Pictures from Autogeek's Saturday Detail Clinic - April 21st

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Pictures from Autogeek's Saturday Detail Clinic - April 21st

Today was our first Saturday Detailing Clinic that is replacing our Thursday night, "Autogeek's Car of the Week" clinics. These classes are free and because we have a full crew working in the warehouse if you find products, pads or tools you want and place your order before 2:00pm we can pull your order and you can take it with you when you leave.
(We couldn't do this during Thursday night clinics as there was no staff working that late)


Today Kevin, aka carshine drove in all the way from Merritt Island to Stuart, Florida which is almost 2 hours away, approximately 105 miles.


Kevin and his wife bought a brand new Mazda CX-9 in black and because they plan on keeping this car for a long time Kevin wanted to learn how to properly care for and detail their new Mazda. Patrick another forum member also joined us for this first clinic.

For this first clinic we basically went by the book that is my how-too book following through the chapters, step-by-step. We started out with a finish that was filled with swirls, scratches and road grime or surface staining plus some kind of contamination that had built up on the paint.

Kevin had never used any of the electric polishers that Autogeek offers so we gave him and Patrick a chance to test them all out and in the process we removed all the defects out of the hood on their Mazda and restored a factory new finish.

Here are the step we performed...

• Wiped clean using Detailers Rinseless Wash and Gloss.
• Clayed using Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay and Pinnacle Clay Lube.
• Test Spot using Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish with a Tangerine Hydro-Tech pad on a PC 7424XP.
• Tested out all tools using Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover to remove all swirls, scratches, water spots and stains.
• Re-polished using Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish.
• Sealed the paint using Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax by machine.
• Removed the wax by hand using microfiber gloves and Super Soft Deluxe Green Microfiber Towels.

Here's our project car for today's class, a Mazda CX-9 in black!

Teaching Kevin how to use a Brinkmann Swirl Finder Light to inspect the paint

The paint is filled with swirls, scratches, water spots and staining from road grime

In the next three shots you can see the swirls, scratches and stains...

In this shot, the whitish stuff is some type of stain from road grime that did not wipe off and would also not wash off...

Kevin learning how to properly using detailing clay to clay the paint, we also used the Baggie Test to check for above surface bonded contaminants.

Here you can see a brown tinge on the clay from whatever was on the paint...

Here's Kevin placing some painter's tape on the hood because I'm going to show him how to do a Test Spot

For the Test Spot we're going to take the least aggressive approach and try Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish with a Tangerine Hydro-Tech Polishing pad on a Porter Cable 7424XP

Showing Kevin how to mark a backing plate to easily see if the pad is rotating under pressure.

Here's I'm showing Kevin how to prime a clean, dry pad...

After the pad was primed we added the "working product"

Here I've buffed out a small section and demonstrated how to do "Section Passes"

Here's Kevin inspecting the before and after results using the Brinkmann Swirl Finder Light

Before side - Ugly swirls

Camera Flash centered on the tape-line

After side - Huge improvement but we decided to increase the level of aggressiveness by switching to the Pinnacle Advanced Swirl Remover for the rest of the hood.

I taught Kevin how to clean a pad on the fly using a terry cloth towel...

I also taught Kevin how to clean a pad using a nylon Pad Conditioning Brush...

More to come...

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued...


Here's Kevin using the Meguiar's G110v2 dual action polisher, he also used the Porter Cable 7424XP and the Griot's Garage Random Orbital Polisher.
(All the same "type" of tools)

Here's Kevin priming clean, dry pads on the Cyclo Polisher

Here Kevin has added his "working product" (that's the product you're going to work with)

At all my classes you get to try out all the tools, here' Kevin trying out the Cyclo Polisher...

Lightweight low vibration and balanced, you can easily use the Cyclo Polisher with one hand...

Here's Patrick testing out the Cyclo Polisher...

Here's Kevin testing out the Flex 3401 Forced Rotation Dual Action Polisher

Here's Patrick testing out the Flex 3401 Forced Rotation Dual Action Polisher

Now I'm going to teach both guys the 10 @ 10 Technique for picking up a bead of product using a rotary buffer
(Note the numbered backing plate for a teaching tool in the lower left hand side of the picture)

I have an article on this and a video on our YouTube Channel showing this technique

After picking up his bead of product Kevin places the pad flat against the paint and then spreads the product and and begins buffing with NO SPLATTER!

Good job Kevin!

Already buffing like a Pro!

Lightweight, compact Flex PE14 Rotary Polisher

More to come...

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Continued...


Here's Kevin learning how to machine apply Pinnacle Souveran Paste wax

Here's Patrick and Kevin learning techniques I show in all my classes on how to carefully remove waxes and paint sealants using microfiber gloves and premium quality microfiber towel.

Here's some after shots... the hood on this car went from a swirled-out mess to a show car finish by a guy who has never machine polished in his life!

Here's all the products and tools we used today and if you attend any of my classes you get to use these and much much more...

Thank you Kevin and Patrick for attending today's Saturday Detailing Clinic at Autogeek in Stuart, Florida.

Next Saturday Detailing Class will be May after my Detailing Boot Camp Class, probably the 19th.

Watch the bottom of the forum home page for the date or send me an e-mail for more information.



:xyxthumbs:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Resources


All the tools, pads and products used today can be found on Autogeek.net or you can call our Customer Service Tech Line and reference this thread and our friendly staff can help you.

1-800-869-3011


All the techniques used today can be found in my how-to book or any of my how-to DVD's plus I have articles for everything we did in my article list.


E-book
(Displayed on iPad - iPad not included)

Paperback








How to Properly Use the Porter Cable 7424XP Dual Action Polisher Updated!

Pinnacle Complete Car Care System Instructional How-to DVD

Mike Phillips' The Art Of Detailing Audio Book

Mike Phillips' Principles of Machine Polishing





:xyxthumbs:

 

[Schiffdog]

Mike after you did Test Spot using Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish with a Tangerine Hydro-Tech pad on a PC 7424XP, when you switched over to the advanced swirl remover did you also switch to a cutting pad or did you stay with the tangerine polishing pad?

 

[carshine]

Mike,

Thanks for posting all of those photos of me from our detailing 101 class today - Wow, the computer must put on on extra 10 lbs.... at least. haha!!!

Like we discussed earlier, I have been in the car care business for years, and I thought I knew a ton about detailing. Although I was already proven wrong by joining this forum a couple of days ago and reading a lot of posts by true experts, I was really proven wrong earlier today when I spent the morning learning directly from you. Thanks a lot for the instruction - it truly will come in handy.

I am fortunate to live about 1 1/2 hours away from the AutoGreek.com facility, and I happily took the opportunity today to attend Mike Phillips' Saturday auto-detailing 101 clinic. Other than professionally demonstrating to me what a detailing moron I really was, Mike was terrific. He took half his day on a Saturday to spend time and teach just one guy because the other attendees had show cars and they couldn't make it due to the inclement weather.

Mike introduced me to some great products and great detailing equipment and techniques, and he gave me hands-on instructions on how to properly use each item to gain the best benefits.

We worked on my 2011 black Mazda CX-9, which I bought new and owned for just 9 months. Until Mike pointed it out, I never realized the deteriorating condition of the paint as a result of the nasty environmental hazards in Florida. But, as poorly as the paint condition was, the new techniques that I learned from Mike easily got the paint looking like new again.

I now plan on doing a much better job caring for my car's finish, and I am confident the routine maintenance will keep the paint job in new showroom looking condition. It is one thing to read the articles by the experts, but it is something entirely better to get hands-on instruction.

If anyone has the opportunity to attend one of these classes, then please do yourself a favor and make sure you go.

Thanks again Mike.

 

[EPK711]

looks like a fun and productive day. I'll have to make it up for one of these clinics soon.

 

[frank s]

Here's my experience: The photo essays and videos help a great deal, BUT you have to be there to gain the full benefit of Mike's expertise! (Do I dare say "Irvine" in this venue?)

Cheers!

:dblthumb2:

 

[carshine]

looks like a fun and productive day. I'll have to make it up for one of these clinics soon.

It is definitely worth it, and you have no excuse being so much closer to the shop than I am :laughing:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Here's my experience: The photo essays and videos help a great deal, BUT you have to be there to gain the full benefit of Mike's expertise! (Do I dare say "Irvine" in this venue?)

Cheers!

:dblthumb2:

Definitely better to learn with some real hands-on training... did a LOT of that for Meguiar's from 2002 until I left to come to Autogeek in August of 2009


I'm going to guess you've attended one of my Meguiar's Detailing 101 Classes or TNOG's?


It's all good...


:xyxthumbs:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Mike after you did Test Spot using Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish with a Tangerine Hydro-Tech pad on a PC 7424XP, when you switched over to the advanced swirl remover did you also switch to a cutting pad or did you stay with the tangerine polishing pad?

Great question and Kevin will back me up on this...

We continued to use a Tangerine Polishing Pad but we did get a clean dry pad we didn't just apply the Swirl Remover to the pad we were using the Finishing Polish on just as a matter of following the "Best Practice" of not cross-contaminating pads with different products.

I specifically wanted to teach Kevin how to do a Test Spot using the least aggressive approach but knew that the Advanced Finishing Polish is a fine to ultra fine cut polish so it doesn't offer a lot of abrading ability. So using it with a finishing pad wasn't going to do the job.

I also didn't want to start out with a sharp, coarse foam cutting pad because the pad itself could leave DA Haze. So like the graphic equalizer analogy I talk about in this article,

The Graphic Equalizer Analogy to Polishing Paint


I decide to use the Advanced Swirl Remover with the Tangerine Polishing Pad and FOR THIS PAINT SYSTEM on this Mazda it was more than enough to remove 95% of all the swirls and scratches and the only scratches the remained were the deeper RIDS.

I also thoroughly explained why it's better to learn to live with a few RIDS than it is to try to remove 100% of them due to how thin factory clear paint is on new cars and that all the UV protection is in the clear layer.


Related articles...

"Use the least aggressive product to get the job done"

Beginning Clearcoat Failure

Factors that affect how aggressive or non-aggressive a product is...

RIDS - The Definition of RIDS and the story behind the term...

 

[Nappers]

Awesome job on that hood! Car looks better than new!

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

It is one thing to read the articles by the experts, but it is something entirely better to get hands-on instruction.

If anyone has the opportunity to attend one of these classes, then please do yourself a favor and make sure you go.

Thanks again Mike.

And just to note, this is just a small portion of what you'll learn at a full-blown class like my Detailing Boot Camp classes, which are two full days of hand-on training...


Sign-up for Mike Phillips Detailing Boot Camp - May 5th & 6th

This class includes,

• Vehicle Inspection Form - Doing a "Walking Around"
• Glass Polishing
• Headlight Restoration
• Cosmetic Engine Detailing
• Maintenance Washing
• Rinseless Washing
• Interior Detailing
• Using Hot Water Extractors
• Tornador Car Cleaning Guns
• Wheels, Tires & Fenderwells
• Clean, Condition & Protect Convertible Tops
• How to clay paint with detailing clay
• How to tape-off and cover-up a car
• Using DA Polishers to remove swirls and polish to a high gloss
• Using DA Polishers to machine wax
• How to apply 2 types of coatings - Opti-Coat II & CQuartz
• How to hand sand
• How to machine dampsand with 3" & 6" Meguiar's Unigrit Discs
• How to use a Rotary Buffer, wool pads and cutting compounds
• How to use a Rotary Buffer, foam pads and polishes
• Jewelling with a Rotary Buffer
• Production Detailing - How to machine apply one-step cleaner/waxes

Plus...
Meet & Greet at the Marriot Lounge Fire Pit with Mike Phillips on Saturday Night

Click here for more information or to ask questions

Click here to to go the Autogeek store and register



:xyxthumbs:

 

[carshine]

Awesome job on that hood! Car looks better than new!

Thanks very much. Mike provided me hands-on instruction, and together we made the hood look fantastic using a combination of great polishing products, great tools, great pads, and great techniques.

Prior to attending, I didn't realize that I would get homework from this class, but Mike gave me the assignment of detailing the rest of my car using the techniques that he taught me. Of course, I happily accepted this assignment, especially since I planned on doing it anyway. My goal is to make the rest of my car look as perfect as the hood, and then keep it in new car condition with routine maintenance. I already have all my polishing products lined up, but I am awaiting the arrival from AGO of my newly purchased Porter Cable 7424XP (with intro pad kit). I ordered this orbital polisher Saturday night, and today I already received the shipping notification.

I am excited to employ the use of my new orbital polisher and pads, my newly acquired detailing techniques, and my select polishing products for a full detail of my vehicle. I anticipate that my entire car will look as great as the hood now does. Upon completion, I will report back with the details (no pun intended), and I will post photographs of the results.

Anyone who has a chance to attend one of Mike's classes really should. The education and training are personally rewarding, not only for the average daily driver like me, but for those people actually in the detailing business.

 

[carshine]

Great question and Kevin will back me up on this...

I specifically wanted to teach Kevin how to do a Test Spot using the least aggressive approach but knew that the Advanced Finishing Polish is a fine to ultra fine cut polish so it doesn't offer a lot of abrading ability. So using it with a finishing pad wasn't going to do the job.

In addition to the exceptional detailing techniques that Mike taught me, I fully agree that the best approach to detailing your car is to consider the least aggressive products to get the job done properly, and then notch up the aggressiveness from there if necessary. It is much easier to gradually smooth out existing paint by increasing the aggressiveness rather than having to live with paint worn down too much by being overly aggressive. For each detailing job, I believe that you should employ a risk / benefit analysis by using a combination of polish and pads that will provide the lowest risk (of wear to your paint) for the highest benefit (of appearance). It is much better to live with some imperfections and have a great car appearance rather than increase the risk of doing damage to the paint by trying for perfection.

 

[carshine]

Hey Mike,

Today, I finally finished what we started during your April 21, 2012 detailing 101 class. I spent half the day detailing my car (inside and out), and I cannot believe the results. The overall shine is outstanding. I really appreciate the instruction, and I highly recommend your class to anyone who cares about the shine and protection of their cars.

I used your techniques, a Porter Cable orbital polisher with two different pads, a bunch of microfiber cloths, and a great line of high quality vehicle care cleaner, polish, and protectant products.

First, I thoroughly hand-washed my car using a high quality car wash concentrate.

Then, I used a great Pre-Cleaner medium cutting cleaning polish and swirl mark remover to remove the oxidation, dirt, contaminants, and swirl mark build-up. I was excited that I finally got a chance to use my new orbital polisher to apply the Pre-Cleaner, and a gray low profile finishing pad was sufficient to perfectly accomplish the cleaning task. I easily removed the Pre-Cleaner polish haze by hand using a microfiber towel.

I then used the red ultra fine finishing pad with my orbital polisher to easily apply an excellent one-step shieldcoat polish / paint sealant. While that was setting, I cleaned and polished the interior of the vehicle. Afterwards, I used a clean microfiber cloth to easily remove the polish haze. Since the shieldcoat polish provides a deep showroom shine and long-lasting protection, I did not find it necessary to apply a separate car wax afterwards.

My car now looks absolutely amazing, but it is the protection that I am most excited about. I will definitely perform routine polishing maintenance in order to prevent the shine and protection qualities from subsiding with time.

Thanks again for your instruction. I now know how to properly combine great products, equipment, and techniques to get a showroom shine and long-lasting protection to my vehicle's paint, and I anticipate staying on top of this very rewarding task.

Below are before and after pictures that I thought I would share. The first 3 are before, and the last 2 are after (the images in the close up of the last pic are reflections of the clouds - there are no blemishes remaining in the paint).

Thanks again Mike,

Kevin (AKA carshine)

 

[EPK711]

Mike, When will you be holding the next Saturday clinic?

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Hey Mike,

Today, I finally finished what we started during your April 21, 2012 detailing 101 class. I spent half the day detailing my car (inside and out), and I cannot believe the results. The overall shine is outstanding. I really appreciate the instruction, and I highly recommend your class to anyone who cares about the shine and protection of their cars.


Thanks again Mike,

Kevin (AKA carshine)

Hi Kevin,

Thank you for the follow-up. The follow-up post to our forum is one of the most important posts in my opinion. So often people join a forum like ours, ask a ton of questions, get their answers and we never see or hear from them again. So I for one really appreciate the follow-up post.

It was nice having you at our facilities and I'm confident your cars will always look show room new with your new found skills and knowledge and I'm just as confident you'll show plenty of other people the things you've learned to help them further up the road.

"Each one teach one"


:xyxthumbs:

 

[Mike PhillipsMike Phillips is verified member.]

Mike, When will you be holding the next Saturday clinic?

This clinic you're posting to, I promoted it for about a month and one guy attended. My guess is in South Florida, having a "Saturday" off is to valuable to most people to learn how to detail their car when they could be surfing, swimming, fishing or ANYTHING by or in the beautiful ocean this time of year. That includes me.

I have some wetsanding and rotary buffer classes coming up but there's no interest so there's no class.

I switched everything back to Thursday nights because people come out of the woodwork when I hold a Thursday night clinic.

I post any clinic coming up to the BOTTOM of the forum homepage in my "box". If I'm going to sneeze, I post it to the box, that's my funny way of saying if I have anything going on in our garage that's open to the public I post it to the forum homepage and it's up to everyone interested to check the bottom of the forum homepage.