I've always been into it (I used to detail my 10 speed) In fact it was the search for better products that lead me to forums like this. "J"
I bought a new car two years ago and asked the guy what he would use after I turned down the dealer sealant package (he actually agreed with that). He said that the first thing that he would do is clay it. I said, "WHAT?????" :druling:. History.
When I was 15 I used to help my cousin detail his truck for car shows.He had me clean door jams ,under the hood,deep inside the rims I thought he was crazy and now I'm the crazy one!
Man it's very interesting to read what hooked some of you to detailing. Grouse hahaha I totally agree with you :lol2: As for me, well I'd have to say it was my dad that got me to detailing. Well my dad and I would wash and wax the family vehicles every weekend, we used turtle wax or some cheap thing but what I enjoyed the most was us out there chatting and me looking up to him. I have good and bad memories of this weekend detailing but that's what started it for me. Dad pretty much gave me the first vehicle, and from that day on every weekend I was washing it, vacuuming the interior and waxing the vehicle. I was young and had the old school mentality where I thought that doing things by hand was the only way. As things progressed and I started purchasing other vehicles, I wanted to continue what my dad thought me, to take care of what I own. So the search began, I ran across Auto Geek and FloridaNatives black bug that she detailed and I saw the light. The bug was incredible, just dripping wet, gorgeous depth and well I was hooked. I first started reading lots at AG, for about 5months all I did was read, read and read at AG. After the 5 months I purchased my PC locally and placed several orders from AG and I was set. Then came re-searching for higher end products, purchased a bunch of higher end products and felt bad posting at AG and well that leads us to where I'm at now. I have to admit though, I've learned so much from so many people it's hard to imagine where I would be if it wasn’t for those people that shared there information, there opinions, there thoughts. Well that's pretty much how I got into detailing...hard core detailing lol.
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’élégance 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 méetier. It has always been a relaxing past time for me (I've always called it my 'golf') and while at college I had a part-time business detailing classic vintage cars. From there to Concours d’élégance entrant then judge, and then on to writing car care articles and How-to: instructions, then writing a series of books on my favourite subject. It is my intent to educate, based on five plus decades of experience; passing on to my readers not just a How it works, but also a “Why” it works, as well as an explanation of the scientific terminology and chemicals involved with detailing products. I try to write in a way that helps the reader to understand not only "How" to do something, but "Why" they are doing it, along with the technical, scientific facts along with any relevant chemical information, but if you’ve read any of my forum posts / threads you'll already understand just what I mean I've always believed in empowering my reader’s with facts based on knowledge, experience and scientific facts as opposed to marketing hype and letting them make their own logical decisions. Because I’m passionate about what I do and care about making sure detailing is a safe, fun and rewarding experience for the enthusiast and professional detailer
Grouse- I can relate to that. 'Hand' applying an estate wax to the sexiest automobile made ... a Jaguar XKE as close as as you could get to adultery without the repercussions
for my 18th i got a new car... it was my baby (and still is) I wanted to treat her right so i started searching. I stummbled apon adams. I orderd there starter kit becsue it came witha video and a bucket (no joke)... I havent looked back since then
When I bought an MX-5 I joined one of the MX-5 forums. A question was posted asking if anyone still used a leather chamois. I did at the time. Another member suggested looking into MF WW towels...it took off from there.
I was really into fixing up cars (performance and looks wise) and I've always read and read. Through that course, I found detailing I think on AUtopia web site and the detailing section of clubrsx (I wanted an rsx so I went there ). I started slowing down on reading how to fix up cars because I had no money to do it and I couldn't do anything to my car. Then I said, hey I should just learn something I have a possibility to do, which is detailing. On google I somehow found AUtogeek Online, and started reading and posting and looked for techniques, tips, and tricks. That's when I first started buying boutique products and doing the right wash techniques. It grew from there .
Started reading on proper care for a E46 Xi Silver, months of reading DC/Autopia. 7 Years in and out of school, wish I was done! Funny evolved from Edge/Poorboy's/4 Star to Menzerna/Optimum etc.
This was over 2 yrs ago: The BMW 740il that I had bought used for the wife had a finish that I was never happy with. So I called this detailer and had him come down to detail the car. I asked instead of doing the interior (it was pretty nice already) if he could "buff out" the paint. He agreed. So he came down. Washed and clayed the car. Ran the rotary over it, I have no idea what he used. Then applied 1 coat of zaino on the thick (IMO) side. That was it. I thought it was looking pretty good. A few week later, after some washes, I was seeing swirls or something in the paint out in the sun. So finally after a few calls and emails, it seemed like I was getting blown off. So I set him up with one of my friends cars to do at my house (no buffing), then asked him if he could "re-polish" the BMW. He agreed. He came down and ran the buffer over the BMW again. I again have no idea what he used. I then asked if he was going to apply another coat of zaino, he said no it does not need it. (remember at the time I am pretty clueless) After a month or so, I have the car sitting outside in the sun after a wash and this is what I find: So after doing alot of reading on various detailing sites, I finally bought a PC and spent 14 hours over a few days polishing the paint. This is what the car looked like before I started: After 45 mins of polishing half of the roof: Products used: Finals after some Zaino: Recent pics:
I would have to say my grandpa got me hooked i remember polishing my bike when i was in grade 3 (however old you are then hehe).
I was detailing family members cars and selling a waterless product,I decided to start a mobile business. That was 4 years ago.
Hey, GMBlack3, that one with the reflection in the tress looks awesome!!! That's a sharp pic. I had grown up ever since I can remember helping my dad wash/wax cars. I remember we would spend a full weekend day doing them. Heck, we got into such a routine he even let me start smoking his Grenadier's stogies while we did it. That wasn't until high school though. Fast forward to this past summer. I took a couple of days off of work to detail my 2 cars. The next week when I got back I was telling a buddy at work how good my cars look. He's a complete non-believer in car care. I was more giving him sh!t than anything. A guy in the cube across from him overheard me and asked how much to detail his Pacifica that he was turning in off lease. He was afraid of getting hit with a re-conditioning charge. We settled on a price and the rest is history. He told me that the dealer couldn't believe it and that they put it straight on their used lot. Man, that f'ing thing took forever to do since I was so new to all the "extra" stuff that we do like wheel wells, leather seat conditioning, and biggest of all, polishing with a machine. I was using a PC initially. I remember several calls/e-mails with Phil (Detailer's Domain), and he got me straightened out.
My father collected and restored antique cars. I used to help him get them ready for car shows and parades. The Meadowbrook Concours D'Elegance was the pinnacle of the shows in the area and he had cars in there for several years. When I got old enough to drive, he would have me do both and then I got to drive one which was very, very cool for a 16 year old. I got trained by RM restoration in Chatham how to wetsand and to use a rotary years ago and have never looked back. I used to use 3M products and then discovered Zaino and then AG. I didn't start doing it on the side until last summer. I was very busy and extect to be this summer as well.
Next Meadowbrook show you and I need to meet up Richy.. I could spit on the grounds from where I live...lol
