Newbie -sanding question

[droopy eagle eye]

I thought carving was tough but it took a long time just to put my first message out. I have been playing with moose horn for awhile now and through your site you have all taught me a lot so far. I am doing a wolf carving at the moment and there are a lot of small spaces that I need to get into to sand and smooth out. I have been looking around with no luck. Any suggestions?
Thanks

[idigjars]

Hello and welcome to the forum. They sell narrow sanding sticks or you could make your own that might get into the spaces you need to sand. Safe carving. Paul

[carvingbarn]

Welcome to the forum. Look forward to seeing you work.

[Mitchell]

Try this thread: Sanding Problems...

[mpounders]

The thread above posted by Mitchell mentions all the methods that I have used and a few that I haven't. Here is a link to one of my blogs that shows some pictures of some of the different means Say Hello to my leetle friends.....my favorite sanding accessories for carving! - by mpounders @ LumberJocks.com ~ woodworking community . I have also chucked up a wooden dowel in my flex shaft tool, sharpened to a point, and used that for fine burnishing in caracka and corners. Works well.

[wayno]

I am new to carving and look forward to ideas from the pros. Wayno from Ga.

[Mottles]

Hello and Welcome

[mobjack68]

glue sandpaper to popsickle sticks....or sticks you cut yourself if you need something a little longer or less bendy.
Metal fingernail files also work, I found a beauty supply house that sells a "stone" fingernail file....looks like composite garnet slightly coarser than a hard arkansas stone, I have used it for burnishing wood, I'm sure it would also work on horn.

Any sandpaper will work, apply a light coat of glue to the stick, press it onto the sandpaper...hold for a couple of seconds...I'm REAL impatient....set a book on it..
When the glue dries, trim the sandpaper (don't use the good shears) and sand away.

I generally make sticks with 80 grit on one side and 180 on the other....
On horn, don't discount jewelers rasps/files...

Be creative, they sell velcro backed sanding disks at the box stores, I buy the hook part of the velcro seperate, adhesive backed, press it onto whatever and now I have quick change sanding "stuff"

[mobjack68]

Oh..almost forgot to throw out the welcome mat "WIPE YOUR FEET"....No, Wait...turn it over!!!
Welcome!!!

[Bruce Bird]

Hi Droopy
I carve moose antler and to get at hard to get at tight spots I use jewellers files.I got mine from a friendly jeweller.They were too worn out for him but still work on antler.Antler can also be scraped with a sharp knife blade to get rid of scratches. Then I sand and sand and sand some more.I end up with 800 or 1000 grit then polish with a felt wheel on my roatery grinder.
Bruce