The Bottom Line
While sanding sponges are great for sanding rounded or unusual profiles, they're not commonly thought of as a woodworking tool. They work great on drywall and less sturdy building materials, but can be useful for some woodworking tasks.
I tested the Gator Zip Multi-Surface Sanding Sponge on a number of different profiles, as well as to sand wood filler. The sponge itself was far more durable than I expected, but the grit didn't hold up nearly as long as anticipated.
While I would still choose other options for most tasks, for some rounded profiles, the Gator Zip Sanding Sponge would be good to have in the shop.
I tested the Gator Zip Multi-Surface Sanding Sponge on a number of different profiles, as well as to sand wood filler. The sponge itself was far more durable than I expected, but the grit didn't hold up nearly as long as anticipated.
While I would still choose other options for most tasks, for some rounded profiles, the Gator Zip Sanding Sponge would be good to have in the shop.
Pros
- Very comfortable grip - easy to use
- Flexible design for sanding irregular profiles
- Able to sand flat surfaces as well
- Sponge can be reversed in grip or replaced when worn
- Well-suited for sanding drywall joints
Cons
- Grit on sponge didn't last as long as anticipated
Description
- The ergonomically-designed grip makes the sponge comfortable to use.
- The sponge is reversible (or replaceable when the grit on both sides is gone) in the grip.
- Did a good job at sanding excess wood putty down to the surface, particularly on rounded surfaces.
Guide Review - Gator Zip Multi-Surface Sanding Sponge
The Gator Zip Multi-Surface Sanding Sponge did a decent job of handling the light-duty sanding tasks that I tried, but it probably wouldn't be well-suited for a large sanding job. The handle on the sponge grip is the same ergonomic shape as on the Gator Zip Multi-Surface Sanding Tool, which uses hook-and-loop sanding pads on the bottom of the grip. That sanding tool seemed better-suited for general woodworking sanding tasks, but it didn't handle rounded profiles as nearly as well as this sponge. For hand sanding, the two would compliment each other quite well.
