When did you start detailing??

[imported_broker99]

My story is I worked at a small car lot in high school and l leaned how to use a rotary. It was a Milwaukee that weighted about a thousand pounds. I kind of got away from detailing other peoples vehicles over the years but always kept up on my own cars until about a year ago when my neighbor asked me to do his car. That stirred something in me and I was hooked again. Good thing because he had me do his other 2 cars and then some of my other neighbors asked me do their cars, and started to snowball from there.

Let?s hear your story.

 

[imported_Termigator]

I've always been serious about keeping my car(s) looking nice since high school. However, I did not not "discover" polishing (ie. swirl removing) until 2002, when I got my first and only black car, an 02' Nighthawk Black Pearl Acura TL-S. Wanting to find out how to remove some imperfections caused by two weeks of sitting outside the garage, I did a web search on auto detailing. Quite by coincidence, I came across CMA and liked what I saw. I soon had some Menzerna polishes and Blackfire sealant on hand. After a little more web digging, I found Autopia and found out about the PC. After a trip to Lowe's to purchase my first PC, the rest was history.:clap:

 

[FJF]

I've only been at it for 3 years. I've been a car guy all my life, always admired nice paintwork, but didn't really look into the process. Like most, I've (err...) "waxed" my cars and it never seemed to bring about the results I was looking for, so I rarely bothered.

I decided to learn how to detail when I bought a red car whose finish was prone to fading. After a quick search, I found Autopia and started learning. I just wanted to protect the paint. Much to my surprise, I found myself really enjoying detailing. I almost solely work on my own cars and have a blast doing it. The other car guys now make fun of me, and it's OK. I'm getting too old to care. I still rev to oblivion and pitch my cars every chance I get, except now they're scratch-free, polished, and very glossy.

 

[imported_Luster]

I guess I started when I got my first car back in 1968.

My dad just couldn't understand it. "That won't make it run no better." [Shaking head.]

 

[imported_gewb]

I guess I started when I got my first car back in 1968.

My dad just couldn't understand it. "That won't make it run no better." [Shaking head.]

About the same here with my first car ('57 Chevy) in '66. Did new car prep and minor detailing at an Audi / Porche / VW dealership in '72-'73 (when I first tried a rotary).

Got more serious about my own cars in 2004 but didn't get my own polisher until last fall - better late than never.

Regards,
GEWB

 

[TOGWT]

I began detailing Mercedes-Benz / BMW helping out at my Father?s dealership as well as his Jag collection back in the late 50's, he enters them into Concours d??l?gance events (detailing to another level) and as such I?m used to a large number of high-end new and used cars. 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?.

I detailed my first car when I was fourteen (a mere five decades ago) it was a 1929 Bentley that belong 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 my m?etier.

It has always been a relaxing past time for me, I like to call it "my golf" and while at college I had a part-time business detailing classic vintage cars.

From there to Concours d??l?gance entrant then judge, and then on to writing in-depth car care articles, How-to: instructions and a detailing encylopedia on my favourite subject.

 

[John Henry]

1973, Washington Navy Yard Motor Pool garage. USMC Lance Corporal John Henry was supposed to be changing the brake pads on a deuce-and-a-half. But noooo, he was doing a Blue Coral three-step on his dark blue Volvo 145 wagon.

After being caught and doing ten "Sir-Yes-Sirs!!!" as pennance, the Gunny decided to "punish" me. "You like polishin' so much... get yer a$$ over there and spit shine that boat!!!"

I detailed the Presidential launch, "Sequoia." I had died and gone to heaven.

 

[Paul Sparks]

I have always liked my cars to look good but in 2002 I purchased a new Firebird ragtop. After washing and waxing the car I set it out in the sun to admire and couldn't understand the swirl marks that seemed to be everywhere. Searching the internet was my downfall. Discovered detailing sites and have been hooked ever since. Have gone to a Meg's roadshow here in Indy,the Detail Fest in Stuart Fl. year before last and a midwest get-together in Evansville In. this summer. Shareing info at these events and meeting fellow detailers has been a lot of fun and very informative to say the least. Wish I had started doing this years ago.
Sorry about rambleing on so butt this oldgeezer is having a great time and love sharing it with others.

Paul S

 

[Old Pirate]

I started around 1964, when my dad on a Sunday in the Bronx (NYC) wanted me to wax his new car 64 Olds 98 in Black. All I know is that I had a heck of a time removing it. All he did was laugh at me and then show me the right way, which was to put it on thin and one panel at a time (he was drinking a beer in a paper bag). So I guess that was when I first started detailing.

 

[imported_Luster]

I started around 1964, when my dad on a Sunday in the Bronx (NYC) wanted me to wax his new car 64 Olds 98 in Black. All I know is that I had a heck of a time removing it. .

I remember those waxes from the '60's!!! Crusty paste waxes, that caked on, and left TONS of white crud in the cracks... The car looked worse after finishing!!! (At least mine did!):rofl::rofl::rofl:

 

[imported_RaskyR1]

Well I pretty much grew up in a body shop. As a kid my father would bring me to work with him on the weekends. He would give me things to do like scuff the door jambs to prep for painting, fetch him tools, clean and orginize the tool box, and of course washing and waxing cars.

Around '90-'91 my father started his own shop as we had a 30' x 40' steel building right in our back yard. I started wet sanding and buffing cars for him and would also prep them for delivery. Once I turned 16 I got a job at a local detail shop....from then on I was hooked...

 

[Old Pirate]

I remember those waxes from the '60's!!! Crusty paste waxes, that caked on, and left TONS of white crud in the cracks... The car looked worse after finishing!!! (At least mine did!):rofl::rofl::rofl:

It was always on a Sunday he wanted me to do this, and your right about the white crud in those cracks, the worst nightmare I had...........