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**blindingshine** · Aug 10, 2010, 05:16 AM

Re: How did You get Into detailing?

I just started getting serious about detailing in the last 6 months or so. I am currently unemployed so I need something to do to kill the boredom. Well seeing as how my lady and I just bought a house, I all of a sudden remembered that I use to detail at a dealership in town. Well one thing led to another and I knew I was going about it the right way when the insurance agent looked at her car and said oh you two must have just got this. I told her no it's actually 2 years old, not much I know, but when she was asked if she would like to refinance her car through her bank while in the drive through I knew I was pretty good. Unfortunately I have yet to get someone to pay me but I still hope, and you gotta know you are good when your lady asks you to stop detailing her car, because she is tired of being asked if she wants to refinance it, she said when it was "sorta dirty" she was never bothered. Geez like I was supposed to know it looked that good.

**ajb39oh** · Aug 10, 2010, 07:34 AM

Re: How did You get Into detailing?

I started when I was about 12 when my dad used to leave his truck for me to clean up. He was a mechanic and had a body shop so I was always around cars.

**Still Learnin** · Aug 10, 2010, 10:00 AM

Re: How did You get Into detailing?

Ive always been into clean cars, but it was just your basic wash, wax, tire shine for everything.... then about 2 yrs ago I waxed my new truck and noticed it didnt feel slick and remembered I had a clay bar from my old car that I never got around to use cause I heard it makes the paint shinier not remove contaniments. One thing led to another and now Im buffing paint on the side for extra money and when I get that extra money I think of what products I can buy next.. Thanks Meguiar's

**Bill Davidson** · Aug 10, 2010, 10:31 AM

Re: How did You get Into detailing?

I got into detailing by taking my new black truck through an automatic "soft touch" car wash. I searched for ways to eliminate the damage and eventually found this forum. 6 months later, I'm living and breathing detailing daily.

Prior to that, I always kept my vehicles extremely clean, but I never had the knowledge needed to maintain/better their appearance. I made the same common mistakes that most people make. ie. damaging them while washing... using overly aggressive products, poor techniques etc.

Honestly if it wasn't for this forum, I wouldn't be "into detailing". It's not just Meguiar's products that fuel my passion for detailing... it's Meguiar's (Car Crazy) people. Members and staff here are inspiring, generous and friendly. I enjoy sharing detailing knowledge & experiences as much as detailing itself (perhaps even more - detailing is hard work

).

**JD Serna** · Aug 10, 2010, 11:59 AM

Re: How did You get Into detailing?

I've always liked to keep my car clean until last year my cousin Erik Mejia took me to meguiars and I saw first hand how they are into their cars. I was hooked instantly and I have been practicing my skills on my cars and my family members. I love my new hobby and I love working on my own cars be it oil change or upgrading my audio system.

**J. A. Michaels** · Aug 10, 2010, 02:17 PM

Re: How did You get Into detailing?

One of my first part time jobs was at a car wash. Liked the look of a clean car. Been at it ever since.

**paulcr39** · Aug 10, 2010, 08:50 PM

Re: How did You get Into detailing?

I graduated high school in 1982 just as Caterpillar was laying off thousands in my home town of Joliet, IL. Unemployment for our county that year hit 26%. There were no jobs to be found. I came close that summer delivering pizzas for $3.00/hr + tips. A layed off Cat worker got the job (he had a wife and kids). I had to hustle. I painted houses, pulled weeds and cut lawns. I ran into a friend of mine, John, that told me he was washing and waxing cars...and making much more $$$ than me. He showed me how to use a paint brush and Qtip to clean the vents. He also showed me how to use an all purpose cleaner on the vinyl mats and seats followed by Endust (or Pledge?) and finally wash and wax. Back then we washed with whatever was in the kitchen which meant I used Ivory liquid. The wax I used is most likely the one shown below unless Meguiar's had a similar can in the early 1980's. I pilfered my first can from my Dad. He made me wax the Volvo wagon and buy him a new can as punishment.

I "detailed" for the next two summers. After that I intermittently went back and forth on my car care. I got back into detailing in 1996 when I bought a Polo? Green Camaro Z28 with T-tops, 6 speed manual and chrome wheels. A friend that had a Pontiac Trans Am made fun of my swirly finish and brought me back to Meguiar's. Every vehicle I've owned since has had an immaculate finish including the 2002 F150 with the hail dents! If memory serves me right didn't clay bars come out in the late 1990's? I didn't use it on my Z28 SS, but I remember using it on my S10 when I moved into this house in 2000.

**Zaris** · Aug 11, 2010, 12:21 AM

Re: How did You get Into detailing?

Bought my first car, the 2003 black VW Golf you see in my avatar on the left, in February 2009 and wanted to baby it since ownership. Like Still Learnin, I like a clean car, but originally all I knew how to do was just wash it. Each wash, though, I try to find ways to refine and learn new techniques, and I just went crazy from there on out.

I guess you could say I got into detailing when I wanted to keep my wheels clean. Got started with Meguiar's All Wheel Cleaner but didn't know how to apply it properly. Thought it was rinse, mist on, wait 15, and rinse again. Never thought about agitating it with a brush while it was wet until I was out of product. And each time I went back to Pep Boys, I bought more and more product to try and apply onto my car. And gradually, I became a car crazy neat freak.

But it wasn't until May this year when my sister was getting married on Memorial Day weekend that I really unleashed the beans and did the whole 5-step detail cycle. But I've been well into detailing since summer last year (by detailing, I mean, more than just a senseless wash. You are always conscious about protecting your car and trying to make it look better though tools and technique). I was 24.

**JoeDirt** · Aug 11, 2010, 07:10 AM

Re: How did You get Into detailing?

In 1990 I cleaned up my Mom's '86 Thunderbird to pick up my date to head to a friend's house to meet the limo to go to our prom. Several girls commented at how nice the car was. That's all I needed to hear- now I can't stop detailing...

**sleepy** · Aug 14, 2010, 04:51 AM

Re: How did You get Into detailing?

I have been waxing my cars and trucks for years. Last year I was laid off for several months, when my neighbors told me, since I washed and clean my cars about once a week, why not do it for money. They were my first customers.

**sunday joe** · Aug 14, 2010, 07:23 AM

Re: How did You get Into detailing?

Originally posted by blindingshine View Post

I just started getting serious about detailing in the last 6 months or so. I am currently unemployed so I need something to do to kill the boredom. Well seeing as how my lady and I just bought a house, I all of a sudden remembered that I use to detail at a dealership in town. Well one thing led to another and I knew I was going about it the right way when the insurance agent looked at her car and said oh you two must have just got this. I told her no it's actually 2 years old, not much I know, but when she was asked if she would like to refinance her car through her bank while in the drive through I knew I was pretty good. Unfortunately I have yet to get someone to pay me but I still hope, and you gotta know you are good when your lady asks you to stop detailing her car, because she is tired of being asked if she wants to refinance it, she said when it was "sorta dirty" she was never bothered. Geez like I was supposed to know it looked that good.

It's only a hobby when you are doing your own car. It takes your time and TIME IS MONEY.

**PhotoRecon** · Aug 14, 2010, 09:26 AM

Re: How did You get Into detailing?

I purchased a new Black 1987 300ZX and began trying different techniques, products and equipment to make it look the best possible. From there I started doing friends and coworkers cars for free so that I could continue to test out different combinations.

People just didn't feel comfortable letting me detail their cars for free. To keep them happy and allow my testing to continue I started accepting money for it. I used those funds to buy more products and equipments to try out. At the same time I was always looking for ideas on techniques that work.

Even after 23 years I keep finding something that works better than what I've been doing.

**Kornercarver** · Aug 14, 2010, 10:11 AM

Re: How did You get Into detailing?

I got my first car in 1961 and always wanted to drive a clean car (clean cars run better you know). I have been cleaning and waxing cars since and still love doing it. About 40 years ago, there weren't a lot of detailing products, just Turtle Wax, Car Skin and Johnson's Holiday. Of course, there was rubbing compound to deal with really dull cars. Things have progressed to the point there is no excuse for cars being dull and dirty, but yet, people are simply too lazy to do the work to maintain their paint. I'll be 67 this November and my cars still look fresh and shiny...................

**Chris Thompson** · Aug 14, 2010, 06:11 PM

Re: How did You get Into detailing?

I am a Corvette geek. I wanted to work with Corvettes so I applied to be a salesman at the local chevy dealership (at 17 years old, I must have been dreaming! lol) I got hired but as a detailer. The manager didn't hardly show me anything but expected me to keep up with everybody else. One day, he didnt realize I was standing right behind him and he told one of my coworkers, "Chris ain't worth $%#@!." After that, I decided I would prove him wrong. I discovered AutoGeek and subsequently, Meguiars and have learned the trade in and out.
It all worked out, I got to work on as many Corvettes as I could handle.

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How did You get Into detailing?

How did You get Into detailing?

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