Matte Black vs Glossy Black

[Derpwerp]

Which one is more to maintain to keep it looking clean and its best. Which would you prefer? Matte or glossy black?

[Don]

Re: Matte Black vs Glossy Black

Are you talking paint or plastic trim?

[davey g-force]

Re: Matte Black vs Glossy Black

They are both a pain to maintain looking their best.

Gloss paint has the advantage that if you get swirls or other defects, you can polish them out, whereas you can't do that with most matte finishes (you'd make them shiny). Plus gloss black looks gorgeous when all clean and polished. Matte... not so much IMO

(btw... I assume you're talking about paint)

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Matte Black vs Glossy Black

If you're talking about the care of matte versus glossy paint, then usually the matte is easier to take care of. And that's simply because you can't really do anything to it but wash it. The matte appearance comes from very fine texture in the finish, similar to what you can achieve by sanding a car with 3000 grit (or thereabouts) sandpaper. Because of this it's almost impossible to see swirls in matte paint, whereas in gloss black they'll jump out at you and smack you in the face!

Of course, you can polish gloss black paint and repair those swirls along with etchings from bird droppings, isolated scratches, etc. You can't do that at all with matte paint. Oh, you have a scratch in your matte paint? Deal with it, because you can't touch it. Same little scratch in your gloss black car? Feather sand it if it's bad enough, and polish that bugger right out.

A gloss black car will own you, big time, as it will show everything and drive you nuts in the process. The matte black car just needs to be carefully washed on a very regular basis and that's it. Again, that's it because that's all you can do!

[Derpwerp]

Re: Matte Black vs Glossy Black

If you're talking about the care of matte versus glossy paint, then usually the matte is easier to take care of. And that's simply because you can't really do anything to it but wash it. The matte appearance comes from very fine texture in the finish, similar to what you can achieve by sanding a car with 3000 grit (or thereabouts) sandpaper. Because of this it's almost impossible to see swirls in matte paint, whereas in gloss black they'll jump out at you and smack you in the face!

Of course, you can polish gloss black paint and repair those swirls along with etchings from bird droppings, isolated scratches, etc. You can't do that at all with matte paint. Oh, you have a scratch in your matte paint? Deal with it, because you can't touch it. Same little scratch in your gloss black car? Feather sand it if it's bad enough, and polish that bugger right out.

A gloss black car will own you, big time, as it will show everything and drive you nuts in the process. The matte black car just needs to be carefully washed on a very regular basis and that's it. Again, that's it because that's all you can do!

So is there any products safe to use on Matte/Satin finishes? Like clay bar or detailer spray?

[davey g-force]

Re: Matte Black vs Glossy Black

Detailing sprays and spray waxes are fine.

Not sure about clay, due to its ability to cause marring (which then can't be polished out).