different grits until you get to a 150 or 220 grit sandpaper. This will help remove excess scratches in your wood, and make it feel smooth, perfect for refinishing or painting the surface.

SurfPrep Foam Sanding Pads and Sanding Contour Grips are excellent tools to help you achieve a smooth, flawless finish on any curved surface.

With proper use of these tools, it’s easy to sand curves and contours quickly without having to worry about uneven edges or making your hand cramp.

Plus, they’ll save you time by allowing you to reach tight crevices and corners with ease. Whether you’re refinishing furniture or tackling an intricate sanding task, adding these two items into your toolkit is sure to make the job much easier!

More Tips for Sanding Furniture:

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