The Buffing Out Process:
Different people buff out a guitar different ways, but more or less it's all the same process. I'm not here to say the way I do it is any better then the next guy, I'm just gonna explain how I do it.
First off after I finish my final spraying, I wait one month for the lacquer to cure up nice and hard. I then began the sand down the finish with a 1000 grit buffing pad. I do this across the grain on the body; with the grain on the neck. I use only a buffing pad and water from a spray bottle. If you have never done this before, prepare for a workout. your arm will turn to jelly before you are done! The key is to sand lightly and as even as possible, DO NOT WORK A TINY SPOT AT ONE TIME! when buffing out the body, I separate the buffing into three sections on one side of the guitar. sometimes I even count to the strokes I make with the buffing pad, to make sure it's even, cuz I'm so anal about it. What you are looking for is to get the finish to be even and have a flat satin look to it. If you see small specs that are still shiny, then you got to keep buffing it down. these are low spots in the finish and if you don't, the low spot will stick out, and look like a flaw in the finish later.
Once you got this done, take a break cuz your arm will be dead,
Then Buff out the guitar and neck again using a 2000 grit buffing pad. Do the process the exact same way, same direction, using only water. the finish at this point should start to shine up some, looking like a semi-gloss finish.
Now buff the guitar and neck again with a 4000 grit buffing pad. At this point, you will probably find low points in the finish you missed, so feel free the back track to rub out those sections, if not, you're ready to do the final buffing.
You can use a buffing wheel, like the big guitar companies do, but if you dont have a big budget, stew mac sells sponge buffing pads that attach to your electric screw gun. these buffing pades do wonders.
I then rub out the finish with the buffing pad, using finesse II scratch remover from 3M. I ordered mine from good ol' ReRanch. I also buff the guitar out using water with the buffing polish to keep the finish cool from friction as I bring it to a shine. And then you got a shiny guitar!! If you continue to work with the finesse polish, the shine will get deeper as you work it. when I get it looking good, i then use the finesse it polish in combination with black magic car wax, and buff it again.
**some major points to remember, this is messy! use protective clothing, and keep it away from stuff you don't want to get splattered with polish. also, NEVER, and I MEAN NEVER buff any corner or edge of the guitar. these spots are always the thinnest part of the finish, and you will likely buff through the finish. indirect contact will shine these sections up just fine.**
Once I got the finish where I'm happy with it, I then wax the guitar with the black magic car polish by hand and shine it up with a soft flannel cloth.
Cheers,
Aaron