Why can't I get a good finish???

[geo1400]

I've just repainted my boot lid Alpine white 2 and I can't get a good finish!

I rubbed it down using a 400 grade paper,
primered the bare metal bits,
gave it a another light rub,
and then applied about 3 coats out of an Aerosol can,
allowed it to try in the sun for about 3 days (i live in Cyprus)
Light rub with 1500 wet and dry
Farecla G3,
Autoglym resin and... SHITE!

It looks good from above and feels lovely, look at it in a certain light and you can still see the 1500 W&D marks as well as the odd shiney patch.

Should I be using another compound? let it cure longer? I'm beat to be honest and my arm hurts from all the rubbing.

Geo

[dips346]

a. you have used spray cans
b. try letting it dry longer and use 2000 w&d
c. are you using a machine to polish or by hand

[geo1400]

I know the spray can thing is a let down but I've seen good finishes with a spray can. I've got a machine which is was cheap and cheerful but it's good for applying, I buff by hand.

Is a good polishing machine essential for these sort of things? Or in other words, have I gone as far as I can go with what i've got?

Geo

[dips346]

try repainting it but let it dry it longer and use 2000 wet and dry then use the machine with plently of water and g3
some times is cheaper to get someone to do it as the costs and time mounts up .

[Pad]

you are painting over too rough a surface in the first place, those are most likely the marks you are seeing, not the ones from the 1500 (which should be fine for finishing)

Final flat before paint should be 800 for solid, 1200 for metallic.

Hope this helps..

[geo1400]

That does help, I had a feeling the scratches I could see where from the 400! I just took the advice of the guy in the paint shop. He said 400 dry or 800 W&D for final flattening.

I'm gonna try painting it one more time,

flattening what i've got now with an 800 paper,
a couple of coats,
let it dry for a good week or so
2000 grade
G3.

If that fails, i'll give it to the pro's.

Thanks guys

Geo

[ShineOn]

As above really, I wouldn't expect miracles from rattle cans. But I'd have finished with 3000 grit paper to leave no deep sanding marks (which is what I finish with when wet sanding scratches from paint), and I would also try to borrow a machine, or at least give a drink to someone with a polishing machine to polish out the sanding marks. Make sure you get plenty of paint on their though, in thin layers (i.e. not just a couple), to have enough to work with.