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Greetings from Cincy!

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  • Greetings from Cincy!

    Hello everyone.

    I've never detailed or painted in any capacity any car in my whole life, and Monday I start a week of training with a paint repair tech, and then the week after that I head off to demonstrate what (hopefully) will be able to do as far as repairing scratches and paint chips. If all goes ok, Ill be an independent contractor for a touch-up company that shall remain nameless until a later date.

    My background in the auto industry is in mechanical repair only. I've been a BMW tech for the past 7 years, and before that I was a service writer for an independent bmw repair shop.

    So, I know a week is not even close to enough time to learn how to perform scratch repair and paint chip repair. I'm just going in head first and seeing what happens. I hope I pick up the basics in a week, enough to do basic small scratch repair, and paint chip repair at least.

    I've never buffed a car, or polished, or even applied wax to a car. But here next to me is my Makita 9227c that I got this evening from craigslist. some say that I am stupid for buying the makita as my very first buffing/polishing tool, and others say that it was a good idea to just get something that can do it all and learn on this machine.

    Im supplied a paint kit and basic needed supplies to perform scratch and chip repair by the company.

    I get my hands dirty in this business for the first time ever on Monday... Im nervous... My first time doing any of this will be on a dealership's car...so I cant F up anything.

    Talk about a steeeep learning curve.

    Who knows, maybe ill have a knack for it...maybe not.

  • #2
    Re: Greetings from Cincy!

    Whew, what a long introduction!

    JK! to MOL!
    Shane
    1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera SL

    If you trim yourself to fit the world you'll whittle yourself away. - Aaron Tippin

    Comment


    • #3
      Re: Greetings from Cincy!

      Welcome to MOL!

      May I suggest you get a junkyard hood to practice on before using your rotary on a clients vehicle.

      Andy M.
      Keeping MOL family friendly! If you need help or have a question, don't hesitate to shoot me an email or PM. 101impala@gmail.com
      Andy M. Moderator

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      • #4
        Re: Greetings from Cincy!

        Originally posted by Andy M. View Post
        Welcome to MOL!

        May I suggest you get a junkyard hood to practice on before using your rotary on a clients vehicle.

        Andy M.
        thanks for the welcome guys.

        Well I've got 2 days, and no one to show me the right way till Monday on a clients vehicle... I mean, Im not going to be alone at all, the pro tech is going to be right next to me and giving me basic tasks to do while teaching basic technique. My plan is to practice on my old truck after I get some basic hands on instruction. I've got to learn basic paint mixing in a week too. Thats the best I can do. They are providing all the compounds and what-not for me for free. But not until later next week. So I really am not equipped to pre-practice.

        Maybe one thing I have going for me, is that right now I have zero bad habits. but is it like credit, where some bad is better than none at all?

        I dont think I am in over my head...yet. I have been working with my hands all my life...that's gotta count for something. Oh, and Im not colorblind...lol.

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        • #5
          Re: Greetings from Cincy!

          Hello and welcome to mol.

          Good luck in your new job.
          quality creates its own demand

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          • #6
            Re: Greetings from Cincy!

            Welcome from Middletown Ohio
            Fergy-

            You're only as good as your last detail

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Greetings from Cincy!

              Originally posted by J. A. Michaels View Post
              Hello and welcome to mol.

              Good luck in your new job.
              Thanks man.

              So, I have been watching all the vids I can about buffing, polishing and wet sanding. I know its not enough to do that and then go out and do it...but its all I do to learn anything until Monday.

              The guy Ill be getting training from seems like a skilled paint tech from what I saw. I already spent a day with him last week, just watching. He said he's only been doing this type of thing for about 3 years. But from what I saw, he knew a lot. There was a car with a scratch or 3 on each panel, and about 20 rock chips in the hood. He had the car done in about an hour, paint chips and everything. the way he did the scratch repair was like this...

              California duster, cleaner, hand wet sanding on the scratches followed by A squirt of light brown compound which he worked in with his Dewalt buffer, then an almost white compound, again worked in with the Dewalt. He never changed pads that I saw. last step was a wipe down with a spray product. He would make holographic swirls with the darker compound, but after he used the almost white compound, the holographs were all gone and the scratch was gone. and again, same pad the whole time. This was a very sunny day...sun beating down on us and the car.

              I know a lot of ppl do this differently, but this is just what I saw. Im sure he took shortcuts, but he works for flat rate pay and his technique produced good looking results.

              The end result looked good to me and the sales manager was pleased, and also commented that the guy was good.

              I hope he takes the time out to teach me the right things. I know nothing...

              Comment

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