How to Sand and Polish Epoxy Resin to a Mirror Finish - Step by Step Guide

Check out www.glasscastresin.com/how-to... for project details
Further info and product links ▼
Step-by-step video tutorial covering the complete process of how to flat and polish epoxy resin up to a high gloss/mirror finish, including tools and abrasive selection, followed by detailed instructions on sanding action, grits and passes, before progressing to final polishing to a flawless high gloss.
Products used in the video:
UK & Worldwide Customers:
► GlassCast 50 Clear Epoxy Resin www.glasscastresin.com/glassc...
► Mirka Abranet and Galaxy Abrasive Pads www.glasscastresin.com/p120-1...
► NW1 Polishing Compound www.glasscastresin.com/nw1-ep...
► TOPFINISH 2 Polishing Compound www.glasscastresin.com/topfin...
EU Customers:
► GlassCast 50 Clear Epoxy Resin www.easycomposites.eu/glassca...
► Mirka Abranet and Galaxy Abrasive Pads www.easycomposites.eu/abrasiv...
► NW1 Polishing Compound www.easycomposites.eu/nw1-whi...
► TOPFINISH 2 Polishing Compound www.easycomposites.eu/topfini...
For full details, including a full list of products used with links, see the project page on the GlassCast website: www.glasscastresin.com/how-to...
#epoxyresin #sandandpolishing #howtosandandpolishresin

[@marleny1956]

This is the first video I’ve come across that has helped me clearly understand how to sand and polish resin. Thank you 🙏🏻

[@glasscastresin]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@randyhakes9050]

Was that a message disc

[@marleny1956]

@@randyhakes9050huh?

[@stevel6117]

After staring at my first dull Resin effort and wondering why I couldn't get it to look clear, hey presto 1 video later and I can smile again, thanks.

[@reuma7823]

Hi from New Zealand, thank you for this great tutorial. I get excited when I want to learn new projects, but then I get anxiety. But I try & push myself & after watching this video...well I'm goanna give it ago. I'm happy to to start a new project & I'm happy to be a new subscriber, thanx loads looking forward to watching more from you 🥰

[@markdarlington9914]

Thank you wish to start making knife scales using wood and epoxy this tutorial has taught me so much and saved me money as in sanding discs i now know the correct ones to purchase thanks again

[@lisaparker1919]

Finally i understand how to sand and polish my resin and can finally complete the 2 side tables i have created. Thankyou

[@glasscastresin]

Best of luck finishing your tables.

[@MrBigMalT]

Best tutorial on polishing resin I’ve ever seen. Good work guys 👍👍👍

[@glasscastresin]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@stadenart]

Wow! What an excellent video. I have watched several videos from other channels, but they come up short, skipping steps or glossing over details. You provide concise explanations, but with much needed detail on both the procedure and the products used. This will have immediate impact and take my epoxy pours to the next level. Thank you. I'm heading out to your website to look at the products now.

[@glasscastresin]

Thanks for the feedback, we try and cover every process in detail and not miss anything out. We think it's important to show not just the result, but how to get there and the work involved.

[@shanelover]

Thank you for this very informative video!!! Well done and very descriptive, covering all the bases 👍

[@mylifetattoos247]

I feel like a took a really great course today! I’m ready to finish up this counter top I started 4 years ago!! Thank you!👊🏼🙌🏼🙏🏼

[@glasscastresin]

Best of luck finishing it off

[@wormsorensen3715]

Thanks. This was clear and very thorough. Just what I needed. 👍😁

[@andy-bru4532]

Thanks so much for this tutorial, it worked wonders 🎉

[@davetv4705]

Thanks for this tutorial. You sounded very professional. I can't wait to try.

[@glasscastresin]

Thank you for commenting, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@anthonydeakin3834]

I’m new to this resin thing but after making a bottle top table for my bar I’m keen to move onto bigger and better. The polishing video will help me as I move ahead, thanks.👍

[@glasscastresin]

It is our please Anthony, glad to hear it has been useful :)

[@Waldkauz-Liebe]

Thank you very much for this video. Superbly explained! And many thanks for the helpful information about processing time and material.

[@johnnyf.4169]

Love this video. Explained step by step

[@roy_8693]

WOW! Very nice. Nice presentation. I'll be using these tips in my current project. Thanks

[@glasscastresin]

Thank Roy, I'm glad it has proved useful to you - let us know how you get on with your project! :)

[@owaisconceptstudio7195]

Atleast i find the perfect video for the perfect way to polishing thanks

[@JerryWilliamson]

Perfect. Thank you for being so detailed.

[@glasscastresin]

Thanks Jerry, glad you enjoyed the video!

[@tonitoni8584]

Very well explained! Thank You a lot!

[@kimaskew4874]

I agree. Having the right materials DOES make a world of difference!!

[@metv6858]

Fantastic tutorial 👍🏻

[@arcis1985]

Great and simple lesson 😉

[@genovevahester2899]

Absolutely great video, thank you.

[@andreawelch1466]

Finally, a decent instructional video. Thank you

[@glasscastresin]

We really appreciate the kind comment, glad you enjoyed!

[@mchtzn]

Perfect done !!! 😍

[@Xceloverdose]

Fantastic video. So useful. Thank you! Instantly subscribed and bought several products from your site!

[@glasscastresin]

Glad you found the video useful!

[@sawyerhackett1509]

Great video! Super helpful

[@dashad670]

Just huge thank you from USA!!!

[@glasscastresin]

You're very welcome, hope the tutorial helps.

[@Sweetknives]

Excellent demo on the product, will be trying this process out on some knives for my channel. Thanks again!

[@glasscastresin]

Thanks Sweetknives :)

[@terrybrockhoff8168]

What a very informative video , found it very useful , and very easy on the eye so it was easy to watch

[@glasscastresin]

Thanks Terry, glad you found it useful :)

[@FireHeartCreations]

That answered so many questions i've had

[@insightukltd5791]

What an awesome video thanks

[@gtperlssmax1976]

Thank you so much this is an amazing video!!!

[@traceyhilder3426]

Fabulous video I will be adding those to my list for sure

[@glasscastresin]

Thanks Tracey :)

[@fhumeau]

Thank you for making this video!

[@glasscastresin]

Glad you found it useful, thanks for watching.

[@kenbartholomew8825]

Nicely done!

[@robertdunham8677]

Thanks, very well done!

[@azhardhawan7390]

Used it for the first time last weekend definitely worth buying if you're a person who likes detailing your own car recommend first time to use on lowest setting 800 so you don't burn paint don't leave in one spot keep moving it over paint easy to use kzbin.infoUgkxfzbDkCRyv3CFXnLZI4APZtRRuG2uRmP2 truck looks like new again used maguires black light battery life like all milwaukee products seem to hold up well 😀

[@stephengano1173]

Amazing video

[@rezaurrahman1178]

very helpful video love u & ❤❤I like this job very much, I will start very soon InshAllah

[@fujicahzakura7832]

your videos very detailed..thank you for sharing this video sir i learn a lot with this...🎉🎉🎉🎉 please make more tutorial video like this. God bless you always❤

[@glasscastresin]

Thanks for the feedback, keep an eye out for our next tutorial project.

[@SGreg82]

Thank you very much! Super useful video!👏🏻🙏🏻

[@glasscastresin]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@AlbertoMayagoitiaHill]

Ahora si entendí cómo lijar y pulir el epoxy. Gracias..!

[@Rockysbeats]

Thanks for the tutorial amazing results! and dont forget..if you polish a table its still a table!

[@glasscastresin]

Thanks for watching.

[@redguitar12]

Great video ... thanks!

[@shabanakhan5759]

Thankyou this was. really very clear and helpful tutorial. Want to buy some materials.

[@eddayoh]

great video thank you

[@remwoodz]

Comprehensive ...very well done

[@glasscastresin]

Thanks Richard, it put us a bit of time to put this one together - not the actual filming/editing but the planning because we know its one area which causes a lot of headaches, especially if someone hasn't done a lot of sanding and polishing before and we wanted to make sure we covered everything including useful tips we've picked up through the years. Sanding and polishing can be really quite satisfying when you get the hang of it 🙂

[@johnc6440]

Very useful video - thank you

[@glasscastresin]

Thanks John, we really appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment. I'm glad that you enjoyed!

[@vivekanandan1616]

This video is very helpful for me

[@glasscastresin]

Glad it could be of use :)

[@youtubelifehackingtips3673]

Thank you so much for your nice video, I have a question please help me how can I use epoxy resin on basin and old basin and how to make perfect and glass glossy smooth finishing

[@wingkwong8754]

a massive thank you

[@artisan998]

This tutorial is well overdue. I was asking about this from you 3-4 years ago but thankfully KZbin saved the day back then

[@glasscastresin]

Mmm, sorry we didn’t have this video when you needed it but glad you found what you were looking for. I hope the project worked out well 👍.

[@RobSandstromDesigns]

Enjoyed your tutorial. Just starting to use clear resin. Up to this point my work has all been done with table top multicolor epoxy inlays. I didn't do any wet sanding or polishing, even though I have been informed it would step up my game. I am now trying to move in that direction. So a couple questions: Seems like a basic question but need to validate I have a Festool 150" ROS. Will the mirka sandpaper and wet sanding discs work with that sander? I am pretty sure the answer is yes but wanted to validate. Second question - looks like once you go to wet sanding you remove the dust collector connection so you don't suck water into the DC - is that correct? Thank you again for the tutorial - very helpful.

[@glasscastresin]

For an 150mm disc they should fit no problem. Yes you don't want water in the vacuum cleaner/extraction system.

[@RicardoIlardo]

Finally an alternative to extremely expensive 3M products! *Thanks*

[@randallcreativedesign5562]

Great vid thanks

[@glasscastresin]

Thanks Randall, glad you enjoyed it 👍

[@reels-and-music-videos]

top man this was perfect!

[@glasscastresin]

Thanks for the feedback, glad its been useful :)

[@SehmusKaya-sl1ho]

Abone oldum bildirimleri açtım ve ürünleri satın alacam gerçekten eğitici be çok bilgilendirici bir video içerik olmuş teşekkür ederim 🙏🏼

[@christinearmstrong4099]

Thank you for a great tutorial. Can you recommend a tool for smaller pieces of resin? I’m working on coasters, so an orbital sander feels excessive for the size. I use GlassCast resin and it is brilliant, never had any issues with it unlike others that I’ve tried.

[@glasscastresin]

The good thing about a random orbital sander like this is that it has a random path, it's not just rotational which means you get a really nice finish with minimal sanding marks. For small pieces you might find a detail sander more appropriate.

[@puneetpatel9166]

thankyou so much!!!

[@robertdodds6683]

Thanks a lot for sharing this video, and really nice work! The tabletop I'm working on doesn't have a 'river' of resin, instead it's scattered across the surface of the wood to fill holes, indentations, etc. What would you recommend I do when it comes to the sealing of wood and polishing of resin stage?

[@glasscastresin]

You could do the process in a very similar way. Applying the oil coat before you polish the resin surface will reduce the chances of the compound absorbing into the grain. For small areas you may wish to polish by hand which might reduce the spread of the compound over the wood areas.

[@ThomasHeikes]

Awesome video, thanks so much! I am exploring setting in stones with my epoxy, any suggestions on sanding process for this?

[@glasscastresin]

If the stones are covered completely then the process is the same. If trying to sand around stones sticking out, that would be much more fiddly.

[@themadgod3507]

Fantastic! Such a great video! Any differences to this if your using a white marble finish epoxy? Different compound etc etc????

[@glasscastresin]

Hi, thanks for commenting. The process and compound would be exactly the same as the video.

[@LeapsofFaith1234]

I have a few questions about the NW1 and Topfinish 2 polishing compounds. 1) Are they sold anywhere under a smaller quantity? I don't have many resin things to use it on. 2) Can I use it with a dremel tool on small resin projects? 3) If it *can* be used with a dremel tool, what would be the recommended buffing bit?

[@sabiniliescu6475]

I can answer you, or i can try at least. So, yes, you can use your dremmel toold with this paste. You can find some other polishing paste from different suplier that does the job and in small quantities ( Meguiars). And you can buff it with the wool disk.

[@4414_br]

hi, thanks so much for the video - so detailed and helpful! however, no matter what i do, i am getting the swirly pigtail marks from the sander. i am trying to follow the instructions in this video exactly, and the sanding pads do not look clogged, but i cannot get rid of them. any advice is appreciated!!!

[@glasscastresin]

Make extra sure both the surface and the pad are clean. If you pick up even the smallest bit of coarser grit or debris, it will scratch the surface leaving those pigtail marks.

[@yasmintapia9238]

Thank u for this very informative video...can u help me where to get the different grit papers n the polishing compound

[@glasscastresin]

Glad you found it useful. You can find the abrasive papers and the polish from our website. www.glasscastresin.com/

[@iansampson1302]

Great video and very helpful. You used Danish oil to seal the wood before polishing with the compound. How long after sealing do you have to wait to polish. Is it possible to use like an Odies oil to seal before polishing as well?

[@glasscastresin]

It is not a product we have tested. However it looks to be made of oils and waxes so is likely to offer similar levels of protection. However test on a small area first to be safe.

[@cra7g686]

Hi mate. What adapter do you use for the dewalt orbital sander

[@vickikgibson9470]

Oh, and great video....:)

[@roberttarter2137]

Great video any suggestions for a mixed epoxy countertop tops?

[@glasscastresin]

Hi Robert, the only difference if you were doing a darker colour is that you may wish to use the NW1 and TopFinish black rather than the white. Everything else would be exactly the same.

[@aaronwhite901]

Gonna be rewatching this because seeing multiple passes is new to me! Can this be applied to a resin table top that has a few flowers sticking out so it can be a flat shiny surface?

[@glasscastresin]

The flowers should really be fully encapsulated in the resin which will prevent them from absorbing moisture and decaying any further. If they are protruding from the surface then you should cut the flowers back flush and sand out a small amount of resin around the flowers, you can fill with a small quantity of resin to seal them in place. This can then be sanded flat and polished as demonstrated in the video. Alternatively you could cut the flowers back to the surface and apply a 2mm coating of GlassCast 3. GlassCast 3 cures with a flat glossy finish so you shouldn't then need to do any more finishing work.

[@rashmitharushi7057]

Wow 😍

[@iaine27a]

would you use the same process for smaller areas of resin-for example is its being used to fill large crack/splits in a piece of wood that will be turned?

[@glasscastresin]

Yes, the same process would be used for any size of resin.

[@deweyoxburger5470]

Can glass stovetop polish be used for polishing?

[@atauhamos3272]

Super nice video! I have a artwork that I would like to polish but the resin layer is only 2mm thick. How much material is removed during this process? Thank you very much!

[@glasscastresin]

In reality, very little - fractions of a millimetre as you're only working down through the deepest scratches. As you progress to the next, finer level of abrasive papers, the only material you're removing is between the scratches, you're not going deeper; the idea being that your smoothing out the surface prior to polishing.

[@ramcgmecom]

Great video, very well executed! One thing I didn't see addressed - should this be done on both sides of the piece? I imagine yes as if the bottom is not as clear as the top you'll see that as you look through it. I've made several river tables, though all with a dark epoxy - not see through, so I sand the bottom up to 180, while the top is sanded to 800 (on the epoxy part).

[@glasscastresin]

Thanks for the feedback. Correct If you wanted to be able to see through the entire piece with clarity then you would also need to polish up the underside of the 'river'. If, as in your case the bottom side is hidden then you can do as much or as little finishing as you please.

[@bjames901]

When staining wood, I guess you wouldn’t want to sand up to 1200? Maybe stop on the wood around 320 and keep sanding the epoxy?

[@user-rt4ct8xz8e]

Hi, thank you for this great tutorial 👍 I will do same steps but ı have question mark. You apply that polish also to wood. Are those polish can apply also for woods? Should ı apply only resin part or both of them? I wish that; ı explained my self clear 😊

[@glasscastresin]

Its only really for polishing the resin itself and would be best to avoid getting it onto the wood as if it gets into the grain, it might alter the appearance of the wood itself.

[@user-jx3pb3zs4w]

Thanks for the step by step video. I’m wondering if you wore a specific mask during sanding?

[@glasscastresin]

A good quality P2 or better quality mask is recommended for epoxy sanding dust.

[@eltea3592]

Can you add a finish like Osmos to both the wood and the epoxy? Great video thanks.....

[@glasscastresin]

A product such as that wouldn't improve the finish on the epoxy in any way. As an oil based product it would simply sit on the surface of the epoxy so can be wiped away once applied to the wood. If you are using a one with a stain to alter the appearance of the wood it would be a good idea to so this relatively quickly rather than letting it sit on the epoxy, especially with light coloured or clear resin.

[@deedeebowin6555]

Hi there! Your video was substantially more informative than at least 100 others I have seen on KZbin. I would like to ask, however, the f the polishing should be done both before AND after the seal coat and flood coats. I have yet to find my answer on any video with the hashtag ,"instruction; how to build river epoxy table from start to finish"

[@glasscastresin]

You only generally polish as a final stage to finish off the project.

[@caithnessrivertables1614]

Hi, i noticed at 1200 grit you used a wet sand, the water went onto the wood section - will this not be absorbed into the wood and possibly bow the river table, if i sanded to 1200 or more with a dry sand will the polish compound still take away any small inperfectiond

[@glasscastresin]

Only if large amounts of water were used. The amount of time the wood is wet - and also how quickly it will dry in warm conditions - means that it is unlikely to cause any issues.

[@embolomana]

Thank you for this. How much product and materials would I need for a bar top that measures 22ft x 2.5ft?

[@glasscastresin]

Assuming you mean how much resin would be required. You'd need a 15kg kit for our GlassCast3 to cover a countertop of this size.

[@eduardovigil5609]

Hi. Thanks for the video. I have a question regarding the speed setting of my orbital sander (from 1 to 5) for each grid and polish stage. What’s your recommendation? Thanks a lot.

[@glasscastresin]

Hi Eduardo, we recommend a high speed but low pressure. You need to keep checking the surface of the item to make sure that it doesn't get warm, if it does move onto another part of the item.

[@eduardovigil5609]

Thank you very much for your prompt response.

[@Rubypours]

I needed help getting the bubbles out of my artwork. Can I use a dremmel and various pads to do this?

[@glasscastresin]

you can if they are too deep to sand through. Care needs to be taken so that they can be filled in.

[@johnhorry9995]

Brilliant. Can you use the sander instead of the polisher?

[@glasscastresin]

If you have an appropriate polishing head for your sander then absolutely.

[@tofhauberton3445]

un grand merci pour ces explications tres utile pour mon projet. je n arrive pas a obtenir une surface correct ( les rayures apparraissent a parir du gain 320 et sont de plus en plu présentes jisqu au grain 3000 !) . des paquest se forment sous les diques et le resutat est horrible. je vais suivre vos conseils et acheter les disques de ponçage que vous conseillez dans cette vidéo. encore merci et bravo pour ce partage.

[@glasscastresin]

Thanks for commenting, if the problems persist you can always get in touch by email at [e-mail] and we'd be happy to advise further.

[@jamesbellon3145]

Great video, going to redo the top of my bar. Where in the US can I get the PaiBoats NW1 Plus and the Top Finish 2?

[@glasscastresin]

I'm afraid I don't know any specific US based dealers or distributors although if you struggle, we can ship these to the US, no problems.

[@jamesbellon3145]

@@glasscastresin Can you tell me what the cost would be for both of those bottles of polish shipped to 32829? Thanks!

[@christmasanimals7119]

Hey there 👋. Wondering if the sanding swirl marks will be seen in my opaque black epoxy River table after I top coat with table top epoxy? Or does the top coat epoxy fill on the swirlies and make it all uniform? Thanks!

[@glasscastresin]

A flood coating will completely fill any scratches on the surface. In fact, you will want to key the surface with 120 grit abrasive.

[@christmasanimals7119]

@@glasscastresin oh wow, so glad I asked. I thought because it was solid black epoxy that the clear coat would accent the scratches. Thank you so much for responding🙏.

[@raydwyer2293]

Can you start the wood + epoxy project by running the piece through a standard shop wood planner? Ray.

[@glasscastresin]

Yes you can. It can be useful if there is a lot of material to remove or a warp you are trying to sand out. A drum sander can also be used to do the same thing.

[@JohnJohn-jb4tw]

Hello! Very helpful video. I have an issue with small scratches left by the sand paper I think. I start with 80, 120, 180, 240, 320, 400 (all dry) and then 600, 800, 1000 and 2000 (wet) and 3 step polish. When I start having the gloss, I see small scratches which I didn't notice when first sanding. Please help, what am I doing wrong?

[@glasscastresin]

If done properly, each stage should fully remove the scratches from the previous grit. So it is possible you are moving through the grits too fast, or you have a bit or dirt or grit caught on the pad or paper. The NW1 polishing compound can only cut out scratches 1200 grit and above.

[@JohnJohn-jb4tw]

@@glasscastresin Thank you for your fast reply. I will be more patient on the sanding process, then and also be more carefull on checking the dust from the sanding pads. Keep up the good work! 👍🏿

[@benfranklin7013]

can you comment on the speed of the polisher for the polishing compounds-starting out and progressing through the passes. Is 5000 slow enough to 10000 too fast or is this adequate? Thank you.

[@glasscastresin]

We would typically aim for around 800-1500 RPM. If the surface starts to heat up then reduce the speed and or pressure and wait for it to cool.

[@hectorflores6666]

Hi the oil used in your video to seal the wood is it food safe? I am making serving trays or charcuterie trays!

[@glasscastresin]

The brand we used was not specifically food safe. It may be possible to find a similar alternative.

[@AKWrules]

do you have a recommendation for medium size projects? like i make medium sides wine stoppers and im strugglinge to finish them

[@glasscastresin]

Hi Alyssa, we'd recommend the same process for medium sized projects as the process would be similar on any project size.

[@personalexperience3637]

For epoxy strengthened with fiber glass what do you suggest for the 'glass' look ?

[@glasscastresin]

Any additives mixed with the resin, be this a reinforcing fibre or filler powder will inherently reduce the clarity and be seen within the resin to some extent.

[@MultiJonv]

Can you recommend a high gloss polishing compound in the UK for epoxy resin ??

[@glasscastresin]

Hi Johny, If you watch the video from about 8:40 this covers the polishing process to a high gloss in detail. To get that full gloss finish you would need to use the Top Finish 2 which can be found on our website www.glasscastresin.com/topfinish2-high-gloss-epoxy-polishing-compound. We are are based in the UK so shipping should take 1-2 working days.

[@favillaverde]

How do you manage the wood when the stain I'm using recommends only going to 180 grit. Is it possible to polish the resin without further sanding the wood to a grit higher than 180?

[@glasscastresin]

Ensuring that you sand up the whole of the resin surface well without going over to the wooden section might be difficult but may be possible if you are careful. You could always key up the surface of the wood with 180grit once the resin surface has been polished

[@dank6408]

Awesome! How to protect it from scratches now going forward?

[@glasscastresin]

The epoxy resin is generally a hard wearing surface once fully cured. Occasional light polishing will remove any build up of scratches during use.

[@jabelzegaming8814]

Does it need to be a disc orbital sander, or will a rectangular one work as well?

[@glasscastresin]

Both will work fine for sanding resins.

[@Spotty74]

Great video with useful info. I'm in Canada, can you ship worldwide? Thanks

[@glasscastresin]

Hi Derek, we can ship worldwide. When shipping to Canada we can ship any non dangerous goods no problem to all addresses, although dangerous goods including the GlassCast range can only be shipped to certain postcodes. If you'd like to email [e-mail] with any enquiries you have we'd be happy to assist.

[@suzannecrawford7015]

Great video! What, if anything, do you do differently on the edges of a table? Particularly if it has a rounded-over or chamfered edge?

[@glasscastresin]

You still sand it the same way, just take extra care to keep an even pressure so you sand evenly. On edges its easy to end up putting too much pressure on the corner if you are not careful.

[@suzannecrawford7015]

@@glasscastresin thanks

[@sarahweerheim6123]

This was exactly my question. Can you do a video on doing the edges? What is considered a single pass on the edge? Obviously you can't go up and down, do you go around it a 2nd time? ​how do you go about an edge with a round over or a more complicated router bit? How do you handle that?@@glasscastresin

[@glasscastresin]

@@sarahweerheim6123 For complicated or undulating surfaces you may find that sanding by hand is better. It may take more time than with a sander, but you'll have more control and a better feel for the contours in the edge.