Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
- 7
How to detail with one hand?
Anytime I get questions via e-mail, a PM or a FB message I prefer to invest my typing time where
A: It's easier for me to share links, pictures and videos.
B: More people can read and thus benefit from the information. (no just one set of eyeballs)
The reality is, most people that contact me found me via an article I've written or a reply I've written on this forum. The thing is, instead of figuring out that the whole reason they are contacting me is because they found me via an article or answer I wrote on the forum that they to should bring their question to the forum because not only will that help them.... but it will help a future "them". If I answer everything in a private e-mail or other touch point, no one would find and contact me. It's a cycle or pattern that repeats as long as everything is shared in the public domain.
The above is kind of wordy but re-read it slowly and it will make sense.
So I get an e-mail asking,
Mike quick question my son is 22 and has had a stroke and heart transplant. He loves detailing cars and actually got a job at a Ford dealer detailing. Unfortunately after 2 weeks he was let go because he not fast enough, mainly because after the stroke be only has use of one hand.
I would love to send him to one of your classes but would it be worth while since it looks like some of the classes use a power tool that requires both hands.
Thank you for your time.
Great questions...
First - Sorry to hear about your son's situation. Dealership detailing is the WORST type of detailing because they want everything done fast and show car quality results and they pay the least amount of money. So your son shouldn't give up after this experience at a dealership. If anything, it was a valuable learning lesson.
Next - no matter what, detailing any car with only the use of one hand is going to be a challenge. This is simply because it's very hands-on type work. I'm missing my right leg but I still have both of my hands and for this reason I am able to detail cars. If I were missing a hand instead of my leg I'm fairly confident I would have chosen a different career. So while I don't want to persuade your son to go a different direction, the reality of car detailing is it's very hard and labor intensive work.
Even just washing a car with one hand can be difficult but might be a direction he could go and specialize in since it can all be done, washing and drying, with a single hand.
As to attending one of my classes?
That is a decision you'll have to make on your own taking into consideration what I've shared above. I do have one instance of a gentleman taking my class with only one hand. Because I document all my classes with pictures on forum, (not Facebook), it's easy for me to find the pictures and the thread and then re-share. I don't think any other person that uses the title "Instructor" by their name can say this or even prove it.
Check this out from 2011 - as I type, that's 8 years ago....
Pictures & Comments from January 29th Detailing 101 Class
Taping off trim
Using the FLEX 3401
Using the Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher
Please feel free to call me to discuss at anytime or have your son call me.
1-800-869-3011 x206
Hope that helps and feel encouraged to join our forum, this is where I answer questions. Email and Facebook messaging are okay, but the forum is a LOT more powerful.
Click here to join the AutogeekOnline.net car detailing discussion forum - THE best forum on the Internet
Anytime I get questions via e-mail, a PM or a FB message I prefer to invest my typing time where
A: It's easier for me to share links, pictures and videos.
B: More people can read and thus benefit from the information. (no just one set of eyeballs)
The reality is, most people that contact me found me via an article I've written or a reply I've written on this forum. The thing is, instead of figuring out that the whole reason they are contacting me is because they found me via an article or answer I wrote on the forum that they to should bring their question to the forum because not only will that help them.... but it will help a future "them". If I answer everything in a private e-mail or other touch point, no one would find and contact me. It's a cycle or pattern that repeats as long as everything is shared in the public domain.
The above is kind of wordy but re-read it slowly and it will make sense.
So I get an e-mail asking,
Mike quick question my son is 22 and has had a stroke and heart transplant. He loves detailing cars and actually got a job at a Ford dealer detailing. Unfortunately after 2 weeks he was let go because he not fast enough, mainly because after the stroke be only has use of one hand.
I would love to send him to one of your classes but would it be worth while since it looks like some of the classes use a power tool that requires both hands.
Thank you for your time.
Great questions...
First - Sorry to hear about your son's situation. Dealership detailing is the WORST type of detailing because they want everything done fast and show car quality results and they pay the least amount of money. So your son shouldn't give up after this experience at a dealership. If anything, it was a valuable learning lesson.
Next - no matter what, detailing any car with only the use of one hand is going to be a challenge. This is simply because it's very hands-on type work. I'm missing my right leg but I still have both of my hands and for this reason I am able to detail cars. If I were missing a hand instead of my leg I'm fairly confident I would have chosen a different career. So while I don't want to persuade your son to go a different direction, the reality of car detailing is it's very hard and labor intensive work.
Even just washing a car with one hand can be difficult but might be a direction he could go and specialize in since it can all be done, washing and drying, with a single hand.
As to attending one of my classes?
That is a decision you'll have to make on your own taking into consideration what I've shared above. I do have one instance of a gentleman taking my class with only one hand. Because I document all my classes with pictures on forum, (not Facebook), it's easy for me to find the pictures and the thread and then re-share. I don't think any other person that uses the title "Instructor" by their name can say this or even prove it.
Check this out from 2011 - as I type, that's 8 years ago....
Pictures & Comments from January 29th Detailing 101 Class
Taping off trim
Using the FLEX 3401
Using the Griot's Garage 3" Mini Polisher
Please feel free to call me to discuss at anytime or have your son call me.
1-800-869-3011 x206
Hope that helps and feel encouraged to join our forum, this is where I answer questions. Email and Facebook messaging are okay, but the forum is a LOT more powerful.
Click here to join the AutogeekOnline.net car detailing discussion forum - THE best forum on the Internet
