Concerning shrinkage of coatings.
Many cue makers coat their cues one day, wait a day or two, sand then prep and spray clear coat. This is a problematic procedure. Why? All epoxies have a set time. 5, 30, 60 min or 24 hrs. All epoxies set time is listed on the container. The critical factor is cure time. The 100% cure time is always 7 days with the materials we cue makers are familiar with.
So if you sand in 2 days and clear coat over that adhesion coat the cue will still be curing and still shrinking under a premature application of your clear.
So after applying your epoxy, you must be patient for at least a week at 72 degrees.
Just saying,
Rick
PS. The slower the set time the more initial shrinkage.
I did an experiment 15 years ago. I took 3 ferrules, taped the bottoms. Then filled them to the top with G5, 30 min, and 207/105. After the epoxies set, the G5 was about .100 shrunk from the top. The 30 min was about .200 and the west system was closer to .250. That is a 25% shrinkage in the 1" ferrule.
When you consider the volumetric differential, it is huge. The shrinkage that occurs for the next 6 days can not be visually seen but even a 1/2 of a % shrinkage under a clear coat that is also curing is a compunding problem. Food for thought. Patience Grasshopper. Then you need to wait a long period of time before wet sanding a buffing the clear. I wait at least 2 weeks.
I know cue makers that epoxy, sand, clear coat, wet sand , buff then ship the cue in a few days. Wonder why the cue fit and finish looks like crap 6 months down the road.