Sanding Resin Keycaps: Smooth, Clear, and Professional Finish

Custom resin keycaps add personality to mechanical keyboards, but they often come out of molds with rough edges, uneven spots, or cloudy surfaces. Sanding is the essential step to refine them into smooth, polished, and professional-quality pieces. This guide explains how to sand resin keycaps for the best results.

Why Sand Resin Keycaps?

Sanding removes imperfections, sharp mold lines, and cloudiness. Without sanding, keycaps may look rough, feel uncomfortable, and lack clarity. Proper sanding ensures smooth edges and a glossy finish suitable for daily use.

Tools You’ll Need

• Wet/dry sandpaper sheets (400–3000 grit)
• Sanding sticks or foam pads for small areas
• Spray bottle with water
• Microfiber cloths
• Plastic or resin polishing compound
• Protective gloves and mask

Recommended Grit Sequence

• 400 grit: Remove mold lines and sharp edges.
• 800 grit: Smooth scratches from coarse sanding.
• 1500 grit: Refine surfaces for semi-clear finish.
• 3000 grit: Final sanding for crystal-clear shine.

Step-by-Step: Sanding Resin Keycaps

1. Clean the keycaps. Wash with mild soap and dry completely.
2. Start with 400 grit. Use 400 grit (25-pack) to remove mold edges.
3. Smooth with 800 grit. Switch to 800 grit (50-pack) for refinement.
4. Refine with 1500 grit. Use 1500 grit (100-pack) for clarity prep.
5. Finish with 3000 grit. Wet sand until surfaces are smooth and clear.
6. Polish and buff. Apply polishing compound and wipe with microfiber cloth.

Special Cases

For keycaps with embedded glitter, decals, or pigments, sand lightly to avoid damaging decorative layers. Always wet sand above 400 grit to minimize scratches.

Pro Tips

• Work in small, controlled motions for precision.
• Use sanding sticks for tight details and corners.
• Don’t skip grits—each stage removes scratches from the previous one.

Aftercare

• Polish occasionally to maintain shine.
• Clean keycaps with mild soap and avoid abrasives.
• Store extras in soft pouches to prevent scratches.

FAQs

• Do I need to sand every keycap? Yes—for consistent look and feel.
• Why do my keycaps look cloudy? Continue sanding through 3000 grit, then polish.
• Can I skip polishing? Not recommended—polishing enhances clarity and smoothness.

Watch & Learn

Sanding resin keycaps ensures they look clear, smooth, and professional. Stock up on wet/dry sandpaper sheets—packs of 25, 50, and 100 available across all fine grits. Shop resin keycap sanding sheets here.