What do you use?

[steve pagano]

     I am currently in the process of buffing my plane. I have never done this before so i could use some suggestions. After letting my clear coats dry i wet sanded with 600 just enough to dull the clear the rubbed it out with "No7" polishing compound. It did give me a some what of a shine but should i use something else? I was thinking of 3M's ''FinalShine" What do you think?



                                      T.I.A
                                         -Steve

[Keith Spriggs]

I hate to break the news to you, but 600 is too coarse for the clear coat. I painted my cars with single stage which is the same as clear except it has a pigment in it. The coarsest paper I ever used was 1000 and only that coarse if there was some major flaw to remove. Most of the time I used 1500 followed by 2000. If you go over it with 2500 hardly any buffing is required. Be sure and put a few drops of detergent in the water for wet sanding. Change water often. Use a soft sponge and clear water to remove the residue as you sand.

There are some expert finishers on this forum that know far more than I do in regard to finishing model planes as most of my experience has been with cars. Hopefully some of them will jump in here.

Don't make me name names Robert LOL

[steve pagano]

Keith,

     Do i need to follow 1500 grit with 2000 or can i just hit it with 2000?

[Bill Little]

Steve, I think you will need the 1500 to take out the scratches the 600 has made, then the 2000.

[Ron King]

Keith is right. I used to think 600 was "very fine". Now I think 1200 is "coarse". 

!500 is a good "medium" grit to start off with. Live and learn.

Ron