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Detailing
Contributed by Paul Gasporola
People are always asking me how I keep
the body clean. The answer is simple.
The car gets a good wax twice a year. I use a commercially available
high quality wax product.
Washing before waxing is the key. The car gets completely done
with a detailing clay. Detailing
clay removes all the contaminants that have embedded in the
paint. This leaves the paint finish
silky smooth. Then apply a good wax and polish. The rest touch-ups
for the next three to four months
I use a good show quality polish and that’s it. The secret is
in the clay. The rest is detailing, detailing,
detailing.
What is detailing anyway?
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The
first step in this process is to define "detailing."
Each seminar you attend or detailing manual you read
will have a slightly different definition of detailing.
Which definition you put into use is not important,
just as long as you have a definition that defines what
detailing is and why it is of value. The definition
I use on a day to day basis that helps me answer "What
is detailing, anyway?" goes like this. "Detailing
can be defined as the systematic rejuvenation and protection
of the various surfaces of a vehicle." Simple enough,
but let's break down this definition into its components.
"Systematic" refers to the fact that as we
detail a vehicle, we use specific procedures in a specific
order that allows us to do the work in the most effective
manner. |
"Efficiency"
is a measure of the quickness of the procedures whereas
"effectiveness" is a measure of how well the procedure
works. For example, anyone can wash and wax a car. Most
home detailers however, would spend an entire Saturday
doing so. Professional detailers are systematic in what
they do. They can complete the same activities in fewer
hours, with far better results than your average home
detailer. "Rejuvenation" refers to the procedures we
use to return the vehicle to near showroom condition.
These procedures range from removing the excess dust
from a vehicle stored indoors, to all procedures necessary
to revitalize a never cleaned mini van that has taxied
four sloppy kids for 10 years! I purposely do not include
"restoration" in this range of activities because detailing
activities on a restored vehicle (e.g. a '62 Corvette
pulled from a junkyard) occur only after the restoration
activities (repair, re-construction and re-surfacing)
are complete.
"Protection" refers to the procedures we use to keep
the vehicle looking new after we leave. That is, when
the rejuvenator activities are complete, it includes
the protectants we apply that keeps the paint from oxidizing
and the leather from drying. |
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"Various
surfaces of the vehicle" refers to the fact that a vehicle
is made of dozens of surfaces (paint, exterior trim,
wheels, carpet, seating, interior trim, etc.), each
of which has a number of possible compositions. It is
the professional detailer’s responsibility to understand
how to rejuvenate and protect each of those surfaces.
For example, leather seating is rejuvenated and protected
in a completely different manner than upholstered seating.
A detailer combines chemicals, equipment, and knowledge
of vehicle surfaces into systematic procedures that
yield quality. The art and science of detailing includes
the concrete elements such as chemicals, equipment,
and vehicle surfaces. The art is the combining of these
elements into a procedure that works for a specific
situation.
"Chemicals" refers to the cleaning and protecting products
used in the detailing profession. The detailer should
have a set of products that, individually or combined,
will handle virtually any vehicle surface problem. A
detailer should have contact with one distributor who
handles quality chemicals designed specifically for
detailing. Other more generally available products should
supplement these chemicals.
"Equipment" refers to the tools of the trade. Within
each tool category exists many options. For instance:
polishers, rags, swabs and brushes. |
"Knowledge of vehicle
surfaces" indicates the responsibility of the detailer
to understand how to rejuvenate and protect the varied
surfaces of a vehicle, regardless of the specific surface
composition.
Hopefully, this examination will provide an overall
view, which will allow you to analyze your specific
activities in the context of overall detailing. If your
definition of detailing includes the word "systematic',
then you are constantly balancing efficiency and effectiveness
to satisfy an acceptable margin.
Whether or not you use the definition outlined above
or create your own, the key is to have a definition
that allows you to think clearly and project a professional
understanding of what detailing is and can do. |
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