Hello to those in the know,

I finished the last of the clear coats on my car about 3 weeks ago.

The finish looks a bit like a orange peel but it was my first paint job and was done in a garage. Over all I am quite chuffed with how it turned out.

I am reluctant to sand it back with 1500 or even 2000 grit. Can I use a cutting compound to smooth it off?

I have rolled it out in the sun whenever possible but is it too soon? should I leave it a bit longer? is it dry?

Cheers,
Stuart

To get a glass finish you have to rub it back with at least 2000. Cutting compound won't do it. What brand is the paint? Can you smell it still if you sniff it hard?

Scary stuff. I'll CAREFULLY tackle is on the weekend.
Cant smell paint anymore.
Paint, thinners and clear is AutoOne.

Use the 2000 with a bucket of clean warm water and some plain soap. Do it in the shade so the suds dont bake on. When you use cutters from there on a low speed, there you go.

yep as per above lots of soap and plenty of water with 1500 then 2000 will knock the high spots of it

this will create a flatter surface which will cut and buff more easily the flatter it is the shinner the paint

I find Farecla cutting compound to be excellent,as Dave says 1500 or ultrafine and soap and then the compound at very low speed.

yeah in my (limited) experience, buffing with compound will give you shiny orange peel. You need to make the paint FLAT, then shiny... I have used 800, then 1200 on lighter colours - it's a bit quicker than 2000 and looks good after buffing