DIY sanding sponges for miniature figure prep work

I have always had and used a set of needle files for prepping my figures.  For the standard tabletop figure that is quite adequate (with a hobby knife as well).  However my reading of various scale model magazines has uncovered a world of various specialist filing/sanding options.  One of the most common is very fine grit sandpaper usually on some kind of semi flexible foam board.  Also prepping figures for display painting just scrapping off the mould lines isn't enough.

Knowing that anything in the hobby world probably started life as something else (like green stuff for example) I went to my local discount chemist/makeup provider (Priceline) and checked out the beauty isle.  After all finger nail buffers are really just fine sand paper.

The good thing about getting older is that you just don't care that people look at you while you check out every pack of emery boards/nail buffers in store.  Shame is for your 20s.  There was a pretty good foam strip sander/buffer which I found on metal figures worked really well.  But at $5+ and only one option to choose from I kept looking for more options.

From Hobbyco there are the various sanding sticks, foam strips, sandpaper, etc but all are quite expensive.  After all a single sheet of A4 sandpaper only costs $1-$2.  Why am I paying $10 for a couple of finger length strips.  Never pay retail!

Makeup sponges and spray

So firstly I purchased some fine grit sandpaper from the local hardware store.  They went up to 1200 grit.  For 1500/2000 grit eBay was my friend and I purchased a triple pack of 2 sheets each of 1200/1500/2000 grit for $6.50.  There were cheaper options but I knew that the Mr Hobby brand I chose was quite good.  Then it was back to Priceline Chemist for a bag of makeup sponges.  These are small 4x5cm sponges that come in a bag of 16 for less than $10 from memory.  

I then cut up some 600/800/1200/1500/2000 grit sandpaper into 4x5cm pieces and using spray adhesive glued the sandpaper and sponges together.  I found I had to put a heavy weight on top of the sponge to make sure it stuck to the sandpaper but once the glue was dry the bond was very good.  I also wrote what grit each piece was on the back of the sponge for ease of reference.

Scrape away all of your worries

Now I have a set of flexible sanding pads that I can bend in half or even cut up to odd shapes as per needed.  After using the metal files I switch to these sanding pads to clean up a figure.  Finally for display figures I use a Dremel with a brush attachment to give a metal figure a really smooth finish.