Finding a perfect tool for working with wood is a daunting task, especially if you have to be really precise. To make your job easier, several collaborators recently created Sandables, a set of sanding tools that can be reshaped like gritty modeling clay for more accurate woodworking.
Sandables are made out of polycaprolactone (PCL), a material that becomes more elastic at moderately high temperatures. All it takes is three minutes in the microwave, and they can be shaped like modeling clay into any form you need. One package of Sandables will contain three sanders in three distinct grits for different sanding jobs. PCL also has the added benefits of being non-toxic and biodegradable.
Aside from bending them to smooth out unusual wooden shapes, having the ability to remold a sander opens the door for some more inventive uses. A Sandable could be wrapped around a stick to sand hard-to-reach areas, for instance, or even attached to a drill to make a customized power sander.
Sandables were created through Quirky, a website that brings various collaborators together to make changes to an invention until it’s ready to be sold as a complete product. Quirky is still determining a price for them, so Sandables are not yet available for purchase. Right now though, you can still go to the website to vote on what price you’d be willing to pay for a set of moldable sanding tools.
We think it is a pretty awesome idea and hope it will soon be awailable for purchase!
H/T to gizmag
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