1968 Chevy Camaro Convertible

[gb387]

WOW!!! Are you sure that is the same car?

That looks great, anything would have been an improvement but that is impressive!

[Tim Lingor]

Re: A Very Valuable Lesson

Hi Richard,

Finding marks like the one below that you posted can be a real issue. On any sharp edges like the one in the picture, you should tape them off and do then do them by hand. Luckily you had proof that you did not do it (it was probably done by the previous 'detailer' at the carwash). Sadly, you may have got the blame as the finish now looks so good that it really stands out.

But in reality, things like that can and will happen from time to time. You can be as careful as possible and things can still happen as you just do not know the full history of the paint you are working on. You did a fantastic job on that Camaro. I am very impressed with how well you are doing with the rotary buffer considering you just started using it! I would use that mark as a reminder to be extra careful and to check other vehicles very closely in the future and point the issues out to the owner beforehand.

In a few days, I have to fix/detail a 2003 F150 for a guy that was butchered TWICE by the dealer's detailer, and I mean butchered! I have never seen buffer marks this bad! And...after all of these years, I still get nervous as I have no idea how much damage was exactly done to the paint by that "detailer" until I get to work on the paint up close and personal.

Do not worry Richard! You are doing a fantastic job!

Tim

Originally posted by OctaneGuy
During the buffing of this Camaro, I was being extra careful about making any irreversible mistakes. At one point, I noticed a burn on a high point, and for atleast 30 minutes, I was really stressed. First, I always made sure to work up but not on the edges, and I took many precautions, always playing it safe, yet there it was, a burn in, and worse it was right at the front of the hood. I called Mike Phillips, and told him that while things were going great, I felt really bad about this. He tried to provide some comforting words. Later when the customer arrived, I told him about it, and he just shrugged it off, saying there were a lot of defects already, and that it didn't matter.

Still, I felt bad, and that's not the kind of mistake I ever want to be making.

You can see the spot circled here.



A few days later as I began processing my photos, I noticed an interesting thing. From a shot I took the night I inspected the car, there was a white spot in exactly the spot of the burn. I zoomed in on it, and what do you know? It was a pre-existing condition. I didn't cause it! You can imagine the relief I felt.



The moral of the story is, document your subject well before beginning work. Make sure the photos are sharp and well focused in case you need to zoom into it. In my case, I'm shooting with a 6MP Digital SLR, and the RAW file allows me to zoom in very tight without seeing any compression artifacts that might be confused for defects.

I'm also thinking that a liability waiver might be a smart thing to have just for peace of mind. Do any of the other pro detailers use them?

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Re: Re: A Very Valuable Lesson

Originally posted by 2hotford
In a few days, I have to fix/detail a 2003 F150 for a guy that was butchered TWICE by the dealer's detailer, and I mean butchered! I have never seen buffer marks this bad! And...after all of these years, I still get nervous as I have no idea how much damage was exactly done to the paint by that "detailer" until I get to work on the paint up close and personal.

Tim, just a thought... have you considered finding a paint thickness gauge to borrow or use beforehand? If I were seeing alot of vehicles butchered by other detailers, or older "original" paint jobs comming through my shop, I'd invest in one. Quite possibly that is the best insurance policy you can have to know you aren't cutting through something you shouldn't be.

As it stands now, if I get a car that I'm particularly nervous about (rare occurence, to be sure; since I mostly work on vehicles that have never been touched since new -- either not at all, or only by me) I take it to a local body shop and get readings from a thickness gauge, and decide how to proceed from that point.

[Tim Lingor]

Hey Charlie,

Yes, I have considered using a ETG. But since I have been detailing for well over 20 years, 16+ with a rotary, you develop a feel for paint and what a particular paint can handle. Most of the experience came from finding out the hard way. Even if a ETG provides the paint's thickness in given areas, it does not tell the whole story. Paint thickness can vary dramatically on a vehicle. I do not do many daily drivers as detailing is not my main career. I rather focus on special interest vehicles like the one Richard detailed in this thread; or my case, I know the person and felt that his truck would make an excellent write-up for Meguiar's Online. Others can detail new vehicles, but give me a 56 Chevy or 64.5 Mustang and I am all smiles!

Do you now have a detailing shop? I thought you were still in school only detailing on the weekends? It is a probably a wise idea to have someone at a body shop check the paint on vehicles you are unsure about. A mistake can be very costly!

Tim

[Shiny Lil Detlr]

Originally posted by 2hotford
Hey Charlie,

Yes, I have considered using a ETG. But since I have been detailing for well over 20 years, 16+ with a rotary, you develop a feel for paint and what a particular paint can handle. Most of the experience came from finding out the hard way. Even if a ETG provides the paint's thickness in given areas, it does not tell the whole story. Paint thickness can vary dramatically on a vehicle. I do not do many daily drivers as detailing is not my main career. I rather focus on special interest vehicles like the one Richard detailed in this thread; or my case, I know the person and felt that his truck would make an excellent write-up for Meguiar's Online. Others can detail new vehicles, but give me a 56 Chevy or 64.5 Mustang and I am all smiles!

Absolutely true; you can never be 100%, and it still comes down to instinct. I think I've developed a fairly good idea as far as what different paints can handle, but since I don't have quite as much experience as some others, I always like to have the numbers to back me up. Unfortunately in my area there aren't many people who have specialty vehicles, and the ones that do tend to care for them on their own. Otherwise I agree, I'd love to be doing those type of jobs instead of restoring 3-5 year old vehicles that are about to be traded in (or even brand new ones that are daily-driven and stored outdoors).

Do you now have a detailing shop? I thought you were still in school only detailing on the weekends? It is a probably a wise idea to have someone at a body shop check the paint on vehicles you are unsure about. A mistake can be very costly!

Tim

No, I don't have a full-time shop; but I refer to my workspace as "the shop" either way (partially a habit I formed to let others in my family know that my garage is not for storing their **** but is rather my workspace). However at this point I've developed a large enough customer base that I'm pretty much constantly busy on weekends during the regular season, in addition to a few QEW sessions during the week for regular customers (to take up my "free time," har har...)

[OctaneGuy]

Re: Re: A Very Valuable Lesson

Thanks a lot Tim. Yeah, I keep forgetting how long I've been using the rotary--looked back at the first rotary job I did of the Green Saturn and White Ford F-150, back in August, that wasn't long ago at all. Of course, Mike Phillips has been an excellent teacher and trainer, as well as having MOL as a valuable resource. Also, getting my hands on lots of cars in various conditions has given me tons of hands on experience. I'd say all those factors contributed to an accelerated rate of learning for me.

Next time I will tape off the high points for safety. I did finish off by hand using ScratchX, and that worked really well.

re: Ford F-150
What color?

Richard

Originally posted by 2hotford
Hi Richard,

Finding marks like the one below that you posted can be a real issue. On any sharp edges like the one in the picture, you should tape them off and do then do them by hand.

SNIP

You did a fantastic job on that Camaro. I am very impressed with how well you are doing with the rotary buffer considering you just started using it! I would use that mark as a reminder to be extra careful and to check other vehicles very closely in the future and point the issues out to the owner beforehand.

In a few days, I have to fix/detail a 2003 F150 for a guy that was butchered TWICE by the dealer's detailer, and I mean butchered!

SNIP

Do not worry Richard! You are doing a fantastic job!

Tim

[Tim Lingor]

Re: Re: Re: A Very Valuable Lesson

Originally posted by OctaneGuy
Thanks a lot Tim. Yeah, I keep forgetting how long I've been using the rotary--looked back at the first rotary job I did of the Green Saturn and White Ford F-150, back in August, that wasn't long ago at all. Of course, Mike Phillips has been an excellent teacher and trainer, as well as having MOL as a valuable resource. Also, getting my hands on lots of cars in various conditions has given me tons of hands on experience. I'd say all those factors contributed to an accelerated rate of learning for me.

Next time I will tape off the high points for safety. I did finish off by hand using ScratchX, and that worked really well.

re: Ford F-150
What color?

Richard

Hi Richard,

First, I know Mike will agree with me on this, the gains you have made in detailing in such a short time are incredible!!!! I am thoroughly impressed!!

Second, the little details, no pun intended, are always things that we tend to learn about the hard way. That is why I will openly admit when I have made an Oops as I hope others can learn or at least be warned from my mistake. That is why I really appreciate your openess by pointing out in the thread the mark which thankfully was already there on the Camaro. But the fact that you worried about it speaks volumes about your dedication to the "art of polishing paint" (was that a plug for Mike's other site? ). Well done Richard!!

Finally, the truck is a deep red metallic. It has some of the worse buffer marks I have seen. The owner is so frustrated as he has taken it back twice to the detailer's shop where another person had a go at it; he did not do much better. I will give it a shot and see what can be done or not done.

Tim

[MandarinaRacing]

WOW Richard, you sure know how to look for excellent projects!!!!

Amazing transformation! I can just imagine the comments he has gotten!!!!!

Again! WOW!!!!!



Alex

[imacarnut]

richard.... great job! because of you, i just went and bought a rotary. ugh... my wallet is hurting..

[OctaneGuy]

Yeah, but it's entirely worth it. One can only stay in the PC world for so long, before realizing there is an entire universe yet to be explored!

All I can say is practice a lot and keep a smart head on your shoulders, and a little plug for myself---I'm going to be releasing some detailing videos shortly. I'm a product of these videos by studying and learning from the pros. I may have only been on the rotary for only 4 months now, but I learned the basics well, and had a good share of cars to work on to practice what I learned! PM me for more details.

Originally posted by imacarnut
richard.... great job! because of you, i just went and bought a rotary. ugh... my wallet is hurting..

[DetailManiac]

Awesome job Richard, after the first pic's i was very sceptic about
how the final results would look like, but you just did a truly amazing job there

[cydewaze]

Amazing job man! I would have been one of the ones who said "that paint cannot be saved"

[OctaneGuy]

Thanks Cydewaze and DetailManiac!
I tend to gravitate towards the impossible jobs.

They tend to be the most work, but most gratifying when you succeed. I've been lucky so far.

Richard

Originally posted by cydewaze
Amazing job man! I would have been one of the ones who said "that paint cannot be saved"

[Newport Viper]

Wow!

Richard that is just awesome! I would feel like I just got a new car, if it were mine!

[OctaneGuy]

Hey Newport! Thank you!!!

Originally posted by Newport Viper
Wow!

Richard that is just awesome! I would feel like I just got a new car, if it were mine!