Recommend long block for roof.

J

Joe 73

What are some recommendations for a block to sand my roof on my 73 chevelle? I have a complete set of Dura-blocks but my 16" block is pretty stiff to do the roof. Should I just put pressure on my dura-block or is there a more preferred block for doing roofs? I was thinking something with a little flex since a roof has a more a crown in every direction and no flat areas.

Thanks guys.
 
I have a set a AFS blocks. They have rods in them you can remove or add to adjust stiffness. they make them all the way up to 36 inch. the largest I have is the 27 inch but get great results with it. been planning on getting the 36 just haven't done it yet. these blocks are pricey but seem well built. mine are 5 years old and still going.
 
x2 on the afs. they are great. i got a big set of them prob 5-6 years ago as well. some are whooped but most are still in great shape. if you want a really good tool though for roof you need to goto s 3m marine supplier and get what they all a fairing board. its about 36" long with a big knob handle on each end. it holds adhesive roll paper but in automotive we use 2 3/4" stuff. that board uses 4.5" great for getting that consistent flat crown completely even across the whole roof
 
I like those AFS blocks. But I dont see myself doing any large jobs after this one. I've read about guys making different kinds of blocks and it got me thinking. Anyone every make a block that would be good on a roof ? I was thinking something like a 3" diameter pool noodle. Or maybe a 2" diameter, thick wall, piece of hose with some expandable spray foam in it for extra stiffness. Or a 1" diameter piece of pvc pipe, it flexes pretty good.

Any other ideas to get me through this roof ?

Thanks guys.
 
Im a wood worker so I have access to a planer/surfacer. I cut a piece of straight oak to length and width desired, then plane to a thickness that will easily bed to the coutour of the surface I want to block. If its too thick, the the board will not contour to the surface without flattening in the middle. Too thin, wont hold even pressure in the middle. I keep running it thru the planer until it countours perfectly to the surface. Very economical and usually find more than one surface it will work on. I have one that is six feet long. Now I must say I have not got to the base clear in using any of my home made blocks, so they may not be worthy of my expectations. I use stick paper to changing paper is a PIA. I have lots of scrap oak so its almost as easy to make a new one.
 
before I got my AFS blocks I took a 16 inch durablock and cut about a 1/2 inch off the top the length of the block, made it flex a lot better but harder to hang on to. Jim C I'm going to have to look into one of those fairing boards, got a nomad coming in a couple months it would shure be handy to get that thing straight.
 
I have been using strips of aluminum, order a piece 3/16" x whatever width you want it and then cut it into the lengths you need.
 
I also have 3/16" aluminum and it works well. Again, like wood, when using the sticky back paper, its a PITA to remove and get clean for new paper.
 
Another vote for the AFS, but I noticed on mine that the foam interfered with the metal base plate laying flat on the panel, so I trimmed it. That had to be done on all of the blocks.

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If you want to make one you can use just about anything mentioned. Oak, aluminum, etc. goto home depot and get a piece of azek. Its a hard surface, flexible as hell but soft enough where if a corner or some part if it hits the paint it wont gouge or mark it up. Cut it 2.75" wide and stick your psa roll paper to it. Its 3/4" thick and i belive it would be plenty flexible at that but if you need it more flexible for your roof then cut it down to 3/8" thick.
 
AZEK !! Didnt even think of that. And I have some in the shed. And that Jeff Lilly site is very interesting. I went and purchased that board on ebay above. I'll check it out and see how it does and post back. But the azek has me thinking.
 
Thought I'd give a little update about the long board I purchased. Its made by ASE Industries.

Here's the ebay link again. http://www.ebay.com/itm/17-Flexible...e-Highly-Flexible-Foam-Material-/321784351023

I also found it under Vapor Tools. Anyway, its about 17" long and very flexible. Nice and thick though. At first I didnt think it would work well since it actually flexes under its own weight like a wet noddle. LOL. What I found was that to use it on the curved roof, I had to spread my fingers to give equal pressure along its length. Then it worked very well. Got the roof done in no time. Here's some pics.
 
Them 3m Fairing Boards are 4 1/2" x 30". They are offered in both rigid and flex. Both use hook and loop. They run $60-$80 bucks. 10 sheets of the paper will run you around $60. Both have good reviews in the boat building forums and if you hit the flex board on the edge of something to knock off the sanding dust, one guy broke it right in half. Personally, I think they have a limited use, but would be pretty awesome for a very few places. And the paper is pretty spendy, but with the hook and loop, it can be swapped out and reused. Ive been looking at them for several months but have not purchased any.
 
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