Sandoval is from San Felipe pueblo and married to Irma Vacit of Zuni Pueblo. The family, two sons and one daughter, live alternately in San Felipe and Zuni. Melvin is deeply immersed in Zuni culture, having once built a shalako house at Zuni. His carvings have a large collector base because of their distinctive impressionistic style and the fact he is one of few carvers who have had book devoted to his work and story.