I ran out of time to work outside before winter set in, and have been trying to get an acceptable finish on the speaker cabinets and stands. I tried several finishes both brushed, and wiped on. Nothing was acceptable so I resorted to rattle cans in gloss black over multiple coats of polyurethane I had brushed and wiped on. I am working in my basement, so spraying is not best idea.
3 coats of the black spray over my previous finishes ( India ink, epoxy/graphite, epoxy color tinted, shellac, polyurethane) turned out pretty good with only a few dust specs, and a little orange peel in spots. Having experienced final finishing of SOFT finishes such as varnish (not Poly), and rattle can paint, I went directly to 1000 grit wet sanding, and finished with 1500 grit wet. I have found that sanding with coarser paper, and progressing finer is better suited to automotive catalyzed finishes that are much harder.
I know compounds, polishes, glazes, waxes all can bring out a spectacular finish, but again I was concerned about cutting through the soft finish, besides I do have a life! I have heard good things about McGuire's Ultimate Compound, and Polish. Being a Pro-sumer product designed for detailing rather that a body shop product, I decided to give the Compound a try.
I already own a Porter Cable detailers VS random orbit polisher that I use on my vehicles. It allows amateurs like me to get good results with less chance of doing damage
I went at it with the McGuire's after sanding to 1500 grit. I am totally amazed how well the gloss black mirror finish came out! I tried going onto a polish (not McGuire's Ultimate), which should have been an even better finish, but it wasn't? I'm very satisfied with the 1000/1500 sanding and final finishing with the McGuire's Ultimate Compound. A coat of wax, and I am done...
Here's some pics of the process on the stands:
Wet sanding 1000/1500 grit:
Sanded to 1500, ready for Compounding with RO polisher:
Gloss finish before waxing:
Larry