How to get a matte finish with resin?

Epoxy resin is valued for its high gloss protection but, from time to time, you may prefer the look of something less shiny on your artwork.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website.

The matting agents typically used with epoxy resin are highly toxic, but did you know that with some wet sandpaper, wax and a little elbow grease you can create a gorgeous non-gloss finish, without any chemicals or solvents? It&#;s true!

Is it easy to do? Sure is.
Does it look good? So good.

Let's take a closer look ....

In addition to not having to use any highly toxic solvents, the process of wet sanding and waxing your resined surface allows you to control the exact amount of shine on your finish: polish more for a shiny surface and less for a matte surface. Either way, you can get a gorgeous, buttery, smooth, matte finish without ever having to sacrifice any of protection and colour saturation ArtResin gives to your artwork.

What You'll Need: 

- a piece of resined artwork cured for 72 hrs before sanding. 

&#;TIP: Since we are only lightly sanding the surface with fine sandpaper in order to adjust the finish, one coat of ArtResin should be enough. Feel free, however, to apply a second coat of resin for peace of mind.

- a dust mask

Always wear a protective mask when sanding resin to avoid inhaling dust particles.



- wet/dry sandpaper in a variety of fine/extra fine grits

Since we are sanding only to change the finish of the resin, fine and extra fine paper will suffice - we used 320, 600 and . Ensure you use WET/DRY sandpaper. 

&#; TIP: If the surface of your resin is uneven or you have an imperfection to sand out, start first with a coarse DRY sandpaper like 80 or 120 grit to even out the surface, followed by a 220 WET/DRY to help smooth out scratches.



- electric sander

Small pieces can easily be sanded by hand. For larger pieces, you'll want to use an electric sander.




- spray bottle of water

You'll need this to spritz down the surface of your piece in between sanding.



- lint free cloth

You can use shop towels available at your local hardware store.



- non toxic wax and some soft, lint free cloths

We used a non-toxic, food grade cutting board wax for our pieces, but you could certainly use a furniture wax too. On wood, you could opt for an oil such as mineral oil or Tung oil (which may be a little too yellow for use on artwork) as well as a coat of wax to make it buttery soft.

How To Sand Resin To Get A Matte Finish:

1. SPRAY DOWN THE SURFACE

Using the spray bottle, generously spray down the surface of your artwork.
&#;TIP:  Wet sanding helps prevent micro dust particles from scratching the resin surface, giving you a much finer, smoother finish than dry sanding.

2. SAND DOWN THE WET RESIN

Wearing a dust mask, sand down the wet resin surface with the 320 grit sandpaper, either by hand or with an orbital sander. You'll notice that a paste begins to form as the sanding residue mixes with the water. When the paste becomes thick and dry, you'll know it's time to stop. 

&#;&#; PLEASE NOTE - always wear a dust mask when sanding epoxy resin, wet or dry, to avoid inhaling epoxy resin particles.

3. SPRAY DOWN & WIPE OFF THE PASTE

Generously spray down the sanded surface and, using a piece of lint free paper towel, wipe off all of the paste. Spray the surface once again and repeat wet sanding, spraying and wiping 2-3 times until the surface is perfectly smooth and you can no longer see any scratch marks.

4. REPEAT

Once the surface is completely smooth, repeat the process 2-3 times with the 600 grit sandpaper before moving onto the grit.  

&#; TIP: Ensure the resin surface is evenly sanded and smooth before moving on to the next grit. If there are any scratch marks you can't get rid of, you may need to jump back to the previous grit and sand some more.

5. SPRAY WITH WATER, WIPE & DRY THOROUGHLY

Once you've finished sanding and have removed all sanding marks, spray down your piece with water and wipe. Repeat this process until all traces of sanding residue have been removed. Dry your piece thoroughly. Then, with a dry, soft, lint-free cloth, apply a generous coat of wax and spread it evenly across the entire surface of the resin. Use a fresh cloth, apply firm pressure and rub in a circular motion to polish your piece. Stop polishing whenever the finish is as smooth as you'd like it to be. 

&#; TIP: If there is any haze left on your piece, use a fresh cloth to wipe it off. You can use an electric polisher at this point but be aware that the resin will get shinier and shinier as you polish it. 

Voila!  You now have a beautiful, silky smooth, matte finish on your artwork!

There you have it!
Two choices for your artwork ... matte or shiny!
Your ArtResin finish is up to you!

We hope this inspires you to try creating a matte finish with ArtResin for yourself - please share your tips, comments and questions below!

Do you want to learn more about resin art? Read our blogs below:

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ArtResin:  Made For Artists, By Artists.

Resin naturally cures with a glossy finish. It&#;s why it looks so good when you pour clear epoxy over a photograph. But sometimes clear and shiny isn&#;t always the look you want. You might want a matte or satin finish on your resin.

You&#;ve got two options to get a matte finish on resin:

Option 1: Use a mold that gives a frosted finish

Not all molds give a shiny finish. Some resin molds create a matte finish.

Why?

When molds are made, the cavities will take on the surface of whatever was used to make the mold. If the mold was made from something with a frosty, rough, or coarse texture, that finish will impart onto the mold. All castings made from that mold will have a matte or satin finish.

In fact, this is one of the most common reasons for cloudy resin.

How do you know if your mold will leave a satin finish on your resin charms and projects?

Look at the surface of the mold. If it looks dull or frosted, that same matte finish will transfer to your epoxy resin crafts. This video shows you exactly what to look for:

Option 2: Sand

Resin cures hard enough that you can sand it by hand with sandpaper. Many casting resins can take sanding with power tools.

&#; Pro tip: When in doubt, sanding by hand is always the best option. While it takes longer, you are less likely to take off too much or take it off unevenly.

Here&#;s how you sand resin to get a matte or satin finish:

1. Start with coarse-grit wet/dry sandpaper. Either move the item over the sandpaper, as in the case of a resin charm, or, if a large painting, wrap sandpaper around a block and go over the surface.

&#;&#; IMPORTANT: Wet your sandpaper. The water will wet the dust so you don&#;t inhale it. Plus, it cools the heat from friction, so your resin art doesn&#;t melt.

2. Once the surface is thoroughly sanded and even, choose the next finer grit of sandpaper and repeat. You must make sure your resin is evenly sanded with one grit before moving on to the next grit. If there are marks or divots you can&#;t get rid of with the grit you&#;re using, you need to go back a step and sand again with a coarser grit paper before moving on.

3. Continue sanding with finer grit sandpapers until the resin surface is as matte or frosted as you like.

Here&#;s how I like to sand resin jewelry and resin paintings:

When do I sand resin artwork?

If the divot or blemish you&#;re trying to correct is more than 1/8 inch deep, sand your epoxy art. Then, you can apply a new layer of epoxy. Resin for artwork self-levels to 1/8 inch deep, so you don&#;t want anything any deeper than that. Otherwise, your divots will be in the next layer too.

So why can&#;t you use power tools to go over the surface of your resin jewelry, crafts, or art?

If you used an epoxy resin that cures bendy or soft, the friction from sanding will cause your piece to &#;crumb&#; and sand unsmoothly. It can also warp or melt. If you decide to use power tools, keep the resin wet to reduce the heat and friction.

&#; Pro tip: Pay careful attention as resin grinds off quickly when using power tools. Like really quickly&#;

How do I use power tools when sanding resin?

I will use them on hard-curing resins when sanding a flat surface like the backs or straight sides of resin charms. But, when sanding a curved or uneven surface, I will sand by hand. That&#;s because it&#;s difficult to keep power tools from changing the shape of your resin casting.

If you want to try sanding your resin with power tools to get a matte finish, here are some techniques to help:

&#;&#; IMPORTANT: Please take appropriate safety precautions when sanding resin with power tools. Wear a particle mask when sanding resin. You don&#;t want to inhale resin dust.

&#;&#; BONUS: Learn more about how to sand resin.

Want to learn more of the basics you need to know to succeed with resin?

Be sure to buy your copy of Resin Fundamentals.  It&#;s the beginner resin ebook I wish I had when I started creating resin crafts sixteen years ago.  You&#;ll learn all the important details of creating with resin in only a couple of hours.  Buy the PDF book now and get a download link to your in minutes.

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