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I need some advice here. what kind of paper, what grits (wet or dry), buffing, etc.

Is the sanding all done by hand? Has anybody used that drill press buffing pad from StewMac?

Maybe Hesh has a tutorial?

TIA,

Mike

To level out the finish (non French Polished) I start with 400p and work my way through 1500p all of this dry with a closed cell foam sanding block and a light touch. Then I use 3200 through 12000 micromesh to polish to near gloss sheen using my ROS and a 1/2" thick close cell foam backing pad. Then I buff out to final gloss with Mezerna medium fine, fine and finally extra fine compounds on 14" wheels at about 800 rpm 1100 rpm on the extra fine with a deftly light pressure

Yes I have used foam buffing pad with an hand drill. the work but not near as well as Canton Cotton high speed buffing wheels

Michael, you go all the way up to 12000 micromesh then the buffer? Why? That's a lot of extra work for nothing isn't it?

Most everything I've heard other do is to sand up to 1500p then to the buffer. Some don't even go that high. I recall Mario saying he only sands up to 800 dry than on to the buffer. Let the wheel do the work.

Here's what I do.

400, 600, 800 all dry

1000, 1500 wet

OOOO steelwool with paste wax

Buff with a soft cotton or linen cloth.

This isn't a mirror finish mind you but it's still considered gloss.

I'm going to try one of those little hand held auto buffers (the 4-5" ones). I've heard of others who get a nice high gloss sheen with those.

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I'm similar to Rod. Through 800 dry. Then wet to 2000. Then by hand with Novus Plastic polish number 2 (sometimes with a little Rottenstone in it). Maybe it's not quite as glossy as "mirror", but it really close.

But I look forward to going to the buffer wheel at some point.

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on high gloss I do just to cut dowm on the amount of medium fine buffing

I was just at the BORG and was looking through the woodworking porn magazines and the latest copy of Shop Notes has a quick article on abrasives and in it, they show felt or hook and loop backed micro mesh that are 5" diameter which they showed on an ROS.

I've used the abralon 4000 on my ROS with mineral spirits as the polishing agent. It's actually worked up a decent gloss too.

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"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

Tim Metcalf mentioned a similar scheme to yours, Rod.

Thanks all.

Anybod want to suggest a good ROS?

Mike

Rod I have been buying MM 5" hook and loop from http://www.micro-surface.com for at least 3 years i also use one of their back-up pad that I addapted to bolt to my Ross.. Does a great job fitting all contours