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More help for the enthusiast looking for automobile detailing information:
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Automotive Detailing
by Don Taylor
Published by HP Books
121 pages
ISBN: 1-55788-288-6
You might get scared when you read the introduction to "Auto Detailing". Author Don Taylor writes: "Detailing is not only a matter of technique and knowing which products to use, it is also a state of mind". Rather than come up with a lot of useless detailing philosophy however, Don has both feet planted firmly on the ground and dispenses generous amounts of useful information. A lot of myths are dealt with and various marketing ploys are exposed. "Polymers" for example, are competently dealt with. The author clearly is a professional and that is the source for our only real criticism of "Auto Detailing". He often refers to techniques and equipment that is not available to the average detailer hobbyist. There even is a chapter on "Detailing as Business" that deals with temporary/permanent locations, licenses and permits etc. It's probably a worthwhile addition to the book, as many email inquiries from the "Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts" ask about the business of auto detailing.
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Buy this Book Today!
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Auto Detailing For Show and Profit
by David H. Jacobs Jr.
Published by Motorbooks International
94 pages
ISBN: 0-87938-886-2
There's good detailing advice in "Auto Detailing For Show and Profit". Its' downfall is that it is poorly organized. It would have been better, if information in the chapter "Tools and Materials for Cleaning" was included throughout the book. Sometimes the advice is a little bizarre. At one point we are told to "kneel on the hose to prevent your pants getting wet and greasy while rinsing the undercarriage". I tried it and the water flow in the hose was a problem and my pants still got wet and greasy. The statement "Very soft liquid dish washing soaps are best for washing cars." is advice that is strongly recommended against by just about every auto detailer that I know. The reason is that the grease cutting characteristics of dish washing detergent will tend to remove wax. There were problems in other areas, such as the discussion regarding dressings, although that can be considered a difference of opinion.
When it comes to car detailing, or for that matter any number of other endeavors, I like to gather information from as many sources as possible. For that reason, buying "Auto Detailing For Show and Profit" is a good idea as it does present a unique and different approach to its subject. Still, the other books are better.
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Buy this Book Today!
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Ultimate Auto Detailing
by David H. Jacobs Jr.
Published by Motorbooks International
208 pages
ISBN: 0-87938-310-0
"Ultimate Auto Detailing" (first published 1988) has the same author as "Auto Detailing For Show and Profit" which was first published in 1986. The two years difference is a big improvement. Organization is much improved and the bizarre advice seems to have disappeared. This time, the advice is useful and put into perspective. At one point author, Jacobs tells of detailing enthusiasts who drive slowly over a running lawn sprinkler to clean the underside of the car. He is not enthusiastic of the method, but at least it is mentioned. Other tips and techniques are offered with a "this person uses it, you be the judge" approach. Currently available products are mentioned.
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Buy this Book Today!
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Auto Detailing The Professional Way
by James Joseph
Published by Chilton Book Company
167 pages
ISBN: 0-8019-8196-4
This is a thorough and disciplined book. There are useful interviews with auto detailing professionals. The approach is different from other detailing books. Each task has a time estimate, materials needed and the required steps all listed. It almost reads like a detailing procedure document, and there are benefits to that method. If you are a beginner and need to be told exactly what to do, this book is for you. The approach is also good if you are planning to go into the detailing business. This is not to say that the veteran detailer cannot benefit from "Auto Detailing The Professional Way". Good tips and techniques can be found throughout the book, but perhaps they could loosen up a bit . . .
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