helping a new AG member out this weekend. Roadtrip!!!

tuscarora dave

Active member
Joined
Aug 21, 2009
Messages
5,408
Reaction score
12
I'm taking a little road trip up to Honesdale PA about 3 hours north of here this weekend to work with michael13, the author of this thread... http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...g-cars/35537-detailing-business-disabled.html

Michael and I have been in contact ever since the day he posted that thread. He has been kind enough to write over 70 hours of code to get me a website up and online so in return we have decided that a trip up to his place to teach him the ropes of detailing would be sufficient payment for his hard work at the keyboard.

The site is basically built and I have purchased the URL which is tdmad.com but I have been so busy between my day job and my detailing business that I really haven't had time to write the content for it so it has not been hosted yet.

Some of the things that Michael and I will get involved in are some basic theory of what auto detailing is and where the money is in the industry. We will discuss some of the pitfalls and unexpected dangers/damage that can occur while detailing and how to avoid them.

I'll be taking with me an assortment of pads both wool and foam all of varying sizes and shapes.

An assortment of compounds from rocks in a bottle down to M-105.

An assortment of polishes and AIOs.

An assortment of waxes and sealants.

An assortment of clays from aggressive down to fine grade clay.

I'll be taking a Meguiars G110V2, a Makita rotary, a Dynabrade attachment, a Flex 3401 and a Cyclo polisher with pads and brushes both, so that Michael can get some hands on experience on all the types of polishing machines to get a feel for which will better suit his needs and which he will feel more comfortable using.

My van will serve as a good beater for him to practice on with the rotary as I really don't care if he strikes through the clear or burns the paint on it however I don't believe he will.

I'll be taking some Folex and other cleaners with me so we can get involved in doing some interior work as well. We will cover some poorman's carpet extracting with both a standard 5 H.P. shop vac and my monster coin op vacuum unit which will suck the carpet right off the floor.

I'll have with me way too many brushes as I am a brush junky and hopefully will be leaving a few of them up there with him.

I also plan on taking with me a dozen or so empty sample bottles so that Michael can choose some of the products that I have that he may want to practice with after I have gone back home.

Michael has talked about throwing some steaks and chicken on the BB-Q grille which if you've ever seen a picture of me you'd know interests me.

This should be an interesting and fun road trip but unfortunately "Jack" will be staying with her Pappy for the weekend as Michael has cats that will beat "Jack" up. Honestly "Jack" is unrelenting when it comes to cats and if she can catch them she'll bite down on them hard. Kind of weird because she is the sweetest dog when it comes to kids, other people and other dogs.

I'll be heading up early Saturday morning and checking into a hotel that is just up the street from his place and will be working with him both Saturday and Sunday to head back home Sunday evening.

I do intend on taking my camera and taking lots of pictures which I'll post in this thread upon my return home.

Now if the weather just holds out we'll be sure to have a great time.:buffing:
 
Last edited:
This is a very good thing your doing Dave. Your a better man then me, as I do not travel without Trouble :)













J/K Hoping you guys have a blast :dblthumb2:
 
This is a very good thing your doing Dave. Your a better man then me, as I do not travel without Trouble :)



J/K Hoping you guys have a blast :dblthumb2:
Thanks Flash, Jack really needs another road trip too. I hope to take her back up to Maine to Visit with njcarting1 again. Bill is such a gracious host when we go up there but Bill and I have decided that if Jack and I can make it up there this year, there will be no detailing going on...just chilling and having fun is all. Jack will be 15 years old this Christmas so we ought not drag our feet for too long.
 
In the past year I have read a lot of great stories of unconditional helpfulness here on AG. I have to tell you Dave this one ranks right up at the top. I think when Tom's wife had the twins last year and the way all the people here pulled together for them was the top, your willingness to help michael13 in the great detail that you explained above show what a great person you are and that there still are a lot like you in this world.This amazes me because where I work there is nothing like this and I have become kind of numb to it, but reading things like this on AG really helps to keep me going. I applaud you and wish I could be a little more like you. This gives me hope I can work on it.
 
Wow... Thanks Dave. It's a lot of hard work giving of one's self and doing the best that one can. I fall short of this mark a lot of the time just because of how busy things tend to get trying to work a full time job and work the rest of my time trying to grow my detailing business.

These trips are part of growing the business. I detailed 3 cars this past weekend so that i could have this weekend open to take this trip.

I am humbled to think of myself as an inspiration. Thanks for the kind words.
 
Awesome man. You are a noble man! I'm glad you two could work out a situation that works for both of you. That's how it's done! One hand washes the other. :dblthumb2:
 
Thats great to hear. Very nice thing for you guys to be able to help each other out.
 
I just noticed this thread and wanted to comment.

Dave is simply an amazing person, and I feel honored to have had the opportunity to meet with him.

On day 1, we had a late start - 5P - because I had taken a planned trip during the week expecting to return home on Friday at 10P. The trip went off plan due to weather delays at the airport and I arrived home on Saturday at around 6A - Dave was kept informed about the trip and the delay. When I finally arrived home, I needed some sleep - which was understood by Dave - and we met at 5P.

During the time we had together today, Dave gave me a bunch of product samples, afforded me the opportunity to see how a few polishers work, the differences between them, and he informed me about how a few products compare to each other. We then went out for dinner - I did not have time to shop for the BBQ after the night and morning that I had - and we made a few plans for tomorrow. I have a few steaks and some chicken defrosting for tomorrow.

I am extremely thankful that TDave has come to visit me for the weekend, and I will remember this as one of the most generous things I have ever experienced.

A big thank you to Dave and the AG forum for getting us in contact with each other.
 
I am truly awe inspired .... its nice to see forum members working together and finding common grounds on needs and benefits for both. Congrats to you both, truly an example all should consider.
 
TD is just one hell'va Man...when I grow up I wanna be just like him!!!:urtheman: Actually this doesn't surprise me about Dave, he's really that kind of a person!!! WTG Dave!!!:dblthumb2:
 
I have to tell you all that this was a wonderful trip for me. I got to see a really determined and courageous man at work this weekend. Someone said earlier in this thread that I was an inspiration for taking this trip to help Michael get the feel for detailing and get some hands on experience. Michael was the real inspiration in this thread though. He is completely open minded and wasn’t afraid to try anything that I had him do.
The landscape in and around Honesdale was awe inspiring and I did take a little time to stop and smell the roses during this trip. You’ll see in the many pictures that are to follow.


View from my hotel room.

002.jpg


Church anyone??

003.jpg


My room.

004.jpg


Went for ice cream after checking in while killing some time until going to Michael’s place.

006.jpg


Smelling the roses.

008.jpg

009.jpg

010.jpg

013.jpg


Sulphur perhaps??

017.jpg
 
Lots of these..

018.jpg


This stuff weighs heavy on a brutha!!

019.jpg


A real 4x4.

020.jpg


I spied this out of the corner of my eye and had to pull over for a picture.

024.jpg


This fat muskrat had no idea that I was photographing him.

022.jpg


The test subject.

029.jpg


I caught Michael blinking.

038.jpg


Michael doing his first correction work using the 3401.

055.jpg


And..

047.jpg
 
Last edited:
Jumping right in there.

057.jpg


After misting the panel with water to rehydrate the 105, Michael got to experience the additional bite. (this is where 105 does it’s most effective work)

059.jpg


Finishing the work cycle.

062.jpg


All done.

063.jpg


Michael’s results after 105.

065.jpg


Some finishing work.

066.jpg

067.jpg

068.jpg

069.jpg


Now that’s concentration.

070.jpg


All done.

073.jpg
 
Last edited:
Not quite.

074.jpg


I noticed this golden eagle riding the thermals while Michael was concentrating.

080.jpg


He had a friend too.

081.jpg


Michael’s results.

086.jpg


It used to look like this.

088.jpg


The man is fearless I tell you.

093.jpg

094.jpg

095.jpg

097.jpg

099.jpg


His results.

102.jpg
 
Last edited:
103.jpg


I left Michael some stuff to practice with.

116.jpg


He was very courageous and very grateful.

118.jpg


I saw a few cool things on the way home too.

120.jpg

121-1.jpg

127.jpg

129.jpg

134.jpg

136.jpg

138.jpg

139.jpg

145.jpg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top