What is the best way to paint a high gloss surface?

No you don’t need to sand. You might need two coats though, or you could use a primer. I painted over high gloss a little while ago, with Behr paint and the first coat didn’t cover 100 percent. The second coat came out really nice.

I learned, in a furniture refinishing class, to prep the surface appropriately and then lay on two coats of flat paint, sanding in between.

Then finish with high gloss polyurethane. My teacher said that even horse manure would look beautiful with that treatment.

Sorry. Are you asking how to paint over a high gloss surface or how to produce one?

I have limited experience with this, and I am by no means a professional, so take this fwiw….

I redid a guitar several years back, and the method we used was to sand it after every coat, and use very high grain sand paper, and wet sanding. Eventually we used a high gloss coat and buffed it.

Recently I made an arcade machine and attempted a high gloss paint that wasn’t supposed to need to be sanded, so I didn’t sand it. It definitely still came out glossy, but there were small “bumps” and lumps in it that upset me and would’ve needed to be sanded out… but unfortunately would’ve given me different shades throughout.

Pending what you’re painting I would almost just tell you to get a professional to do it, lol.

A light scuffing couldn’t hurt even if you do prime it before painting. This way any imperfections will be discovered so you can address those early on.

@gailcalled Yes just simply painting over a gloss surface. But I wouldn’t mind a gloss finish as well.

I can’t imagine that any paint applied over a high gloss surface would adhere unless you primed it first and probably sand before the priming.

I would sand it. You don’t have to “sand it down” necessarily, but roughing it up is a good idea. Then primer, then paint.

Have you taken a trip to the paint store yet? There might be paints specially made to adhere to a glossy service that I am nit aware of. Let the specialists there help you.