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I have sanded through a finish more than most people probably in shooting for a thin finish and I've noticed that when I do this I can usually see Ghosting where the new layer of clear was at. It looks like a ring in the lacquer where the new blends with the old lacquer. It doesn't look good and is pretty obvious up close. It doesn't show up until fine wet sanding and/or buffing.

Is there a way around this?

I'm using nitrocellulose lacquer by the way.

What brand of lacquer are you using?

And are you repairing old finish or touching up recently sprayed finish?

Usually, nitrocellulose burns in very well and you don't see "witness lines". Was any thinner used in the re-spray lacquer?

I'm not a Nitro expert so hopefully others will chime in.

Is this on the top or back and sides? Also are you sanding through to wood? Are you spraying over a sealer or pore fill? I am wondering if the rings are areas of discontinuity based on different surface prep once you send through. The nitro layers will burn into each other. My guess is the ring is on the surface.

I will usually re soften the lacquer with some butyl acetate or cellosolve before making the repair, helps melt things together. Assuming we are talking nitro of course.