Bryan,
I've been paying attention to Tom and some of the other CA people's posts lately, and noticed something - they are using MicroMesh AFTER the last CA application. Until now, I've always just finished the wood out to MM12000, then did a light touch of BLO on the blank, followed by some CA, then a little more BLO, then more CA, then one more application of each, then I've been done. I've always been really pleased with my blanks when they come off the lathe, but some of them lose their luster after a day. I was thinking that it might be because the BLO is gradually drying. I am thinking about trying MM (starting around 4000 or so) after the three to five layers of CA are dry to see if it brings up more of a polish. Finishing THAT with some HPP might really make it pop. It may be that my final CA coats are too rough for the HPP to really give it the kind of polish I am seeing on the polyester resins.
Thanks again for the mesquite - now I know why everyone raves over Dario's mesquite! That should make a great pen!