this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2026
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Woodworking

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Since every leg is a little different and the tail section isn't perfectly symmetrical, I have to basically custom fit each leg to its section of the fuselage

So I'm just using a tiny piece of sandpaper and the tip of my finger. Making them out of softwood is coming in handy, as removing material is pretty easy.

I also found that rubbing the leg up and down while applying pressure makes slightly shiny spots that I can then sand.

It's a laborious but effective process

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[–] LastYearsIrritant@sopuli.xyz 3 points 21 hours ago

This project is so stupidly engaging.

Keep with the updates, I love to see them.

[–] Snowcano@startrek.website 8 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I thought you were making a wooden Enterprise and this was the neck connecting to the secondary hull. My disappointment is immeasurable. πŸ˜†

[–] plantfanatic@sh.itjust.works 12 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Use a piece of sandpaper (paper side against it, abrasive out) on the piece you’re trying to mate to, and it’ll sand in the same profile.

You should use a dowel instead of your finger since it doesn’t deform too much as well. Basically you should use a sanding backing block, in the same profile of what you’re trying to sand it too. Flat block for a flat area, dowels for round, stuff like that.

The sandpaper isn't flexible enough for that, it doesn't like to curve in two directions at once

[–] meco03211@lemmy.world 7 points 1 day ago (2 children)

Do your best and caulk the rest!

[–] sneekee_snek_17@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (3 children)

I've accepted that I'm not going to get it PERFECT. As long as the gaps are less than, like, 1/16 or 1/32 and can be arranged to be at the bottom where the leg will cover them, that's fine

[–] NaibofTabr@infosec.pub 9 points 1 day ago

Gap fill with wood glue mixed with sawdust. This will be sandable/stainable/paintable.

[–] meco03211@lemmy.world 3 points 1 day ago

I was mostly being facetious. Clearly you are determined to achieve a higher level of quality. I wish you the best.

[–] xxploit@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Never let perfection stand in the way of good.

[–] sneekee_snek_17@lemmy.world 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

That is the major struggle right now. I forced myself to accept them as-is and move onto gluing

[–] xxploit@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago

Looks good enough to me and besides, you may decide to paint it with some paint that applies a relatively thick coat, which would end up filling those tiny gaps anyway. Anywho, keep going good work!

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 2 points 1 day ago

Spoken like a true caulkender!

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Is this the toy rocket posted about earlier?