How would you classify yourself as a detailer?

How would you classify yourself as a detailer?

  • 1. Somewhat New Detailing Enthusiast

    Votes: 63 22.2%

  • 2. Long-time Detailing Enthusiast

    Votes: 84 29.6%

  • 3. Professional Detailer (fixed location)

    Votes: 36 12.7%

  • 4. Professional Mobile Detailer

    Votes: 34 12.0%

  • 5. Enthusiast With Plans to Become a Pro Detailer

    Votes: 48 16.9%

  • 6. Just Here to Pick-up a Few Tips

    Votes: 19 6.7%
  • Total voters
    284
I guess I'll go ahead and post something now.

I found this site last year after moving out of Tampa while I was pursuing a business to start up. I got hooked on the concept, spent three months working my way through this site, then bought my equipment and opened for business. I've been mobile since last October and have become very good at the work.

Anytime I wasn't sure of something, I'd look on here. My wife now works with me and our business is growing extremely fast, while our work continues to get better and better with each detail.

This is maybe the third time I've posted anything on here, mainly because I was still learning the craft. Now that I read that not everyone is a pro, and I might provide some decent info, I'll start posting on a more regular basis.
 
I've been detailing cars for about four years now. I detail on the weekends and usually have the customers bring their cars to me. I have a full time job monday thru friday so if a detail request comes up during the week I can usually leave my full time job early enough to get started on the detail. Usually booked every weekend so I guess I can consider my self a pro enthusiast still wanting to learn alot more.
 
First time i wash and wax a car was when my dad said that i had to learn something new. So he got me a bucket and a wash towel and had me wash his 63 SS Impala. When i finish drying it off he had me wax the car too. Now that was in 63 and i was 9 yrs old. From there i always did the family car and also friends car to for money. I missed a few yrs because i was stationed overseas and deployments too. Always doing my on cars and do a few cars here and there for other folks too. Always willing to learn something new and glad things have change to the better on so many products out there to use to better the finish on vehicles.
 
I bought a new Saturn Aura in March of 2007 and faithfully ran it through the swirl tunnel wash weekly. I wanted to keep it clean and shiny! After a month or 2, I thought I'd wax the car to make it shinier and protect it. In my garage I had some old Blue Coral Wash & Shine, a 14 year old bottle of Nu-Finish and an equally old unused bottle of Slick 50 Synthetic Car Polish. I didn't know if it was healthy to use such old products so I googled "Car Washing." I discovered the Meguiar's site and started reading.
Pics and pics of swirled cars came up on my screen. I thought I'd go outside and take a look at my new shiny car with my new knowledgeable eye.
Omigod! Swirls galore on my new pride & joy DD! And I thought I was doing good by tunnel washing it weekly! Now what?
Being the voracious reader and learner that I am, I read more, browsed more, and discovered other sites beside Meguiars. Armed with new knowledge, Meg's #80, a new PC, a few pads, NXT 2.0, and another local enthusiast I found on Autopia, we tackled my wife's 1996 white Saturn SC1 first. This other enthusiast I found online brought a rotary and PB's polishes with him. He told me he was extremely knowledgeable and would teach me the rotary and how to polish.
I watched him and listened to him teach, but from what I had read, I disagreed with the way he was handling the rotary and polish. I didn't say anything though because, after all, I had just read stuff and he was the "experienced one." I thought I was making better progress on 1/2 the car with #80 and my PC than he was doing with the rotary and the SSR 2.5.
Well, he created 2 small rotary burn-thrus with his rotary work. I thanked him for his time and effort and told him I'd rather finish the car myself so I would learn by doing. He apologized for the burn-thrus and offered to come back at a later time to fix them. I never saw him again.
I finished the car with my PC, laid a coat of NXT 2.0 on the car, and WOW! It NEVER looked that good! 12 years old and it looked better than 95% of the cars I see on the road. It was covered with swirls though but it was white and one had to get close and look with a "practiced eye" to see them. But it was shiny! I couldn't stop going outside to look at it at different times of day and night to admire the gloss and light reflection.
I was hooked. I've since spent tons of money on products, supplies and equipment and have what I think is an impressive collection.
I then spent a few months and more money widening the area on the side of my garage so I could detail a couple of cars each weekend for $ to at least pay for my supplies.
I did 2 cars for 2 friends for a grand total of $70.00.
Now I realize detailing is hard on a 57 year body, so I'm just doing my car and the wife's for the time being, but that doesn't stop me from spending $$ on supplies and spending time on these forums.
I guess this is a long winded reply to the question, sorry! :)
 
Im a car enthuisast. I ahve always taken car of my cars. I took some time off when I traded in my pride and joy for our family car. Then one day decided the swirls needed to go, then I detailed my daily drive and now I have been takin care of my families cars and a few friends. I hope to start gettin paid for it, would be a great second source of income.
 
:whaasup:


I'm a car washer that recently bought a year old HHR. It's Imperial blue metallic and the finish is gorgeous on it. I want to try to preserve it for as long as I can.

I've been lurking for quite some time, even signed up a couple of months ago, Just now getting to posting.

Great info here. Thanks for all the tips.
 
I would go with somewhat new detailing enthusiast. I do mostly just my families vehicles, and I do a few on the side for money.
 
It appears I voted in this poll but never explained...:hmmm:

I mostly detail my family cars and my own but I have a small following of people who come back year after year, without fail. One lady I do business for has an Audi wagon and she's been coming to me since 2003. I am probably the only real lovins that car ever gets. :cool:
 
I am an enthusiast with hopes to go pro on the weekends. Ever since I have owned a car everybody is amazed at how good my cars always look. Then I stumbled on autopia and got a bottle of EX-P and I took my cars to a level I had never seen before. Now I am doing friends cars and they are amazed their car can look so good. I am working with my girlfriends church on a charity deal so they make some money and I get my name out there to get some weekend work.
 
I'm an enthusiast with BIG plans on becoming Pro. :rockon I really enjoy detailing it's been a big part of my 30 yr old life. I began pursuing pro status about 4 yrs ago, and its its been an up hill battle. Working on improving my process, learning who I want my targeted customer to be, and learning how to market myself. All these things are essential (in my opinion) to having a successful detailing business.

I've been apart of this forum for almost two yrs. :dcrules I've learned so much from the members here and a bunch of the threads from bygone yrs. I only hope I've been able to give a little knowledge and not just recieve it.

Now that I think about it I still only have one green dot by my user name :wall That must mean I'm not doing enough.....:hmmm:
 
Well I started my detailing business when I was 16 which was really just started for a fundraiser for my autoshop. It now is full blown and I have three to six employees depending on the year and detail (quantity details). I am now currently setting up a new location in Indianapolis, IN with my first location in Lafayette, IN.
 
justthedetails said:
Well I started my detailing business when I was 16 which was really just started for a fundraiser for my autoshop. It now is full blown and I have three to six employees depending on the year and detail (quantity details). I am now currently setting up a new location in Indianapolis, IN with my first location in Lafayette, IN.
Click to expand...

Welcome to DC. :cheers:

Sounds like your a busy boy.
 
Well have been detailing for a couple years ...

Now doing work for a dealership.

I used to own my own mobile business, but now I'm looking to improve my kills and keep on learning about the craft ...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top