On acrylic, I go through all the grades and end at 12,000.
I have found the key to a perfect finish, zero on the scratch scale is to look at you pen when it is turned with a magnifying glasses. I have some from the fifths my Dad gave me many years ago. It is head gear. I do not turn as well as some so I have more to sand.
I start sanding with 240 grit and work up to 600 grit, all dry. Then I switch to wet micro mess. But this is important. As you get to 400 grit paper look at the pen with magnification and see how it looks. This is wear I spend time to get out any deep groves and the on to 600 grit. I wipe the blank with a wet paper towel between grits in case some of the prior grit is hanging around and going to give me a deep scratch in a later sanding. Again I look at the blank to make sure it is evenly scratched. If it is not it has to be evenly scratched before you go to Micro Mesh. I start with the next to the lowest Mesh and work up. Wiping with wet paper towel between each grit. I look with magnification between each grit also to see the all the scratches are uniform. If they are not I may have to go back down a step or two. If it is sunny I take the blank out side each time and look. I go all the way to 12,0000. ( many do not go up that far and I have not a few times. But the result is not as good, still okay). Then I wipe it down with paper towel again and take it off the mandrel and make sure no previous anything is left behind. Then I put it back on the mandrel with or with out the bushing and start the beal buff with tripoli. I keep the blank at about a 45 degree angle on the wheel and use the upper front of the wheel. I mount the wheel on the lathe, do not have a dedicated machine for this. Important put several layers of soft foam on the lathe bed and on the floor. To protect the blank in case it decides to fly off. It will crack on the concert or the lathe bed. I have done so. Just touch it up one more time and wam it is flying around the shop. And it hurts when it hits you. Again I look at the blank with magnification to see how it looks. It has to be perfect. Side note, make sure you clean the old tripoli off the buffing wheel or it will scratch. I use block of wood and old drum sander belt. Then make sure the sand paper grit is off the buffing wheel by run some thing you do not care about as much on it. Then the white diamond. It usually really look perfect. Protect the blank ends when you press them. This is more than you wanted I am sure. Just trying to help. When I am do prior to pressing together I picked up a great tip on this sight. That is to take a higher grade Micro Mesh and touch up the edge all the way around then the 12,000 a few times and it will not catch when you run your finger down the pen. It works great. Hope that helps. Tom T