I am painting a wood table that I built and would like to get a high gloss or semi gloss finish. The wood is a type of hardboard, and therefore you can't really see any grain. I've already started and sealed and sanded the wood. I've also put down a flat black paint which includes some kind of primer in it (or so the guy at Frazee Paint told me). I put one coat on, then wet sanded the flat black with 400grit, then I put another coat on and wet sanded this coat. I was told to use a roller when applying the flat black paint since I don't want brush marks, but I can't seem to get the coat 100% even. Do I need to put on more coats of the flat black and try to build it up some more? [B]When finished wet sanding, the paint still doesn't look completely even and since the paint is water based, some of it comes off when wet sanding; is that normal? [/B]After wet sanding, the layer is much smoother, but again, not even throughout in certain light. [B]In order to get a nice gloss finish, should I just varnish/lacquer the flat black or put on a high gloss black paint over the flat? [/B] If I should just put a clear coat on it, what kind should I get that'll go over an acrylic based flat paint? This is my first time really trying to paint something correctly. Thank you for any thoughts.

I do electrical work on commercial jobs and always see the Tapers using Sheetrock brand Easy Sand powder. I've asked them and they say that the contractor wants it used because it drys like concrete. The common term used for it is "Durabond" but they say that they use the Sheetrock brand because it's sandable unlike Durabond. After a coat or two with the Easy Sand they use the typical Sheetrock brand joint compound in the blue top 5 gallon bucket, they say it gives a better finish coat than the Easy Sand. So it this true for most applications? If I had to patch some holes around the house, should I use this Easy Sand? Will it last longer without cracking?