Waxing Silver Paint

[rj6031570]

Any opinions on how much time should be spent trying to get that incredible shine out of a silver metallic paint job.



I am thinking about just using Klasse AIO and calling it a day since my gut tells me that Silver, somewhat like White, isn`t going to reflect like a darker color will.



What do you experts think?

[offcenter]

I`ve got a metallic silver car and while Klasse AIO will give it a shine, I did Klasse AIO x1 and Klasse SG x3, top it off with Pinnacle Paste Glaz and the paint just pops out at you, sure it ain`t like black or red but it still looks awesome.:up

[C. Charles Hahn]

we experts think you should use the search function. ;)



Nonetheless, welcome to autopia. :wavey

[ClimberGuy4]

Welcome to Autopia.

Go all out on the silver paint. If you want the shine you have to put in the time and effort. It`s worth it though, my dad`s porsche looks beautiful after a full detail.

[detailbarn]

what is the silver vehicle you are detailing?

[Steve @ Guru]

Something like this?



http://members.roadfly.org/geekysteve/garage_08_sm.jpg



Ahhh, gotta love that Zaino. Last Z`d around February, this pic was taken in October.

[bigpoppa]

I`ll second the Zaino recommendation. It`ll make silver so bright you can`t stare at it in sunlight.:cool:

[Scottwax]

I`ve got some great results from using Clearkote`s Vanilla Moose (a glaze that should be available after the first of the year) and S100/P21S:



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/878s100_on_silver.jpg



This is Meguiars Swirl Free Polish and S100/P21S on gold:



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/878s100_reflection_e420_mycar.jpg



S100 seems to be as reflective (or nearly as reflective) as synthetic waxes like Klasse and Zainos, with the deep wet gloss of a carnuba. You do have to wax more often with a carnuba, but S100 is so easy to use, you won`t mind spending another 15 minutes after a wash throwing on another coat of wax every few months.

[procareman50]

Darn Silver cars!!!



Actually it is hard to notice a huge difference after you fully wash the car with some good soap, dry completely, then put AIO on. But if you look at it in the right light compared to areas of the car which do not have the AIO, you can certainly see a smooth, deeper shine than what you saw with just a clean wash of the clearcoat. I think that with another coat of AIO, or just 2-3 layers of SG over that, that the car will look even better. I think with silver anyway, as long as the car is clean, it is going to look good. I have found that with most silver cars, especially the higher end ones that have more expensive paint jobs (Porsche, BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, etc.). Plus the guys have shown some excellent pics of Klassed and Zaino`d silver cars that look pretty awesome I must say!!

[shaf]

Originally posted by bmw530i2003

Darn Silver cars!!! LOL, I know! :p



The general opinion (and truth, really) about silver cars is that you can`t make them super-reflective the way a dark or black finish is so that you can use it as a mirror, but what you can do is make it very glossy and wet looking. This is the reason I`ve gone all out with the Klasse system and topped it with wax (in my signature). At first I was thinking I was wasting my time because detailing silver is relatively unrewarding, but then later I decided to go "all out", my reasoning being that since it is so nonreflective, it could use all the help it could use.



BTW, using skillful photography you can get reflections like the ones Geekysteve posted. ;)



One thing I found helpful in my product searches is to search for "productX silver" and you should get a bunch of very good threads regarding that product on silver. Good luck, and welcome. :)

[Jngrbrdman]

I`d like to see more silvers cars showing that kind of reflection in direct sunlight. There are a few in the gallery. In fact, there was a really nice one that was entered in the photo contest. It was a great reflection on a silver car in direct sunlight. That is something impressive. Anyone can get a reflection of the sky on the hood of their black car. Getting something like these pictures on a silver or white car is really something else. :xyxthumbs LIGHT COLORED CAR OWNERS OF THE WORLD UNITE! :D



edit: Point in case:



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/508/2066my_car_front_side_low-med.jpg



http://www.autopia.org/gallery/data/500/532ls_reflection.jpg

[shaf]

Dammit, I got some pics like that! Someone boot me in the rear and make me reduce them and upload `em! :mad: :bounce

[Steve @ Guru]

I can try a couple of more pics - these are not photoshopped at all (just resized in MS Photo Editor), and were taken at about 5:00pm in October.



I had just washed the car and dressed the tires with some Z16, and was trying to get a photo in for the autopia contest ASAP.



http://members.roadfly.org/geekysteve/garage_12_sm.jpg



http://members.roadfly.org/geekysteve/garage_11_sm.jpg



http://members.roadfly.org/geekysteve/garage_10_sm.jpg



If it weren`t so overcast here today, I`d snap some direct sunlight ones and see what I could do. :)

[rj6031570]

All,



Thanks for the replies and pictures and convincing me that working hard on Silver isn`t a waste of time after all.



I have started on this new vehicle with a cleaner and P21 Carnauba and am getting a good shine. This will get me through winter and I`ll look at Klasse AIO and layer something on top.



The ride - hope you are sitting down! - a 2003 Chrysler Town and Country Limited minivan, yep the new family vehicle, but it is almost totally monocrhomatic so there is a lot of paint and aero services in Silver to polish and wax. And if you haven`t driven one lately, it isn`t a bad performing car for what it is designed to do.



Robert

[shaf]

Originally posted by rj6031570

The ride - hope you are sitting down! - a 2003 Chrysler Town and Country Limited minivan, yep the new family vehicle, but it is almost totally monocrhomatic so there is a lot of paint and aero services in Silver to polish and wax. And if you haven`t driven one lately, it isn`t a bad performing car for what it is designed to do.



Robert Hehheh, every time I hear the name Town and Country I think of those vans in the late 80`s when they still sold them with optional fake woodgrain applique! :D Seriously though, good for you. :up Not many minivans I see around here look like they`ve been well-cared for. (I try my best with my parents` van, but...) At least detailing the hood will nice and short. ;)