My gel coat is it pretty good shape to begin with. I've been doing some correction of very light surface scratches in gel coat that is not oxidized. I've been working a flat area, about 1.5 - 2 sq ft to get a handle on what it'll take to do the job.
Doesn't take much wet sanding with 800 or 1500 grit to get these scratches out. Often some time with 1500 is enough. I went over the 1500 with 2000, I'm not sure I spent enough time with the 2000, or if it's even necessary. After that, in this flat area I began with, I buffed with a white wool pad and 3M Perfect It Light cutting polish, their newer stuff (purple bottle, orange label).
So where I am right now is under fluorescent lighting in my shop, I can still see faint, light straight lines that I attribute to the sanding, it's real subtle. The surface is nice and shiny, but not perfectly glassy smooth. What do I need to do? More buffing with the same pad/material? More sanding with 2000? Different pad or polishing material? I also have a yellow wool pad, but nothing more aggressive in the way of polish. I use a Dewalt polisher, I take it easy with the pressure, keep it moving, and about 1400 rpm. I don't have any swirl marks from the polisher so I think I'm not overdoing it there.
Thanks for any tips.