Rattle can paint orange peel

[Invader Zim]

Guitar body has orange peel in places. This is a well cured finish but it was an experiment.  So, how well does  Rust-oleum 2x Ultra Cover buff out? What is the best approach and technique to eliminate orange peel?

 

 

edit: Mods move to finish area.

Edited August 16, 2020 by Invader Zim

[RonMay]

Invader Zim, there's one sure way to find out how it buffs out and that's to buff it out. You should know pretty quick if it's worth it to continue or start over.

 

Ron

[Bizman62]

Depending on the thickness of the finish and the depth of the orange peel gaps, wet sanding with a solid block might make a good starting point. If you didn't sand between layers you may have to add yet another layer after sanding for enough stuff to be buffed. For a mirror finish you should sand the finish level to the bottom of the gaps.

Spray guns can cause orange peel just as easily as rattle cans. Warming the cans in a bowl of hot water might help, the right distance/pressure combination as well. Proper sanding including raisin the grain with moisture is a must. Even then light sanding (up to 400-600 grit) after the first couple of coats to knock the fibres is recommendable. You can then apply a thicker final layer over that perfectly leveled base. If you get orange peel there, sand down to the  bottoms of the craters (they'll shine like stars on a matte sanded surface!) and work your way through various grits of wet paper, changing direction by 45 degrees between the grits. After 2000 you can change to a cutting compound if you can't find smoother abrasives - I've used 3000 and 6000 grit 3M pads and after those changed to a swirl remover but as there's coarser pastes as well there's many ways to make the surface shiny.

[mistermikev]

not proud but have a lot of orange peel experience.  you have to determine if this is buffable orange peel or orange peel that you need to take some 6/800 to and re-spray.  at least... that has been my experience.  if you just spray out of a can and don't sand between coats and get completely smooth, then go in for that final dusting of finish... just seems like you end up with a mess at the end.  just one aholes humble experience, your mileage may vary.