What new members REALLY need to know about detailing - Page 2

Boston Man · 09-09-09, 08:40

It's actually spelled Magwire's

yakky · 09-09-09, 08:41

- 90% skill, 10% product

- Pictures online can look great, car can look like a$$ in person. Only exception really is the halogen shots.

Alfisti · 09-10-09, 08:48

Great points Scott. Very helpful advice. Wish I had this list when I started on this gig...would've saved me some time and money.

I'd like to add:

A product being 'boutique' doesn't mean it's better. It may simply be a more expensive way to get the same result as a 'commercial' product. Show no bias when evaluating a brand/product. Just look at the results. This will accelerate your growth (and enjoyment) as a detailer.

smprince1 · 09-10-09, 09:12

Good advice so far .... I'll add another one if I'm allowed.

Reading about detailing, while helpful and informative, will only get you so far ... to get good at it you need to actually practice it.

I often see posts from people who say they have a plethora of polishes, compounds, pads, etc and they want people 1000 miles away to tell them what pad/product combination will remove their defect. If you have the defect and product at your own fingertips and under your own 2 eyes, start with the least aggressive approach you think might be effective and start learning how to correct paint by actually DOING it. Hands on practice using common sense is often the best teacher.

integritydetail · 09-10-09, 10:05

How about not putting "56k no way!" in the title? Who still uses dial up to access a picture heavy detailing forum anyway?

And how about not asking for advice for problems without at least adding a picture of what you are working with?

Mark77 · 09-10-09, 10:34

This is one of my favorite posts here for a long time :-) The same questions are being asked here over and over again, so I think making this a sticky and even obligatory to read for new members, is a good idea :-)

BigAl3 · 09-10-09, 12:42

it's probably been mentioned (i'll say it again), but the "search " function needs to be used more...

jackson · 09-11-09, 07:43

if only i had seen this post earlier... :blush :guilty look:

could have helped to reduce or curb my spending on detailing products. as well as minimize my inane posts.

very useful and helpful. great post scott .

Kean · 09-11-09, 08:26

....great post Scott. I especially agree with points 1, 2, 3 & 6. ....unfortunately, there seems to be no shortage of armchair detailers that are willing to provide specific answers to relatively complex situations without ever seeing the vehicle in question. It also seems you folks are having to correct the bad advice of others these days rather than actually spending that time sharing your experience.

If folks don’t know (or are unsure of) what they are talking about, then don’t make definitive, unfounded remarks. There are plenty of other members here with the answers & experience that can help the OP.

JimmyCutlass · 09-11-09, 01:29

Also, insisting that you must order super high priced products online to get good results. I assure you, I don't need a crystal case of Zymol Royale to be a good detailer/have a head turning car. Thumbing one's nose at OTC supply users.

"Every time I drive at 20+ MPH large chunks of this clear stuff flies of my car, is this clearcoat failure?" Yes, it probably is. No amount of wax or compound will fix this.

"What wax will last for (x-amount of time) indefinitely?" None.

"I wash my car with a rock and an old broom, why am I getting swirls?" Gee, I wonder...

daesup45 · 09-12-09, 07:57

can i do a full detail on a car even if there is a paint cracking and some chipped areas

mikey1231 · 09-17-09, 08:53

I love this thread! lol