It's HARD to polish silver...

[WRAPT C5Z06]

EDIT: After I've settled down, it's NOT pointless to polish any color. I'm just frustrated I'm having a tough time with silver. Darker colors are much easier. I think white is even easier to polish than silver. I guess it's the metallic in the light color that makes it so hard to see defects.

If the paint is in relatively good shape, clay it, and throw some wax on.

Hard as hell to see defects on silver which makes it hard to tell what you're accomplishing. Also, ya can't get it to pop much even after polishing, at least I cant. I find much more joy in polishing dark colors, or at least colors where you can see defects much more easily. JUST MY OPINION. :)

[Shane731]

I'd say that depends on who you're talking to. You know those swirls are going to bug the hell out of some people, people like me. Just a quick note, here is a couple pictures of my parents' 2000 Honda Accord after a wash, clay, Meg's Cleaner Wax and NXT 2.0.

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/medium/P6150572.jpg
http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/medium/P6150573.jpg

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/photopost/data/500/medium/P6150571.jpg

[daveinsweethome]

i tend to agree. dark colors and metallics pop but i have a silver e63 amg and have probably 5 coats of e zyme on it and it looks pretty damn good.

[ScottB]

polishing in general can amp up reflection and gloss even on lighter colors, so polish on !

[David Fermani]

It's always best to seal/cover/protect the absolute best finish possible. I've never seen a finish (especially silver) that wouldn't benefit from polishing. Especially after claying.

[Deep Gloss Auto Salon]

When there are swirls on a silver (or any light colored) car, it refracts the light the same way a black car would thus, degrading the reflectivity and overall appearance...

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I think the biggest issue I have with silver is I can't see the defects easily at all(they're there), which makes it tough to polish. The sun has to be in the exact right position, I have to look at the paint a certain angle. They'll show, but it's just a pain! Brinkmann shows defects on dark paints easily, but doesn't show anything on silver.

[ASPHALT ROCKET]

Every color benefits from a proper polishing, like Dave said, silver really pops when polished correctly.

[Harleyguy]

That's a pretty harsh statement.Plenty detailers take the same pride as doing a silver car as much as a dark car.Sounds like to me your all ready to give up on certain color cars because they just don't pop.As Dave pointed out he never seen a silver car not benefit from polishing.It's great to ask alot of questions but not sure if you know there is a great search engine on AG maybe take a look at what some of the season detailers use on silver and go that route.I spent hours looking into paint corrrection on my vette before i gave up.:xyxthumbs:

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Sounds like to me your all ready to give up on certain color cars because they just don't pop.
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.

[Harleyguy]

Get some better lights ??

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Get some better lights ??
Brinkmann is very bright. Shouldn't that show defects? Not sure what other type of lighting to use on silver?

[CEE DOG]

fluorescent?

[Harleyguy]

Brinkmann is very bright. Shouldn't that show defects? Not sure what other type of lighting to use on silver?Take a look at these they carry a set which cost alot less just linking these so you have an idea .
130 Watt Fluorescent Twin head Worklight - L-2005 at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Worklights/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5Zaqn9/R-100655275/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053)

[WRAPT C5Z06]

Take a look at these they carry a set which cost alot less just linking these so you have an idea .
130 Watt Fluorescent Twin head Worklight - L-2005 at The Home Depot (http://www.homedepot.com/Lighting-Fans-Worklights/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5Zaqn9/R-100655275/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053)
:xyxthumbs: