East Coast Training Options

[miniSguy]

Hi, I'm new here and just getting started in the detail "business". I have searched the internet for training and found few options on the east coast.

Are there any "intro" type classes that are relatively inexpensive? I see a few on the west coast, but would prefer something I could drive to in a couple of hours. I am in Georgia.

I eventually want to take one of the more in depth classes but need to build up the capital first.

Thanks!

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Mike Phillips does training classes at Autogeek in Stuart, FL.

Mike Phillips' Detailing Boot Camp - September 28th & 29th, 2013

I think there are also some other classes that he does, but I don't see any others listed. Of course there are also the more informal get-togethers on Thursday nights and I believe also some on weekends.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Hi, I'm new here and just getting started in the detail "business". I have searched the internet for training and found few options on the east coast.

Are there any "intro" type classes that are relatively inexpensive? I see a few on the west coast, but would prefer something I could drive to in a couple of hours. I am in Georgia.

I eventually want to take one of the more in depth classes but need to build up the capital first.

Thanks!

I've been teaching these classes for over 25 years. I put more picture up of people in action at these classes than anyone. Period. The pictures tell the story. What people say is also very important as on a forum like this, people can say whatever they want...


Here's just a sample, I could do this all day....

Comments from students from the last Detailing Boot Camp...



Pictures from Detailing Boot Camp Day 1


Pictures From Detailing Boot Camp Day 2

Hey Mike and all the people at AG, thanks for an awesome weekend!

That class was incredibly informative, an awesome learning experience, and the $200 gift certificate was pretty awesome too!

How hands-on the class was definitely played a huge role in how happy I was with it, the fact that we all got to try out every product you covered.

Thank You Bob (Max) McKee for making the space, products and AG personnel available to make this weekend happen.

Thank you Mike Phillips for planning and conducting a flawless program.

Thank you Nick, your help and knowledge contributed much to a smooth continuous program. Thank you Yancy for sharing some of our experience with forum members unable to attend.

We had a great group. On Sunday we did 2 stage correction, IPA wipe down, applied Opti-coat to one half and C-Quartz to the other half of the Corvette.

The Carryall got Clayed, two stage correction and machine waxed. This was all done by 3PM. We pretty much forgot about breaks and did lunch in about 25 minutes.

Damp sanding and polishing out the sanding marks to a swirl free finish also went on concurrently with polishing and coating the Vette. Ag has black painted hoods on solid stands for practice.

Self motivation was also evident. A couple members of the class took it upon themselves to clean and polish the grill on the Carryall. WOW talk about a finishing touch.

Thank you classmates. It is a pleasure and a privilege to have met, learned and worked with everyone of you this weekend. Best wishes and regards to all of you.

Hey guys I just wanted to say thank you for a great weekend. Detailing boot camp was such a good experience for me. Its a lot of fun to be around people who share my passion for detailing.

Thank you Max, Mike, Nick, and everyone at Autogeek for a great class.

Mike, I can no where near express how grateful I am for being able to attend this class!

I truly appreciate your gratitude, kindness, and patience for taking the time to show us what it takes to be a better detailer.

With that being said, if ANYONE is thinking about taking this class, do not hesitate. It's well worth the money & time, I can't not stress that enough

Again, thank you Autogeek, Max, Mike, & Nick for everything!


Brenton

I want to express my thanks to Max, Mike, Nick and the entire gang at Autogeek for the incredible experience at Boot Camp this past weekend.

The class was fun and instructive and well worth the trip.

Mike is an incredible teacher and his live, hands-on classes are a great way to learn detailing. The information in the forum and the videos by Mike are great but there is no substitute for having the expert looking over your shoulder to tell if you are doing it right or wrong. The benefits of the classes to me would include:

A chance to test products and tools to know what best fits your style and budget

A chance to get small group and individual training on detailing techniques

A chance to meet some great folks who share your passion for detailing

An atmosphere where everyone is welcome, experienced detailers who do this for a living and those of us who are pure hobbyists, and no question is a dumb question

A learning experience that cannot be equaled at the price.

I guess the fact that I have flown in from Birmingham for the past two classes is as strong of a recommendation as I can make. I would say to anyone who can get to one of these classes, you will have fun, learn a lot and not regret the experience.

But, don't expect this to be easy. It is a lot of hard work. But, if you are already detailing, you probably already knew that.

I would like to thank Mr. Max McKee for giving me the opportunity to come and learn from the best. This two day Boot Camp was a great experience. And when you can learn from the best in the business, Mike, Nick and Yancy, it just don't get any better than that.

I am an armature to detailing and the amount of what Mike, Nick and Yancy were able to show and teach in just two days is amazing. Mike is a master at throwing a lot at you in a way that makes it very easy to understand and retain what he is teaching.

I strongly recommend that anyone in the business or just and armature like myself take his class, it is worth the price of admission and then some.

Sincerely

Danny Thompson

Thank you Max for putting together a great company! Your staff is top notch.

This weekends Detailing Bootcamp was a lot of fun,and educational for any level detailer.

These events, I believe do a great benefit to the detailing industry in bringing detailers together from all over to meet and share ideas, and also the hands on training with the huge variety of experiences with products, equipment, and an expert teacher who makes you laugh and feel at home. What a blast!

And to all the class mates, it was a pleasure to meet and to share experiences with you. Can't wait to do it again.

Paul Viens-Power of Excellence Mobile Detailing

Just wanted to say thanks for a great experience this weekend. The hands on impact of the class was excellent, and I learned a lot.

Some things I somewhat "expected" to learn, but there was a lot of value I didn't expect. To some extent there are a lot of things "you don't know that you don't know". These are techniques that cannot be articulated properly in a forum or on a youtube video! A youtube video will not correct your technique, or explain why you're not getting the results you expect.

There is no real substitute for hands-on training.

As an enthusiast, it was also great to try a lot of different things that I would not have been able to try otherwise. I don't have too many test hoods at home to learn about wet-standing and compounding with a rotary. I also don't have the vast array of tools available at home that I was able to experiment with in the class.


Thanks Mike! I also wanted to extend a special thanks to Nick who answered a lot of my questions throughout the week and did a great job coordinating a lot of the logistics of the class.


Andy

Attended boot camp over the weekend and I'm certainly glad that I did. The trip from Long Island was worth it.

There were enthusiasts, part time business owners (like myself) and full time business owners. Ages 16-60 were in the building and everyone took something away from the course I'm sure.

I got to try a wide variety of tools / products. More importantly I got hands on demonstrations on various facets of detailing from one of the best in the business. It's hard to put a price on that.

Mike is very easy to learn from, and the entire AG crew is top notch. Mike, Nick and Yancy all gave us the vibe that we were welcomed in the AG headquarters and that's pretty cool.

So we got 2 days of instruction, $200 store credit, autogeek certificate, meet & greet w/ Mike on Saturday night, tour of the AG warehouse, hotel discount, got to work on some classic cars and as if that wasn't enough...

NO ONE has mentioned the free gift! Courtesy of Max we were all given a 3oz jar of Blackfire Midnight Sun along with a high quality MF towel (split weave on both sides).


Thanks to all my fellow boot camp attendees and AG staff. It was a pleasure.

For my first forum post I would like to thank Mike, Nick and Yancy for a fantastic experience this past weekend. Of course a big thanks to Max for hosting us.

Classes like this can vary greatly in value and execution. The value of this course was beyond expectation for sure, the time spent hands-on and one-on-one with the instructor(s) is worth the price of admission for sure.

The execution was top notch, a couple schedule changes on the fly with the classes blessing really kept things interesting and I didn't find myself bored for 1 minute of it.

Mikes ability to educate a mixed class of pro's and amateurs is pretty impressive and seems effortless, not an easy feat.

Nick was a great addition to the class, he's a walking Autogeek Catalog with with hands on experience to back it up. Great job!

It was nice to have a chance to talk to Mike at the meet and greet, a long day for him I'm sure.


If you can make it to one of these, I would say go for it. With the store credit and the gifts at the end it's cost per hour is under $10 and they feed you!

I'm now going to plan all my trips to Florida around AG sessions. See you soon.

This class was one of the best experiences I have had, it is so informative and Mike Phillips is the man when it comes to car detailing. He has a vast knowledge of all the aspects of detailing and does a great job of teaching and explaining. He really does pour his heart and soul into everything he teaches.

Mike is definitely a car guy with a passion for it. We had the chance to use a wide variety of products, which many of them were new. I am glad I took the class and it is worth every penny.

Nick and Ray were a huge help and knowledgeable as well, they were easy and friendly to talk to and always offering good tips. The whole crew at autogeek hands down is the best and know what they are doing at car detailing.

I singed up for this class because the last time I had my car detailed the paint was burned off my mirrors, and of course the detailer shop said it was like that when I brought it in.

This class was excellent it gave me the confidence to use these tools and not be afraid to use them. I will be detailing my cars from now on.

Two details will pay for the costs of the tools needed to perform an excellent job.

Thanks to Mike, Nick and Ray.

I also attended the class over the weekend. I showed up real early on sat morning while Mike was still doing some final touches for the class, he immediately stopped what he was doing and welcomed me right in. To me that shows a lot that not only does he care just about cars but he buts his heart into everything that surrounds him.

They say first impression is everything and he had my trust and attention right away i was ready to learn and see what this guy can do and I walked away with a lot of knowledge and confidence.

Thank you Mike, Nick, Ray and the autogeek crew

These pictures were from day one and we were just getting started, wait to you see some of our later work.

Mike teaches an excellent class, 26 years of detailing knowledge scrammed into 2 days and it's a lot to soak up. Mike starts the class by telling us that he will pour his heart and soul into the class and he does. Mike has such passion and skill for this work and it was a pleasure learning from him.

I would highly recommend this class!! Thanks Mike, sorry I missed the beers at the meet and greet but maybe I'll catch you at DetailFest.

Had a great time in class last weekend. Mike Phillips is a good teacher and explains in great detail on getting a car to look great and keeping it that way.:xyxthumbs:

Little late but wanted to add my 2 cents. Been considering attending this class for a few years, once my son moved within 40 minutes I decided it was time……..and I am very happy I did, as Mike simplified many processes for me.

My main goal was to understand the entire polishing process as there are so many variables - type and brand polisher plus polish & pad aggressiveness. In addition, polishing time, machine speed and amount pressure, on and on…….

I’ve read about on my own, saw many forum posts (that sometimes confused the issue as many have their own processes and favorite products) but spending a day (and some) learning how to use DA and rotary polishers was key as I was able to see everything up-close and live.

That, in combination with a huge amount of information from Mike both days (in addition, Nick and Ray answering random questions) were all taken in and noted (gotta love iphone Notes). My reactions to everything else shown over the weekend were “oh yeah, never thought of that” or “whew, I am doing that right”.

For those that have been on the fence about attending I highly recommend the class as it certainly provides you with a visual of the whole detailing process, in addition, access to Mike, Nick and Ray for specific questions that have plagued you.

Like to thank Mike, Nick and Ray for spending their weekend with us, I cannot wait till Spring to try everything out!! Also, thanks to Florida as my family enjoyed the sunny mid-70’s weather the 3 days we were there.

Howard

Hands-on is an understatement! I can count on one hand the number of car guys who can teach, talk, write, educate and actually sand, cut, polish and wax a special car - Mike Phillips is at the top of the list.

This was a high energy, fast paced, information filled and experience packed workshop. We were in the shop and on the cars for over eleven hours on Saturday and nine hours on Sunday. We talked shop for an additional two hours on Saturday evening.

Mike, Nick, and Ray were well prepared and the shop was loaded with hundreds of towels and pads, dozens of polishes, compounds, waxes, coatings, chemicals and what seemed to be unlimited equipment/tools. Each topic was introduced with a brief slide show reviewing the process, objectives and pitfalls and then we were turned loose on the cars.

This was not play-time but real serious work on someone's classic ride. If you were edging with a buffer, Mike would grab your hands on the machine and level you out and if you we're moving to fast he would slow you down. We then had a brief recap of the topic with questions and discussion.

Mike loves, lives and talks cars and paint polishing. "Cars" are the classics that deserve a three stage polish and a show car finish. With over twenty two hours of instructor contact time and unlimited tools, equipment and supplies, this workshop is easily under priced and over delivers. It was a fun and rewarding weekend and I recommend it to anyone interested in the art, science and application of auto detailing.

Well I have settled back into my day job and I am missing hanging with the boys at the bootcamp getting our hands dirty.

Not only was this a great experience for a newbie but I think it was very beneficial to those of us with some experience. It gave me a chance to get all those burning questions answered and get my hands on some new stuff.

Mike, Ray and Nick dropped a ton of knowledge on us and worked very hard. They orchestrated the weekend to allow exposure to a number of different product lines. Heck, I learned a lot from the other guys in the course. Everyone brought something to the table.

My son Sam and I had a great time. It was definitely worth the investment and I would highly recommend signing up. The pearl to coin ratio was very high at this one!


:dblthumb2:

Hi everyone! I have to say that I really enjoyed the class, I had such a great time with Mike, Ray, Nick and all the guys that attended the class, specially with Alan and Jeff that where sitting right next to me.

I felt really comfortable using all the great machines and products, the DA'S are so easy to work with, the Nanoskin Autoscrub pads are awesome, I think that they really replace the clay bars in such an easy way.

As I said in the class, the Tornador guns, they rock the interior so great, specially the Black one, I was impressed by how the interior of the van changed from a darked and dirty upholstery to clear, good looking and also non smelly, because it smelled a lot like someone really smokes. I hope that the owner appreciates the job we all did on the interior and the exterior. I found funny that the front-right tire was made in Argentina!


I found very useful the microfiber pads, they are easy to clean and work with. I also liked the Sonax products, they worked excellent over the van, we where able to remove those swirls and water spots and bring back that smooth, glossy and shiny paint finish that used to have a long time ago.


I loved the sedan delivery how it turned to have that wet look and swirl free paint finish, specially those red parts, they turned so glossy and smooth.


The white Impala, as far as the paint finish allowed, we made a great improvement wet sanding it and removing those holograms and scratches, we gave back that shiny and smooth finish.


Hey Mike, did your fiancé thank you for what we did to her lovely Accord?? ha ha


I would like to thank all the Autogeek stuff and all the guys that attended the class, for making me feel so comfortable and happy.


Mike, you are THE instructor. I think you have such an excellent knowledge and you demonstrate and transmit that passion for polishing and taking care of cars and give them that show car finish we all want. You encourage everyone to go and do something to make a car look the best we can. I learned so many tips and tricks that I will never forget. I absolutely enjoyed talking to you on Monday at your office, thank you for all of your time, I really appreciate it. I'm reading over all of your write up's on the forum.


Imagine that I flew 4500 miles from Buenos Aires to Miami, and it was definitely worth the investment and I would highly recommend signing up.

If someone ever flies to Buenos Aires, Argentina, feel free to contact me and will take you out for some nice dinner places and make you feel comfortable the same way everybody did during my stay.

:dblthumb2:

Mike / Nick / Ray / Autogeek:

Thank you for a great weekend of learning how to detail cars! I would, without reservation, recommend your Detailing Boot Camp Class because there is no substitute for hands-on experience with knowledgeable (and patient!) instructors.

The Class gives you two whole days using a wide variety of detailing tools and processes with the Autogeek team guiding you on which tool / process to select (and why) for a particular job, and then helping you to master the correct technique for applying that tool / process.

The detailing tools and processes are constantly advancing with new products becoming available all the time - the Boot Class Camp exposes you, with no bias, to a broad range of the very latest products so that you can quickly determine the most efficient and effective tool / process to achieve your detailing goals.

As very much a detailing beginner, I was so grateful to Mike, Nick and Ray for their clear instructions, tolerance of my errors and patience in helping me develop the correct techniques whilst at the same time ensuring that even professional detailers were always learning new approaches, tips and ways to provide the best detailing services for their customers.

And above all, I am grateful for the incredible energy, commitment and passion for detailing and for education that Mike and his team gave, unreservedly, for 20 straight hours so that we could all create show car perfect results!

Thank you all,

Sergio

I just completed Mike's detailing camp and it was a great experience. It is amazing how much you can learn in 2 days from someone who really knows the business inside and out and who can convey that information in a logical, easy to understand manner.

Mike, Nick and Ray are all extremely professional and unbelievably helpful--they really want you to learn and to excel in the class. The best advice I can give is to get involved in the class and don't watch everyone else learn. You have to jump in and get the experience or you might as well sit home and watch videos.

I honestly believe that the things I learned in this class will make my detailing jobs better and quicker. The time savings on each job will easily pay for this class with increased productivity. Whether you are serious about detailing as a full time job, as a second source of income or just for the enjoyment of having your personal car looking awesome don't miss this chance to learn from one of the best.

Take the class as quickly as you can and GET INVOLVED in the learning.


:dblthumb2:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Pictures and Comments - January 26th & 27th 2013 Detailing Boot Camp Class

Here' we're using the Tornador Air Foam with Detailer's Wheel Clean to clean both the wheels and tires.

Pictures & Comments from September 2012 Detailing Boot Camp

Pictures from Detailing Boot Camp Day 1

Pictures & Comments from May 5th & 6th Detailing Boot Camp

You can easily see the dirt being extracted out of the upholstery...

Making a follow-up pass shows the dirt has been removed...

Pictures & Comments from July 9th, 2011 Saturday Detailing 101

Pictures & Comments from May 14th, 2011 Saturday Detailing 101




Kyle testing out the Griot's Garage DA Polisher

Larry loves the Flex PE14 with a 7.5" Wool Cutting Pad and a Solo Flexible Backing Plate

Frank in the two pictures below was actually very good with the rotary buffer, you could tell he's been using an RB for decade as he made it look so easy...

That's a Flexi-Foam 5" Backing Plate with a 5.5" Hydro-Tech Crimson Pad... I highly recommend flexible backing plates, especially if you're new to the rotary buffer.

Pictures & Comments from January 29th Detailing 101 Class

Always fun and always very educational...

 

[miniSguy]

I know this is a great training class and want to be able to go as soon as I scratch together the funds. I was hoping for a less expensive option of a basic intro so I don't develop bad habits right off the bat.

Sort of caught up in a furlough and really can't go with the normal approach right now. I have to do a few jobs to be able to afford the boot camp. I have done a few cars and the customers are really happy so far and have helped put the word out for me. I have a few more wanting their vehicles done and that will help, too.

Thanks!

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Mike, what extractor head is that? I was under the impression that the Aztec and Mytee heads were solid stainless without a "viewport" where you could see the extracted fluid.

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

I know this is a great training class and want to be able to go as soon as I scratch together the funds. I was hoping for a less expensive option of a basic intro so I don't develop bad habits right off the bat.

Sort of caught up in a furlough and really can't go with the normal approach right now. I have to do a few jobs to be able to afford the boot camp. I have done a few cars and the customers are really happy so far and have helped put the word out for me. I have a few more wanting their vehicles done and that will help, too.

Thanks!

I'm glad you wee able to get signed up for this class. I'm confident you're not only going to learn a ton that will help you into the future but you'll also learn a lot of what not to do...


Here's some of the cars I have lined up for our class next week...


Boot Camp Demo Cars!

 

[Evan.J]

Mike, what extractor head is that? I was under the impression that the Aztec and Mytee heads were solid stainless without a "viewport" where you could see the extracted fluid.

Mike said that he found this years ago in a box and has kept it ever since. A Golden Gem!