what`s the worst mistake you`ve made while detailing?

**nudave** · 04-17-2006, 08:18 AM

This was before I knew anything about auto detailing (8 years ago)....

I used windex on the front bumper of the car to get the bugs off, with a paper towel.

**TGates** · 04-17-2006, 08:22 AM

This just happened to me yesterday... not a huge mistake, but a PITA nonetheless. I finally got around to trying out my sample of WG Tire Gel and applied it, let it soak in for about 30 minutes, didn`t think anything of it and went for a joyride to show off my fresh detail on the Z06. I pulled up to a stoplight and a guy I know pulls up next to me on a crotch rocket and asks me what all that black crap all over the side of my car was. *sigh* It had made a MESS... all over my fenders, doors, mirrors, specks of black clear back on the back of the car.

Went home and QD`d it all off and buffed them dry with an old MF. Still didn`t keep the stuff from flinging all over the place. Geez. I only put on one thin layer too. If the stuff is so temperamental, I wish Autogeek would include some sort of instructions with their sample size.

I was used to using Eagle One Wet which is literally wipe on, walk away and you`re done.

**LightngSVT** · 04-17-2006, 12:46 PM

I`ve done the antenae in the face thing too. Was using a rotary on a Wrngler, the pad caught the antenae, whipped around and caught me across the face. Though I broke my nose, but luckily I didnt

Wasnt me, but at a shop I was at they had a customer with a Corvette collection. They were using the powerwasher to ash this early 70`s coupe and blew off about a 2" round chunk of paint! I dont remember seeing any Vettes after that incident.

When I was in HS, a freind had an old, silver Escort GT with single stage paint that was badly oxidized. We used the turtle Wax compund in the can and shop rags to "buff it out". It was so bad to start with that it actually looked better afterward.

Another shop I worked at as a young teenager did alot of used car lot work. We used to POWERWASH the INTERIORS of cars!!!!! We`d put towels over the radio and instrument panel, but...... I cant believe it thinking back

I detailed a Lincoln Blackwood and got a bit carried away doing the engine and got the relay for the air suspension compressor wet. It would kick on and run about every couple minutes. Once it dried out it was fine, but I was sweating it for a while!

Used Kerosene to wash down a van that had alot of bugs and tar on it before a detail.

Used to do al detailing be a rotary and a wool pad, this was years ago though.

Touched the coil of a Mustang GT while it was wet and the car was running after cleaning the engine. It was a "shocking" experience to say the least!

**drock** · 04-17-2006, 01:14 PM

after polishing my friends integra i started to use turtle wax platinum ultra gloss wax, i did half the car and realized ive picked up the turtle wax platinum leather cleaner/ conditioner. no damaged was done but ive learned to look at the bottle more clearly

**Vw Gti** · 04-17-2006, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by LightngSVT

I`ve done the antenae in the face thing too. Was using a rotary on a Wrngler, the pad caught the antenae, whipped around and caught me across the face. Though I broke my nose, but luckily I didnt

Wasnt me, but at a shop I was at they had a customer with a Corvette collection. They were using the powerwasher to ash this early 70`s coupe and blew off about a 2" round chunk of paint! I dont remember seeing any Vettes after that incident.

When I was in HS, a freind had an old, silver Escort GT with single stage paint that was badly oxidized. We used the turtle Wax compund in the can and shop rags to "buff it out". It was so bad to start with that it actually looked better afterward.

Another shop I worked at as a young teenager did alot of used car lot work. We used to POWERWASH the INTERIORS of cars!!!!! We`d put towels over the radio and instrument panel, but...... I cant believe it thinking back

I detailed a Lincoln Blackwood and got a bit carried away doing the engine and got the relay for the air suspension compressor wet. It would kick on and run about every couple minutes. Once it dried out it was fine, but I was sweating it for a while!

Used Kerosene to wash down a van that had alot of bugs and tar on it before a detail.

Used to do al detailing be a rotary and a wool pad, this was years ago though.

Touched the coil of a Mustang GT while it was wet and the car was running after cleaning the engine. It was a "shocking" experience to say the least!

Oh man, that is quiet a list you have

.

**acrbill** · 05-09-2006, 03:44 PM

Back in high school I thought I would be a pal and shine up his Merc Topaz. It was pretty dull so I busted out a tin of rubbing compound. It was red and had what seemed like moon rocks in it. After that I used some 150 year old turtle wax on it. The problem (besides the obvious) was that I lost motivation after the front end of the car. He drove around for a year with a shiney front end and a dull back half.

A few year later he had another Topaz, this time it was white. He grazed a poll and it gouged the front bumper pretty good. Being the good pal that I was I decided to fix it up for him. I Busted out some white Krylon and sprayed it over the gouges. It looked alright when it was wet. About 6 months later I was looking at the front end and noticed the "repaired area" had yellowed.

Who needs enemys when you have friends like me!

**imported_ajbarnes** · 05-09-2006, 04:02 PM

I saw a lady at the gas station a few days ago cleaning off her car....not the windows...I repeat, not the windows, with the window squegee gas stations have for customer`s! My mouth was dropped!!! :soscared:

**golfdude** · 05-09-2006, 07:33 PM

On my first paid interior detail, I had to detail the vehicle in a school parking lot. The owner was gone until late that evening. The plan was to have the owner use their spare key to enter (then call me to confirm her entry into the vehicle, regardless of the time), and I was supposed to leave the original key hidden under the armrest. I finished the interior, enjoyed the results of my hard labor, hid the keys under the armrest, locked all the doors, and walked away from my first detail. After a few steps walking away from the car, it hit me...I parked the car in a "No Parking" Zone! I had to go to work, so I just left the car there. During work, I called my friend (who lives next to the school) to check on the car. It was still there! After work, still no call from the owner...was the car towed? At 11:00pm, the owner called and I was cringing. She told me that her car looked amazing! My blood pressure went back to normal after that.

**thevolvoguy** · 05-13-2006, 08:09 AM

I used the foaming brush at the DIY bays and was then dumb enough to pay an additional $5 for the turtle wax spray sealant. At least it smelled like bubble gum.

**vdubbya** · 05-13-2006, 07:22 PM

Just happened Friday. Finished a job on a 3 series BMW feeling great about the detail......job well done. Customer calls on Saturday afternoon claiming that I didn`t do a great job on the interior.....sand under the floor mats. She demanded that I redo the interior first thing Monday! Couldn`t figure out for the life of me how this happended. Then realized that in a rush and on a rainy day I had laid that mats on the shop floor to dry a bit and replaced them without vac`ing the bottoms! Doh!!! I feel so stupid! New client too!

**aaron33** · 05-14-2006, 11:56 PM

Just saw my dad take a dry rag, and rub it over concrete water (white spots) that had dried up on his boot. Oh the pain!

**David703** · 05-15-2006, 05:24 AM

I lay my PC on the roof of a brand new BMW 3 series. Plugged it in and it was on! By the time I unplugged it, it had dented the roof. Luckly I am friends with a dent guy. $200 later the car was perfect again! He had to remove the headliner and disconnect airbags in the A pillers to get to the dent.

**BigAl3** · 07-23-2006, 11:10 PM

my sister just got done washing her car late this evening, even though there`s going to be a few thunderstorms tomorrow most likely (reason why i`m not washing mine). and while i`m glad she didn`t touch my detailing supplies, (i looked

) she was drying her car with an old chamois we had laying around in the garage that got demoted to wheel duty, and was going to town drying the whole car with it... :argue