Confused, cynical and mistrusting the whole industry!

[garbledwords]

The How-To guides on Car Detailing How To Information is where I educated myself on detailing. My biggest problem to start with was that there was so much advice, and not really consistent or well explained, that I didn`t know where to start. These how-to guides laid it out nice an simple in a manner that gave me to confidence I needed. And after that, this forum can then take your education to the next level.

[Soifon]

Hi,
I`m a new member from San Diego.
Been a do-it-yourself kinda guy all my life, especially with my vehicles. Owned probably over 50 cars & trucks ... and at least 15 motorcycles over the years.
I love repairing, maintaining and beautifying them myself .... for the bonding feeling but also this way I know the work`s getting done correctly.
But this detailing aspect of caring for my vehicles has me feeling frustrated and disillusioned a lot of the time.
There`s few industries that are as rife with incompetence, exaggerated claims and even fraud ... as is the detailing & exterior car care business.
I still don`t know the difference, for example, between sealer, glaze and swirl-remover products;
Likewise with polymer, acrylic and Teflon products.
This is after lots of on-line reading and talking with four different professional detailers.

Does anyone have a credible source of no-nonsense information?

I`d take sometime to do some research on the different brands such as their history, origin etc. I think there are many brands out there today who simply sell you their marketing, rather than a quality product.

[Lonnie]

Bigmutt:
My best advice about getting started in personal car-care is to invest in car washing equipment and car-care washing chemicals/products. I say this because most vehicle owners tend to wash their own vehicles and this is the car-care procedure that anyone will do repeatedly on a regular basis.
In your area, you may have water-restrictions, so rinse-less washes may be the way to go. There are many methods to washing a car and like anything, there is a right way and a wrong way to do it. Like other suggested, look in the how-to section.
Not sure what to buy? Look at the store attached to this forum. They have trusted and great products/chemicals and washing kits to get you started. You can also ask the knowledgeable staff who work there for their recommendations.

One thing you will find out is that as you get better at car-care, you will spend more time and money on this hobby. Vehicles, whether new or used, represent a sizable investment on the part of the owner. Keeping them looking in new or almost-new shape is a good return-on-investment (ROI) of both your time and money spent on car-care equipment and products.

My last advise is if you do not want to do it yourself, take your vehicle to a reputable professional detailer in your area. You can find them by looking on this forum for your area. While many may poo-who the idea of letting someone else take care of your car and the associated (seemingly) high-cost to have your vehicle professionally detailed, those are the vehicles that turn heads and hold their value over time of ownership. Will you get every dollar back on what you spend on professional detailing? NO!, BUT it will make you vehicle much more desirable and have a higher resale value once you decide to sell it, especially if you sell it outright yourself.

[WaxAddict]

Where`s our OP?

[Ronkh]

Where`s our OP?

He left 4 min after he posted.

Guess he didn`t like us.

[JustJesus]

He left 4 min after he posted.

Guess he didn`t like us.

We should have sent him cookies!

[Poorboy]

Guess i`m late to the party

[JustJesus]

Guess i`m late to the party

The party can`t start without you! Did you bring cookies?

[Poorboy]

The party can`t start without you! Did you bring cookies?

i brought the rum .. cookies are long gone I also have some cigars

[WaxAddict]

Guess i`m late to the party

Oh gosh, speaking of hype! "Black Hole" my arse. All it`s ever done for me is give a dripping wet, DEEP look to my paint. It has never caused time to distort or trapped light forever.

[Ronkh]

Oh gosh, speaking of hype! "Black Hole" my arse. All it`s ever done for me is give a dripping wet, DEEP look to my paint. It has never caused time to distort or trapped light forever.

That`s what the rum is for.........

[JustJesus]

i brought the rum .. cookies are long gone I also have some cigars

I gotta find another way of eating cookies. I keep blaming the kid. The kid keeps blaming me. I`m already known as the Cookie Monster, so you know where the wife sides! Rum!!!! The cigars can go to you, Ronkh, and mnehls, as I don`t smoke

Oh gosh, speaking of hype! "Black Hole" my arse. All it`s ever done for me is give a dripping wet, DEEP look to my paint. It has never caused time to distort or trapped light forever.

That`s funny. But the secret lies in prolonged sniffing of the stuff. Although, I don`t recommend it. Neither does Poorboy.

[Lonnie]

Then we wonder why the OP left...^^^(see above) Talk about confused! (Shhhh...But it IS funny!!!!)

[WaxAddict]

Then we wonder why the OP left...^^^(see above) Talk about confused! (Shhhh...But it IS funny!!!!)

Nah, there`s like 7 good responses to him right off the bat, 8 if you count mine. It just recently fell off the rails.

Speaking of Hype, there`s that, sure, but I also hate the pseudo-science and just plain wrong information on what can be excellent products. I also don`t like when Polish and Wax are used interchangeable, or when "Polish" is actually an AOI. Sonax, 1Z, and Duragloss do this.

[Accumulator]

Perhaps he`s merely doing the research that was recommended.