Loading...
Remove Text Formatting

Likes Likes:  10
Results 1 to 8 of 8

Thread: Detailing cars starts with the brain - not the buffer

  1. #1
    Super Moderator Scrape's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    GT-A
    Posts
    9,206

    Detailing cars starts with the brain - not the buffer

    An article taken from Autogeek. Read the article and thread here. https://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...-phillips.html


    A few years ago I started saying this in my detailing classes as I told a real story about my experience teaching detailing classes at Meguiar's for all the Corvette clubs in California.

    Most of the owners of the Vettes were like my dad, that is older and retired. These guys would show up early Saturday morning for the Detailing 101 class and there would always be a couple guys that would say,

    Give me a buffer!

    I would politely state that the class started in the classroom, not the garage where we would be going over a brief Power Point Presentation to make sure everyone is on the same page when it comes to the foundational basics of detailing a car.

    It led me to say,

    Detailing cars starts with the brain - not the buffer -Mike Phillips


    These guys and lots more like them were simply excited to be at Meguiar's for a detailing class and enthusiastic about getting started.


    But the quote is true and accurate. Detailing a car starts with the brain, not the buffer. Knowing a little bit about what I call,

    The Three Ps

    That is,


    1. Paint
    2. Products
    3. Procedures




    Paint
    You need to know or understand a little bit about the material you're working on. You need to know it's thin, scratches easy and because it's thin there's not a lot of room for mistakes. You also need to know it's easily dulled down using inferior products. And while it can take hours to remove all the swirls and scratches it only takes SECONDS to put them back in again.


    Products
    Anyone that's been reading any of my articles on this forum, on FB or my replies on this forum or FB knows I harp on the topic of always using products that use GREAT abrasive technology. I would say from experience interacting in the real-word and the cyber-world that most guys think getting great results has to do with their technique. This is though process is ego-driven and also my experience with detailers in general. That is, because most guys are self-taught or learn most of what they know from forums like this or YouTube, they get filled with pride and thus think it's the way they move the buffer that creates the results.

    Technique is a factor but now days with current abrasive technology it's the least important factor. I've taught people that have NEVER detailed a car in their life let alone run a buffer how to get professional results their very first time - this means the only technique they have is what they were just shown seconds before turning the buffer on.


    Procedures
    This category is all the steps in the right order, things like starting with a clean work environment including a clean place for your towels and buffing pads. Properly washing a car starting with the wheels and tires first, not starting at the top and working down. Chemically decontaminating the paint followed by mechanically decontaminating the paint and then inspecting and doing a Test Spot before choosing the frist step product and process.


    But yeah... I've met a lot of people that say,

    Give me a buffer... I show you how it's done...

    And to them I politely say,

    Detailing starts with the brain... not the buffer... now let's start by going over some of the basics before we start working on a car.




  2. #2
    Mustang Occasionally
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    At my home.
    Posts
    2,843
    Nice write up.

  3. #3
    Club Supporter Mustang4's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Burlington, Ont
    Posts
    1,499
    Totally agree with you, you really should learn the basics first and proper preparation and technique for you start.

    Great article.

    1991 Mustang 5.0L LX - Titanium Frost CC Metallic, MM Suspension, Bilstein shocks, Cobra brakes, Edelbrock heads, polished GT-40 intake, new interior
    2018 Mustang GT - Performance Pack, Magneride, Auto, Forged wheels, Active exhaust, Lightning Blue

  4. #4
    Admin ZR's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Toronto, On
    Posts
    36,219
    Lots of valuable info.

  5. #5
    Posting and liking.... Ponyryd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Windsor area
    Posts
    2,768
    Good info, but can I ask why you start with the tires?

  6. #6
    Super Moderator Scrape's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    GT-A
    Posts
    9,206
    The paint will get water spots plus scrubbing the tires and cleaning the rims will splash onto the painted surface.
    Quote Originally Posted by Ponyryd View Post
    Good info, but can I ask why you start with the tires?

  7. #7
    Posting and liking.... Ponyryd's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Windsor area
    Posts
    2,768
    Thx, I usually dry after washing everything so I guess it doesn’t affect me.

  8. #8
    RSAUTOSPA
    Guest
    nicely put together!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

SiteUptime Web Site Monitoring Service