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Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

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  • Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

    Morning folks..
    In my intro thread, I explained a little about my experience and goals. Today, I'm starting a thread to capture and collect some ideas to get closer to those goals.

    I still have to order up a new DA (watching the sales, hoping to find something that fits my budget.. likely will opt of a new GV110) as well as refresh my stock.
    This spring, April time frame, I want to 'teach' (used extremely vaguely) the members of my motorcycle club about detailing and paint care.

    The idea came about last year, after a Show and Shine event I put on. While discussing bikes with the group, I realized that many of the members still use DISH SOAP and WD 40 to clean their rides!???? The committee members themselves, do not know what a clay bar is!

    This year, I want to change that. However, I am not a pro. I'm not even an amateur. I'm just a guy that enjoys cleaning his cars and toys a little more than the next guy. So my "class" will be basics only.
    I want to teach about the '2 bucket' wash technique, clay bar basics (using a baggie to feel paint roughness), and basic products that will protect paint.
    I plan on buying a couple of hoods for a car from a wrecking yard (black and ?) to let the members see the difference and experience the products.

    The club has no membership fees and is simply something I like doing. There's about 40 members, with an average of 10 riders coming out to each ride. It's a very friendly and close group. But, as I mentioned, there is no money so all of this training is done with my own funds, tools and products. I have made a request to Meguiar's for event sponsorship, but being in Canada I'm not expecting anything.

    Anyway, my point is that I'm not an experienced detailer, but would still like to give back to my club with some tips and experience on how to clean and protect their rides. I'm asking YOU for help on how and what to deliver at my seminar. I will take the on line training (youtube) videos and practice between today and then. Hopefully, between that and your advice, I'll be able to do something good and not make a fool of myself.

    Thanks in advance!

  • #2
    Re: Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

    I suggest that you buy Mike Phillip's new book "The Art of Detailing". It is available in print as well as for computers, some tablets and smartphones and likely has every aspect of detailing covered in depth. This book can set you on the right track to becoming an expert. Mike doesn't just explain a process or technique but usually he addresses the "why" it works.

    As you mentioned the videos, there are many excellent videos available from both Meguiar's and also from Auto Geek that show and describe various products and processes.

    Maybe rent, buy or borrow a video projector for your meetings and show a video or two then demonstrate the process with a hands-on session following.
    Jim
    My Gallery

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    • #3
      Re: Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

      jfelbab,


      those are excellent suggestions.. I just purchased the ebook on your recommendation from Autogeek!
      When I have some time, I'm going to pull those videos into a folder to show as we do the seminar and practice it just like you suggested.
      Awesome ideas! Thanks!

      Comment


      • #4
        Re: Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

        Sounds like your plan is already pretty good.

        You may need to look at smaller pads, and working by hand more for a bike.

        And perhaps showing a cleaner/wax type product basic care.
        2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

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        • #5
          Re: Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

          I will likely need to do both machine and hand polishing procedures.. some bikes today have a LOT of paint to look after! I'm going to make some calls and see if bike paints followed the progress as cars.. (on p. 9 of the ebook now) - are they single stage or base/clear paints? Maybe the book will tell me how to spot the difference easily?

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          • #6
            Re: Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

            The difference would be easy (for instance, on SS red paint, your pad would turn red), but also the products/techniques are more or less the same.
            2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

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            • #7
              Re: Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

              LMAO!! Yup, page 10.
              Interesting that I've run into this (seeing the color change on my towels) and never realized that it = single stage. Now.. I know.
              Thanks.
              BTW, the ebook... I wish I'd had this years ago! Mike, absolutely stellar job! Can't wait to get things going now!!

              Comment


              • #8
                Re: Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

                !! I apologize for the double posting.. I know I'm not supposed to keep going to the "introduce yourself" thread.. and I keep doing by accident!!
                I'm re posting in this thread (from the Intro thread) as that is where it belongs... sorry for the mix up and I'll try to get this on the right track.

                G'day!

                Well, I think I will finally have the money saved up for a DA kit.
                Considering my experience and goals, would you recommend the Ultra polish kit or something else?
                http://www.autopia-carcare.com/megui...isher-kit.html

                My thinking is to add http://www.autopia-carcare.com/megui...ff-pads-3.html (all 3 types), a pad brush and a couple of grit guards. We have the clay kits here, but I'll review the posts about the them to decide where to buy from.

                Also, I have some other stuff I want from the US and will likely end up driving down there to pick it all up at once. Anyone know if the kit will be duty free?

                Any.. ANY advice is appreciated.
                Looking forward to testing out some new stuff and getting an amateur class started for my motorcycle group!!!

                Comment


                • #9
                  Re: Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

                  Buying 6 pads is good.. I'd probably just want one cutting pad though.. maybe 3 polishing pads. Esp since the kit seems to come with a few light cutting pads.

                  You probably wouldnt need any other strong cleaner, though UC can be a bit friendlier than the #105. But the #205 would be what you use most. Just have to check the prices, to see if #205, or Ult. Polish works out best for you.

                  #80 can also be good for SS paints... if you have a lot of bikes that are SS paint.
                  2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

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                  • #10
                    Re: Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

                    I would also look into the rinse-less wash methods and products as I would think they would be more applicable for motorcycles in most cases.

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                    • #11
                      Re: Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

                      Also a good idea, esp if you could pick up the Pro-Line bulk size one.
                      2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Re: Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

                        Hey.. I'm back!

                        I'm a little closer to my goal, but still in need of advice... PLEASE!

                        I picked up some supplies from Autopia and Eshine.. very happy with the service!
                        I've got grit guards, a Brinkmann light, 3" pads and a hand polisher tool, Riccardo clay (blue), detailing spray, cloths, Meguiar's UWL and my very own G110V2!! YEAH!

                        Here's my dilema. I ordered the G110 as a ultimate polish kit.. it was supposed to be a 5.5 inch backing plate/pads and M105/M205.. long story short, J&B tools mis advertised the product and I got just the polisher and it has the 6" backing plate. Luckily, Paypal helped me collect part of the difference owed.

                        Anyway... now I have to get the right pads and polish. HELP!
                        I'm seriously considering the MF system from Autopia... their kits come with a backing plate, so I think I would go with the 5.5" (comfort thing for me) and use the 6" I have for regular soft pads. Does that sound like the right way to go?
                        Keep in mind, I am on a budget (which I've completely blown) and want to get what I need for now.. the want what I want can come later.
                        Do I need M105/M205 if I go the MF route?
                        If I can, I'd be more interested in spending what I have left on a 3" backing plate and MF kit.. Does it even exist? I can't find it!!! Auto geek has a kit coming (n/a now), but it comes with a pistol grip polisher that looks to be run with air.. I'd prefer to use my G110 with that backing plate. Am I in left field?

                        Any advice guys.. really.

                        BTW, I haven't finished picking through the garage yet, but there's a **** load of other products (mostly Meguiar's) and I'll list my collection as soon as I have a chance. Then maybe someone can give me a push in the right direction. I've read Mike's 'Art of Detailing' and will start practicing soon.

                        I've set the date for our motorcycle detailing seminar at work for May 30th. It's low key and my plan is to introduce some of the products, basic skills, the what to do/not to do, talk about grit guards.. etc. I'll pick up a few old body shop left overs to practice on, plus my own cars are pretty ratty and I can practice on them safely too. Hopefully, I'll be ready for the seminar.

                        Finally (note to self; update forum more often to minimize length of posts!), I requested event support from Meguiar's.. but no news yet. Maybe I should have gone through the Canadian site? Looks like it was updated recently and may be coming back to life!

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Re: Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

                          Here is an affordable alternative.



                          This kit comes with 5" MF cutting and finishing pads plows the D300 cutting compound and D301 finishing wax. The 5" backing plate is an option. I bought this as a starter MF system and love it.

                          I've used ADS in the past and find them a good source of detailing products at competitive prices.
                          Jim
                          My Gallery

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Re: Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

                            Thanks jfelbab! Unfortunately, ADS doesn't ship to us
                            Maybe Autopia will match their price?

                            I may have to do come down to Niagara Falls again and pick up an order.. Makes for a long day, but when I order enough it's worth it.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Re: Looking for help/advice from the Meguiar's community

                              BTW,

                              with the g110v2 and stock/included backing plate (6"), do I use 6/6.5/or 7" foam pads?!!!
                              Depending where you look, the sizes are all over the board!

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