DIY Sandpaper Storage: Build a Simple Drawer Organizer
I use a quarter-sheet finishing sander quite often in my shop. To make changing sandpaper as quick as possible, I like to keep a supply of sheets already cut to size.
The problem is finding a convenient way to store them.
Small pieces of sandpaper tend to get mixed together in a drawer, making it difficult to find the right grit. They also have a tendency to curl, which can make installing a fresh sheet on the sander more frustrating than it needs to be.
My solution is a simple DIY sandpaper storage organizer made from scrap plywood.
It fits inside a shop drawer and keeps precut sanding sheets separated, flat, and ready to use.
Build a Sandpaper Storage Grid from Plywood
The organizer starts with narrow strips of plywood assembled into a grid.
Each strip has a series of notches that allow the pieces to fit together, creating individual compartments for different sandpaper grits.
These notches are easy to cut using a dado blade in the table saw.
The nice thing about this design is that you can customize the grid to fit almost any drawer.
Simply measure the available drawer space and determine how many compartments you'll need.
Size each compartment to hold the precut sandpaper sheets without bending the edges.
Then cut the plywood strips and assemble the grid inside the drawer.
Keep Sandpaper Flat with Hold-Down Blocks
Organizing the sheets by grit solves one problem, but I also wanted to keep the sandpaper from curling.
To do that, I added a small plywood hold-down block to each compartment.
The blocks rest on top of the sandpaper, keeping the sheets flat in the drawer.
A short dowel installed in each block serves as a handle, making it easy to lift the block and remove a sheet.
I also added a label to each block identifying the sandpaper grit stored underneath.
Now I can open the drawer, find the grit I need, and grab a fresh sheet without sorting through a stack of loose sandpaper.
A Simple Sandpaper Organizer for Any Workshop
This storage system doesn't require much material or complicated construction.
A few plywood scraps are all you need to create the grid and hold-down blocks.
And because the compartments can be sized to fit your drawer, the same idea works for storing different sizes of precut sandpaper.
It's a quick shop project that keeps sanding supplies organized, prevents curling, and makes changing sandpaper a little easier.
Sometimes the best workshop storage solutions are the simplest ones.
DIY Sanding Disc Storage Tower
Keeping sandpaper organized makes sanding projects easier from start to finish. If you use a random-orbit sander, this compact DIY Sanding Disc Storage Tower is another handy addition to your shop.
With separate compartments for different grits, it keeps sanding discs neatly stacked, easy to identify, and ready whenever you need them.
BUILD A SANDING DISC STORAGE TOWER → Keep Your Sanding Discs Organized, Too
