Micromesh Vs Alpha Industries.

[D.Pack]

The flexible foam backed cloth abrasives from both brands.

If any members are using both, are they identical in abrasive/cutting quality?

I have some new Alpha cloths 3600 to 8000 and they do seem more coarse than my old MM cloths, which are now so worn it's hard to compare.

But my MM sheets when new, I'm certain we're a finer cut 3600-8000

I have a bodyshell that I've been repainting to hide previous scratches and starting again, but no luck, still same results.

[stitchdup]

if they were more abrasive they wouldn't match the markings. are you changing direction when swapping to a finer grit? going in one direction just polishes the scratch while changing direction works to remove it. its like when you always take the same shortcut over grass, eventually a track forms

[Michael jones]

Just a side note, 3M Trizact is also a great product that is not that expensive (probably far cheaper in USA). I have 3000,5000,8000 grit. They come in big round pads, but I just cut them to little rectangles. 

[D.Pack]

Ok, so if are the same standards then perhaps just my bad luck.

My 4th time on TS gloss, just can't seem to work this paint like a regular auto rattle can. That paint (for me) is easy to sand and polish to a good standard.

[mcs1056]

In my experience, there is nothing better than MicroMesh.

I've used it for 40 years on Lear windshields (it was the only method approved by LearJet), polishing the clear plastic to a flight-worthy crystal clear. As explained to me in the 80s, the padded "paper" gets the abrasive to align flat at the higher grits, so it kinda shaves the surface smooth, instead of just gouging a bit less at successive levels. 

If it's good enough for a jet windshield, it's good enough for a model. Personally, I wouldn't waste it on paint. That's just me, though. 

[bobss396]

I like the MM myself. I cut them into 4 pieces and mark the grit on the back.

I have some foam pads, but find using them is to easy to blow through edges. I use them for my pre-paint sanding only.