Polishing alumilite clear slow - without magic juice

[matome_collection]

I get great results with Magic Juice, but the issue is that I live in Japan, so importing it is not cheap. Would love to know some altetrnatives to see if I can source them locally. I have tried:

Tamiya's polishing compounds from coarse - fine - super fine after sanding to 3000 grit on the pen - wasn't even close to the magic juice finish.

Sanding up to 10,000 grit and using Hasegawa ceramic polishing compound. This was CLOSE but lacked definition on the edge of light sources.

There's a ton of options for plastic polish like Holt's compounds, Soft99 compounds, and on and on, but mostly this stuff is designed for cars and not urethane resins.

If anybody has some alternatives that are as good as magic juice I would love to hear them! Just buying random compounds and trying them is not being kind to my R&D budget.

 

[egnald]

The closest I have come is to wet sand using micro surface pads (foam backed pads - similar to Micro-Mesh(R). The closest estimation I have to sandpaper grit is 10,000 for their fine pad.

Sometimes I use this method and then just polish with the finest grit (number 6) of Magic Juice. Stadium Pen Blanks does sell individual bottles so I can buy just number 6).

Although I have never tried it, Micro-Mesh does make a final polish used after their finest grit. It is called Micro-Gloss. I know it is also approved and used by several aircraft manufacturers (Like Boeing and Lockheed Martin) for use on aircraft windshields.

Ganbatte kudasai - Dave

 

[KMCloonan]

I'm happy wet sanding with Zona Paper in the range of grits, followed by Meguiar's Plastx and a final 2-step buffing.

 

[sorcerertd]

I find that alumilite doesn't really hold a shine well, so I usually put a CA finish over it

 

[d_bondi]

Not a direct answer to your question... BUT first a question. Is this for blanks you are pouring or purchased blanks?

I ask because if you are pouring, you should consider using the Thermoset resin. Still a Urethane resin, but it cures harder and therefore polishes better.

For either, I use 800 grit wet, then 1500 grit Mirka Mirlon pad dry, and then bufffing wheels with Tripoli, White Diamond, Ultra Fine and Fine (finer than the ultra fine ), the blue jewelers rouge and finally Renaissance Wax and a clean wheel.