What did you do today, in regards to detailing?

[Klasse Act]

Have a friend driving from Ohio to California and back over two weeks so I Polished the front end and fenders and then wrapped it in blue tape for him. Its not a brand new van but newer and in really good shape. This should help.

Im OCD so i also treated the tape with some Optimum Optiseal so it sheds water. We gave it a good test and he just laughed.

I also hit the windshield with Griot's fine glass polish then coated it. Tested it out with a hose and he was amazed. Super smooth wipers and water just rolls off cleanly.

Griswalds are on thier way

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That's quite an attention getter, good thing it's a minivan

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[PaulMys]

You should have taped up the windshield as a joke. Lol

 

[Klasse Act]

You should have taped up the windshield as a joke. Lol

...or maybe write "Power of Dreams" across the tape

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[Bearcats98]

I did the first steps in my detailing. Taking my time and my 9 year old daughter helped me the entire way.

It was an overcast sprinkling day to start. I washed with Adams Strip wash. Dried. Then she and I taped up all the fake chrome and stainless on the car just to be sure it didnt stain during the FeDecon. Did Wolfgang FeDecon. That only showed up on the rear of the car; and only a little bit so not sure Ill do that again.

Washed again with Adams (she ran the foam gun the entire time during both washes which helped a lot). Dried. At this time the sun was starting to poke through so I put the car in the garage. And I started to clay. She figured out exactly how a "clean" panel should feel and QC'd my work. She did a great job. Anytime she wasnt totally sure she would run back to the test panel and feel it and run back to what we were working on. Not one complaint. I was impressed as well as proud!

I did introduce some marring/scratching on some spots. I am hoping that the WGFinishing glaze will take it all out as the test panel (roof) I didnt have many defects but I did put some in the hood.

I took Mikes advice and split it up into two days. All this work today and then the rest of the polishing and sealing tomorrow. As of now...I am tired..LOL!

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[acuRAS82]

I did the first steps in my detailing. Taking my time and my 9 year old daughter helped me the entire way.

That’s awesome, I cannot wait until my you g sun gets to the age where we can do this together. I think he’ll want to, he always stairs in awe at our cars and watches me wash.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I detailed this Chevy Silverado yesterday. I didn’t take many photos but you can get an idea from this 1st before/after shot of the transformation that took place.

 

[DFB]

An unexpected shower of rain on my way to work today undid all my good work! :doh:

How am I going to sleep tonight! :laughing:



However, all is not lost. It means I have an excuse to wash it again! :awesome:

Finished work early today and decided to regain my sanity by cleaning the Ranger again.

Was such a nice day out so I decided to prolong the bliss by applying a coat of Reload.



Ready for work again, I wonder if my customers notice how clean it is. :laughing:

 

[Eldorado2k]

Finished work early today and decided to regain my sanity by cleaning the Ranger again.

Was such a nice day out so I decided to prolong the bliss by applying a coat of Reload.



Ready for work again, I wonder if my customers notice how clean it is. :laughing:

What do you use on the front grill?

 

[DFB]

What do you use on the front grill?

Today I used Reload on that unpainted black plastic grill insert. I have also used 303 in the past.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Today I used Reload on that unpainted black plastic grill insert. I have also used 303 in the past.

Nice. I did that Silverado yesterday and another 1 last week and I really dig the front grills on those trucks. I think they turn out looking real nice when the right product is applied to the plastic.

I use Meguiars D4510 Plastic & Vinyl Coating on the honeycomb and Megs Hyper Dressing on the bottom plastic trim.

 

[oneheadlite]

I detailed this Chevy Silverado yesterday. I didn’t take many photos but you can get an idea from this 1st before/after shot of the transformation that took place.

Yikes! Nice turnaround on that one.

If memory serves, you use Meguiars leather cleaner for interior cleaning, right? Do you ever worry when you have a car with that kind of build up you'll end up with a sticky feeling left behind, or removing soft touch coatings if they're hiding underneath?

 

[Eldorado2k]

Yikes! Nice turnaround on that one.

If memory serves, you use Meguiars leather cleaner for interior cleaning, right? Do you ever worry when you have a car with that kind of build up you'll end up with a sticky feeling left behind, or removing soft touch coatings if they're hiding underneath?

I used Megs APC @10:1 w/Magic Erasers on all the door panels. All 4 doors were like that. The dash only required APC and microfiber towels. The grime that came off the steering wheel and turn signals was “satisfying” lol. Finished off the instrument cluster with a wipedown with Mothers Revision.

I wiped down the floor with APC.

I Magic Erasered all the glass and left it crystal clear.

Man results like that feel good.Thx!

Here’s a couple more after shots.

I’ve pretty much never had it leave a sticky feeling behind. And I vaguely recall a time when I accidentally started to remove the soft touch coating on some buttons before, but that was such a rare occurrence that I can’t even remember the type of car it was...

So I pretty much don’t worry about it because it basically never happens. [knock on wood]

 

[DMiglio]

Eldo, probably a VW, they have a soft touch coating that curls off the buttons if you look at it slightly wrong.

Awesome job on that interior btw!

 

[Eldorado2k]

Eldo, probably a VW, they have a soft touch coating that curls off the buttons if you look at it slightly wrong.

Awesome job on that interior btw!

It wasn’t a VW but I did have the unfortunate luck of having to detail a filthy VW minivan recently that turned out to be some of the hardest detailing work I’ve ever done!

Every single bit of that interior was a royal PITA.

Not only did this turn out to be what I can only assume to be the mythical “impossible carpet” but some areas were so bad that after ruining countless towels I finally got mad and literally took a power washer to the interior of this van!

The vinyl was grimy and wouldn’t come clean by simple means and yes you’re right, the top layer did come off in some areas but there was no alternative... Even the dashboard/stereo/ac buttons took forever before I was somewhat happy with the results. I will never ever agree to detail a Volkswagen again without thinking long and hard about what I’m getting myself into.

It’s the only time I’ve ever had to call a customer back and nearly threw in the towel. Fortunately he was understanding and we agreed on a price that was more than double what I initially quoted him. In the end I got it done but holy crap, never again. Lol.

I was kicking myself for not taking before pics of that interior.^

 

[DMiglio]

Wow! I can only imagine the job you had to do if your towel looks that bad from just one part of the carpet. Glad you walked away with more than double what you had quoted and for an understanding customer!

 

[Eldorado2k]

Wow! I can only imagine the job you had to do if your towel looks that bad from just one part of the carpet. Glad you walked away with more than double what you had quoted and for an understanding customer!

I went through like 5 towels on that same spot [16 sides per towel] before taking the hose nozzle to it and watching what I can only describe as a mudslide flow out of that van for the next 10-15 minutes.lol.

I’m embarrassed to admit it, but that van was parked here for like 4 days... That’s how much I was dreading that task. 1 of the days I think I just walked outside and stared at the van for about an hour and went back inside and ate pizza and tried my best to forget about it. Lol.

I remember thinking “Damn maybe I should’ve bought some of that Nextzett Plastic Vinyl Deep Cleaner Plastik Reiniger”
The Germans really are on another level!lol.

It’s like that van was from another planet.lol.

 

[DMiglio]

I’m embarrassed to admit it, but that van was parked here for like 4 days... That’s how much I was dreading that task. 1 of the days I think I just walked outside and stared at the van for about an hour and went back inside and ate pizza and tried my best to forget about it. Lol.

Hahaha!! That’s great, I think we’ve all been there at least a few times

 

[PaulMys]

You guys who take on other people's cars deserve a medal.

I would never even consider doing another person's interior, as I actually HATE to do my own. (And I keep mine as clean as humanly possible between sessions.)

 

[DFB]

Mustang's turn today, spending about 3.5 hrs on it.

Usual maintenance washing but also dressed the leather, black exterior trims and tyres.



I also folded myself into the back seat to the rear windscreen.





Two spotless Fords!

 

[bfielder32087]

Mustang's turn today, spending about 3.5 hrs on it.

Usual maintenance washing but also dressed the leather, black exterior trims and tyres.



I also folded myself into the back seat to the rear windscreen.





Two spotless Fords!

That's the beauty of a hatchback. Back glass is super easy to clean.

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