Re: Pictures from Autogeek's Competition Ready Roadshow Detailing Class at Waxstock in England!
Next up... the 1979 Trans Am
Like the Mustang, we started with chemical decontamination with Dodo Juice Ferrous Dueller Iron Remover to remove embedded iron particles and then followed this with mechanical decontamination to remove all the above surface bonded contaminants. Then re-washed using the Autogeek Foam Gun, rinsed and dried.
The FLEX 3401 aka THE BEAST! - The official FLEX name for the FLEX 3401 is now the BEAST!
The paint on the Trans Am was probably the worst out of the 6 training cars in that it had a lot of deep swirls and just as many random straight line scratches throughout the finish. There was also a lot of Orange Peel which acts to mute reflections. For this car I chose to show how to use the FLEX 3401 which is a gear-driven orbital polisher. For abrasive technology we're using the same products we used on the Mustang and that's the Wolfgang Uber Compound followed by the Wolfgang Finishing Glaze, (which is a fine cut polish not a glaze). We used Lake Country 6.5" Hybrid pads in orange, white and black. If you've read my how-to book, then you know I highly recommend the Hybrid pads for this tool. The hybrid pads are about an 1 1/4" thick with a taper design to them and matched to the FLEX 3401 they can really knock out a car fast.
How to use the FLEX 3401 for both Show Car Detailing and Production Detailing
Lake Country 6.5" Hybrid Foam Pads
First I like to demonstrate a key difference between free spinning orbital polishers and gear-driven orbital polishers using the skin on my hand. This demo usually drives the point home and with a joke or two, everyone has a good laugh. A good detailing class should be both educational
and fun.
Correct technique
Next up we go over the key features and benefits of the gear-driven FLEX 3401 and the proper and correct techniques for using this tool for both correction work and final polishing work as well as how to use it to machine apply a wax or sealant.
Great Abrasive Technology
There was a question about the Wolfgang Uber Compound so I poured a little out and asked anyone that wanted to - to feel some between their fingers. Unlike old school compounds that feel gritty, Uber Compound feels like Jergens Hand Lotion, that is it's smooth and creamy. Yet when used with the right pad, the right tool and the right technique it can do amazing correction work while leaving behind a finish that looks like you just used a fine cut polish.
Wolfgang Uber Compound
Wolfgang Finishing Glaze (Fine Cut Polish)
Self-teaching
The gear-driven FLEX 3401 is what I call a self-teaching tool, if you don't hold the pad flat to the surface you'll feel it try to pull or walk around on the surface. This walking effect is telling you that YOU are not holding the pad flat to the surface so re-adjust your grip and/or how you're holding the body of the tool in relationship to the panel being buffed.
Once you get a feel for the FLEX 3401 it's a real smooth operator...
Enough demonstration - it's time for learning!
Next up... the beauty shots!
