The Art and Science of Detailing- as far as I know the first detailer to use this description was a detailer from Texas, Anthony Orosco. I decided to adopt it as the title for my book and detailing articles as I feel it aptly describes today’s detailing industry.



My style of detailing is Science meets Aesthetics.



Science - includes such elements as chemicals, equipment, and knowledge of vehicle surfaces, industry standards, and customer requirements.



Aesthetics - is the activity of combining these elements into the proper application methodologies that produce an aesthetically pleasing outcome for each specific situation.



The naked Scientist promises to strip car care chemicals to their bare essentials, biotech, nanotechnology, chemistry and the chaos theory are also involved. And this being doctor Jon, you’ll probably require certain items, a syringe, a microscope, possibly something designed by NASA but the results are nothing if not interesting and informative.



I began detailing Mercedes-Benz / BMW helping out at my Father’s dealership in 1958, where we would spend three or four days or more detailing vehicles, this included paint renovation, leather repair and restoration on both classic automobiles and Concours level vehicles. As well as his Jag collection, which back in the late 50`s he used to enter in Concours d’élégance events and as such I’m used to a large number of high-end new and used cars. To earn money during the holidays at University I worked for the Connolly Leather Company, London, which is where my interest and training in leather care and renovation comes from



The one thing I learned (and still have that last 98% to learn, mind you) way back then still holds true today “ It’s the surface preparation that makes the difference, not the product”.



In October 2011, I was invited by the owner and the moderators of Autopia.org the world’s #1 detailing forum to submit articles to unique section (Autopia Detailing Wiki) on (http://www.autopia.org/forum/autopia...yperlinks.html )



Having been involved in detailing some of the world’s finest classic and high-end exotic and luxury automobiles for five plus decades TOGWT is the first place both Professional and Enthusiast detailer’s look to for an uncompromising level of unbiased technical and scientific knowledge. Working closely with the industry’s leading-edge product manufacturers from around the world means the best technology and product advice is available to enable you to care for your automobile.



In the interest of full disclosure, I am in no way affiliated with, employed by, have any vested interest, or in any way receive compensation from the sale or distribution of any of the product lines reviewed or the company that manufactures or markets it. No endorsement of companies or their products mentioned is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar companies or their products if they are omitted.



My primary focus: I believe that the best way to provide the best, service and innovation is by being focused on you. It’s not about selling products, although we recommend certain products, we have no affiliation with any manufacturer. Our advice is based upon helping our readers troubleshoot and solve their day-to-day applications and renovations.



I’ve made the mistakes – so that you don’t have to: there are many car care products and tools on these pages, each and every one of these ‘wannabes’ had to prove itself to pass the old grey whistle test. For each item that succeeded there were at least ten or more that failed to make the passing grade. Testing involved many months of trial and error until the winners appeared, products that do “what it says on the tin” and more. The hard work has already been done for you.



I have tested and / or used the products, so the recommendation comes from firsthand knowledge of their use and / or its application methodologies. Any product endorsement is entirely unbiased and means that the product “Does what it says on the tin” A close relationship with readers and a thorough command of the technical and chemical developments that affect detailing have been at the core of my philosophy since 1980.



I have contributed to various detailing forums as an active contributor for the last ten years and I am also a regular five-year contributor to the Wikipedia encyclopaedia and a ‘ghost’ writer for various automotive publications as well as contributing to various Auto magazines and publications, but my only agenda is the dissemination of accurate, commercially unbiased information; it is my intent to educate and pass on five decades of experience, and more importantly learn from other detailers, to read about what other detailers are doing, and to enjoy the debates. It isn`t for monetary gain but a genuine desire to help other less experienced by sharing knowledge and understanding.



“Experience is said to be the best teacher” passing on to my readers the dynamics that take place; the cause and effect, as well as an explanation of the scientific terminology and chemicals involved with detailing products. Because I’m passionate about I do and care about making sure detailing is a fun and rewarding experience for the enthusiast.



I hope to be an asset to anyone who is new to detailing and to the professionals; enthusiast detailer’s and industry experts who seek to advance their knowledge of detailing entry level enthusiast, but to professionals and industry experts as well.



For me detailing is my golf, it’s always been my form of therapy, as a hobbyist / semi professional detailer working on the renovation of classic cars and everyday transportation vehicles along with five plus decades of knowledge and experience of detailing to Concours d’élégance level as both entrant and senior judge. I’ve been providing unbiased opinions that professionals, experienced, enthusiast and neophyte detailer’s use and trust in both automotive based journalism and various leading detailing forums in the United States, UK, Canada, South America, Australia, South Africa, Asia, the Middle East, Scandinavia and the EU for about twelve or so years.



It was through these early interactions with car forum members that I began to see the same questions asked over and over again. To relieve myself of the repetition, I decided to create a series of articles covering the most frequently asked questions, which would help detailers reach an intelligent and logical understanding of the many chemicals, products and their application methodologies used in detailing and in a way that makes it relevant to them.



The advent of materials like neutralised acids for paint decontamination, the advances in polymer technologies and the use of vinyl wraps for automobile paint, finely milled micro abrasives suitable for the newer dense paints like CeramiClear and the new nano-technology coatings are just a few examples of why it’s so important to monitor the industries new products, chemical technologies and ideas that are constantly being introduced, as are the techniques for applying them.



Commercially unbiased information written by a detailer with extensive experience allied with a chemical technical background, without the need to meet corporate goals or sales quotas, requires a dynamic learning tool like a web based articles that can be revised, updated and re-issued on an as-needed basis. There is also a need for the ability to seek clarification or ask questions in `real time`.



With detailing advice you should always consider its source; the most valuable information comes from experienced detailers offering commercially unbiased advice, a product vendor will of course recommend their own products, some detailers are vendor affiliates that are paid for product recommendations and some detailers work directly for product vendors. This type of commercialism brings with it concerns of honesty and true representation. In other words, it’s difficult to know what is true when someone is motivated by income, i.e. directly targeted at product sales, more so than an unbiased opinion.



Marketing has little if anything to do with the truth or what chemicals are actually in the products, this is not necessarily an attempt to deceive, many sles people do not have the knowledge or any formal chemical training . Knowledge of the materials used in automobiles and the safe use of various chemicals will enable a detailer to diagnose potential or actual problems with the paint surface, vehicle trim, and interior materials and finishes allowing them to identify and perform the appropriate process in order to affect a permanent solution



With a background in the physical and chemical sciences earned a Ph.D. (Professional doctorate) and Master`s degrees in Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology from Imperial College London and graduated from an MBA program with an MSc Business Administration and Strategy from the London School of Economics and Political Science. I also attended Royal Air Force College (RAFC) Cranwell, graduating with the rank of Flight Lieutenant and also holds a Bachelor`s of Science degrees in Architecture and Building Services from London University, England.



For more than four decades I’ve been involved in both offshore oil & gas exploration and polymer R&D and the chemical and performance coatings industry in a diverse range of industries; such as Royal Dutch Shell plc The Hague, Netherlands, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Florida and Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) in both California and Florida, working on submarines anti radar project, utilizing polymer technologies radar scattering materials (RSM) rendering them almost ‘invisible’, using polymer in the formulation of jet aircraft parachutes, tyres and fuel lines. Research and development (R&D) applied to automotive, marine and aviation polymers in aqueous or solvent based coatings, (Pharmaceutical) packaging and of course automotive paint protection and detailing products



To be of real practical use; a subject like automotive detailing requires a great deal of research, and updating as new products become available. The advent of materials like detailing clay, microfiber technologies and finely milled micro diminishing abrasives, suitable for ceramic nano-technology paints are examples of why it’s so important to monitor the industries new products, chemical technologies and ideas that are constantly being introduced, as are the techniques for applying them.



Commercially unbiased information written by a detailer with extensive experience allied with a chemical technical background, without the need to meet corporate goals or sales quotas, requires a dynamic learning tool like a website that can be revised and updated as and when needed, these articles are updated and / or revised on an as-needed basis. There is also a facility to seek clarification or ask questions in `real time`.



Of course the more I learn, the more I realize what I don’t know. Then at some point, I hope to have learned enough to realize, that I know nothing at all [We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master] Ernest Hemingway. I have always tried to find out not just “How it works, but also “Why” it works. With that in mind I probably respond with more detail than some think is necessary.



The old grey whistle test (TOGWT) is the author of “Automotive Detailing; Inside and Out”, a knowledge base for the perfectionist and approximately 150 articles that form the series, “The Technical Detailing Papers” I try to write in a way that helps the reader to understand both the art and the science behind detailing. I’ve spent five decades learning the "How" and "Why" and four decades in the chemical industry learning “What” about the chemicals they are doing it with, which I try to pass on to my readers, along with the technical, scientific facts and any chemical and other relevant information.



If you’ve read any of my forum posts / threads you`ll already understand just what I mean. I only attempt to share well researched, validated information, not conjecture, marketing hype or opinion, but it is up to the individual as to what they choose to do with it. In the final analysis; it’s your vehicle, your hard earned money and ultimately - your choice



I then considered how I could simplify things; however the only way to accomplish this would be to omit necessary information and that didn’t feel right to me. Improperly used chemicals can cause damage to the person using them and to surface they are applied to (sometimes irreparably) because the detailer did not have sufficient information of the possible adverse affect of the chemicals in the products they use.



I detailed my first car when I was fourteen (a mere five plus decades ago) it was a 1929 Bentley “Blower Super 8” that belonged to my Fathers friend Brigadier John Dix of Kensington, London. If, as they say, "God is in the details," then a 1929 Bentley is truly a religious experience. I knew then that detailing would become a passion and raison d`être, testing products, teaching people, writing detailing articles, talking detailing, etc



It has always been a relaxing past time for me and while at college I had a part-time business detailing classic vintage cars. From there to Concours d’élégance entrant then judge, and then on to writing car care articles and How-to: instructions, then writing a series of books on my favorite subject I soon realized this would be my métier.



Reading these articles will not improve your detailing skills, lead to a successful business or change your life. Applying what you learn from it, however, will. That`s where your commitment comes in - you need to make a commitment to yoursel right now that you will take action on what you learn.

Doctor Jon




Knowledge and Understanding unshared is Experience wasted.









Focusing on one person’s methodologies or the products or tools they use will seriously limit your detailing experience and knowledge.Most importantly – choose carefully whose advice you listen to, and more importantly what advice you act upon.