| How long has the varnish been curing? Generally you need a month or two with oil varnish before you try to rub it, unless you have used UV drying lights. Also, I think 400 is way too coarse for varnish rub-out. For final gloss you might try Super Nicko violin polish or one of the Maguire's polishes. But I think you are probably going to need to back up and put another clear coat or two on the instrument and let it cure for a while. Then you should rub with 800, 1200, then go to rottenstone or compound, followed by polish. You can avoid excessive rubbing by putting your last coat(s) on very thin with a cloth instead of a brush. Make your work area dust-free first, and vacuum yourself. | 
