Where did you start?

[GaVeN]

Where did you start detailing? Or, how did it come about?

I see all too many guys doing "detailing", but have very limited knowledge on paint, characteristics & the do's & dont's. Seen so many new guys on the radar, and then they disappear altogether, or making rookie mistakes.

I'm curious to find out how other detailers here started out, and how you ended up doing it.


I personally started off by spray painting, and with that comes the wet sanding & polishing stage afterwards.
The holograms from compounds, pads & rotary got me researching & chasing that perfect showroom finish.
From there I got a few clients asking me to rectify panelbeater recklessness etc.

[amstel18]

I am no detailer, but from personal preference, I always like having a clean car that is good looking.

I started out with my first car back in 2008, and the Meguiars phase kicked in, where I thought it was the bees knees. So in search of a better look I started experimenting with different products and reading up on different and improved methods.

I quite enjoy cleaning my car, its relaxing for me. But this bloody water restrictions ain't helping. I am itching to do a full decontamination and wax on my new car...

[Dirty Harry]

By seeing Lawrence posting his mirror like results. Then noticing and feeling how terrible my car is. Went to the Meguiars course, thought I could make some extra pocket money from it, then I realised what actually went into it. It is **** ton of work, but the results are rewarding. I had stopped for a while, but now having a dark color car again the need to sort the paint out has got me dusting off my equipment and playing around.

I'll be honest, I know f-all about this stuff compared to the likes of Lawrence and Gaven, but I know enough to be able know **** paint when I see it.

[Kyle]

Well I had some panel beaters in the family, always volunteered to help when it came to the polishing stage.

Then pretty much just trying to perfect my own cars, then friends got involved and asked me to sort theirs out...

Spiraled from there really.

Think the main thing is I spent a long time perfecting my technique on my own and family owned cars before offering it as a service.

[lawrence]

I started off like most people do - wanting to keep their own car looking good.

Landed up spotting a free Meguiars course somewhere on the old speed and sound forum and booked myself on it (along with Troy [6_teen valve] and Vasi [Devzo].

The bug bit, and bit hard.... and it has never let go...

The reward I get from the turn around in the cars itself is great, as is the reaction from most owners.
But it is even more rewarding to play a small part in motivating others to look after their cars better and help educate them
All the 'science' behind the detailing (chemicals etc) also really interest me
And then ever changing environment and constant development means a never ending stream of new stuff to learn, which helps keep the ageing brain in check.

[Irfaan]

I see all too many guys doing "detailing", but have very limited knowledge on paint, characteristics & the do's & dont's. Seen so many new guys on the radar, and then they disappear altogether, or making rookie mistakes.

Not as rookie as this:

Someone on Facebook posted a pic of their "detailing" work done on an Audi S3 recently, no close up's not even corrective close ups, just a photoshopped 50/50 pic where the left side of the pic is miraculously 2 shades darker with a yellow over tone (even the street and sky seems like it was detailed)

Anyway, my toppie was a panel beater, I was always around the shop and I only knew that a rotary machine existed, I never understood how to get rid of swirls. I hologrammed and added buffer trails all over my Citi. Enter Lawrence, read his in depth explanations, started youtubing, and now I know how to use my 1 bucket, chamois and sunlight liquid much better

[Zubair]

Started off as therapy, grew into passion and currently on obsession.

Special thanks goes out to Lawrence for encouraging the madness.

[MaX]

Started in school where my dad gave me his car for the Saterday night jol if I washed it. From there it was an ever growing desire to get the car to look better than the other guys' cars and from there it grew to an obsession. Made lots of mistakes, learnt from them and happy to call myself an enthusiast detailer with enough skill to keep my cars looking better than those owned by the regular weekend washer Will never do this as a business, its more a hobby

[Kyle]

I see all too many guys doing "detailing", but have very limited knowledge on paint, characteristics & the do's & dont's. Seen so many new guys on the radar, and then they disappear altogether, or making rookie mistakes.

Not as rookie as this:

Someone on Facebook posted a pic of their "detailing" work done on an Audi S3 recently, no close up's not even corrective close ups, just a photoshopped 50/50 pic where the left side of the pic is miraculously 2 shades darker with a yellow over tone (even the street and sky seems like it was detailed)

Anyway, my toppie was a panel beater, I was always around the shop and I only knew that a rotary machine existed, I never understood how to get rid of swirls. I hologrammed and added buffer trails all over my Citi. Enter Lawrence, read his in depth explanations, started youtubing, and now I know how to use my 1 bucket, chamois and sunlight liquid much better

I saw that

[lawrence]

I see all too many guys doing "detailing", but have very limited knowledge on paint, characteristics & the do's & dont's. Seen so many new guys on the radar, and then they disappear altogether, or making rookie mistakes.

Not as rookie as this:

Someone on Facebook posted a pic of their "detailing" work done on an Audi S3 recently, no close up's not even corrective close ups, just a photoshopped 50/50 pic where the left side of the pic is miraculously 2 shades darker with a yellow over tone (even the street and sky seems like it was detailed)

Anyway, my toppie was a panel beater, I was always around the shop and I only knew that a rotary machine existed, I never understood how to get rid of swirls. I hologrammed and added buffer trails all over my Citi. Enter Lawrence, read his in depth explanations, started youtubing, and now I know how to use my 1 bucket, chamois and sunlight liquid much better

I saw that

Please post a pic here - I need a laugh

[Le Clue]

i started at the bottom now I'm here..

[mikhail117]

My grandfather was a panel beater and used to restore old cars. At the time, while I found myself interested, the bug only hit when I bought my own first car. I completely ruined the paint trying everything to get it to "shine", then learned about detailing and took an interest in it. Got most of my theory from Lawrence and his openness to sharing, before finally getting some practical training at Crossley and Webb in Cape Town. Got to work on some amazing cars and much like Lawrence and Kyle mentioned, started with my car, had a friend want theirs done and it took off from there

[dazza]

Started to play around when I got my 87 Citi. Since it was going to be a project car I wanted to do most of the work myself, that being mechanical and cosmetic. Have read probably all Lawrence's detailing threads here and decided to get a few key pieces of equipment to start "learning" on the golf.
Since then have watched a lot of Larry's videos on youtube (AmmoNyc) and read a few detailing articles

[devZo]

My interest in proper car care and detailing stemmed from my dad’s obsession with always having a clean car. This rubbed off on me-experimenting with products on my folks and family member’s vehicles. I remember doing the meguiars deep crystal 3 step(paint cleaner, polish, wax) by hand with applicator pads numerous times and I think this somewhat explains my slightly crooked fingers, lol.

As Lawrence mentioned, attended the Megs course and this is when i got really hooked. It was at this class we all got to take the Megs Dual Action Polisher for spin on the bonnet of a Daytona Violet m3. Seeing what was achievable using this polisher prompted me to place an order for one the very same day! After refining my skill on my own vehicles I started offering it to others.

It is a labour of love, in a constantly evolving environment. I am not one to knock down the techniques and methods of others in the industry. If there are people willing to pay for someone to hack their vehicle then so be it-invariably they will end up on the doorstep of a more experienced detailer to sort out their mess!

[LoW n SloW]

The bug bit when i had my 1st corolla back in 2009, always wanted it clean, but was always worried about the fine line that i saw at night under street lights and in the sun... so i bought a buffer at autostyle, that shook my whole body. only used it once and i gave it away to my one friend hahahahaha

And resorted to use my hands "polishing" my car using cleaner wax

Then i got my ibiza and joined this forum where i figured ive been doing everything wrong my whole life, attended a detail demo at Dubcorp, where LAwrence and Kyle did magic on a small detaitl on a Audi a4, since then i never looked back and kept doing research ever since

Now i have my own DA been collecting products that i need to get started now i even have a bonnet to practice new products on... still alot to learn also do alot of youtube learning from the legends themselves Kevin Brown, Larry Kosilla and the crew

[LostEnigma]

I got into the whole thing when I got my GT... It had marks all over it from the transporting covers..

Checked for detailers on the forum.. Phoned around and the prices I was charged were beyond ridiculous! Spent that money on my own products and tools, and youtube, cd forum and autogeek became bookmarks.

Importing the Flex LVG back then before it was in South Africa definitely taught me about Vaseline.

[Rsi huntered]

I started off by always wanting my cars niceeeee and clean and at that point in time, in my cleaning career i did not know handy andy/sun light liquid was the devil (taught it was the greatest invention god could give us )

I started getting more and more and more interested after i saw Lawrence details threads and started reading more and more and more(you get the point) which lead to you tubing ALOT and eventually lead to doing my cars and the bug madness just bit and life was never the same again

The End!!!!!!