Which polish to use on metallic finishes?

[beancounter]

For the last five years I have been using Auto-Glym High Definition Wax on my cars (dark coloured metallic/pearl finishes). The tub is running out. I have found it quick and easy to apply and the finish fairly durable - I tend to use it twice per year on each car. Should I buy more of the same or is there now something better available?

[SlimJim16v]

Wire wool then Autosol.

[KungFuPanda]

SlimJim16v said:

Wire wool then Autosol.

I think he means metallic paint finishes not stuff like exhaust pipes! That would fk his paint up good and proper.

If it's a dark metallic, I'd use Poorboy's Black Hole which is a polish with a small amount of fillers to fill in light scratches. Then a wax on top.

[beancounter]

- you are right I am talking about paintwork not metalwork so Autosol wouldn't be a brilliant idea!!!

[Hooliganism]

Autoglym Super resin polish, Followed by Meguiars Ultimate Wax gives amazing results.

you have just been using a wax, using a polish before will clean and fill minor blemishes and gives a more solid base to wax. after wax you should get a dripping wet finish to the paint with nice depth

[X5TUU]

Personally I think AG products are horrendously poor quality

I would use a combination of Poor Boys Black Hole (fills minor imperfections with a fraction of the dust generated by AG SRP) then finish with a couple of coats of Collinite Insulator Wax 845 (again easier to apply/remove than AG HDW, and protects longer)

[xjay1337]

Why don't you perhaps use a proper polish something which detailers use - the ones mentioned are filler types so would not provide a permanent improvement.

[Summit_Detailing]

I'd recommend Finish Kare 1000P as a replacement for your High Def wax.

cheers

Chris

[X5TUU]

xjay1337 said:

Why don't you perhaps use a proper polish something which detailers use - the ones mentioned are filler types so would not provide a permanent improvement.

Then you are reliant on having either a DA or Rotary plus the pads etc... And while that is the permanent solution for a casual user these are often too expensive to justify when you can attain very similar effects with spending a fraction of the outlay

[xjay1337]

One small bottle of Sonax 4/6 perfect finish is about £15-20.

Most people know someone who has a DA and who can machine polish.
Chuck your mate £40 for helping you out for the day and you can easily get a great result.

My friend and I fully detailed both our cars (wash, clay, polish, etc whole schebang) including a single stage polish (2 stages in some areas) and Cquartz ceramic coating. Each car took about 6 hours with both of us working on them.
My belief is to do it once and do it properly. Spend a bit of time on it now and you can enjoy just having to wash and dry your car for the remainder of the year.

[smudgerebt]

Stick with HD, but i would use a paint cleaner before. You could use srp then hd.

Having had a day with AG (thanks jonny and bill at Detailing World) i would stick with the above. Alot of time and money went into that wax.