Part of doing great body work, is using the right tools, specifically sanding blocks. The right block should be long enough, but not too long either. I have found that about 2 1/2 feet is plenty long enough for anything, any longer is too awkward, not enough control, and it is pretty rare there will be any shapes that are consistent enough something longer will even work.
How much should it flex? Just enough so that when holding onto the block comfortably, it takes just a little bit of pressure for the block to conform to the shape of the panel.
You don’t want the sanding block too rigid! A school bus might be completely straight, but virtually nothing else is. You will very much struggle sanding the right shape if the block is too solid. Even the 59 Cadillac I’m body working now has quite a bit of shape to it.
The sanding dust should be evenly spread across the block. It’s too rigid if it is concentrated in the center, and too flexible if there is too much body filler dust where your hand are.
Just find the right length and thickness of acrylic that makes all this happen!
tylerkrauseinc 