I would use a DA or other hand held sander with decreasingly finer grits of emery cloth until you get down to the sheen you are after. The bigger the sanding surface the less likely you are to end up with an uneven surface. Use oil as a lubricant. This will take some time, but can become a beautiful machine top.
Don Dando
Far more likely to create ocean-like waves in the top, as veitually every sander out there has an inconsistent pad underneath that cannot readily maintain a flat cutting surface.
If you have a top that truly seems bad enough to need major grinding, take it to a machine shop to be ground, where they can also make sure any grooves are maintained at the original depth. Much more costly, sure, but it beats buying a new top.
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