I need to do some refinishing on a rod - I don't like some stuff that got into the finish. I was told to use 600 grit sandpaper. So I tried it on an old stick and all it did was gumm up the surface. Do I need a much finer grit or am I doing something wrong?

Thanks....

Try 800 wet/dry paper John, and use it wet. Make sure the epoxy is fully cured. I'm not a rod builder but I know the gummy is from too ruff of paper. Do it wet.
good luck

John, are you wet sanding with 600 grit waterproof sandpaper? The finish should be completely cured before you start sanding or it will gum up. You might want to try wiping the rod down with laquer thinner first to remove any uncured finish first.

I was trying it on a rod I built 2 years ago as a test before m#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&g up a new build finnish... I thought I had seen somewhere not to wetsand the epoxy - does that make sense???

Have to defer to the full time Cabinetmakers on this one.......

John give me a call in the office if you want and I might be able to help you out. I'm not a nut for doing things the "right way" and over the years have found the "quick way" that works just as well. I've refinished lots of rods and never touched a piece of sandpaper :).

John,
If this is old Epoxy it may indicate that you did not use enough hardner. This reaction gumming up is not due to friction "right".
If it is gummy, you could try pealing it. Also you may have to use some kind of solvent. Make sure you get the right stuff. Contack the manufacture.
Later:o

Sometimes you may have to steel wool instead. Sometimes with epoxy there is a gummy kind of skin on there. Once the skin layer is removed , the gumminess goes away. Don't rub to aggressively as a little heat build up may also gum up the works. Fine sandpaper tend to load up anyway but its really "gummy" then my guess is you have the skin effect I mentioned. Sometimes wiping it all down with acetone and letting it dry completes the cure on the skin if its only the skin that's undercured.
Steel wool is nice cause you can keep folding and unfolding to keep exposing new , ungummed areas. I believe the fine stuff is AA. Anyway , be careful cause there are coarse and fine steel wool also.