This reminds me of the joke about seeing a book for sale on how to save money. Punch line : " I started saving right then. I didn't buy it. " Bud : No serious jab at the book. Hope the jokes have not harmed your sales. That's the last joke. I promise. Doug " Hanging is too good for punsters. They should be drawn and quoted. "by Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud- Easy does it ! I only dreamed up this untested system to provide a start for ideas. I often find that a multi-step process does something better than trying one thing. Feel free to modify it or replace it. By citrus cleaner, I meant something like Citrigel or De-Solve-It or Goo Gone; cleaners made from orange peels and such. I've found these things do little if any damage to cby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
There's been a debate on the Mobileworks forum about using dangerous acids to clean wheels of brake dust deposits. Bud and Ketch oppose the practice for the reason that the acids can cause health problems such as instant death if mis-handled and that acids are bad for the enviornment. The "acid heads" argue that while Bud and Ketch are right, the acid still does a great job ofby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Ketch- Well...I guess it makes sense to call a chemist who develops shampoo, your "head chemist" ! (in fun ) Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud, Your daughter is right. A licensed cosmetologist I know, tried several knock-off shampoos in hopes that they'd turn out to be just as good as the name brands. They weren't and she went back to the name brand products. You can save on products such as Biolage by having a licensed person pick them up for you from a wholesaler in large bottles. Appreciate the advice on singleby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I'm no judge of anything computer-related so I'll just be the first to say, " Welcome to the forum and best wishes for success. " Doug " Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully. "- from Life's Little Instuction Bookby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Members, I have found out the hard way that we should wear masks when spraying chemicals. Both the All Purpose Plus and Awesome Carpet products discussed in the above posts caused me a sore mouth after spraying them. One of the rules outlined in the Toyota videos discussed in another thread is to wear eye protection, gloves and ( I recall ) a mask throughout the detailing routine. Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Neil66 and others : My Zaino test started today. I applied two coats of Z2 after preparing the surface with Griot's Machine Polish #3, a product that leaves no film or residue according to Griot's. I mixed up an ounce of Z2 with 4 drops of ZFX and was able to put two coats on a Honda Accord with almost half an ounce left over.by Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Jim, Congratulations on your success. If I can do anything close, I'll be happy. My argument with Ketch was based on his statements. I've never even met him and did not intend to convey any opinion on him personally. I'm ready to move on, of course. Glad to see you are still posting, Jim, but it would also be nice to hear from the "missing persons" who madby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Students of ancient history will recall the story of Archimedes, who thought up something and immediately ran naked through the streets, shouting, "Eureka, Eureka !" Had Ron Ketcham been around back then ( and, heck, he may have been ), he'd have asked Archimedes exactly who he was and what entitled him to literally run around claiming to be a great thinker. I'm much tooby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud, I agree that dealers want low prices. I was simply pointing out that some dealers also want meticulous work done. One used car dealer I know has a detailer spend about three days on each car because he believes show car quality increases the selling price by up to 1,500 dollars. I should mention that the detailer is an employee of this dealer and is paid a salary. Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gentlemen : I returned the videos to the Toyota dealer detailng shop. I was looking forward to discussing them with the employees but found that the manager was not there and the employees I spoke with had not bothered to watch the videos. Bud, I'm surprised at your low opinion of the videos as I didn't think they pushed AutoMagic too much and I use some of the techniques myself.by Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Ketch, I answered your concerns on another thread. If you wish to take issue with my posts instead of taking issue with my biography, I think the members will find such substantive debate more useful. I wonder sometimes if you would like to have the forum all to yourself, as some of your posts to enthusiasts and newbys have been condescending. As I made plain elsewhere, no one is asked to acceby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Stephen, I did not mean to imply anything negative about the videos or the certification program. I was trying to satisfy the curiosity raised when the videos were mentioned before. I didn't want to send everyone out in quest of these videos by lavishing too much praise. My opinion of the videos is not an opinion on the certification program itself. To clarify, I consider the videos gby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Ketch, I am a guy who details for money here and there but has not yet figured out how a full-fledged business in this field ever turns a profit. Im easily fascinated by the mental challenges of sifting out the best product, the best technique etc. When I saw this forum begin to stagnate, I jumped in again to breathe new life into it. If you read my stuff, you'll find that I do not gby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
What happened to the regulars on this forum ? I've seen few recent posts from the old crowd ( Mark, Ron, Anthony, Jose, Brian, Dan, Dan Loves Tea etc. ) Where'd everybody go ? Did these fellows make their millions from detailing and skip to Barbados ? If this forum is to stay interesting, it will need a variety of perspectives from knowlegable professionals. Amateurs are needed tooby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
At that price, it sounds as if the author took his own advice ! ( in fun ) Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Right again, Bud. Actually, dealers, like most humans vary in their tastes. Some dealers want perfection and some will accept a hack job if it is cheap enough. You can't generalize about people-except that women always fall for jerks. ( attempted humor ) Also, have you got an average figure for the cost of chemicals used to detail a vehicle ? I'm guessing over $15. Doug "by Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gentlemen : I borrowed two of Toyota's Certified Used Car detailing instruction videos from a dealer. They are useful but not revolutionary. Among the techniques covered : 1) If a stain remains after you've pre-spotted, brushed and toweled it, repeat the procedure until it comes out. If your towel no longer picks up anything, chances are the stain cannot be removed. 2) Do not dreby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Without judging these, I'll mention them... Palmolive Dishwashing Liquid is recommended by the maker for car washing ( one squirt to a bucket of water ). New Again said he uses Mop and Glow in wheel wells as dressing. Fabric Softener sheets can be used to agitate tar and bugs. Hot water on towels helps remove tree sap. Warm water allows you to wash the car on cold days. Spraying Pamby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud, this may be one of those stories people like to believe but that aren't true. It sounds like those $50 surplus jeeps in the crate or the unused T-bird found in the dead Ford dealer's garage. Thanks for the link. In a similar vein, a motorcycle magazine once noted that the latest Yamaha 650 was offered in " your choice of red. " Doug " I've always said tby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
JonJoy20 : If the car is in sad shape anyway, you can wet sand and then do your own spray touch-up job. Write down the paint code found on a decal or stamped tag on the car. Buy a can of the right paint and some body shop masking tape. Doug " Improvise, adapt and overcome. "by Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud is right. I'd like to take issue with the idea that detailers are charging outrageous prices. Just ask Bud how much he'll charge you for a complete state-of-the-art shop set-up. Then figure out how many jobs you'll have to do to earn that money back. While you are at it, ask how much you should take out as your hourly pay. Anything less than $14 an hour is poverty level.by Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud : Henry Ford is said to have said you could have his cars in any color as long as it was black. I heard that Earl Schieb got his start with a supply of surplus battleship grey paint left over after WWII. Perhaps, as a senior menber of the forum, you can tell us if this is true... Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
And, you have to wonder whether these sprays are solvent-based and not as good for the tires as water-based products. I tried an Armor-all aerosol that was labeled against using it on wheels. Ironically, it did a great job of cleaning the wheels when I wiped off the overspray after dressing tires. Doug " 'nothing is sacred' may well prove to be the epitaph of the west.&by Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Brent-thanx ! Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Nuprin, Sometimes the answer is more complicated than "good" or "bad". Just because something works doesn't mean it works the best. Otherwise people would simply huff paint thinner instead of buying expensive crack cocaine, but that may be a subject for another forum. WD-40 is flammable until its carrier evaporates. Water-based dressings are a better bet for engiby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
JonJoy 20, Here's what I do and it works: 1) Wet sand with 600 grit until lens is white, 1000 grit, 2000 grit. 2) Compound with Meguiar's #1 Medium Cut Cleaner. 3) Meguiar's plastic cleaner. 4) Mother's plastic polish. I tried out a kit from NicSand that connects to an electric drill but found the polish way too fine to get results. Doug " To confuse prby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Tia, Stephen Britz, in his post above, makes a good point in recommending you go straight to a pro. After I posted, I realized that you are dealing with a new car. If you do damage in trying to correct the scratches, that would be serious on this car. Also, on a new car, you presumably want to end up with the best possible finish, not just to smooth out the scratches. Pro detailers are chargiby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
tia, To solve the problem : 1) Run your thumb nail over the scratches. If you can sort-of catch your thumb nail on the scratch, do not attempt to remove the scratch completely. Doing so would require removing too much paint. Remember that a scratch is a valley in the paint, so you cannot " take out " a scratch. All you can do is lower the surrounding paint until it is level withby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts