It's funny you mention the polishing compound cause I have some in the garage and at first was gonna use that but went with the rubbing compound. I think tomorrow I will switch to the polishing compound.... Now due to the holiday I'm in a remote location and I have some mag and chrome and alunimum polish I was thinkiNg could work for the final touch. What do you think...... Yeah really doing this one caveman style no power tools and none of the correct compounds really hope it comes out nice. If not I'll give it legal beagle since he went to west point I promise I will not mess up the etching :-)