if your tropical storm hooks too early then the next steps would be:
4000 polished
or
2000 or 4000 with a slip agent type of polish.
or
some sort of compound to take it above 1500grit polished oob.
*** 1500grit oob polish is equal to 2000 abralon plus gritless polish. its called 1500grit polished because that is the grit the ball is taken to before they use a compound which actually sands the ball higher then 1500grit then polishes ***
not sure how successful you will be at altering the surface or even choosing the right surface without testing it out, but good luck anyway.