How much of importance is surface prep?

[ninobrn99]

Re: How much of importance is surface prep?

id say 85-90% prep, 10-15% product.

[Calais]

Re: How much of importance is surface prep?

I made a thread kind of like this: http://meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35249

[zaidgreat]

Re: How much of importance is surface prep?

Well I agree the prep work is the key. The more meticulous you are about the prep work, the better end result will be achieved. Just my 0.02.

So, why is it that LSPs costs a lot more than surface prep products? Are we all sort of ''misguided""..

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: How much of importance is surface prep?

Well I agree the prep work is the key. The more meticulous you are about the prep work, the better end result will be achieved. Just my 0.02.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: How much of importance is surface prep?

I suppose that it is at this point when the discussion turns to waxes that detailing ceases to be craft and becomes religion.

Sometimes it even starts in the defect correction stages. We were discussing this over the weekend in our Detailing 101 class. Specifically the very heated debates over which compound/cleaner/polish/etc is best. Funny thing is, you'll get 6 guys yelling and screaming at each other over products and techniques, yet when you search through that same forum for work that each has done, they all get great results. They seem to miss that while yelling at each other. Seriously, if 6 people can use 6 different products and all achieve outstanding results, how can any of them be "wrong"?

Find something you like, and use it often. Hmmmmm.... now where have I heard that before????

[akimel]

Re: How much of importance is surface prep?

Most of the discussion surrounding LSPs revolves around what are usually fairly subtle changes to the final appearance after all that prep is done. The discussions can become somewhat esoteric (not unlike the debate over various types of cables/wires used in high end audio systems) and, unfortunately, they can also degrade into a massive argument that serves no real purpose. So as this thread progresses, let's all just keep that in mind!

I suppose that it is at this point when the discussion turns to waxes that detailing ceases to be craft and becomes religion. I'm not sure why this is so, but it seems to be the case, at least by my observation.

The one thing I do know is that I wish one day to acquire the polishing skills to create a swirl-free finish. I'm not even close. Sigh.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: How much of importance is surface prep?

Protection? Gloss? Surface smoothness? Reflectivity? I bet you won't get any of it without suface prep.

Very, very true.

If you look at all the fantastic "before and after" threads here on MOL and elsewhere, and read through the steps taken to return a battered, neglected, tired or abused finish to a gleaming show car shine, you know it takes work. But you also know that none of those vehicles would be so transformed if nothing more than a wax, even an extremely expensive wax, was applied as the ONLY step.

Most of the discussion surrounding LSPs revolves around what are usually fairly subtle changes to the final appearance after all that prep is done. The discussions can become somewhat esoteric (not unlike the debate over various types of cables/wires used in high end audio systems) and, unfortunately, they can also degrade into a massive argument that serves no real purpose. So as this thread progresses, let's all just keep that in mind!

[zaidgreat]

Was wondering why all the fuss about LSPs when surface prep is the single most important regime that every one of us should be perfecting? Especially on clearcoats..
Protection? Gloss? Surface smoothness? Reflectivity? I bet you won't get any of it without suface prep.