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Bragging, I know.....

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  • Bragging, I know.....

    After living in the same house with my wife of 41 years for 20 years, we're moving. We've struggled with a single car garages since we first married, everywhere we lived. Who parks in, who parks out, parking across the street when neighbors winter in Florida.

    Well we are finally moving, although the primary reasons were for a larger house with everything on one floor, a nicer garage and moving closer to a University where we've had seasons football and basketball tickets for many years. A three hour drive one way...ugh.

    I've hinted at it a couple of times on MOL, but never stated I've struggled a bit with multiple sclerosis over the years. Detailing was a perfect fit after retiring because I could work on a flat level surface and not worry about tripping or falling. Well, most of the time not tripping or falling...!

    Anyway the new house is almost all on one level, including a two car garage....no, no a three car garage...no, no a four and a half car garage. Bragging, I warned you, bragging.

    Whether I continue to hobby detail depends on the MS, my uh...advanced age...., and whether the new neighbors can tolerate numerous black cars (is there really another color for a car?) in our driveway being washed and the sound of buffers emanating from our garage. Yes, the city allows car washing in driveways and streets.

    I'll miss the shop I rent now with its separate wash bay and the four post lift. Oh yes I'll miss that lift. Plus the landlord has been great bringing in folks wanted details. I have two cars to detail before packing up the shop and moving.

    I know pictures required or it's not true....maybe it is just a dream....

    "fishing for swirls in a sea of black"
    ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    David

  • #2
    Re: Bragging, I know.....

    Definitely need some photos!
    Black on Black - 2007 Chevy Avalanche Z71 4x4
    Personalized Detailing

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    • #3
      Re: Bragging, I know.....

      Congrats on the big move, David!

      I hope everything works out well for you.

      ...And yes, I am jealous of your big, new garage!
      Originally posted by Blueline
      I own a silver vehicle and a black vehicle owns me. The black one demands attention, washing, detailing, waxing and an occasional dinner out at a nice restaurant. The silver one demands nothing and it looks just fine. I think the black vehicle is taking advantage of me, and the silver car is more my style. We can go out for a drive without her makeup and she looks fine. If I want to take the black one out, it is three or four hours in the "bathroom" to get ready.

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      • #4
        Re: Bragging, I know.....

        Great to hear! Sure you will enjoy the move very much!

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        • #5
          Re: Bragging, I know.....

          Going from a single car garage to a two car is bragging.

          A 4 1/2er is just plain showin' off!

          Congrats David!

          I sure don't envy 'the move' after all those years. You'll be more than surprised what you will find when ya start packin'. A LOT of those, "I wonder what I did with that" moments for sure.

          Bill

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          • #6
            Re: Bragging, I know.....

            Congrats, David!!! I'm sure the folks in town will miss you and your detailing skills, but it sounds like you've earned your dream house (and garage.... geez, that sounds nice!!!) and closer proximity to your favorite past times!!

            Don't tell your wife I said this, but there are drive on lifts available that will fit easily in your garage without having to cut into the floor. You can usually pick them up for under $2000 and they're perfect for detailing. I know a lot of pro detailers with brick and mortar shops who use them, and love them. Seriously, don't tell your wife that you heard it from me!!!

            As for the MS, I certainly hope and pray that it allows you many more years of enjoyment from both detailing and college sports!!
            Michael Stoops
            Senior Global Product & Training Specialist | Meguiar's Inc.

            Remember, this hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need therapy.

            Comment


            • #7
              Re: Bragging, I know.....

              Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I'll work on the photos for proof such a garage exists. Bill, you are so right. I'm on a first name basis with the folks at Goodwill, the recycling center, secure document shredding and provided the mover's children with a semester of college tuition. We've done more work on the house we are selling than we've done in twenty years. Rebuilt the deck, damp proofed the basement, upgraded the electrical service, refinished hardwood floors and painted anything that was stationary. Thank goodness it was a small house. We even "staged" the house by putting half our belongings in storage. Luckily the house sold after two showings.

              Mike what an excellent idea! I'm sure after upgrading our Coleman inflatable mattress to a real bed, replacing tailgating chairs with real living room furniture and trading up to a refrigerator from a "wheely-cool" beverage cooler, a lift in the garage would be a welcome addition to our new home. Until that time, the saying, "a happy wife, is a happy life" reins supreme.

              "fishing for swirls in a sea of black"
              ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
              David

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              • #8
                Re: Bragging, I know.....

                A few minor changes and we've nearly settled into our new home. First, the garage floor was epoxy coated. A bit different result than I expected. I expected a smooth, yet slip resistant floor. However, it's rough and very slip resistant, which is good for a stumble bum like me. The steps from garage to house were removed and a ramp put in to make it easier to enter house from garage. Not ADA and a bit steep, but workable. I've finally, after literally months, gotten to detail my car. Granted, Lexus paint is very soft, but it does shine up nicely. Over several days I took it to a car wash and wand washed it, then hand washed, blow dried it and took it home to detail it.

                After getting it home, wiped down with a detailer spray and started buffing with M205 and a black pad. Then polished/waxed with MFDA Finishing Wax using a soft Lake Country foam pad and finally went over it with Ultimate Liquid Wax, machine applied using a 4" soft pad. Vacuumed for what seemed like hours, cleaned and protected leather, Ultimate Detailed Natural Shined the plastic surfaces inside, cleaned glass and then started in engine compartment.

                An engine compartment in a Lexus is just plastic covers with a couple of holes for oil and washer fluid, but they hadn't been cleaned for months and looked like a dusty gravel road. After washing, I used Ultimate Protectant.

                Nothing done to exterior plastic, rims or tires.

                Like so many clients who's cars I've detailed, I traded the car while it still looked good. Weather was sunny and dry so car was still clean by the time I reached the dealer.


                Really like reflections in obsidian black paint



                Again reflections, not perfect due to minor orange peel in paint. Garage has LED lighting on the ceiling,
                not too good for detailing. So used quartz work light for lighting and heat and reviewed each section
                with a Brinkmann.


                You can see where there are color variations in the epoxy floor. Not only is base color wrong tint, but
                excessive color chips at the seams.


                Outdoor air temp dropped to freezing at night and up to nearly 50 during day, so needed some auxiliary heat
                provided by the propane heater. Still a bit cold for waxing. Turned out acceptable, but not great.
                The ramp took up too much space compared to the steps, so I park angled in a two car space making it
                easier to walk around the car.


                This is the two and half car deep section of garage. Filled with some stuff the previous owner left and
                then all the stuff I had at my detailing shop. All of this will be rearranged and properly stored when the bank
                account has recovered from the move and I can buy some storage cabinets..


                We are finally calling the place home. I don't anticipate continuing the detailing hobby on other people's cars,
                just focus on our two. If my car has been neglected, my wife's has been ignored. Very unacceptable.
                With a user name of Wifpd4 (wife paid for), gotta keep priorities straight...!!!

                "fishing for swirls in a sea of black"
                ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
                David

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