What should I have to be a good detailer??

[Jefri Lay]

Hi Michael Stoops, Matt, David, Greg and all who read this thread.
I have a question but it seem it is the tough one.
What should I have to be a good or maybe the best detailer?
I don't know when I really interested in detailing but it seemed that it started when I find that my black car's having swirls and scratches. When I can remove the swirls it makes me happy and I see the business opportunity in it.
Maybe you can help guys. Thanks in advance for the advice.

[D307P]

Re: What should I have to be a good detailer??

I am not a professional detailer, just work on my own cars and a friends. I gained most of my knowledge from just spending a lot of time reading these forums. Lots of great knowledge out there.

If you are going into business, my advise is practice, practice, practice. Get with your friends and do their cars, buy old body parts at junkyards, etc. When you go into business, you have to be good. The last thing you want to do is jump into being a professional too fast and ruin a client's paint job.

Another thing to remember is some of the cars that will come to you are not as well maintained as yours probably is. There will be some pieces of **** that people will want you to make look brand new so you would need more than just the consumer line of Megs products that you probably use on your vehicle.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Murr1525]

Re: What should I have to be a good detailer??

It all depends how far you want to go.

You would certainly want to look into the more appropriate machine products, like SwirlX/#205 and Ultimate Compound. Those would cover a lot of issues.

And then a good cleaner/wax for people who would just want a quick detail.

And then more pads, towels, etc to have available to use.

Then of course you have your general things like clay, wheel cleaners, glass cleaner, APC, metal polish, etc that may be needed.

[Merlin]

Re: What should I have to be a good detailer??

I have a question but it seem it is the tough one.
What should I have to be a good or maybe the best detailer?

A true PASSION for the detailing art, science, knowledge and skills!

[greg0303]

Re: What should I have to be a good detailer??

In most cases it all starts like this:

1. You start to work on your own car, get good results, more experience;

2. You start working on your friends and neighbors cars, make them look nice and shiny, get more experience with different type of paint and interior/ exterior materials, buy more car detailing products/ tools;

3. You feel like you really like doing it - turn it into a part/ full time job.

As I'm sure you know by now, Jefri, you can't rush any detailing project. It takes time when you deal with some serious defects. Also surface evaluation is a crucial step after you wash/ clay any vehicle. Then you choose the right tools, pads, products and perform a test spot(s).

Experienced detailers can evaluate paint condition very quickly and accurately but they still perform a test spot to make sure they choose the right approach. Paint correcting job is a complex process. It's like a system containing many elements which you have to put together: car polisher, buffing pad, backing plate, chemicals.

Another thing/ element is a technique. If you use DA polishers in most projects then learning period is much faster. But rotary buffers require much longer practice time.

Work on more cars, get more experience with different paints, chemicals, buffing pads, materials, polishing tools and if interested in turning it into paid job then expose yourself to more business:

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=45648&highlight=detailing+business

[Jefri Lay]

Re: What should I have to be a good detailer??

I am not a professional detailer, just work on my own cars and a friends. I gained most of my knowledge from just spending a lot of time reading these forums. Lots of great knowledge out there.

If you are going into business, my advise is practice, practice, practice. Get with your friends and do their cars, buy old body parts at junkyards, etc. When you go into business, you have to be good. The last thing you want to do is jump into being a professional too fast and ruin a client's paint job.

Another thing to remember is some of the cars that will come to you are not as well maintained as yours probably is. There will be some pieces of **** that people will want you to make look brand new so you would need more than just the consumer line of Megs products that you probably use on your vehicle.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Note D307P, will definitely put your advice to consideration. Anyway thanks

[Jefri Lay]

Re: What should I have to be a good detailer??

A true PASSION for the detailing art, science, knowledge and skills!

Nice philosophy. Like it very much..

[Jefri Lay]

Re: What should I have to be a good detailer??

It all depends how far you want to go.

You would certainly want to look into the more appropriate machine products, like SwirlX/#205 and Ultimate Compound. Those would cover a lot of issues.

And then a good cleaner/wax for people who would just want a quick detail.

And then more pads, towels, etc to have available to use.

Then of course you have your general things like clay, wheel cleaners, glass cleaner, APC, metal polish, etc that may be needed.

Right now I can only think of the equipment I should have for correcting the defects. But at the sametime I realize that I have not enough knowledge on the product itself. I'll learn it step by step from this forum. I'm sure this forum has great people in it who can help me achieve what I want.
First, I'll equip my shelf with those products you've told me above.
Thanks Matt.

[Jefri Lay]

Re: What should I have to be a good detailer??

In most cases it all starts like this:

1. You start to work on your own car, get good results, more experience;

2. You start working on your friends and neighbors cars, make them look nice and shiny, get more experience with different type of paint and interior/ exterior materials, buy more car detailing products/ tools;

3. You feel like you really like doing it - turn it into a part/ full time job.

As I'm sure you know by now, Jefri, you can't rush any detailing project. It takes time when you deal with some serious defects. Also surface evaluation is a crucial step after you wash/ clay any vehicle. Then you choose the right tools, pads, products and perform a test spot(s).

Experienced detailers can evaluate paint condition very quickly and accurately but they still perform a test spot to make sure they choose the right approach. Paint correcting job is a complex process. It's like a system containing many elements which you have to put together: car polisher, buffing pad, backing plate, chemicals.

Another thing/ element is a technique. If you use DA polishers in most projects then learning period is much faster. But rotary buffers require much longer practice time.

Work on more cars, get more experience with different paints, chemicals, buffing pads, materials, polishing tools and if interested in turning it into paid job then expose yourself to more business:

http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/sho...iling+business

Once again Greg, I really appreciate your respond to my problem. Will definitely learn more about detailing from this forum.

[roguetadhg]

Re: What should I have to be a good detailer??

Jefri, Im in the same boat. After today I was stopped at a stop light and was looking at the car infront of me - I was imaging how I would tape the car off.

Then my girlfriend asked me "why" after I dragged her into the OReily's store... she knew about swirls, and why there's so many waxes and why I like well... the forum I'm at now and not Turtle Wax

[greg0303]

Re: What should I have to be a good detailer??

Jefri, Im in the same boat. After today I was stopped at a stop light and was looking at the car infront of me - I was imaging how I would tape the car off.

Then my girlfriend asked me "why" after I dragged her into the OReily's store... she knew about swirls, and why there's so many waxes and why I like well... the forum I'm at now and not Turtle Wax

Congratulations, you're oficially Car Crazy.

It's 100% positive on MOL.

[Tuck91]

Re: What should I have to be a good detailer??

Being a good detailer requires more than knowing what a swirl is and how to remove it.

Only 15% percent or so of my client base knows what a swirl is and actually even cares.

Most want a clean natural looking interior and a clean glossy exterior.

You need time and patience as well.

[tapp1]

Re: What should I have to be a good detailer??

Being a good detailer requires more than knowing what a swirl is and how to remove it.

Only 15% percent or so of my client base knows what a swirl is and actually even cares.

Most want a clean natural looking interior and a clean glossy exterior.

You need time and patience as well.

I second that tuck. The few cars I have done for clients, would agree.

[wifpd4]

Re: What should I have to be a good detailer??

Hi Michael Stoops, Matt, David, Greg and all who read this thread.
I have a question but it seem it is the tough one.
What should I have to be a good or maybe the best detailer?
I don't know when I really interested in detailing but it seemed that it started when I find that my black car's having swirls and scratches. When I can remove the swirls it makes me happy and I see the business opportunity in it.
Maybe you can help guys. Thanks in advance for the advice.

I don't have much to add to the comments you've already received, as they are all very good. I have struggled for a year to be good at what I have chosen to work on, yet there is so much I haven't seen or touched. I see questions daily on this forum I have no clue what the answer is. Do I think a good or the best detailer would know the answer, you bet! Leather, fabric, soft tops, engines the list goes on.

In addition, you must be obsessively anal. Details, finite details are the stock in trade of this job/career/hobby.

It definitely more than buffers and swirls.

[brawl]

Re: What should I have to be a good detailer??

After today I was stopped at a stop light and was looking at the car infront of me - I was imaging how I would tape the car off.

The way I look at cars now is different from before. I always look for swirls whenever I see a car under the sun.LOL The bad thing is I haven't removed paint defects yet.