Discouraged to polish

Hey guys,

Well I really wasn't intending on having other people know about it, but it was an honest mistake and after talking to a couple other detailers who polished I found out I'm not the only one. On one of the cars I did, I didn't tape off a fender lip and the side of my pad took off some paint. That was my first polishing incident, and then more recently I went through the clear coat on one of the cars I did. I'm just wondering how many of you guys have had some big mistakes as well. Before talking to other detailers, I thought I was the only one who has gone through. I don't have a PTG but now I should definitely look into one. The clear I went through has been polished by a wool pad before so it's not totally my fault but since I went through it I have to pay for repairs. Just wondering what kind of incidents you guys have and if you have any words of advice. I just don't feel like picking up my flex anymore, but unfortunately now is when people are starting to want to have their cars polished. Any advice is greatly appreciated.

Brendan

 

sorry to gear that man. maybe look into some liability insurance. makes me think twice now and want to get some for added peotection.

 

yeah, the things is...these details were back to back. So that made me feel even worse. Honestly I want to sell all my polishing gear and just stick to exterior details without polishing. I'll see how I feel in a few weeks

 

Don't let it get you down, whats done is done and you can't change it so let it be a learning experience. Don't give up on something so quick, everyone falls flat a few times before they learn to walk, same thing with polishing. Have you tried working on scrap panels or anything? Definitely look into PTG it can be a lifesaver sometimes as you never know what a car has been through or what has been done to it. Don't let it get you down though it happens to the best of us, I have been guilty of it when I first started.

 

Yo Brendan,
I did this on my cousins car, luckily he was gone on vacation so I got it fixed,
he never knew, BUT I dont think you should put the flex down, you should jump
right back into it, it happens to everyone so I dont think you should feel discouraged,
Race car drivers crash, musicians make mistakes, detailers can wreck paint, just keep going at it, just learn from your mistakes you know?

 

Thanks for the support. Now money is even tighter, I'd probably only be able to afford a Highline PTG and even then I don't know what I'd do on plastics. I guess thats where a PC would be the safer bet. So now I have to pay for a repaint on the panel I went through the clear on, PTG, and a PC possibly:shakehead:. Thanks for the support though, means a lot to me.

 

thanks, yeah the owners picking it up tomorrow, luckily he's a really nice guy. I don't think he'll be mad, I think I'm more choked about it then he will be. Thanks for sharing...this is like a detailers equivalent to an AA session :shrug:

 

Stick with a PC? Those should be harder to make mistakes on.

We learn from our mistakes, not just think about them. Now that you these two incidents are in your head all the time when you're polishing, you can be sure it won't happen again. If these things will not happen anymore, then what are you afraid of then?

 

I'm thinking of getting a PC now, but a rotary is a lot more convenient. I should get a couple scrap panels and polish them with rotary and PC.

 

Perhaps you got a bit too comfortable with your rotary? Im not saying panic when you use a rotary, but maybe you developed habits that didn't lend themselves to be appropriate for the thin spot situation you unfortunately had. I don't say this trying to be mean. Maybe you should just sit back and think of all the potential bad habits you got into during the last 2 situations and try to tighten them up. Keep your head up Brendan:thumb:

 

get a pc and scrap panels for your rotary. then follow with a ptg so you can wet sand too.
do you mainly do interior or exterior?

 

I dont think a PTG is useful if you know how much paint there is and are using inappropriate technique(Not saying Brendan here was or wasn't). For example, it doesnt matter how much paint is on an edge or sharp transition. If you hit it wrong, or a hair too long, it may be toast.

 

well either way I should probably pick up a couple scrap panels and see whats wrong with my process. a PTG won't hurt so I'll give them a shot. Thanks for the help guys...can't even sleep this off now (woke up and now i'm on here)

 

sorry to hear abt this, Never give up easily .... we all learned from mistake ... i think this 2 mistakes will make you far better detailer.

I am proud of you Brendan. You showed us your honesty and responsibility. Whose car is polish or detail by you, they should be proud and feel good of your profesionalism. If we live in the same town, I will have no doubt to give my car for you to takecare of it.

There are plenty of detailers out there worse than you more than 1000 times.

 

thanks, definitely makes me feel a bit better. I'll pick up a PTG before I polish another car, hopefully next time I polish will be a scrap panel. Anybody have links to proper technique? I want to start all over again.:shead:

 

When I was at Detail Fest, Mike Phillips made a comment about detailers and mistakes. He said the lesson is to learn from mistakes and not make the same mistake the next time.

His rationale was you want someone who knows what NOT to do since they have learned from prior mistakes. I guess can claim they have never made any mistakes.

You mitigate the risk of mistakes by getting insurance.

 

I'm sorry to hear that Brendan.

I damaged the clear on one of my car's painted moldings while polishing a scratch repair ... I learned my lesson though. I used a 5.5" pad when in reality a 4" pad should have been a better choice because my side panels have a c-shaped contour.

Learn from it and don't rush a job. I truly believe most polishing mistakes can be avoided by not rushing the job and concentrating on the task at hand. I don't offer any 2 or 3 level correction packages because I want to master 1-steppers first.

 

Well after all the previous posts I am at a loss for words in trying to guide you in the right way. Everyone before me gave you great support and that is all I was going to do also. My hat goes off to you though for stepping up and admitting you did wrong, some feel only a true man can do that. Keep your chin up dude!

 

If you polish enough vehicle eventually you will get a 'strikethrough', don't feel bad or give up, it only takes a lack of concentration for a few seconds-don't beat yourself up

 

If these were the only 2 cars you had ever used a rotary on then yea maybe you should ditch this thing and get a pc.Its gonna happen. Its just a matter of when. Hate that these 2 incidents happened so close together :sorry:

Well, thats very inspiring and true :applause:

Now is the time to hone your skills in touch-up and wetsanding. You also need to find a good bumper repair guy who can blend paint. You would come out alot cheaper then sending it to Joes Body Shop for them to do a full respray. Thats gonna hurt :spank:

True ^ Everytime I have done a burn thru is when I wasn't paying attention. I have a problem with my mind wandering :crasy:

Do you have a Mother In Law or Aunt? There cars should be your test panels :giggle:

No doubt :applause:

You just scored major points with me by owning this :headbang:

I see alot of the Profesionals post there details on these forums. They never seem to share the pic of the inperfections/things they couldn't do anything with/beyond our capabilities. Just once, I would like to come behind them and see if I could find there flaws :hmph: