Do It All: www.mobileworks.com has a listing for detailing courses including those of Bud's Detail Plus and Attention to Details. Unfortunately, I don't know which courses are best. Doug " Work hard, serve folks joyfully, save frugally and give generously. "-Mark Rutland, from Character Mattersby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gentlemen: This product is hazardous to skin and eyes and is so labeled. That is not unusual for professional products but I still count health hazards as a drawback. "APP", as it is called on the Internet, is used in various dilutions. I've used it to remove about six black stains from my living room carpet. The stains were probably some kind of grease I tracked in whileby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
On the subject of www.rightlook.com, has anyone viewed their set of instuctional DVDs? If so, how good are they ? Doug " Get off your apathy. "by Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Recently, I tried out Griot's Garage wheel cleaner and Meguiar's wheel cleaner in the pink translucent bottle. Both products left the wheels' clearcoat looking slightly hazy, evidence of slight damage to the coating. Polishing restored the luster. I found these relatively gentle wheel cleaners to be a bit harsh and am instead experimenting with Meguiar's All Purpose Plus asby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gents : Mother's FX Synthetic Wax ( I paid $16 ) has been making a splash on some enthusiast forums so I decided to try it out for myself. I tested it on a single-stage white paint in good condition. One side of the hood was given a coat of FX and the other side, Mother's Original California Gold Car Cleaner Wax. The FX cleaned more aggressively but the Cal. Gold, a carnauba-basedby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gentlemen : Bug Free is carried by Dollar General stores ( 33 ounces for $2.50 in a clear spray bottle ). The product claims to remove bugs and road grime but the word "tar" is absent from the label. The product appears to be citrus-based and the label says it is not oil based. I tested it on a 2001 Toyota Camry with original factory green paint and a severe coating of bugs and tarby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gentlemen : Here are the results on a product I've been testing lately. LA's Totally Awesome Carpet Spot And Stain Remover ( 32 ounce red bottle-found in dollar stores, paid $1 ): This stuff works ! I tried it on several stains and it got them out. The maker warns you not to use any other stain remover on the stain prior to the Awesome product. That is because some other stain rby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Do It All, You can contact your Meguiar's and AutoMagic distributers to get invited to seminars those companies provide. The charge of around $50 is normally waived if you show up. If you sign up and don't show, you'll pay the tuition. The seminars are intended for pros only, not curiosity seekers. Both companies do a fine presentation. www.meguiars.com , www.autowaxcompaby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Do It All, I believe the product in question is sold by Ketch at www.autoint.com under the Valugard label. ( if this info is in error, I apologize in advance ) Doug " Put brain in gear before engaging mouth. "by Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Ecodetail, Notice that with all of this alleged high-tech testing, the best the car companies can find to market to their customers is dual-labeled Meguiar's products offered through Daimler-Chrysler and GM dealer parts departments. Ford's old Silicone Gloss Polish was more like a harsh compound than a wax and didn't hold up long. Ford dropped it and now sells a Clear Coatby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
That bit about Carnauba wax fading gelcoat doesn't pass the laugh test. Whoever started that rumor probably sold polymer sealants for a living. Brian Angellucci, who sells a CD Rom on boat detailing, says gelcoat may require more aggressive compounds to restore its lustre. Most car stuff is okay for boats but I'll bet Brian's CD will list products that are especially gooby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
New Again, Thanks for clarifying that. The Meguiar's three-step system is good. I simply found the Mother's products slightly easier to use and the wax to last a little longer so I recommend those. This could come down to personal preference. Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Autopia Car Care offers a dowloadable ebook that requires you to register your email address and name. It is an exe file ( there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with it ). I have not read the book. Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Guys : On this topic of wax---I see that Wal-mart stocks a certain brand name wax for only about $1.87 a bottle that is guaranteed to last one month or 52 car washes ( notice, it says one MONTH, not one year ). Even a fanatic like me rarely washes his car 52 times in one month ! LOL Doug " You trust your mother but you cut the cards ".by Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
You might want to try AcriliKleen, which I do not think contains any xylene. Doug " There is hardly anything that someone can't make a little cheaper and sell for a little less and those who consider price alone are that man's lawful prey."by Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Consumer Reports lists the following waxes as " Can Be Applied To A Wet Car ": Armor-All Wax-it-Dry Gel and Spray waxes, Eagle One Wax-As-You-Dry, Turtle Wax 1Step Wax & Dry T-9, Griot's Garage Spray-on Wax, Turtle Wax Express Shine T-136R, Meguiar's NXT Generation Spray Wax . CR rated spray waxes the worst for durability. Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gentlemen : Just in case anyone was curious, the winning liquid wax in the July 2006 Consumer Reports test was Black Magic Wet Shine Liquid Wax BM48016. It rated "excellent" in gloss, durability, cleaning, scratching/hazing and compatability with plastic. Second: Turtle Wax Carnauba Car Wax T-6. Third : Eagle One Nanowax. Fourth : 3M Perfect-it Show Car Liquid Wax . The report nby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Neil : I don't know what's not to like. I intend to test Zaino and see if I find any reason it is unsuitable for pro use. I do not intend to test Diamond Plus as anything I say about it might sound suspect in view of my debates with Bud. At least one forum user lauded it, I remember. Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud: If a guy will only pay me 25 cents to shine his shoes, I'll think twice about buying a professinal shine chair set-up just so I can provide a better shine. We have a Toyota dealer around here who details any vehicle including big Four-runner SUVs for $99. That's what's hurting the industry. Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud : I can find no indication in the copy of your test that you provided me that it was conducted by anyone other than your company. I see no lab or other agency named. If I missed it, I apologize. In any case, a test commissioned by you is not an independent test. You claim you would have no reason to slant the test. How about to boost sales of your product ? I've heard of companieby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
New Again : Were you referring to Meguiar's STEP 2 Red Bottle stuff, which fits your description, or their Professional #2 Fine Cut Cleaner, which requires machine application ? Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud : Your test, which I thank you for providing me, was not an independent test but rather was done by your company, using your choice of procedures. You may be about to say that these facts don't mean the test was biased or unfair. I wonder how you'd feel if Sal Zaino tested your product against his and loudly proclaimed his to be the winner. What follows is the result of indeby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud : There are things I need worse than a compressor. My personal thinking is not likely to be helpful to others on this forum, whose circumstances may differ from mine. Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Mr. Canna : I think Ketch's recommendation will solve the problem. If you have time left over, I'd add a step, though. Apply a body-shop safe glaze such as 3M Hand Glaze to improve the shine. You don't have to thank me for this nugget. ( heh heh ) Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Neil : In your opinion, would Zaino have a place in professional, production detailing? In other words, is it as easy to apply as professional sealants, and if not, is the extra effort significant ? This is assuming the cost is passed on to the customer ( as concoursgarage says ). NXT tech wax is not very durable. Pros are using #21 instead. Are you saying that Zaino outshines NXT ? Doby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud : That sounds right. I have thought I was getting at the interior dust O.K. with my vacuum and brushes but I may be leaving more behind than I realize. If I don't run out and buy one, that is still my right and you have to respect that, regardless of the points you've made. Thanks-I will give all of this more thought. Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Thanks for those answers. I think this time issue is one of the trickiest in detailing. I knew a shop owner who claimed he could knock out one car every 2 hours retail but it took 3.5 hours to do a car wholesale for a picky dealer . Another guy detailed for an auction and said two guys were expected to complete a car in one hour but the boss did not get upset if it happened to take longer.by Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud : One more thing--- You say this is a forum for professional detailers. That's not what it says at the top of the page. It says, " Discussion forum for automobile detailers, amateur and professional. For that reason, if no other, I think amateurs should be treated with respect and given help when they ask. When the amateur begins waxing his neighbor's cars in the sun andby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
To paraphrase an old beer commercial, " This one's for you, Bud. " Bud: I recall your alluding to a 2 hour full detail, made possible by your company's modern equipment. I admit I scrape along on fairly primitive tools but-um-How on earth can anyone do a car in 2 hours !??? It can take me an hour to de-trash, remove stickers, and vacuum a vehicle perfectly. Dressinby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud : I did not encourage the guy to do his own car. I simply said that a car owner with a bottle of Meguiar's cleanr/wax and some elbow grease isn't likely to do any real harm to a car that's scratched up anyway. I described the proper procedure for top results earlier and thought it was obvious that few people have the skills and equipment to do it. My position is that it is oby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts