Sanding Epoxy Resin: Achieve a Crystal-Clear, Glossy Finish

Epoxy resin projects—from river tables to jewelry—look stunning when finished properly. But raw resin often cures with uneven surfaces, bubbles, or dull patches. Sanding epoxy resin is the key to unlocking a flawless, glass-like shine.

Why Sand Epoxy Resin?

Even with careful pouring, epoxy surfaces can have imperfections such as high spots, ripples, or micro-bubbles. Sanding levels these defects and prepares the surface for polishing. Without sanding, resin often looks cloudy or uneven under light.

Tools You’ll Need

• 9x11 in wet/dry sandpaper sheets
• Sanding block or orbital sander
• Spray bottle with water for wet sanding
• Microfiber cloths
• Polishing compound and buffing pad

Best Grit Sequence for Epoxy Resin

• 400 grit: Flatten high spots and smooth uneven texture.
• 800 grit: Refine scratches and prepare for finer sanding.
• 1500 grit: Smooth the surface to a semi-gloss level.
• 2000 grit: Final sanding before polishing.
• 3000 grit: Optional ultra-fine step for maximum clarity.

Step-by-Step: Sanding Epoxy Resin

1. Clean the surface. Remove dust and debris before sanding.
2. Start with 400 grit. Wet sand using 400 grit (25-pack) to flatten imperfections.
3. Move to 800 grit. Switch to 800 grit (50-pack) for refining the surface.
4. Polish with 1500 grit. Use 1500 grit (100-pack) to reach a smooth, semi-gloss finish.
5. Finish with 2000 grit. Wet sand evenly across the surface for maximum clarity.
6. Optional 3000 grit. Ultra-fine sanding enhances depth and gloss before buffing.
7. Polish & buff. Apply polishing compound and buff with a pad for a mirror-like shine.

Special Cases

For deep bubbles or waves, you may need to re-pour a thin coat of resin before sanding. For jewelry or small crafts, hand sanding with finer grits is sufficient.

Pro Tips

• Always wet sand epoxy to prevent clogging and overheating.
• Work in circular motions for even results.
• Don’t rush—each grit removes the scratches left by the previous one.

Aftercare

• Avoid placing hot objects directly on epoxy surfaces.
• Clean with mild soap and water only.
• Re-polish periodically to maintain clarity.

FAQs

• Do I need to sand between epoxy pours? Yes—light sanding with 400 grit ensures proper bonding between layers.
• Can I skip straight to polishing? No—polish cannot fix deeper scratches left by coarse sanding.
• What grit makes epoxy crystal clear? Sanding up to 2000–3000 grit followed by polishing produces a glass-like finish.

Watch & Learn

Get flawless results with eQualle’s wet/dry sandpaper sheets for epoxy sanding. Available in 25, 50, and 100 packs. Shop super fine sandpaper here.