Buffing nitro

[Gecko 5]

I am in the process of completing a nitro finish on a custom P body.The finish is Nitro lacquer.
I will be ready for buffing this weekend.

Can I buff it by hand? Or,i have access to a "dual-action" air buffer.

I am planning on using a 3M "Fine Cut" buffing compound.

I would appreciate any help

[praisegig]

If you have wetsanded up to 2000 grit, you can polish by hand, just takes some elbow grease. I use foam polishing pads like these on a drill STEWMAC.COM : Foam Polishing Pad. i wouldn't use DA air buffer unless you know what the RPMs are, at it may easily burn thru the nitro. Here is some good info The Guitar Refinishing and Restoration Forum :: View topic - Bluenotes recipe to a great shine.

[erikbojerik]

If you are still applying finish then you are nowhere close to being ready to buff out.

I've used nitro on two guitars, on both of them I let the finish set up for over a month (3 months on the second one) before the final buff-out - and that was after some levelling between coats (with progressively finer grits) and shooting the last coats pretty thinned.

I use two tests - the sniff test (if you can still smell the finish gassing off, its not done) and the fingernail test (if I can dent the finish with my fingernail, its not done).

Once the nitro has had a chance to set up, the above info for buffing out is quite good.