Clean Detail/Midands Car Care Enthusiast Training! Win an AM Details Sample Pack

General > Pro Detailers Work

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RussZS:
Yesterday Nick from CleanDetail and I hosted our very first Training Day, at Nicks fantastic unit up in Doncaster.

The day was pitched at the Detailing Enthusiast and aimed to cover the basics of cleaning and preparing a car for machine polishing, and also covered machine polishing, glazing and different types of protective products.

This write up offers a brief overview of the day and a flavour of the topics covered.

Milly and I arrived at Nicks unit bright and early around 8:30 to begin help setting up for the day:

DSC04494 by RussZS, on Flickr

The subject for the day was to be this very tired looking Audi TT Roadster:

DSC04495 by RussZS, on Flickr

It was the perfect test subject as it was littered with RDS, Swirls, holograms and had been partly resprayed. It was also the hardest clearcoat I'd ever come across!

A few of the attendees beginning to arrive:

DSC04496 by RussZS, on Flickr

Nick getting some before shots on his SLR:

DSC04498 by RussZS, on Flickr

After ensuring everyone was signed and settled in and refreshed from their journeys from Milly's superb tea and coffee, we began the first part of the day - how to safely wash and decontaminate a car ready for machine polishing:

DSC04500 by RussZS, on Flickr

Nick rinsing any loose dirt from the car:

DSC04503 by RussZS, on Flickr

Degreaser used to begin to break down any heavier soiling on the lower half of the car:

DSC04506 by RussZS, on Flickr

A fallout remover was used on the wheels to begin pre cleaning them ahead of making physical contact:

DSC04514 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04517 by RussZS, on Flickr

Next the car was rinsed and snow foamed:

DSC04518 by RussZS, on Flickr

G101 was used around the tighter areas of the car with a Swissvax brush:

DSC04522 by RussZS, on Flickr

Nick then began to work on the wheels with Smart Wheels mixed 10:1

DSC04523 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04526 by RussZS, on Flickr

After hand washing with AM Details shampoo and their mitt, the car was rinsed again:

DSC04536 by RussZS, on Flickr

At this point we spoke about the fact that despite the car appearing 'clean' there was a fair amount of contamination left, which needed to be safely removed ahead of any machine polishing.

We followed up with a fallout remover and Tardis to safely eliminate the fallout and tar deposits present:

DSC04540 by RussZS, on Flickr

This was followed with another thorough rinse:

DSC04543 by RussZS, on Flickr

Then the car was safely dried:

DSC04545 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04547 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04549 by RussZS, on Flickr

Once dried, the TT was moved inside to begin the claying process:

DSC04554 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04555 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04556 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04557 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04558 by RussZS, on Flickr

The TT was then dried again to remove any traces of clay lubricant:

DSC04561 by RussZS, on Flickr

Next we turned our attention to the paint on the TT and began to cover the difference between various polishes and polishing systems on the market and also how filler heavy products can work:

DSC04565 by RussZS, on Flickr

The TT was thoroughly taped and masked up using 3M Tape and sheeting:

DSC04568 by RussZS, on Flickr

We then took two very popular 'glazes' which can be very effective if used correctly and we understand what the product is doing to the paint:

DSC04570 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04571 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04574 by RussZS, on Flickr

Here we can see the significant filling effect from this type of products:

DSC04584 by RussZS, on Flickr

A laser pointer was used to allow us to assess removal rates and also the difference in temperature build up between DA and Rotary:

DSC04596 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04600 by RussZS, on Flickr

We also covered the difference between different polishes and again how these polishes can also fill quite heavily:

DSC04580 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04581 by RussZS, on Flickr

We also demo'd some of the newer machines to market such as the Rupes BigFoot system and looked at whether or not these systems filled:

DSC04593 by RussZS, on Flickr

Nick demonstrating a Rotary in action:

DSC04601 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04603 by RussZS, on Flickr

Discussion around different polishing systems and the Microfibre pads available on the market:

DSC04611 by RussZS, on Flickr

The Flex 3401 was also used to show the difference between various machines and how they work:

DSC04612 by RussZS, on Flickr

We then opened up the car to the group to have a go themselves using everything from a DAS6 to a Flex DA, Rupes Bigfoot and various Rotary Polishers:

DSC04614 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04615 by RussZS, on Flickr

Nick's superb lift put to good effect:

DSC04617 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04618 by RussZS, on Flickr

Flex DA with MF pad:

DSC04624 by RussZS, on Flickr

Festool RAP150 Rotary:

DSC04626 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04628 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04630 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04632 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04634 by RussZS, on Flickr

One of my customer Joe made the trip up from Hinckley for the day!

DSC04637 by RussZS, on Flickr

Ricky from Birmingham working his new found skills on the rear quarter:

DSC04641 by RussZS, on Flickr

We also covered machine polishing lights:

DSC04648 by RussZS, on Flickr

Milly also joined in working her magic on the very tired looking exhaust - for some reason she managed to draw a very big crowd!

DSC04652 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04655 by RussZS, on Flickr

Nick demonstrating the Mothers Polishing Cone:

DSC04656 by RussZS, on Flickr

Starting to look much sharper!

DSC04659 by RussZS, on Flickr

After machining we covered the difference between Wax and Sealants, where hybrids fit in and also Coatings:

DSC04661 by RussZS, on Flickr

Wheel waxes were also covered - Swissvax Autobahn here applied by Chris by hand!

DSC04663 by RussZS, on Flickr

Nick applying Wolfgang's Fuzion Hybrid:

DSC04665 by RussZS, on Flickr

Waxes curing:

DSC04668 by RussZS, on Flickr

Glass coatings were also covered:

DSC04670 by RussZS, on Flickr

RussZS:
The various waxes, including the £800 Swissvax Crystal Rock being removed:

DSC04674 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04675 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04677 by RussZS, on Flickr

Admiring their own hard work:

DSC04680 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04682 by RussZS, on Flickr

DSC04683 by RussZS, on Flickr

Towards the end of the day, we also did a quick Q&A Session and also asked the group a series of questions. We used these answers and also observations from throughout the day to choose a person who we felt had learnt the most from the session.

Congrats to Chris who won this AM Details Sample Set!

DSC04685 by RussZS, on Flickr

A final summary from the day:

DSC04688 by RussZS, on Flickr

Everyone also went away with a little gift souvenir from the day - this CD/MCC Mug with Enthusiast Detailing Day printed on the reverse side:

DSC04697 by RussZS, on Flickr

From my perspective this first session was really well and we've already received some very kind words and feedback. There are a number of tweaks we'll be making to future sessions which will follow in various locations around the UK. We will also be doing a course which is a bit more Advanced which will look at RDS removal, Wet Sanding and more advanced technique - dates will follow shortly.

I'd personally like to thank Nick also for hosting the day - it was a great experience and I definitely have unit envy - you must have one of the very best (if not THE best) detailing units in the UK!

Also, for a bit of fun, we're giving away an AM Details Sample Pack worth £25 to whoever comes up with the best caption for this picture....

Untitled by RussZS, on Flickr

Please leave your caption as a reply to this thread

Thanks for reading and please feel free to express any interest in any future courses in this thread. We are looking to have pretty much national coverage and are already discussing further venues, including some well known traders on here, for 2013.

Thanks for reading!

Russ.

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