Color question - Anthracite , like a reg black or a metallic

waxacura · 05-19-04, 02:46

I'd like to get maximum depth, pop, and clarity and bring out the flakes in my dark gray metallic paint. Does this color react more like the solid blacks or more like silver metallics to wax/polish?

Car is 1 year old, had never been waxed. It had cobwebbing. 75% of the webbing is now hidden after I clayed and used NXT which made it shiny, but it looks one dimensional. I really want to bring out the depth of the metallic and the large contrast between the dark base color and the silver flake. This car can look very dark at night and quite a few shades lighter in the sun, almost pewter in bright sun, but it's a pretty dark gray.

I've been recommended Meg 9,7, maybe NXT, and then 16 or 26.
I may go with speed glaze and skip the 9. I know it will benefit from some cleaning and polish no matter what I use, but anyone have more experince with this color? thanks.

berzerker · 05-19-04, 02:56

Oh man, do I feel your pain!!

I have a 2004 Anthracite TL and I can't find anything that makes it jump out and slap ya either

So far, I've tried:
Just NXT after a complete wash/clay
Klasse AIO + SGx2
AIO + SG topped with NXT
AIO + SG topped with #7 and #16

I really just don't notice any difference between the paint with nothing on it - and any of those combinations. However, I just purchase a PC 7336 and am going to pick up some pads and maybe some PrepSolv to start over from a clean slate. If you find something that makes that metal flake paint jump out, let me know please!!

four20 · 05-19-04, 02:58

Hi waxacura,

I believe my car is almost the same, if not the same color. I have a Graphite Gray Metallic IS300 (see signature below) and I've been using the Klasse Twins on my car for a long time now and I am very pleased with the results they have given.

I just recently used a PC for the first time on my car last weekend and I was just speechless at the results I had afterwards. What I did was I washed, clayed, washed and then used the PC with 3M SMR for Dark Colored Cars with the yellow cutting pad, then Klasse AIO with white pad, and finally, Klasse SG with black pad (although you can apply this by hand). Now the paint is absolutely incredible...no swirls whatsoever and the shine and depth is just

The metallic flake stands out a lot more than before and finish is just awsome now. I knew I shoulda took pics when I was finished, but it was dusk by the time I was done. Perhaps this coming weekend I'll take some pics after my 2nd coat of SG goes on.

waxacura · 05-19-04, 03:04

Four20, are the pix you linked to your final result....oh I see they are not! The color is close. Your pix look shinier than I was wanting. What wax is it in these pix?
I hope I didn't get a 'problem' color. i think the gray may be too dark and not metallic enough and dulls the flake effect unless you are right up on it..
I think it could go really deep if treated just right.

waxacura · 05-19-04, 03:17

berzerker, I'd forgotten I'd seen an anthracite 04 TL aat the dealership and it looked really deep at night. Owner was Acura salesman. I now remember he said he used Zaino! It did look very good, but it was at night in the lights they have over car lots. It looked deep in that light but I wonder if it was just shiny in sunlight. I'm not a zainoer and not that thrilled about being one really. But whatever works I'll try I guess.

CarWeenie · 05-19-04, 03:25

I have tectite grey metallic paint - I think it is similar color.
The car has been clayed and PCed with 1Z MP.
(I did not do such a good job, there are still a few
visible swirls under strong direct sun light.)

This is what I have tried:

1. Z1/Z2 followed by Z6.
Regrettably, I did not like the result on this car.
Has this ultra shiny look but not much depth (IMHO).
Need sun glasses to look at the car...
(Z looks fantastic on my other white car, though)
Super easy to work with.

2. NXT/NXT spray after 1Z MP.
Good initial look. Deepens the color -
a very "conservative/regal" look.
However, the metal flakes seem to be muted.
Very easy to work with. (don't care much for the spray
thingie, though).

3. Liquid Souveran (spelling?).
I can't seem to get this right. Hard to rub off - got some
streaks. Dusts stick to car and difficult to QD off. However,
this is probably operator errors (use too much product and
did not buff all the excess off? - did not follow instructions?)
Will try again soon.
(Love their QD, though)

4. Currently, AIO (2x) and topped with S100.
Interesting look - very clean/shiny/sparkle look with some
depth. Looks like two totally different cars under different light
conditions.
Recently, I hose the car off and use some WAUD. No
discernable difference (but much slicker).

5. To be tried this weekend:
Prep with #80 speed glaze,
then 1/2 hood with EX-P and the other with UUP.

waxacura · 05-19-04, 03:35

Can you believe I only wanted, one clear answer to this? and you guys have used some of the best stuff too with mixed results.
We need an anthracite forum!

four20 · 05-19-04, 04:40

Quote:

Originally posted by waxacura
Four20, are the pix you linked to your final result....oh I see they are not! The color is close. Your pix look shinier than I was wanting. What wax is it in these pix?
I hope I didn't get a 'problem' color. i think the gray may be too dark and not metallic enough and dulls the flake effect unless you are right up on it..
I think it could go really deep if treated just right.

Actually, in those pics (first 8 pics), you see the Klasse twins with P21S as a topper...all done by hand - of course w/ wash and clay, too. Right now, the car is 10x shinier than what you can see in the pics.