Pictures: Autogeek’s Roadshow Class with PRAXIS Detailing in Auburn, Indiana

[Mike Phillips]

Continued....


After all the paint correction and sealing was finished, next up we sealed the vinyl top using 303 Protectant. The top had been washed, cleaned and dried first thing in the morning so now the vinyl is perfectly prepared for the 303 protectant.

Technique Tip
Because the paint, glass and trim have all been polished and sealed, to avoid getting overspray onto these surfaces and then having to wipe them again, here's a techniquie tip, it's real simple but as I always say,

The little things are the big things


To avoid overspray, simply bury the nozzle into a microfiber applicator pad and INJECT the 303 Protectant INTO the foam core inside the applicator pad. This gets the product onto and into the pad.

Then as you press the applicator against the vinyl top the foam core will release the product and you have zero overspray on the car.

Product Tip
Correctly applied you lay down a WET APPLICATION. This means use a lot of product to saturate the vinyl and then massage it into the vinyl.

After thoroughly massaging the 303 Protectant INTO and over the vinyl top - next wipe the top dry using clean, dry microfiber towels.

Done!

 

[Mike Phillips]

More!


Here's the final results for the 1966 Lincoln Continental Convertible

For most hobbyist and Pro Detailers - this is what I call a Bucket List Buff - that is, most people will NEVER get to detail a car like this and then some of us will get to do it at least once. And then we can mark it off our Bucket List of Cars we've detailed in our lives.


1966 Lincoln Continental Convertible

And in case you haven't noticed - this is a HUGE car to tackle! Nice work class!

1939 Lincoln Zypher Convertible

Not only is his car huge but it's also complicated in that it's VERY curvy! Again - top notch work class!

Here's the class that made the Griot's MAGIC happen to these two iconic Lincolns!

This far shot Mike Liebing took because in this shot you get a glimpse of how many tool and products you get to use at an Autogeek detailing class. I guarantee you this - if you look for a picture like the below one, (or actually ANY of the pictures in this thread), that shows what someone else's detailing class looks like and what you get to do and use - you won't find any. None. Zero. Zip. Nada.

And here's the happy people having fun shot!

Very cool.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Continued....

At this point in the class it's now 6:30pm. The class started at 6:30am SHARP.



I took this picture of my watch in the morning,

And I took this picture after the class was over...

(you can even see compound and polish splatter on the face of my watch from the class)

That means this has been an INTENSE 12 HOURS of on our feet, hands-on car detailing class. No chairs. No sitting.


The students in the class have washed 3 cars including to convertibles, one with a cloth top and one with a vinyl top and then detailed 6 cars from neglected to respected.


I'd say 60% of the people attending this class are enthusiast or hobbyist and 40% are Pro Detailers or starting a detailing business.


If you like to detail cars, be they your own or for money - you will LOVE this class.


Click here for info on all our classes




These are NOT academic classes

The word academic means you sit in a chair and learn from a speaker and a power point presentation.

This class started at 3:30am for me, here's a picture of my watch as I walked out of the hotel to go get the donuts and this very cool boat was parked out front. So I took a picture of it and my watch.

More pics of all the boats I saw that morning here...
Yeah buddy! Z18 Nitro




Our classes are long. They are fun. You learn a lot. But if you want to sit in a chair - you'll have to go to one of them other car detailing classes.

 

[Mike Phillips]

Continued.....


Sunday


First thing Sunday morning we washed a staff member's daily driver car so we could use it later for going over One Step Production Detailing. This car was very dirty and also incredibly neglected. It doesn't look like it's been clayed or waxed in 10 years.

2008 Dodge Avenger

Putting a product to the test

A brand new car wash was recently introduced and in my original review, (also the first time I used the product), I mentioned that I was so impressed I would be switching over to this car wash for my own personal cars and I shared that in my second review. Check out my first and second reviews in the links I listed at the very bottom of this post.


The idea being, is this SiO2 car wash will truly lay down a layer of coating each time you use it to wash your car. I knew the Avenger was in super bad condition so I decided to test the car wash out with the class and see if we could get the same results I've been getting on my own.



This car has just be sprayed down with water. The SHINE you see on the hood is water. The water is NOT beading up but laying COMPLETLY FLAT.

Here's your truly pointing at the new car wash...

Pouring some into a bucket of clean water.

Thoroughly mixing the car wash with the water using my mixing stick that I take with me wherever I go.

Now I'm only going to wash one half of the hood....

Here's Mike Liebing, our host rinsing the hood...

BOOM!
You can easily see wherever the car wash touched the paint the paint is now beading water as though it has been coated.

Driver's side = Phenomenal water beading in context

There was ZERO water beading before we washed this side of the hood

Passenger side - The only water beading is the places the Wolfgang SiO2 Car Wash touched.

Nice product. It's expensive. I'd recommend buying the gallon next time it's on sale and then mix 2 capfuls to 2-3 gallons of water and CAREFULLY HAND WASH your car.




Here's my original review for this new car wash

Review: Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Coating Wash



Here's a second review I did....

KILLER CAR WASH - Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Coating Wash

 

[Mike Phillips]

From my original review here,


Review: Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Coating Wash


A couple of things I noticed about this car wash solutions.

1: Very silky and slippery to the touch.
That's what you're looking for from a great car wash solution for any car and especially a coated car.

2: Not a lot of suds.
I'm not a chemist but I think that the ingredients that make the car wash slippery also reduce surface tension, which is what holds a soap bubble together instead of simply popping. So while we all like to see mountains of foamy suds in our car wash I'm pre-warning you you're not going to see that with this car wash soap but you are going to feel the slick, slippery feeling when dunking a wash mitt into your bucket of soapy water and then gliding your wash mitt over the surface of a body panel.

3: Free rinsing
With a coated car and a coating wash, I notice the wash water slips or flies off car body panels fast and without any drag or resistance like some car wash soaps. This simply makes rinsing faster and also saves water.

4: Faster drying.
That's one of the cool things about coated cars. Because water beads-up readily, (and also streams off the body panels), the water would much rather reside in a drying chamois than on a body panel or blow off with a strong blast of air.


If you have a coated car, I'd recommend switching over to a coating wash. Measure out the water in your bucket, (see what I say about the CLEAR buckets below), and then measure out your coating wash solution. Do not use the Glug-Glug method I always joke about. With this wash you want to be precise as too much simply wastes product.



True Maintenance Wash
By simply washing your car, something you're going to do anyways, you can easily and effortlessly maintain a hydrophobic surface that repels water keeping your car cleaner longer and also maintaining the protection.





On Autogeek.com

Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Coating Wash - 16 ounces

Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Coating Wash - 1 gallon



The car washing essentials
If you have read a lot of my how-to articles and reviews you have no doubt seen in the pictures that every time I wash a car I have certain key tools to help me work fast and efficiently. Below are what I consider the minimum essentials for washing your own car. This doesn't include the brushes and products for washing and cleaning wheels, just for washing the car.

My comments after each item.



Grit Guard Universal Detailing Cart

Most of us wash our cars more than anything else we do to the car besides drive it. Without a car like you see in the pictures above, your bucket is on the ground. Think about how many times the rest of your life you're going to wash your car and then how many times you're going to BEND OVER to dip your wash mitt into your bucket each time you wash your car. That's a lot of bending over. Me? I don't bend over. Get the cart. Choke on the price and get it over with and then thank me later.


Professional 5 Gallon Wash Bucket- CLEAR

If you already have a 5-gallon bucket skip this purchase. If you don't, add one to your shopping car and get the clear buckets. They have graduated lines for each gallon of water. This way, if you want 3 gallons or 4 gallons or 2 gallons, the marks are clearly visible on the outside of the bucket so you don't have to guess when you want a specific volume of water.


The Grit Guard Insert

Grit Guard Washboard

Both the Grit Guard Insert and the Grit Guard Washboard are essential and I think it should be pretty much self-explanatory as to why.



Micro-Chenille Wash Mitt 4-Pack

Love these mitts. The Chenille mitts Autogeek sells don't fall apart when you wash them in the washing machine and dry them in the dryer. The cheapie mitts you find everywhere else are cheap and after a wash or two they simply fall apart. You can never have to many good, clean wash mitts in reserve in case you drop your current mitt or it gets contaminated with tar or some other offending substance.


3 Pack The Supreme Guzzler Waffle Weave Towels, 20 x 40 inches

Million ways to dry a car. These work well and last and last. The are SIMPLE. Don't turn washing and drying your car into Rocket Science.




BEFORE
Zero water beading Zero hydrophobic action

AFTER
Hydrophobic Water Beading from ONLY washing with Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Coating Wash

Wolfgang Uber SiO2 Coating Wash

 

[Ronnie Singh]

Re: Roadshow Detailing Class in Auburn, Indiana - July 20th & 21st

I attended Roadshow Detailing class In Auburn Indiana.

It was amazing experience i never thought i will get hands on experience on all tools and so much we all did in two days though it was little tiresome. But at the end of day it made me more satisfied and accomplished.

Roadshow class cleared my doubts about detailing.

Mike is a nice trainer he pays attention on all students and handles every situation with patience.


:xyxthumbs:

 

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Roadshow Detailing Class in Auburn, Indiana - July 20th & 21st

I attended Roadshow Detailing class In Auburn Indiana.

It was amazing experience i never thought i will get hands on experience on all tools and so much we all did in two days though it was little tiresome. But at the end of day it made me more satisfied and accomplished.

Roadshow class cleared my doubts about detailing.

Mike is a nice trainer he pays attention on all students and handles every situation with patience.


:xyxthumbs:

It was great having you in the class Ronnie! Thanks for joining the forum and sharing your experience.


Here's you working on an incredibly rare - numbers matching, first year for the GTO!

Can't type much more, a tick busy showcasing the Cordless BEAST in this thread,

Dirty Girl - Extreme Maserati Makeover!

 

[Mike Phillips]

More,


The write-up here is from this class, this car is one of the cars we used to go over Production Detailing.


Here’s the power of teamwork and BLACKFIRE One Step!


BEFORE

AFTER


Click here to view the original image of 1024x699px.

Just one machine polishing step

 

[Mike Phillips]

I just got back home from the Auburn, IN auto detailing class.

What a class and what I learned will make my job easier in my detailing business. The class is hands on and Mike is hands on the entire class.

We worked on six cars the first day from washing to finish seal. I was exhausted but it was so worth it.

We got to experience different buffers, pads, towels products and techniques.

The second day we continued detailing and got more experience on show car detailing along with engine and interior cleaning.

Incredible class and worth every penny. I can’t wait to attend the boat detailing class In February.

Thanks Mike for everything.




-Joshua L.M Fitzgerald

Hi Joshua,

Thank you for attending, it was a genuine pleasure to have you in the class!



:dblthumb2:

 

[Mike Phillips]

Mike,

Thanks for the Auburn/Praxis class. I learned a lot of new information and reviewed information from your videos. The class was awesome.

As an educator, this class was 100% engagement 100% of the time! I really liked using a variety of machines, equipment and tons and tons of products.

Wow! Thanks Mike!

I often have people attend one of our classes that like me, is an educator in some other industry and when I get positive feedback from a fellow educator it means a lot.

I wish I had taken this class 10 years earlier. I probably would have purchased some different equipment. I appreciated being coached by Mike on using the equipment.

And this is one of the things I really like about teaching the Autogeek Roadshow Class and that is the freedom to showcase multiple brands of EVERYTHING!

Furthermore, there was no pressure to buy a particular product and Mike shared that one must pick the products for the project and what we like to use.

Copy that. I know some people "think" our classes are going to be a full-on sales pitch for products but that's now how I operate and Autogeek is completely onboard with this style of teaching.

Very valuable information.

Excellent class. I dreamed of attending the classes in Florida and this one was 30 minutes from my house.

And that's the benefit of the roadshow class. It's never going to be a great as our classes at our home court, but it's the next best thing.


Thank you for attending the class!.



:dblthumb2:

 

[Mike Phillips]

Continued....


FLEX Detailing Class

Next in this class it's time for the FLEX Power Tools Session. For the FLEX class we showcase SONAX compounds and polishes and Lake Country Force Hybrid Buffing Pads.

The cool thing out our classes is often times you'll be the first to get your hands on the newest tools being introduced to the market. For example, at this class I brought with me the new versions of the FLEX 3401.

NEW FLEX XCE 3401 Corded and Cordless Polishers!

Here's the NEW chassis design for the Corded and Cordless FLEX XCE 3401s

Note the ALUMINUM Head has been removed.

Production Design - Cordless FLEX XCE 3401

Here's the other new FLEX tool everyone has been waiting for! The FLEX XCE 10-8 125

This tool chassis is the same as the battery operated version. Note the aluminum shroud has been removed. This makes the tool lighter and reduces heat.

For the FLEX detailing class we're using two cars brought to the class by students attending the class.


2014 LEXUS GS 350


Here's Roger trying out the CBEAST! This is the new CORDLESS version of the FLEX XC 3401 VRG 8mm Gear-Driven Orbital Polisher.

Here's Mike and Ronnie working on the Lexus....

Mike is testing out the original FLEX 3401 aka the BEAST!

On the other side of the car Justin is testing out the Cordless 3401 aka the CBEAST!

Here's Mike, he started with the original 3401 and now he's using and also comparing it to the new cordless version, the CBEAST.

Here's Ronnie testing out the NEW corded version of the FLEX 3401, note the aluminum head is gone....

Here's Jamie testing out the original FLEX 3401

Now TJ is testing out the cordless BEAST....

Up on the front clip of the car, Mike is testing out the FLEX 3" Long Stroke Mini Polisher.

After compound the car using the gear-driven FLEX 3401 with SONAX CutMax and Lake Country pads the class then polished the paint using the FLEX Finisher, a 15mm free spinning random orbital polisher with SONAX EX 04-06 and Lake Country pads. Sorry, no pictures of this step.




Installing a Ceramic Coating
For these two cars, the Lexus and the Corvette the class is going to install ceramic coatings. First they must chemically strip the paint. This is the extra step required for installing a coating that you normally don't have to do when applying a car wax or a synthetic sealant.

Here's Jamie installing BLACKFIRE Pro Ceramic Coating

Here's the results!

 

[Mike Phillips]

Continued....


While one half of the class worked on the Lexus the other half of the class worked on the 2009 Corvette. Same tools, pads and products for both cars.


Here's Armando using the FLEX 3401....

At the back of the Corvette is Dan and Jackson...

Up front is Mike on the driver's side....

And Luis, the owner of the Corvette is on the passenger side...

After compound the car using the gear-driven FLEX 3401 with SONAX CutMax and Lake Country pads the class then polished the paint using the FLEX Finisher, a 15mm free spinning random orbital polisher with SONAX EX 04-06 and Lake Country pads.


Here you can see Luis, Mike and in the very back, Jackson have all switched over to the white foam polishing pad to use with the SONAX EX 04-06 for the polishing step.

Installing a Ceramic Coating
For these two cars, the Lexus and the Corvette the class is going to install ceramic coatings. First they must chemically strip the paint. This is the extra step required for installing a coating that you normally don't have to do when applying a car wax or a synthetic sealant.

Here's Joshua checking out the BLACKFIRE Paint Prep...

Here's Jackson carefully chemically stripping the paint.

Here's Luis up front installing a ceramic coating...

At the back, Jackson is testing out the Pinnacle Black Label Diamond Paint Coating.

And here are the results!

 

[Mike Phillips]

Continued....


And here's a group shot after finishing the FLEX Detailing Class

Nice work everyone!


:dblthumb2:

 

[Mike Phillips]

Mike,

Thanks for the Auburn/Praxis class. I learned a lot of new information and reviewed information from your videos. The class was awesome.

As an educator, this class was 100% engagement 100% of the time! I really liked using a variety of machines, equipment and tons and tons of products.

Thanks Mike,

I love getting feedback from others that are also in the teaching industry, means a lot to me.

I wish I had taken this class 10 years earlier. I probably would have purchased some different equipment. I appreciated being coached by Mike on using the equipment.

To me, one of the best aspects of our car detailing classes, (both the roadshow and the classes here in Stuart, Florida), is that YOU get to use so many different tools from different companies.

It's not like that at other classes. At other classes, you only use ONE BRAND of tools and usually only ONE BRAND of pads and products.


Considering that some tools are between $400.00 and $600.00 for JUST the tool, plus you'll need to buy matching pads and products, a person can easily spend $1000.00 getting into their first machine.

No problem if you end up LOVING the machine. But I meet a lot of people that spend this much money and end up NOT like the machine.

By taking our class FIRST - you get TONS of hands-on time with so many tools that by the end of the class you know 100% for sure which tools, pads and product you want to start investing in. $$$$$

And - no regrets. Sure the class costs money but when you have the confidence as to where to spend your money after the class plus the EDUCATION and hands-on experience on how to use the tools and products you're going to spend your money on, that's the strong benefit from taking the class. --> No guessing, no regrets.

Plus you know what your doing. I'd even say you know more than most dealers as my classes are INTENSE BRAIN DUMPS by yours truly.

Furthermore, there was no pressure to buy a particular product and Mike shared that one must pick the products for the project and what we like to use.

Very valuable information.

Excellent class. I dreamed of attending the classes in Florida and this one was 30 minutes from my house.

Thanks for attending Mike, it was a pleasure to meet you and work with you on so many cool cars.


:dblthumb2:

 

[Mike Phillips]

***Bump***

:bump:


For all the lurkers that visit this forum every day, look through the pictures in the 6 pages in this thread and you'll see zero chairs and lots of on-your-feet, hands on detailing which is hands-on training.



Just sayin....

 

[Flash Gordon]

Mike

I'd Had a Great Time and took in a Lot of info.

Meet a Lot Great People and made friends in the Process. Vast amount of Info was Shared, and a Great learning Experience.

Thank You so much for Your Time and to the Host Mike Liebing as well.

The Equipment Used was Great and Learn how To used Each One .

The Cars were of a vast varieties, and Learn how to make One, 100% Better then when we started , with Great People as a Team to make them look Great.


Thank You to the Team and to Both Mike's

Roger Clark


:dblthumb2:

This class was awesome!

Always on my feet actually doing something productive. If you learn by doing I highly recommend this class.

A lot of information over 2 days was learned and the opportunity to try many different tools before deciding what I wanna buy.


:dblthumb2:

Mike,

Thank you for the amazing class! I am still sore from muscle groups I have not felt in years! Your approach to hands-on instruction is how I learn best and you are a great hands-on teacher.

I know you love "The Beast", but I thought it was too powerful for me.

You put together an excellent curriculum and a great team to learn with. Some of us walked in there with little experience and all of us walked away ready to detail our own cars.

In my opinion, this class should be a requirement for pro detailers so they know how to properly detail a car and speak with customers.


Thank you Praxis Detailing for hosting and providing some amazing & expensive cars for us to detail.

Regards,
David Gutierrez
Research and Development Lab Manager
303® Products

Mike;

Thanks for making the trip to Auburn IN and taking time out from your life to enrich others; especially on the weekend.

You covered a lot of topics, products, machines and how to be successful while running a detailing business. Real world challenges and results.

We worked on barn finds to $400,000 collector cars in this class, not many people get that opportunity.

Hope to be on the tour next year again!

Thanks

Mike Liebing

Hi Mike,

Thank you, for sharing so much knowledge. Your classes were as fun as they were educational.

Everyone loves the hands on approach vs sitting in classroom seats!

This detailing course offered a multitude of products and tools to physically test out, as well as the proper techniques in using them. All instructed by Mike Phillips!

The wet sanding tutorial and experience was my favorite. I also really enjoyed the Ceramic Coating.

I would recommend this course to anyone wanting to learn techniques, tips, products, and tools to keep their vehicles looking great.

Thank You Again!


Jamie

I just got back home from the Auburn, IN auto detailing class.

What a class and what I learned will make my job easier in my detailing business. The class is hands on and Mike is hands on the entire class.

We worked on six cars the first day from washing to finish seal. I was exhausted but it was so worth it.

We got to experience different buffers, pads, towels products and techniques.

The second day we continued detailing and got more experience on show car detailing along with engine and interior cleaning.

Incredible class and worth every penny. I can’t wait to attend the boat detailing class In February.

Thanks Mike for everything.




-Joshua L.M Fitzgerald

Mike,

Thanks for the Auburn/Praxis class. I learned a lot of new information and reviewed information from your videos. The class was awesome.

As an educator, this class was 100% engagement 100% of the time! I really liked using a variety of machines, equipment and tons and tons of products.

I wish I had taken this class 10 years earlier. I probably would have purchased some different equipment. I appreciated being coached by Mike on using the equipment. Furthermore, there was no pressure to buy a particular product and Mike shared that one must pick the products for the project and what we like to use.

Very valuable information.

Excellent class. I dreamed of attending the classes in Florida and this one was 30 minutes from my house.

Hey Mike,

What a great class in Auburn! I've always dabbled in detailing my own cars, but never was 100% confident in what I was doing. Attending this past weekend 2 day class really boosted my confidence.

Using the different tools and products was great, but for me, having you looking over my shoulder and letting me know what I was doing right and what I was about to do wrong was worth the price of admission.

Sharing your years of experience and all your tips and tricks was priceless. I'm sure I'll attend another class in a couple years just to stay up on products and new techniques and tools.

I know it's a lot of work for you to put these classes on outside of the Auto Geek shop, so thank you for taking the time and effort to do it.

Until next time,

Eric

Yes, thanks to Mike Phillips & Mike Liebing for a lot of effort to teach us detailing! I am ready to come back. My garage is not air conditioned nor do I have the tool selection and product selection that was at this class. It was fun to meet each of you and work beside you on projects.

Mike:

Thank you for the GREAT class!

I was a little nervous going into this, thinking I would be a little behind everyone else, but you structured the class in a way that targeted everyone -- no matter what the skill.

There was a lot of information to pack into 2 days, but you did it, and didn't let any of us slack! You did a great job of explaining all of the tools and products used, as well as all the proper steps and I now have the confidence to do my own car soon!

Highly recommend for any level!

Thank you!

Jennifer Robertson

I was a hobby detailer looking to learn the secrets of the industry and to remove the anxiety of ruining paint.

After attending the Auburn IN class I now have the confidence to work on any car. Mike gave us an assortment of tools and products to use hands on in the class. Mike gave the class 110% effort and he shared knowledge that is invaluable.


-Michael Velazquez

I attended Roadshow Detailing class In Auburn Indiana.

It was amazing experience i never thought i will get hands on experience on all tools and so much we all did in two days though it was little tiresome. But at the end of day it made me more satisfied and accomplished.

Roadshow class cleared my doubts about detailing.

Mike is a nice trainer he pays attention on all students and handles every situation with patience.


:xyxthumbs:

Interesting

 

[Coatingsarecrack]

Mikes gone and he doesn’t teach classes for AG anymore


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bosko]

Is this event still held in Auburn?

 

[Coatingsarecrack]

Is this event still held in Auburn?

The roadshow use to go to diffeeent shop’s around the country. Stopped before covid and then Mike left


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk