Right-size sandpaper with this "cutting" board

Tearing sandpaper sheets to size is a tedious task made easier with this simple jig. First, cut some scrap hardwood to the length of a hacksaw blade. Rip three pieces to the widths shown below and plane them to slightly different thicknesses to create the "steps," as shown. Make a shallow rabbet for the blade in the 2  3⁄4"-wide piece and then edge-glue the pieces together. Epoxy the blade in the rabbet and you're ready to make piles of properly sized sheets in no time. By butting the edge of the abrasive against the correct step, you can tear-off half-, third-, and quarter-sheets for your power sanders or for hand-sanding blocks. —Lynn Lawrenz, Algoma, Wis.