Sanding Resin tips and tricks
Sanding resin for me was the biggest frustration when I started making. Lots of different techniques work for lots of different people and you may have to try lots of things to get the technique that works for you. The goal for me was for the pieces to look like glass with no imperfections or scratches. I will give 2 different methods of how to do sand and finish resin 1 by hand and 1 with a lathe.
Sanding by hand
Preparation
Resin creates dust and that dust is harmful please see the Safety and working with resin for more details.
Water with washing-up liquid.
Cover your work area as it can be a bit messy.
Wet and dry sandpaper up to 1500 grit
Buffing machine - if possible.
Method
With your piece, you don't want to start with a very low grit and you will make more work for yourself, I recommend that you start with 400 grit and if need be (more than likely will be) work your way down to a grit that makes the desired effect.
Sanding in a figure of 8 is the best method to prevent swirls or "pigtails" as some call them.
It's important to clean your resin often to prevent the dust undoing the sanding you are doing.
Patience is key, sanding resin can be a labour of love and it may take more time as you perfect your technique. Sanding through every different grit is extremely important, if you went from 320 grit sandpaper to 600 grit sandpaper you would have large scratches in your piece.
When you reach your desired grit using a product like Yorkshire grit is great to get rid of any last marks, it is best used on a buffing wheel however is perfectly fine with a cloth.
Sanding with a lathe
Preparation
Resin creates dust and that dust is harmful please see the Safety and working with resin for more details.
Warm (not hot) water with washing-up liquid.
Cover your work area as it can be a bit messy.
Lathe buffing mandrel with tripoli compound, diamond white compound and carbona wax.
Method
As with the hand sanding you don't want to start with a very low grit and you will make more work for yourself, I recommend that you start with 400 grit Abranet, Abranet is great for not getting clogged up with resin, and if need be (more than likely will be) work your way down to a grit that starts to reduce the imperfections. As you do more sanding up through the grits i.e 240 - 320 - 400 you will get a feel of where to start. Keep the sandpaper moving on the piece to reduce heat buildup which could soften your piece.
It's important to clean your resin often to prevent the dust undoing the sanding you are doing.
I sand up to 600 grit and then apply Yorkshire grit sanding paste.
When the Lathe buffing mandrel has been put on the lathe make sure that the buffing wheels have a good amount of compound on them and then keep the pendant moving at all times holding it at the bottom of center, about 8 pm on a clock.
This should give you a clear item with no imperfections.