Clear coating metallics

Will clear coating metallics make them look dull? I have a set of Meguiars polishes but have only practiced on scrap and still suck at it so if you have any suggestions feel free to tell me.:bandit: :ylsuper :smoka:

personally i would clear-coat the metallic paintjob first.... then polish the clearcoat

from what i've heard you might get fish-eye if you directly polish the metallic paint (due to unevenness or something...?)

on my CLK (which I have yet to finish.. sigh.. so little time now) I clearcoated with Future Floor Wax, then sanded and polished the clear-coat.... any imperfections to the polishing process will only affect the clearcoat. Windex removes Future Floor Wax very nicely so if u make a big mistake you can just get rid of the clearcoat and start again....

There might be a brand that doesn't do this, but almost all paints I used, it gets stained when sanded or rubbed.
I personally leave metallic paint as is, and protect it with a clear top coat. Then sand and polish the layer of clear to achieve a smooth and reflective surface.

hirofkd : What do you mean "stained"? I ask because I used Tamiya Gun Metal for my current project. I did some wet sanding with fine grit and afterwards I polished with Tamiya compound and got some nice results. It did look dull after the sanding, but the compound gave me a really nice shine.

If you guys want, you can check my thread here: http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/t53758.html

As someone suggested in that thread, maybe you could try a scrap piece first to see the results.