Coarse sanding
Removes waves, overpour and uneven areas. Work calmly to avoid local heat.
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How to sand epoxy resin
Sanding epoxy is about controlling heat, dust and grit progression. Large jumps between grits leave scratches that polishing will not hide.
Finishing
In this guide
Quick answer
How to sand epoxy resin
Sanding epoxy is about controlling heat, dust and grit progression. Large jumps between grits leave scratches that polishing will not hide.
Epoxy finishing does not start with gloss. It starts with controlling scratches, heat and adhesion for the next layer.
Good finishing is repeatable: grit progression, cleaning, inspection under light and only then polishing or lacquer.
How to choose
Start with the grit that actually removes the unevenness.
Clean the surface often and inspect scratches under raking light.
Before lacquer, follow the coating TDS instead of sanding to a mirror finish.
Grit progression
Each grit must remove scratches from the previous one. That matters more than the number itself.
Before finishing
If you apply lacquer, use the recommended adhesion grit rather than maximum gloss.
How to approach it in practice
Step by step
Identify what you need to remove
Levelling a wave, removing fine scratches and preparing for lacquer are different tasks. Choose the starting grit for the actual defect.
Avoid large grit jumps
Each step must remove marks from the previous one. Moving too quickly to fine paper only smooths deep scratches.
Control heat and dust
Epoxy does not like local overheating. Clean the surface, pads and abrasives often because dust can scratch like extra abrasive.
Match the final step to the goal
For lacquer, adhesion from the TDS matters; for gloss, polishing preparation matters. It is not always the same grit.
Test on a small area
Before the whole worktop, check the effect on a hidden area or sample. It saves time when the system behaves differently than expected.
Common mistakes
Mistake 1
Skipping grits and trying to hide scratches with polishing compound.
Mistake 2
Pressing the machine so hard that epoxy softens from heat.
Mistake 3
Applying lacquer to a surface prepared for gloss rather than adhesion.
Mistake 4
Dirty pads, old abrasives and dust left on the surface.
Internal links
Read next
Next step
Connect finishing with a durable coating
Check the finish database and defect guides before relying on polishing alone.
FAQ
Which grit should I start with?
Start with the grit that removes the problem. Levelling may require 120-180; lacquer prep depends on the TDS.
Wet or dry sanding?
Coarse sanding is often dry with extraction; high grits and polishing are often wet.
Why does epoxy turn cloudy after sanding?
That is normal matte micro-scratching. Clarity returns after polishing or compatible lacquer.