Are you dedicated enough to make your epoxy resin casting a masterpiece? What if I tell you that I can read minds and know your answer is ‘Yes’?
If that’s true, I’m sure you are inclined towards polishing and to make your epoxy resin ready for that, you often think of sanding, querying over whether you can sand epoxy resin or not!
In this article, we will talk a lot about sanding and its ways to find out what is the best way to sand epoxy resin.
So, hang out with this article to explore the core of the matter of sanding.
Table of Contents
What is sanding?
Sanding is the process that includes techniques of turning the irregular surface of epoxy resin into regular, smooth, and glossy to the touch.
Sanding involves using various types of sandpaper, an electrical and air-powered sander (only if needed), and water.
I will recommend you to use the best sandpaper for epoxy resin as only the best quality sandpaper can lead your process of resin casting hassle-free and perfect.
Why is sanding done on epoxy resin?
Sanding is opted primarily to make the surface of epoxy resin soft, polished and smooth to touch and allure. It is usually done before polishing or coating the surface with polish which is almost the last stage of epoxy resin casting.
Sanding is preferred because it offers multiple benefits in which an excellent overall look remains on the top. Some of the other benefits are mentioned below:
1. Give a polished look to epoxy.
2. Makes the surface of the epoxy soft to the touch.
3. Enhances the smoothness of the epoxy surface that provides a sense of satisfaction to both looks and touch.
4. Multiplies the softness and glow of the surface of the epoxy.
What are some of the ways to sand epoxy resin?
To know the best way of sanding, it is first essential to know the different ways to sand epoxy resin. So, keep on your reading caps and continue reading further.
On this note, there are mainly several ways to sand epoxy resin. If you wonder what those are, I’m presenting you with the same guide.
1. Wet Sanding –
The hands’ process of wet sanding is preferred to be done to ensure extreme perfectness. If you are ready to bear extra expenses, you can also use an air-powered sander which is not at all a compulsion.
I will suggest you opt for wet sandpaper because the normal one may create a mess when used with water. I got my wet sandpaper from the local general shop.
You can get it from an online store, general, or hardware shop. To know what sandpaper you use to sand epoxy resin, click Here.
The simple process of wetting the sandpaper can be done by dipping it into the water completely at regular intervals to keep it wet.
It not only improves the performance of the casting but also cuts down on the birth of dust over the surface. It also increases the shelf-lives of the sandpaper and the epoxy resin casting.
It’s an ideal option for epoxy resin casting keychains, charms, jewelry, etc. The only disadvantage of relying on wet sanding is the process can be watery and messy.
2. Dry Sanding –
The dry sanding method is an excellent idea for the projects like epoxy and wood. The wood may obviate the perfect glossy and finished look when sanded with dry sanding before actual polishing.
An electric sander can do this sanding process to achieve quality and perfectness. However, the major drawback of using dry sanding is that when heat is eliminated in the process, it may cause the epoxy resin to get dissolved and turn into matte.
This is a severe complication, recovery from which is very difficult.
The Best way to sand Epoxy Resin –
Among all the sanding methods, I recommend you to sand your epoxy resin with waterproof sandpaper. The reason lies in its benefits over dry sanding.
Dry sanding may magnetize many dust particles forming the layer over epoxy resin, thus spoiling its overall look and appearance. Wet sanding, on the other hand, reduces dust emissions and proves the finished look.
In addition, wet sanding also eases down the uneven areas and prohibits sandpaper clogging by the resin dust particles. As a result, this prevents dust particles from being airborne and thus maximizes the setting of epoxy resin more clearly and smoothly.
FAQ’s –
1. Is sanding the epoxy resin a long and tough process?
No, the process of sanding the epoxy resin is not at all tough and elongated until you know the right tips and tricks. The best sandpaper should be chosen to sand the epoxy resin, and you should wait for some time before sanding the epoxy.
Only this stage might seem lengthy and messy, but trust me, it’s effortless and not elongated as you think. Click here to know how long to wait before sanding epoxy resin.
2. Are any precautionary measures to be taken when sanding the epoxy resin?
Sanding epoxy resin is not much harmful to health as it does not involve any use of hazardous substances.
It is also necessary to wear masks and protective gloves and follow all the proper measures to safeguard from epoxy resin and the emission of dust particles while sanding, which may harm health.
3. Is the process of sanding the epoxy resin really effective?
Well, this is a tricky question. Sanding epoxy resin is essential to smooth the surface perfectly and make the epoxy resin casting a masterpiece.
It is very effective in attaining the goal of assisting the polish in producing a finished resin product.
4. Is it necessary to sand the epoxy resin?
It is crucial to sand the epoxy resin if you want your resin casting to be highly expert. But it is not at all necessary to sand your epoxy resin.
You can opt for different methods instead of sanding, which may be less effective than the sanding process.
Conclusion –
I hope you enjoyed reading a lot about the technique of sanding in the process of resin casting to extract what is the best way to sand epoxy resin.
If you like the information, don’t forget to share I with as many people as possible and let us know about your experience sanding the epoxy resin in the comment box.
Until then, C’yaa! Happy Epoxy Resin Casting!