Pro Detailer Wanted in San Diego - 1968 Biscayne

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Pro Detailer Wanted in San Diego - 1968 Biscayne


My friend Alonzo just called me from San Diego telling me about what is sounding like another "Horror Story".

Horror Story on a detailing discussion forum means someone had their car swirled out by a hack detailer at one of these,

• Body Shop
• Detail Shop
• Dealership

Alonzo had a Candy Brandywine paint job sprayed onto his really cool 1968 Chevrolet Biscayne and he says the paint is dull after the body shop washed it and and he thinks he sees swirls.

I told him that they probably ONLY used a rotary buffer for the buffing work after first wetsanding the paint and this leaves holograms in the paint. Most body shops apply a hand glaze after they swirl out the paint to hide the swirls but when they washed the car for him they washed off the water soluble glaze which is why the paint now looks dully and hazy or dull and swirly.

I told Alonzo I would start a thread for him to find him a Pro Detailer in the San Diego area to help undo the damage.

Alonzo is going to send me some pictures of his car, when I get them I'll post them.


So who do we have in the San Diego area that really knows what they are doing and would like a job buffing out a really cool car with a custom paint job.


Anyone?


:xyxthumbs:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Alonzo,

Here's the article I told you about on the phone with tips on how to captures swirls in paint. Give it a read through...

How-To capture swirls, scratches, etchings and other surface defects with your camera



We'll help you to save your paint job...

Have faith...


:dblthumb2:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

How to inspect the paint using the sun to check for swirls, holograms and scratches

[video=youtube_share;KAxyDNQjG5I&hd=1"]1954 Ford F100 Show Truck..." target="_blank">1954 Ford F100 Show Truck...[/video]​

The above is from my article here,

How To Detail Your Brand New Car by Mike Phillips



And, check out this...


It's not that hard...


Note these people are not just "learning" on daily drivers aka new cars, they're learning on someone's "toys" or Special Interest Vehicles. More risk for me, more fun for them...



In the below live broadcast I show a 15 year old boy how to machine polish

Live Broadcast Video - 1965 Plymouth Valiant - Extreme Makeover

And in this one I show a 21 year old girl how to machine polish

Video & Pictures: 1965 Fastback Mustang - Gtechniq EXO Show Car Makeover!

Trista working with the rest of the team to machine polish this 1965 Mustang Fastback 2+2

Trista removing swirls on a show car...

And in this one I show a 80 year old man and a young lady and here boyfriend how to machine polish for their first time...

Video and Pictures - Two 1967 Camaro's - Show Car Makeovers!

PLUS you have everyone on this forum to help you along the way...

 

[timaishu]

After googling pictures, looks like a pretty cool car.

I am sure we have someone in the area who can help.

 

[Socalautodetail]

Hi Mike & Alonzo,

I am fairly new to posting on this forum and need to work on updating my profile on this site, but would be happy to talk to you about the swirls in your Biscayne.

I am the owner of Eco Detail in San Diego. We specialize in paint correction and protection. Just this week I had the pleasure of spending 8 hours on a badly swirled Infiniti G35 which turned out awesome afterwards. The following day, worked on a Bentley GT that had been scratched and swirled by a previous detailer. I used to drive a 1965 Ford Mustang and have a deep love and respect for all classic cars. Did you enter your Biscayne at the auto show last month in Seaport Village? That was an awesome show and well-represented.

As you have probably seen on this site, there are many tools that can get the job done properly. I use a Flex, PC & Cyclo depending on the job and always use the least aggressive method possible at the start and work my way up from there.

Please feel free to call me directly at 858-429-9274 and we can discuss your car and hopefully schedule a time to inspect the paint together and discuss your options going forward. Thanks in advance for the potential opportunity and really look forward to speaking with you.

Best,
Nolan

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Hi Mike & Alonzo,

I am fairly new to posting on this forum and need to work on updating my profile on this site, but would be happy to talk to you about the swirls in your Biscayne.

Best,
Nolan

Hi Nolan,

Thank you for chiming in. When I spoke with Alonzo I explained to him how detailers that hang out on detailing discussion forums tend to know more than detailers that don't for the simple fact that it's in the forum world where all the newest technology is introduced and discussed and then used and then shared whether good or bad.

That's a fact.

I also told him that when I made this post we would be able to find him a qualified detailer by their "online reputation" and "posting history" showing their work and knowledge.

That's where a person takes the time to post a write-up or two, or dozens and even hundreds. That's how you prove you can walk the talk. Looks like you joined in June and this is your first post.

Can you share some before and after pictures of your work and also share the type of tools, products and pads you use?

Removing swirls without leaving swirls comes down to primarily the abrasive technology used in the product and after that the tool and pads used in that order.

My guess is the body shop that buffed out his car only used a rotary buffer and hard to tell what type of compound or polish they used but what I personally want to do is to help Alonzo find someone that can fix the problem the right way the SECOND time not anything less.


Factory paint is thin, that's why it's important to do the job right the first time. Custom paint jobs tend to have a thicker clear layer of paint but this car has already been sanded and compounded and polished and all of these steps remove paint.

So at this point it's vital do have the job done right the second time.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Hi Alonzo,

I just listened to your voice mail and while the person you talked to was right about needing to remove the overspray, he’s completely wrong about how to do it and his advice to take it back to the people that caused the problem is completely wrong.

A: You don’t remove overspray by compounding. That’s how they did it in the old days and that tells me the guy you talked to isn’t up to speed with new technology. I’ll guess he doesn’t get on discussion forums.

B: The fact the car has overspray AFTER they sanded and buffed it means they allowed the car to get overspray after they sanded and buffed it. How the heck did this happen?

C: If they couldn't’t fix it right the first time, what’s changed? What’s changed that now they can fix it right the second time.


Click the link below and look through the pictures. This is a show car we buffed out and the paint was LESS than one year old. The BRAND NEW PAINT was filled with swirls by the Caveman that buffed it and it had overspray all over the paint.

We fixed it by doing things the right way and now the paint looks like melting butter.

1954 Ford F-100 - Extreme Makeover - Process and products used

Looks like melting butter...

Call me later today when you get a chance, I’ll help you to get the right guy. The sad thing is, doing it right the first time is actually easier than doing it wrong.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

You say you have a CANDY BRANDYWINE paint job?


Here's how you want a candy paint job to look...


Blown 1934 Ford Pick-up - Show Car Makeover - Modeled by Kristin

Video & Pictures: 1965 Fastback Mustang - Gtechniq EXO Show Car Makeover!

Doing right the first time is just as easy as doing it wrong the first time.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I sent an email to someone I remember from another forum who was in SD who was really good, we'll see if he responds.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I sent an email to someone I remember from another forum who was in SD who was really good, we'll see if he responds.

Nope, struck out on that one, RAG is out of the game and couldn't recommend anyone either, said he has been searching so he can refer people but hasn't found anyone.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Here watch this...

Motorhead Garage - Machine Polishing with Pinnacle - Episode 7


On Sunday, February 13th, at 11:30am Eastern Time, and on Monday, February 14th, at 4:30pm Eastern Time, a brand new how-to segment will air with with myself, Dave Bowman and Sam Memmolo on the Fox Sports Network.

Removing Swirls and Oxidation By Machine
[video=youtube_share;PWdYCHZrpd8"]How To Remove Oxidation by Machine Polishing with...[/video]​

And watch this...


Show Car Garage Video: How detailing clay works and how to use detailing clay to remove above surface bonded contaminants

Copyright ©PBMA - AutogeekOnline.net® All Rights Reserved


Part 1 - How To Use Detailing Clay
[video=youtube_share;gfxAesk4Po4"]YouTube- Part 1 - How to use detailing clay[/video]​

Part 2 - How To Use Detailing Clay
[video=youtube_share;opfK408uIxM"]YouTube- Part 2 - How to use detailing clay[/video]​

Then watch this and substitute the M205 for the Wolfgang Total Swirl Remover


[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9r5XS0xriI&hd=1]Mike Phillips & Bruno Massel - How to detail your car with Wolfgang - YouTube[/video]



Than after 30 days have passed, apply a wax, sealant or coatings...

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Did anyone ever locate an Autogeekian-level detailer in San Diego?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Not yet...

I texted Alonzo this morning, he's going to get some clay and clay the paint to remove the overspray.

He also told me he' chosen not to take the car back to the painter. He thinks the painter knows how to paint but they lack the knowledge or ability to do quality polishing work. (that's the norm for body shops sad to say).


I talked to him on the phone, he's open to purchasing a polisher and the pads and products to do the job himself. I've gotten to know him enough to know he's a true "Car Guy", he has at least two classic cars, his 1966 Biscayne and also a 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass, but customized and sporting custom paint jobs.

I told him for what it will cost him to hire a pro to do the work for him he can invest in the tools to do it himself and then always have to tools for doing maintenance and repair work on his rides into the future.

He's sent me pictures of both cars and all I can say is "wow" they are nice but he's asked me not to share them on the forum.

It would be cool to find a forum member that would be willing to show him some of the basics of machine polishing and avoid the common mistakes like I list here,


DA Polisher Trouble Shooting Guide



At the same time I'm confident with the videos on our YouTube Channel and the help of this forum he can figure it out for himself.

The Saturday and Thursday classes at Meguiar's in Irvine are also an option since he's within driving distance. I'm confident my former co-worker Mike Stoops can show him everything he needs to know.

 

[swanicyouth]

Can someone explain to me how these cars get overspray on them?? Isnt all "painting" being done in a paint booth in a body shop? How is the overspray getting on "completed" cars ??? Are the just spraying them down with Krylon?

 

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Sometimes in the body shop world if a car comes in for say a small area to be fixed and needing a small area painted a lot of times the car will be fixed in the prep bays and shot with paint right where it sits in the prep stall. It can become to much of a hassle to move that vehicle and others around it just to put the vehicle in the paint booth for something so small to be painted.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

The exterior panels have overspray on them because they shot the door jambs after painting the car. Supposedly a drop cloth was used to cover the car but Alonzo says their's overspray on the glass too...

My guess is there's overspray on anything that wasn't covered, wheels, (that's what wheel maskers can be used for), paint, glass, etc.


It's all good because with the help of AGO it's going to look good at the end of the day...


:xyxthumbs:

 

[Socalautodetail]

Hi Mike,

I apologize for not getting back to you and Alonzo earlier. I recently opened a new shop in downtown San Diego and that has been taking over all of my time.

However, I 100% agree with you regarding the pad/polish combo and then process being much more important than the tool being used. I am working on uploading some photos to create some before and after posts to show some of the work I have done in the past. I have a client with an extremely swirled black Range Rover that was absolutely destroyed by her previous detailer who used a brush on her car for weekly washes. I'll be sure to take a lot of good photos of that process and will create a separate post.

In the meantime, I also agree with you that if Alonzo is a "car" guy and wants to learn and has the patience and time, then he is just as well served buying the appropriate tools and doing the work himself, preferably supervised the first few times. I would love to offer that to him. I would welcome him to bring his car into my shop and I can help guide him through claying the car and correcting the buffer marks from the paint shop through a least aggressive polishing process. I can help show him how to check for proper correction through an IPA wipe down and Brinkmann light.

Obviously, I would love to do the work myself as well, but more than happy to help teach if that's the route he would like to take.

As for our shop, we currently use M205, Wolfgang TSR, Correct-It and a few other products by Boehm, as well as several "local" brands out here in California that we have had great success with.

 

[Socalautodetail]

Here are some pics of a recent G35 that had some major swirls and RIDS. On this car, I used a Cyclo with the green polishing pads and Correct-It Polish & Glaze. A few of the quarter panels required some more aggressive compounding. For most of these I switched to M105 and the green polishing pads (spot checking on correction with IPA wipedown) and finished the entire car off with Correct-It Final Polish with the white ultra-soft pads. The pics do not do it any justice. My client said the car looked better than when he first bought it and immediately referred a co-worker to me the next day.

I will try to get some full write-ups on the site, but wanted to give you something as quickly as possible to show Alonzo.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

In the meantime, I also agree with you that if Alonzo is a "car" guy and wants to learn and has the patience and time, then he is just as well served buying the appropriate tools and doing the work himself, preferably supervised the first few times. I would love to offer that to him. I would welcome him to bring his car into my shop and I can help guide him through claying the car and correcting the buffer marks from the paint shop through a least aggressive polishing process. I can help show him how to check for proper correction through an IPA wipe down and Brinkmann light.

[/quote

I will send Alonzo and e-mail today to let him know of your offer.

Talked to him yesterday and sounds like he still has work to do... remember the glass and chrome on this car and probably the wheels are all going to have overspray.

Obviously, I would love to do the work myself as well, but more than happy to help teach if that's the route he would like to take.

I'm in the same boat, I tend to want the job when it's a really cool car like this because it's a cool car. At the same time I've shared with thousands of people how to do it right themselves and good things always come back my way.

As for our shop, we currently use M205, Wolfgang TSR, Correct-It and a few other products by Boehm, as well as several "local" brands out here in California that we have had great success with.

I trust M205 and Wolfgang TSR, haven't heard of the other two products but if they can finish down and make black paint look good that's all that's important.


:xyxthumbs:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Here are some pics of a recent G35 that had some major swirls and RIDS.

Pictures look great! Here's a tip, learn how to upload pictures into a gallery and then learn how to insert them instead of attaching them to a thread. You will get more people to see your pictures this way because they won't have to click on a thumbnail. Also, non-members of our forum cannot see the pictures. That means Lurkers cannot see your hard work and professional work.

I upload hundreds of pictures and insert them into my threads, it's not that hard to to and I taught myself. I also have a number of articles, note the one on Photobucket and keep in mind as a member you get your own gallery here and you can use the pictures anywhere, pretty good deal actually.


Photography and Working with Pictures on the Internet

NEW - How to create dedicated albums in your photo gallery...

If you're going to be a "Forum Person" on ANY forum, help yourself by learning how to work with picture on the Internet

How to resize your photos before uploading to a photo gallery - Using Easy Thumbnails

Handiest little picture viewer tool I've been using for years now...

How to upload a photo into your Autogeek Photo Gallery

How to insert an image from your photo gallery into your message

How-To capture swirls, scratches, etchings and other surface defects with your camera

How-to work with pictures on discussion forums

How to crop out the fluff and resize your pictures! - Using FREE online software!

Photobucket and Missing Pictures

I will try to get some full write-ups on the site, but wanted to give you something as quickly as possible to show Alonzo.

Good write-ups show you can walk the talk and build your credibility, especially when you're new to a forum.

Thanks for chiming back in on this thread... keep in mind that Alonzo will have buddies with cool cars, good customer/friend to have and earn his trust.