I did a lot of research into the best products and methods of smoothing out my orange peel, and polishing my car. I started with a test piece that I have painted green/clear as well, and I wet sanded it down to 2000 grit. I then tried a variety of different buffing products including Turtlewax, Napa brand polish and a couple of other polishes. The finish always seemed to turn out worse than when I started. At my local paint store, I saw some 3 step polishes from 3M, but they were $50 a bottle, and I needed to buy 3 (one for each step) $30 buffing pads to go with them.
Long story short, I got in touch with someone who restores high end classic (who will charge $25,000+ for bodywork/paint) and this is what he told me:
All cars will have some orange peel from painting
Put lots of coats of clear on, sanding every other coat with progressively finer grits.
After the final coat of clear, wetsand with 1000, then 1500, then 2000, then 3000
Then, buy this kit, and follow the instructions to make it shine!
http://www.prestaproducts.com/Ultra_Buffing_System_Shop_Pak__136089S-details.aspxI bought the kit this week when I was in the USA at Plymouth Painters Supply for $115. My initial impressions were very good. For the price, I couldn't believe how much stuff I got with the kit. It even comes with DVD instructions!
So, I decided to try out one corner of my car to see how it does. I wetsanded from 1000 to 3000, then followed the instructions with the polish. The result? I am extremely impressed! The polish only took about 30secs with each step, and it looks near perfect! I haven't made it to the wax stage yet.
Here is an untouched side, with orange peel:
After sanding + polish: (the white powder is the residue from wetsanding)
Shiny!
Time to wetsand the whole car! This is going to take a long time....
_________________
"The decision to build a car is not one reached through a rational mindset. It is a decision that is made because we have to do it! It makes no sense, but neither does love, children and taxes" -Sam Buchanan
My Build Log:
http://www.locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=3054