What's the best way to remove clear coat sanding marks?

[SoCal722]

I finished painting an aluminum part and I'm happy with my base-coat and the clear coat also came out very nice. The only thing I don't like is the way my clear feels, it's smooth and all but it just doesn't feel as smooth as it could be and it feels sticky.
It's a Satin Black color. I'm really picky about the way the finish feels so I was thinking about wet sanding it with 1500 grit paper (3M) then with 2000 grit right after - or should I just do 2000?

But anyway, what led me here is the sanding marks I'm expecting once I start. What are my options to get rid of the marks? Despite my research I'm still a bit confused over the differences between rubbing compound and polish. To remove the wet sanding marks from clear do I use both or I can use one or the other?

[Markus Kleis]

Re: What's the best way to remove clear coat sanding marks?

For starters, the paint may simply need more curing time for the stickiness to go away. But, assuming that doesn't fix it and you need to address the texture, try starting with something like 2,000, then if you can follow it with 2,500 and then 3,000. Then the sanding marks remaining will be very faint and easier to remove.

From there, M105 is the best compound to tackle that job. This can be done by hand, dual-action polisher or rotary (but I am guessing you don't know how to use that machine yet). From there, you typically want to follow with a polish (think of it as a finder grain sandpaper) such as M205 with a polishing or finishing pad.

Always do test spots and verify your results before tackling large areas.

You also want to be sure you have enough paint to safely cut and buff the finish.