If you have jewelry or a table that is made of resin and the surface looks a little blurry or scratched, it may be time to refinish it. Polishing the resin is the best way to get it back to the brilliant luster it was when it was first made. Fortunately, polishing resin is a very easy process and only involves steps such as cleaning, sanding, and applying a polishing compound to the resin object.
Step
Part 1 of 2: Cleaning and Sanding Resin
Step 1. Use soap and warm water to clean the resin, if necessary
Dip a sponge in warm soapy water and rub the resin to clean it. Make sure all dirt, scale, or mildew is removed from the resin before starting to sand.
If you're working on a small resin item and it's not too dirty, just dip it in soapy water to clean it
Step 2. Sand the resin with the wet method using 400 grit sandpaper to remove scratches
Spray water on the resin or dip it in water to wet it before smoothing the surface with sandpaper. Sand the entire surface of the resin 2-3 times before moving on to the next step.
- Wet sanding will make the resin finish smoother than dry sanding. Wet method sanding will also minimize the amount of dust generated in the process.
- Wear a mask or respirator when sanding so you don't inhale any flying particles.
- Make sure you use wet or wet/dry sandpaper instead of regular sandpaper. Wet sandpaper is specially made to be used when wet, while ordinary sandpaper or dry sandpaper alone will not work well when wet.
Step 3. Repeat the sanding process with a finer grit
After sanding the resin with 400 grit paper, sand it again using 600 grit, after that with 800 grit, 1,000 grit, and finally with 1500 grit. This will ensure that all the scratches that the coarser sandpaper couldn't smooth out have been removed, and you'll have a smooth finish.
- Make sure all surfaces and recesses are sanded before moving on to a higher grit.
- If you want an even smoother finish, sand the resin with 2,000 grit paper. However, in most cases, it is not necessary to go this far to make the resin smooth enough to be polished.
Step 4. Dry the resin with a towel to remove any sand or dust
Make sure the remaining aggregate from the sanding process is completely clean before you apply the polishing compound. This cleaning will also give you one last chance to check for any remaining scratches that still need to be sanded.
- You can do a simple visual scan to check for any remaining scratches. If there is, sand it again until everything is smooth.
- Wet the resin with water to make it easier for you to see missed scratches.
Part 2 of 2: Applying the Polishing Compound
Step 1. Apply the polishing compound to the entire resin surface
Apply generously so that the polish is evenly distributed over the entire resin surface. For best results, use a polishing compound also labeled “fine scratch remover”.
- For example, products like Turtle Wax Polishing Compound are also labeled “effectively removes fine scratches from resin”. You can buy this type of product at almost any material store.
- You can also use a car polishing compound.
Step 2. Use a microfiber cloth to rub the compound onto a small resin object
Press firmly while rubbing the cloth in a circular motion to polish the resin. Pay more attention to visible scratches and rub these areas with firmer pressure.
Step 3. Use a polishing wheel or polishing tool to buff the large resin
Attach the wheel or polishing tool to an electric drill or drilling machine, then rub the wheel across the resin surface while turning it to give it a glossy finish. Always move the wheel in a circular direction and rotate it at about 1,200 rpm.
You can buy polishing wheels or polishing tools at most hardware and auto parts stores
Step 4. Continue polishing until the resin is shiny and smooth
Continue rubbing the resin with the microfiber cloth until the surface has the desired glossy and smooth finish. The resin will get smoother if it continues to be polished. So stop polishing once the finish is what you want!
