A full gloss finish requires a surface film ( like automotive clear-coat makes the color base coat shine). You can use nitro cellulose lacquer( easy) or polyurethane varnish (more difficult) or real catalyzed automotive clear coat (most difficult) About 5 coats fully cured will give enough film depth to allow sanding out defects and then polishing with automotive polishing compounds to get that mirror finish. If you have access to automotive paint spraying equip, automotive clear-coat is the primo choice. The next step down is some variety of polyurethane varnish ( Minwax Wipe 0n Poly is a good one). After full cure( 2 weeks) it is hard and ready for sanding and polishing. The easiest clear coat to apply( and least durable) is nitrocellulose lacquer, sprayed on. Dries in a day or two and is ready to sand and polish to full mirror.
Grit progression for sanding( wet) is approx. 600 , 1200, 2000 . Then polish with electric buffer using one of the commercial polishing compounds used for clear coats.
If you cut through the clear coat at any point, you must stop and recoat to regain film thickness. The beauty of lacquer is the new coats meld into the previous coats so that the interface disappears. This is not true for the others, so make sure there is plenty of film thickness before starting the sanding. Also be careful of sharp edges.
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