Hi guys, this is my first post here and I need some advice on a project I've got going on. I frequent a mustang forum and I've always heard good things about this place so I thought I'd see if you guys can help me. First off, my project isn't a car; I'm building a guitar and I am in the finishing stage, I've posted this question on my guitar forums but I can't get a straight, confident answer from anyone. I want to polish the body of the guitar to a really nice finish because I've put a lot of time and money into this job. The body is made of Alder, I stained it with Behr wood stain, and clear coated it with around 20 coats of Minwax oil based polyurethane brushed on. I realize that Minwax isn't as quality as the 2 part Urethane clear that you guys are used to working with, but I'm in college and have to work with what I can get my hands on. This is going to be kind of a long post so please bear with me.
Basically my plan is to start wetsanding with 400 grit sandpaper on a block. I know that is a rough grit, but that's why I put as many coats as I did on the guitar. When I get everything smooth, I'm going to move up to 600, 800, 1000, and then either 1200 or 1500 depending on what I can get my hands on locally. These will all be block sanded wet. After I get to the 1500 grit stage, I want to start with some polishing compounds. This is where I can't get a straight and confident answer from anyone, and since I'm going to use 3M automotive compounds I thought you guys might help me out. I'm thinking of using 3 compounds, and I'll link to them in order.
1.3M Scratch Remover applied by hand with a 100% cotton cloth or with a 3" polishing pad. The description says that it removes scratches up to 1200 grit so I thought it would be a good starting point.
2.3M Fine Cut Rubbing Compound also applied by hand or with a 3" pad. This stuff is supposed to remove scratches up to 1500 grit, which I think would work well as a second step. Also, I own a bottle of this stuff already, and anything I can do to save money would be a good thing. I'd like to try and use this stuff if it is at all possible, I've already got waaaaay too much money tied up in this project.
3.3M Finesse-It II Machine Polish applied with a 3" buffing pad. I'm looking at this stuff because that website says to follow the fine cut rubbing compound with it.
4. A coat of a good paste wax, something probably of the Meguiar's variety that I can pick up in a store, just as a protective top coat.
Now, I've been looking at This Velcro Pad Holder but I am open to suggestions there. The buffing pad is another area I'm not sure on, but I want something I can chuck in a drill, because I don't know really how often I'm going to use it, so being able to use tools I already have would be a plus. I think that the 3" size would be good for the smaller working area of my guitar body. I also need some clarification as to what kind of pad to use with each of the products above, ie wool, medium cut, fine cut, et. (I'm really a rookie at this stuff, but I want to learn).
Does this sound ok? If I sand up to 1500 grit really well do I still really need step 1? It'd be really nice if all I had to buy was the high grit sandpaper, the Machine Polish, and some buffing pads.
I'm open to any suggestions though, I honestly know nothing about this stuff. Like I said above, I want to do a good job, but I'm only polishing a guitar body and don't need commercial grade (priced) stuff. I will take any advice you have to offer though.
Sorry for the long post and thank you in advance.
Basically my plan is to start wetsanding with 400 grit sandpaper on a block. I know that is a rough grit, but that's why I put as many coats as I did on the guitar. When I get everything smooth, I'm going to move up to 600, 800, 1000, and then either 1200 or 1500 depending on what I can get my hands on locally. These will all be block sanded wet. After I get to the 1500 grit stage, I want to start with some polishing compounds. This is where I can't get a straight and confident answer from anyone, and since I'm going to use 3M automotive compounds I thought you guys might help me out. I'm thinking of using 3 compounds, and I'll link to them in order.
1.3M Scratch Remover applied by hand with a 100% cotton cloth or with a 3" polishing pad. The description says that it removes scratches up to 1200 grit so I thought it would be a good starting point.
2.3M Fine Cut Rubbing Compound also applied by hand or with a 3" pad. This stuff is supposed to remove scratches up to 1500 grit, which I think would work well as a second step. Also, I own a bottle of this stuff already, and anything I can do to save money would be a good thing. I'd like to try and use this stuff if it is at all possible, I've already got waaaaay too much money tied up in this project.
3.3M Finesse-It II Machine Polish applied with a 3" buffing pad. I'm looking at this stuff because that website says to follow the fine cut rubbing compound with it.
4. A coat of a good paste wax, something probably of the Meguiar's variety that I can pick up in a store, just as a protective top coat.
Now, I've been looking at This Velcro Pad Holder but I am open to suggestions there. The buffing pad is another area I'm not sure on, but I want something I can chuck in a drill, because I don't know really how often I'm going to use it, so being able to use tools I already have would be a plus. I think that the 3" size would be good for the smaller working area of my guitar body. I also need some clarification as to what kind of pad to use with each of the products above, ie wool, medium cut, fine cut, et. (I'm really a rookie at this stuff, but I want to learn).
Does this sound ok? If I sand up to 1500 grit really well do I still really need step 1? It'd be really nice if all I had to buy was the high grit sandpaper, the Machine Polish, and some buffing pads.
I'm open to any suggestions though, I honestly know nothing about this stuff. Like I said above, I want to do a good job, but I'm only polishing a guitar body and don't need commercial grade (priced) stuff. I will take any advice you have to offer though.
Sorry for the long post and thank you in advance.