To sand ceramic plates, you'll need to wet the plate and sandpaper and then proceed with sanding. Here's how to do it:
Steps for Sanding Ceramic Plates:
- Prepare the Sandpaper: Soak your sandpaper in water for a few minutes. This helps to prevent the sandpaper from clogging with ceramic dust and also helps with the sanding process.
- Wet the Plate: Thoroughly wet the ceramic plate you intend to sand. This acts as a lubricant during the sanding process and reduces the risk of overheating the ceramic.
- Sanding: Begin sanding the ceramic plate using a consistent motion. You can sand in all directions, ensuring you cover the entire surface evenly.
- Sound Check: Pay close attention to the sound. You should hear a change in the tone of the grit against the plate as you sand. This indicates that the sanding is effective.
- Grit Selection: Depending on the roughness of the ceramic, you'll need to select appropriate sandpaper grits.
- Rough Bottoms: If the bottoms of the plates are particularly rough, start with a coarser grit like 250.
- Refinement: Move to 400 grit for further smoothing, and then to 600 grit for a finer finish.
- Desired Finish: You can continue to use finer grits to achieve an "eggshell" finish, as referenced in the text.
Sandpaper Grit Guide:
| Grit | Use |
|---|---|
| 250 | For very rough surfaces |
| 400 | For initial smoothing |
| 600 | For a finer, smoother finish |
By following these steps, you can effectively sand the bottoms of your ceramic plates to achieve a smooth and finished surface.
