MSS-600 Semi-Rigid Sanding Sticks

A semi-rigid sanding stick, 600 grit

A sanding stick with a semi-rigid core, something between paper and a file. The core flexes slightly, so the stick follows a curved surface, yet at the same time it holds its shape firmly enough not to ripple a flat one. That is exactly the difference against a soft sanding sponge, with which edges round themselves off on their own. The 600 grit is the preparation of the surface under a primer.

What it is suited to

• The final leveling of a surface before a primer is applied
• Sanding in tight places where a sanding pad will not go
• Work dry as well as wet
• Leveling surfaces without rippling flat parts

How it is used

Six hundred is the grit after which the surface is smooth to the touch and ready to take a primer. It barely removes material any more, it only levels. It is also used for rounding off edges that are too sharp and would look unnaturally hard on a model. Guide the stick along the surface rather than in circles, otherwise the scratches cross and are then visible under the paint. Wet, the surface clogs faster with water and dust, so rinse it as you go. After this step it pays to clean the surface and spray a thin coat of primer. That will reliably show the flaws the eye overlooks on bare plastic.

Who the sanding stick is for

For modelers who sand in places where an ordinary sanding pad is of no use, and for anyone who wants a complete range of grits to hand, from coarse leveling up to preparation under a gloss coat. The sanding stick is supplied on its own; the model and paints are not part of it.