polish technique- substitute for "Shureluster"

General Discussion
1

I've been looking in the forums.  To bring board to gloss finish- 

Use power sander/polisher (by hand on rails) with 320>400>600> then Shureluster compound (or equivalent)> then final polish with Megiar's 7.

Shureluster is no longer in business it seems.  What is current equivalent compound- or alternate technique?

Also- having trouble finding stores selling smaller quantities (<50) of 6" sandings discs in Orange County CA area.

Thanks…

 

2

…whatever car compound would be right; try to use first the coarser then pass a finer, then apply some shiny liquid

Try to find a big thread about gloss, have plenty of pages in which we discuss all the process and techniques

3

6" disks (psa or hook/loop) are available at Home Depot or even Harbor Freight stores in 60 - 220 grit.  For finer grits (up to 800), you can get smaller packages from Austin Hardwood in Santa Ana.  Most of these are hook/loop, but you can just use spray adhesive for the pad.  Personally, I find it much cheaper to buy abrasives online, but you need to know the brand and type that works for you.

4

rumor was that you could substitute tooth paste maybe the one with baking soda as a replacement for sureluster.

5

I was told a long time ago to use the red 3M rubbing compound followed by white 3M polishing compound.  The rubbing compound does a pretty good job by itself if you're not obsessed with a faint swirl or two.  Be sure to use a clean polishing bonnet when switching to the finer stuff.  The polishing process takes place after wet/dry sanding to 600 grit.  With epoxy you should go to a higher grit number before polishing for maximum gloss.  The Meguiar's stuff isn't bad but I have a hard time justifying the extra step.  I don't do showroom finishes.  Most of my own boards don't get buffed at all.

6

[quote=“$1”]

"Be sure to use a clean polishing bonnet when switching to the finer stuff."

 

Or use a hook and loop backing with a different bonnet for each grade of compound

7

West Marine has a paste compound that's similar to Surluster, "Trewax fiberglass rubbing compound (319491)" but it's $22 for 24 oz and hard to find at most retail outlets.  Polishing after 600 grit needs a heavy cut fiberglass compound like this stuff http://www.boatdetailingproducts.com/products/Pristine-Marine-Compound-%252d-600-Heavy-Cut-Boat-Compound-.html  on a foam pad.  After that you can use most any good automotive polish like 3m or Meguiars with a wool pad, as these are for 1200+ grit finishes.  If you spend more time on a side with the 600, it gets worn down to around 800 and polishes come out better.  Take a test pass with polisher and if you don't like it resand with 800 and go again.  Keep in mind that you have to be very consistent in the sanding as you go up in grits, you'll see spots that weren't sanded as much as others when you polish.  The compounding or rub-out step evens this out and that's why it's important.  The more you sand, the greater the risk of hitting weave, so minimize the sanding by keeping things smooth starting at the lamination.  We're talking about poly glosscoats here, epoxy will require different methods.