It's HARD to polish silver...

[trencher7]

Re: It's pointless to polish silver...

I have a Silver Metallic Saab 9-3 and I would say I don't think it's worth the time to to numerous polishing steps after the first detail. I had neglected my paint for a year so used some Ultimate Compound and #80 Speed Glaze before waxing and it probably looks as good as it ever will. I plan on using an AIO or Speed Glaze + Wax from here on out. I do still want to try and do something about the water etchings (stage II) I have on my hood so there are some good reasons to polish Silver. From a short distance you can't see them at all, but at night from the drivers seat the angle in the light makes me feel like I'm looking at the moons surface.

 

[MDetail]

Re: It's pointless to polish silver...

although I agree that it is harder to see the defects you are removing, I think that you can get the paint to pop. Pictures maybe can't capture it, but here is my 08 fit Storm Silver Metallic.

 

[Deep Gloss Auto Salon]

Re: It's pointless to polish silver...

It really has more to do with not being able to see the defects you're removing. It's almost like polishing blindly, that's what bugs me.

I can understand that...

Get your shop dark and then light up your dual halogens a good distance behind you and at an agle and that should help you to see the defects.

If you dont want to keep repeating the process of moving the light just do so until you find the right pad/polish/speed combo that removes the swirls and you can just go from there without.

 

[frosty]

Re: It's pointless to polish silver...

07,

Are you polishing outside? That may be part of your problem. I do my details in doors under florescent lights. If it's really tough I position my 1300w halogens to where I see. When starting use a piece of tape, If find that also makes a big difference in showing the difference I made by going over a section.

I think I get what you're saying. I find no matter what color I'm working on at first I like wow sometimes but the more I look at something I've done I start nitpicking and become acclimated to it and sometimes my perception of the shine starts to dimish.

If need be I have others look at it during those times and watch their reactions.

P.S. Another hard thing for me was doing the work and thinking it was close to perfect and then seeing pix on websites. I come to realize if you know what you're doing and how to work with lighting, you can make a car look a lot better in a pix than it really is. Especially if you are shooting in low light situations with nice surroundings and reflections.

Not saying cars in those pix are good but I at one point was chasing getting the stuff trying to look like that to the naked eye. I started taken some pix in those conditions and realized I was getting similiar results.

 

[Deep Gloss Auto Salon]

Re: It's pointless to polish silver...

07,
.

P.S. Another hard thing for me was doing the work and thinking it was close to perfect and then seeing pix on websites. I come to realize if you know what you're doing and how to work with lighting, you can make a car look a lot better in a pix than it really is. Especially if you are shooting in low light situations with nice surroundings and reflections.

GREAT POINT!

This is why when I see post correction pictures, unless there are direct, full sunburst shots there is no way to really tell how much correction was achieved...Brinkman, halogens, incandescent reflection shots can be VERY deceiving - Based on the angle alone you can make a swirled car look swirless - The ONLY light that I have found that you cant hide swirls from is the Fenix TK11.

Obviously you can't hide anything from a full, direct, sunburst shot....

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Re: It's pointless to polish silver...

I think the biggest issue I have with silver is I can't see the defects easily at all

For the same reason that you're frustrated by trying to remove defects in silver metallic there are many people that choose silver metallic for the exact same reason and that's because it's hard to see swirls in a silver metallic finish.

Over the years I've met a lot of black car owners that after owning a black car wanted a color that didn't show ANYTHING and for these people I always strongly recommend buying a car with a silver metallic finish.


Here's what happens when you look at a silver metallic finish, instead of seeing the surface your eyes look past the surfaced and focus on the metallic flake and silver color.

In the sun you can't see anything at all as the sunlight reflects off the silver flakes like a mirror and blind you causing you to look away, so you don't look for very long.

 

[ricka]

Re: It's pointless to polish silver...

I feel that my titanium silver BMW always looks fine and boring during sunlight hours, no matter what--- it really doesn't "pop" until there is more dramatic lighting available. Dusk hours are great (with the red and oranges to add some warmth), or if you can get some partial shade on the car to cut down on the glare and allow the reflection from the paint to be more visible with the naked eye or a camera. I've seen other silvers that are nicer during daylight, as titanium silver is quite sterile and cold. Not all silvers are the same. I can spend all day on my car and it rarely looks better afterward in most natural lighting situations except as noted above. Not so with my parent's Porsche, which is a warmer silver with improvements in the finish easier to spot.

But from a paint correction perspective, polishing silver is certainly more difficult as defects are harder to see and that makes great lighting key. Florescents seem to work best for me.

Having a silver car myself, what he says makes sense. Silver always looks better in dawn or dusk conditions where the sun doesn't directly reflect the flakes. It is tougher to see swirls etc, but you're also benefiting from obsessing over every little scratch etc.

Tough call. I'm in the process of deciding what color next to buy. Played with some black loaner cars. Love the finished detailed product but don't like noticing every little flaw. And the spring pollen season has to be a total whip with black. Thinking a dark metallic grey might be the best of both worlds although the Cadillac and Lexus reds look awesome and don't show every defect either.

Regarding light, you have to shine it at different angles. Looking at your work in full sun is useful too if you wear polarized sunglasses.
Anyway, good luck and as everyone has said, claying, polishing and using a good sealant will work wonders. Also, take care of the black trim and tires. The contrast looks great against the silver.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Re: It's pointless to polish silver...

For the same reason that you're frustrated by trying to remove defects in silver metallic there are many people that choose silver metallic for the exact same reason and that's because it's hard to see swirls in a silver metallic finish.

Over the years I've met a lot of black car owners that after owning a black car wanted a color that didn't show ANYTHING and for these people I always strongly recommend buying a car with a silver metallic finish.

I actually LOVE silver metallic for the reason that it covers defects A LOT better than most colors. This is why my past 5 cars have been silver metallic. However, up until this one, I was never into polishing/detailing. Now that I am, it's a double edge sword. Would I trade my z06 for a black one, absolutely not!!!!! I guess I can't have my cake and eat it...lol.

 

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Re: It's pointless to polish silver...

THANKS EVERYONE FOR ALL THE VALUABLE ADVICE AND INFORMATION. i'M GOING TO GET THIS FIGURED OUT!!! :dblthumb2: :buffing: