Post With Experince

[Beemerboy]

I posted this some years back and thought that it might be a good time to repost. I know that we are all here to learn and share our knowledge about detailing. One thing that I notice a lot and not just on this site. When someone posts a question about a product or a process, it’s important that you speak from experience.

What I mean by this, is all too often I see people replying with. Very generic answers to the OP question. Or they are making suggestions based on what they have read. I really don’t think the later of the two is bad, as long as you post that to the OP.

It’s important to understand the reason anyone posts on a detail site, inquiring about detailing. It’s because they are looking for someone that has experience, and can guide them to the best solution.

On a BMW site that I frequent, someone posted about getting baked on brake dust off. It was suggested to use oven cleaner. To an experienced car / detail person this would be a no-no, but to a non-experienced person it might seem like a good idea. The result was that he did get the brake dust off a long with finish on the rim.

My point in this thread is the quality of this forum is based on people sharing their hands on experience with process and product. Not just posting for the fact of writing something.

Thanks
Steps off soap box now.

[jammerz101]

I think I see the point that you are trying to make but it is very possible to have head knowledge based on studying facts without having had first hand experience.

I`m sure that you are quite knowledgeable about things that you have never even actually done. Professional sports fan? Political junkie?

I have never completely wet-sanded a car before, but I can write a detailed article explaining how and what to watch out for based on the articles I have read and the videos that I have watched.

It`s up to the person seeking knowledge to determine the credibility of the information and the credibility of the source to determine it`s validity.

[C. Charles Hahn]

I have never completely wet-sanded a car before, but I can write a detailed article explaining how and what to watch out for based on the articles I have read and the videos that I have watched.

Which is fine, but you had better be citing those articles and videos as sources if you`re going to write such an article. I think that`s one of the key points Dave was alluding to. If it`s not first-hand knowledge you`re welcome to post it as long as you make it clear it`s not purely first-hand knowledge you`re posting.

[Beemerboy]

I think I see the point that you are trying to make but it is very possible to have head knowledge based on studying facts without having had first hand experience.

I`m sure that you are quite knowledgeable about things that you have never even actually done. Professional sports fan? Political junkie?

I have never completely wet-sanded a car before, but I can write a detailed article explaining how and what to watch out for based on the articles I have read and the videos that I have watched.

It`s up to the person seeking knowledge to determine the credibility of the information and the credibility of the source to determine it`s validity.

I see that you have started a thread about "horror stories" in detailing. If I was looking for advice on detailing, or any subject for that matter. The person that I would tend to listen to, is the one that had already learned from those experiences / mistakes, not necessarily the one that had read it or watched a video online. It doesn`t mean that I won`t listen to what they write, for me ( I may stand alone here) I can`t lend much creditably to the advice

They are two completely different things.

I think that we can both agree that hands on experience is second to none when it comes to about any profession. Its the reason that college graduates are not paid on the same scale as individuals that have years of experience in the like fields.

I`m not here to debate this with you, only to point out what I have seen on this site and others for the last 8 plus years. Again speaking from experience.

[jammerz101]

I think that we can both agree that hands on experience is second to none when it comes to about any profession. Its the reason that college graduates are not paid on the same scale as individuals that have years of experience in the like fields.

I`m not here to debate this with you, only to point out what I have seen on this site and others for the last 8 plus years. Again speaking from experience.

One thing that must be factored in is just because someone does something, does not mean that they are doing it correctly. I`ve heard a saying that goes something along the lines of do something the wrong way enough and you just keep getting better at doing it the wrong way.

Someone may try a product, use it incorrectly and then make a post bashing the product performance when in fact, they used the product wrong. Just because they actually have some hands on experience now, doesn`t make them an expert at all. You might have someone with a tad bit more common sense or head knowledge diagnose the problem and didn`t even use the product yet. That would be worth more to me than the person that was hands on but used the product wrong.

[Beemerboy]

One thing that must be factored in is just because someone does something, does not mean that they are doing it correctly. I`ve heard a saying that goes something along the lines of do something the wrong way enough and you just keep getting better at doing it the wrong way.

Someone may try a product, use it incorrectly and then make a post bashing the product performance when in fact, they used the product wrong. Just because they actually have some hands on experience now, doesn`t make them an expert at all. You might have someone with a tad bit more common sense or head knowledge diagnose the problem and didn`t even use the product yet. That would be worth more to me than the person that was hands on but used the product wrong.

And the reason I started this thread. I`ve seen countless threads of someone blasting a product or process, because they got less than desirable results. Where is they may not be using it correct.

Once they post here or any forum, those with experience that are producing the desired results or using it correctly, can help guide. I`ve ssen it happen here countless times.

[jammerz101]

And the reason I started this thread.

Glad I could help you get your point across.

[John@Autopia-Carcare.com]

I can agree with both sides to some extent. The world of detailing is so vast that sometimes someone doesn`t need to have direct hands on experience when it comes to a certain procedure. More often than not, when someone runs into a problem with a product, technique, or situation, it`s been discussed before. Ultimately, a solution is found and discussed among peers. This information can be utilized again, within the same community or another community you belong to.

Now if you`re just posting for the sake of posting giving blind advice, that`s a separate circumstance, and that`s where I would draw the line. There`s nothing wrong with saying, "I`ve never had this problem, but perhaps X could work."

As long as the quality of information is correct and on par with the what the question is, direct hands on experience isn`t always required. Should a person not have said experience and they`re pulling information from somewhere else, that source should be citing.

Keep in mind, I`m not creating rules here, they`re just my opinion and more along the lines of forum etiquette.

[black bart]

Well posting what you have experience at is great but no guarantee that the person will get good results.
Beemerboy remember when you was asking how to get all that paint off a truck.

I would have been reluctant to tell just anyone to use acetone but if you remember I kept cautioning you about the danger involved with using it.

So if you had of ruined the paint job would that of been my fault.

I was passing alone what had worked for me but if not done with extreme care it will turn out a disaster

All we can do is explain as best we can how and hope the person follows directions.

[John@Autopia-Carcare.com]

All we can do is explain as best we can how and hope the person follows directions.

Agreed. Outside of washing and waxing and other simple procedures, one must certainly proceed with caution. Just because Garry gets good results when he wetsands a vehicle doesn`t mean a new member should grab sandpaper and go to work.

That among other steps can give you great results when used correctly, but sometimes end up being posted in jammerz`s horror stories thread with a rather simple technique flaw.

[Concours.John]

Well posting what you have experience at is great but no guarantee that the person will get good results.
Beemerboy remember when you was asking how to get all that paint off a truck.

I would have been reluctant to tell just anyone to use acetone but if you remember I kept cautioning you about the danger involved with using it.

So if you had of ruined the paint job would that of been my fault.

I was passing alone what had worked for me but if not done with extreme care it will turn out a disaster

All we can do is explain as best we can how and hope the person follows directions.

I`m glad you mentioned this. There are people who have worked with repaint and existing paint for a long time.

Something that might be suggested by one my not work for another. This is not because it doesn`t work; it is just done with experience.

For example, a principal of a school suspended 3 students. His car ended up with every panel spray painted with graffiti. The things were so offensive he was told by local police to park it in the garage till it could be fixed.
I taped off and used paint thinner (after very careful examination for any repainting) to remove it on base/clear then a polish/wax. Would I post someone to try it. No.
I have worked with paint long enough to know how things react. (does not mean I can`t get burned either)

It is up to people to ask questions if they are unsure or questionable information is posted before someone takes action.

It is also up to people who respond to think that if someone is asking they may not know better.

Just my o2.

Ps I was agreeing with you.

[Bunky]

IWhen someone posts a question about a product or a process, it’s important that you speak from experience.

I fully agree. When someone posts product x is not good or product y is better they should say what they have used.

What I find interesting when I read "product x FTW!".

[Beemerboy]

Well posting what you have experience at is great but no guarantee that the person will get good results.
Beemerboy remember when you was asking how to get all that paint off a truck.

I would have been reluctant to tell just anyone to use acetone but if you remember I kept cautioning you about the danger involved with using it.

So if you had of ruined the paint job would that of been my fault.

I was passing alone what had worked for me but if not done with extreme care it will turn out a disaster

All we can do is explain as best we can how and hope the person follows directions.

Bart

The reason that I asked that question was to get more info on what others where doing. I had a process in mind that I used on a previous car much like this one. I was wondering what other products or processes others had done with similar over-spray

Lastly I used acetone and no I wouldn`t have blamed anyone but myself had I did damage to the trucks paint. You where very forth right in your explanation and that`s all anyone could ask

[Bill D]

I always try to post/respond with info that I know personally has worked for me based on my experience with a product or technique and I also state my reasoning for my endorsement or rejection of a product. I`m trying more and more to learn more of the how`s and why`s of techniques and products even if it involves very geeky level scientific principles I`d have to learn and absorb. Which I have been doing here and there over the years. For instance, more about the composition of paint and why some of the above mentioned chemicals react the way they do. It`s okay to know the results through experience, but I`d always want to know the chemical reasons behind it.

I consider myself a serious perpetual student of detailing. I`m fascinated by it and the more I can learn and in turn share, the happier I ( and the condition of vehicles that cross my path) are.

[Beemerboy]

Thought that I would bring this back to the top for some of the newer members. My pet peeve about most all detail sites.