Tenacious Residues, how do you handle?

[Changeling]

When you have possibly done something that is somewhat incorrect like leaving a polishing compound on to long and it has dried!



Getting a polish, glaze, etc, on the rubber or plastic trim and it stains!



Having to leave a carnuba on the vehicle overnight (whatever) because of an emergency!



Before you can polish off your wax job there is a sudden downpour, windstorm, hurricane, etc,.



I think you get the drift. How do you approach these calamities/emergences with some sense of intelligence, what products, methods, skills, action do you take other than saying holy **** now what do I do?:help:



Changeling



PS. NO, It hasn't happened to me yet, but I sure would like to be prepared!

 

[Accumulator]

When you have possibly done something that is somewhat incorrect like leaving a polishing compound on to long and it has dried!

Spray on some Meg's #34, let it dwell for a bit to soften the polish, wipe off with a plush MF. Try to use polishes that don't stain too badly.

..Getting a polish, glaze, etc, on the rubber or plastic trim and it stains!

If a solvent or APC won't get it, then I use "Dried Wax Remover" from Griot's. Others undoubtedly sell the same stuff cheaper. But honestly, I wipe it off right away (#34 or Hi-Temp's Remove-All on a MF) before it dries and can't realistically imagine a situation where I'd be unable to do that. And again, I simply don't use products that are known for awful trim staining.

..Having to leave a carnuba on the vehicle overnight (whatever) because of an emergency!

At the risk of sounding flippant, I'd never apply any LSP so thickly that an extended cure time would be a problem (note that I don't use Victoria's, which IIRC could cause problems if left on too long). Even waxes like Souveran that you're "supposed to" (scare-quotes intentional ) W-O-W-O come off easily if you don't put too much on.

.. Before you can polish off your wax job there is a sudden downpour, windstorm, hurricane, etc,..

I'd just wait until conditions stabilize and rewash the vehicle, then inspect it and go from there (worst case: repolish and then wax). But I'd always know about local weather conditions before I started detailing (or doing anything else).

...[i.e.,] How do you approach these calamities/emergences with some sense of intelligence, what products, methods, skills, action do you take other than saying holy **** now what do I do..

Same way I ensure that such things don't bite me in other areas of my life Research (such as your asking these Qs), prioritizing, situational awareness, foresight concerning the potential consequences of my actions, and preparedness with regard to how to deal with those consequences.



I ensure that an emergent event won't cause problems by never letting things get to the point where they're beyond my immediate control/rectification and a *huge* part of this is simply (effective, focused) thinking. Polish on trim? Notice it, wipe it off; likelihood of bad weather? Know about it and plan for it; chance that you won't be able to remove the LSP? Apply it correctly (thin) so it won't matter. I've had serious situations arise while detailing that required me to stop work *immediately*. The worst thing that ever resulted was water spotting from having to stop in the middle of a wash (which was nothing compared to the medical emergency at hand).

 

[Changeling]

In other words, use what sits on top of your shoulders! I still think this had to be touched on, because believe it or not there are some things that are so "small" relative to the whole picture/process that an inexperienced mind just drifts over them till suddenly they are confronted with an issue! This usually leads to panic, and doing nothing, or possibly the wrong thing.

I always think my way through everything I do in life, this method has served me well, not eliminated mistakes, but rather controlled most situations as best I could.

But regardless, there is absolutely nothing like experience!

Changeling

 

[Accumulator]

Changeling- I agree, it's good to go over this stuff; being prepared makes it less likely that somebody'll fall into that panic mode (which is, IMO just a conditioned response that people can reprogram if they go about it right, but that's a whole 'nother topic..).



Some of this *is* more than just using the ol' gray matter, as certain detailing dilemmas are a bit outside of most people's range of experience. Those of us who've already experienced the stuff that can go wrong are in a unique position to comment, even if it's just to say "don't worry about it".