basic sanding question

Messing around with a practice body
Been at it all night trying to get a really glossy finish.
I have tried chemicals, polishes, buffer on a drill etc.

I just can't get there!

I have a silly question, probably an obvious problem, if someone can confirm
Sanding 400, 600, 800, 1500, 2000 / this is all I had.
Is the jump from 800 to 1500 and 1500 to 2000 the obvious problem?

Thanks

Are you wet sanding or dry sanding? Jumping to 1500 is quite a leap, and I think you'd have to sand it all day at 1500 to take care of the scratches you made at 800.

Together with those, I always use 1200 grit as well. When I can find it, I even add 1000 paper into the mix. 800 to 1200 is a big jump.

But, even with 2000 paper you still need all the finer polishes to get things really glossy. This Meguiar's Scratch X is good, if expensive.

Yeah, I thought it was quite a jump, I will grab some more paper tomorrow.
Thanks for confirming guys.

You're using a buffing compound (I usually use MaQuires swirl remover) of some sort I presume. Even at 800 grit I get a shine... a lot of scratches still but some shine. The more I buff with the compound and the finer the grit sets, the more the gloss shows. After 1500 I just use a soft cotton rag and continue buffing until I get a super high gloss finish.

What clear finish have you used? And have you waxed it with Carnauba wax? You'd be amazed what a difference a layer or three of wax makes...

I used rubbing compound, and also some kind of car scratch/swirl remover.
It was Kit brand, the cheap stuff (not Meguires)

And yes, It shines ok, but still a lot of scratches.

Once again, the 800 to 1500 jump is the likely candidate.
I am gonna stop by an auto paint store today and try to find some in between paper.

My local Lowes, Ace Hardware, Wal-Mart, has nothing between 800 and 1500?

My local Lowes, Ace Hardware, Wal-Mart, has nothing between 800 and 1500?

Those stores are notorious for selling garbage. Your auto supply store will likely have an assortment package with one or two sheets of several grits. I hink the last one I bought was 800, 1000, 1200, and 1500.

And yes, It shines ok, but still a lot of scratches.

This actually made me think about a recent article from StewMac about finishing sandpapers. He said that finish grade papers start with a P (P800, P220, etc), and that they are made with different gritty stuff that produces rounded scratches that are less deep than the square-walled scratches produced by standard papers.

Someone a while back (Buckocaster maybe?) posted that he only wet sands up to about 800 grit because that was the finest paper available when he was a kid working on car finishes, and then he buffs and has no problems getting a glossy smooth finish.

Yeah, I don't have a buffing arbor.
I would guess that alone would make any finish killer?
And a lot less elbow grease.

A buffing arbor is not necessary. You can do it by hand with a lot of elbow grease, you can get a foam buffing pad for your drill (I use these chucked into my drill press), or you could even buy an electric buffer like you'd use for your car.

I got a cheap little car electric buffer, I don't think mine has enough rpm or something. It seems kind of week.
It came with 2 or 3 attachment covers.
I know a buffing wheel has soft cotton, what "cover" should I use on a handheld.
Foam, sponge, fluffy wool (?)

when your just about done sanding and using componds - wet a soft towell put a bit of starch on it and rub gentlty that will rid you of any light scratches and swerls at that point put your polish on .

g6120