Plastic Restoration 101 - Advice, Tips & Tricks

Alright now I am familiar with some restoration techniques, but my particular application is to the interior black panels (ie front control panel trim, ashtray, etc)

Both methods will involve sanding from 1500, working my way to 2500 grit wet sandpaper.

My question is which is more effective of a finishing procedure?:

1) use metal polish or specific polish (ie Maguire line products) with polish cloth
or
2) apply an even spray coat of an automotive clearcoat/varnish

for best results after 2500 use rubbing compound, then polish with a plastic compound, then clear

Sorry, what “rubbing compound” and “plastic compound” did you have in mind?

3M makes it canadian tire sells rubbing compound
plastic polishing compound you can buy pritty much anywhere