Finding paint defects in silver and gray?

Rocket

Rocket

New member
I have an 09 Ram in mineral gray. On my way to work yesterday I saw a truck that was the same color as mine but it had been neglected. It has scratches and I could faintly make out swirls when the sun hit it just right.

This made me wonder about my fathers Mazda which is gray also. When he bought it I thought it was te perfect color since he doesn't use the best methods to avoid swirls. He sees his car is shiny so it's like new. I wanted to see what kind of defects he had so I started looking and I have so much trouble seeing swirls but I can see some normal wash induced swirls. I'd like to do a 1 step for him soon and I got to wondering:

What do you all use to see the defects in these colors since they mask defects fairly well?
 
I've found that a 1000w halogen spaced back ~10 feet, aimed with a sharp angle to the surface you're inspecting does a good job. I can never see anything when aiming it perpendicular to the paint.

My Xenon Brinkmann does an alright job if you hold it back far enough, but it can be difficult to work with on lighter colors.

The LED light on my HTC Desire does a good job, which makes me want to try out the LED Brinkmann.
 
try low pressure sodium lights like street lights. park under one first and see if they are any good. i think the orange color helps shows scratches and swirls without blinding the user
 
I have florescent on the ceiling eight, four footers. Then three, 1000 watts halogens on a stand to move around for polishing.

All that said to see the swirls in your color paint, halogens would be best IMO
 
I even incorporate a classic incandescent shop trouble light to look for swirls on light colors. Got to stock up on the old school bulbs though as I don't know if the modern high efficiency ones can produce the same lighting.
 
Thanks for the replys. I usually can make out everything in the sun but on gray and silver I just blinded more than I can see defects. I have a surefire light that I might pull out and see how it does. I've got a set of work lights in a stand that I might try also. I might even pull out my old work light for when im working under the hood.
 
My Mazda has a color call Platinum Silver Metallic which is hard to see any defects ( Swirls ) on it. The Brinkman and a good set of halogens lights help me in finding them when looking at a angle. Also my paint is hard as a rock also to let you know.
 
I don't think it was mentioned, but on light colors sometimes it helps to be in a dark garage with halogens or LEDs as the only light source.
 
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