How to Wet Sand for Epoxy Paint

Waterproof sandpaper must be used for wet sanding.

Epoxy paint can be difficult to sand with good results. Wet sanding is often considered the best approach, and there is no clogged sandpaper or dust produced during the process. Wet sanding is done with waterproof sandpaper. This sandpaper is made from closed coat, silicon carbide. Waterproof sandpaper can be purchased at automotive paint supply stores. Learning how to wet sand epoxy paint is not difficult and just requires a little bit of practice.

Things You'll Need

• 5-gallon bucket
• Spray bottle
• Water
• Rubber sanding block
• 60-grit waterproof sandpaper
• 220-grit waterproof sandpaper
• Rubber-bladed window washer

Instructions

1. Fill a clean 5-gallon bucket and a spray bottle with water.

2. Fit a rubber sanding block with waterproof sandpaper. Use 60-grit sandpaper for the first sanding and follow up with 220-grit sandpaper.

3. Dip the sanding block into the bucket and begin sanding the epoxy paint. Wet the sanding block as needed, or use the spray bottle to wet the surface of the epoxy paint as you sand.

4. Wipe away the water and excess sanding material from the epoxy paint with a rubber-bladed window washer. Rinse the surface and the rubber-bladed window washer thoroughly between grits. This will prevent you from crossing the coarse-grit sandpaper with the finer-grit sandpaper.

References

• Epoxy Works: Wet Sanding Epoxy (PDF)