I'm trying to get my epoxy coasters perfectly flat, but I'm unsure of the best approach. I have a lunchbox planer, but I doubt the coasters would survive that. Would using a belt sander do the trick? I also have a mini 3018 CNC, but I'm limited to 1/8 inch bull nose bits. Any advice would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
6 Answers
You can't use a planer on pieces shorter than the roller distance. If you go for a benchtop or stationary belt sander, it'll make short work of it. Just remember to keep the belt clean; melted epoxy can ruin both the belt and your coasters!
A drum sander is a solid choice! Just keep in mind that wood and epoxy sand at different rates, so watch out for bumps where the epoxy sits higher. If you're doing this often, think about making bigger blanks and cutting them up after sanding. That might be the way to go!
Sanding them flush is pretty straightforward, but you'll need to polish the epoxy later to give it a nice shine. Consider using micromesh or a Dremel with a polishing compound. I've found that making larger molds and cutting them afterward makes the detail work easier!
Using a belt sander mounted upside down could be ideal for your coasters, especially since it gives you better visibility on how much you're sanding off. Just be careful with the grit! If you're aiming to keep the epoxy intact, maybe go for a higher grit after getting them flush. How flat do they really need to be?
You could glue them to a bigger piece to run them through, right?
You could use a belt or palm sander. The CNC might also work if you get the right bit. If you plan to keep making these, consider making longer pieces and just cutting them into squares later. It could save you time and effort!
You really want to avoid taking a sander directly to the epoxy since it could leave a rough finish. If you're careful and use a slow approach with around 400 grit, you might be able to pull it off. Just follow up with higher grits to polish it back up!
That's my worry too, but hopefully, if I sand slowly, it'll come out okay.
For sure, taking it easy is key.
Just want the wood to be flush with the epoxy without messing it up too much. I'm planning on using a high grit afterward.