I hate compounds like Autosol for metal but understand why people use it, for a start if you have no other method what else can you use? I do a fair bit of polishing of stainless and alloy, I use high speed mops and soaps, check out thepolishingshop.co.uk for guids and gear.
Problem with chemical polishes like Autosol is they fill the microscopic holes in the alloy and then react with moisture in the air, that or condensation that forms on the surface, alloy is like a mountain landscape at microscopic level and the valleys in between the peaks trap whatever you use to clean or polish it, if you have to use autosol then be sure to use some plain turtle wax to fully clean it off once done, this can be seen as when cleaning it off at some point the cloth with stop going black, once done it will last 10x longer before the dreaded white fur appears that autosol etc create as it eats into the alloy, once that happens you have twice the work to fix it again, Autosol etc are like heroin to alloy!
All my polishing is mops and soaps and nothing more other than a coat of quality wax to seal it off.
Some examples of my work.
I do a good few of these Termi systems, HATE doing them!
Its a dirty stinking nasty job and hard work, I do all I can to avoid it! If you want any tips just ask, not that there are any other than keep going!!
Sorry for all the pics, just thought you may like to see, the XJR is mine, fully polished.
For paintwork I use Zymol and Supernatural from cleanyourcar.co.uk great site 
Looks great on my Duc and this old Honda 
Edited by arthurbikemad, 14 February 2015 - 10:09 am.
