Hemmings Sports and Exotic Car Article

V

VespaFitz

New member
Hi folks:



I'm the editor of Hemmings Sports and Exotic Car, published by the same company that publishes Hemmings Motor News, which you may be familiar with.



I'm working on a spring detailing special for the magazine. I've been sort of lurking around the site here for a while and I thought I'd see if any of you that have your own detailing businesses would be interested in being quoted for the article. Basically, it's going to be a "50 Detailing Tips from the Pros" kind of piece.



One of the other editors on staff ran his own detailing business for years and he's a wealth of great tips. There's also a detailing shop that rents space from the filling station we have out in front of our offices here in Bennington, Vermont, and they've been very helpful, too. But I thought I'd open it up to you folks because you've got some incredibly useful information here.



We've already been taking photos, but if you've got some tips and tricks you'd like to share, I'd love to hear from you. In return, I'll quote you and use your name and the name of your shop in the article, so hopefully you get some business out of it.



Thanks for your time. You can contact me at cfitzgerald (at) hemmings.com
 
I can offer one simple, yet critical tip. Time after time, so sadly at every classic car show I go to, I see owners of beautiful machines wiping down their cars with OLD RAGS! :shocked: :eek: I've seen several instances where someone would wipe dirty wheels and then proceed to wipe down the rest of the car with the same dirty rag! Please, please! Let's get the word out there about the finest quality microfiber cloths. Even if the products they use remain subject of criticism, at least they would be using non marring material to wipe them on the car.



Hemmings is a respected name in the classic car community and if you pass on the word about this practice, show cars everywhere ( not to mention Autopian spectators ;) ) will thank you.
 
Bill D said:
I can offer one simple, yet critical tip. Time after time, so sadly at every classic car show I go to, I see owners of beautiful machines wiping down their cars with OLD RAGS! :shocked: :eek: I've seen several instances where someone would wipe dirty wheels and then proceed to wipe down the rest of the car with the same dirty rag! Please, please! Let's get the word out there about the finest quality microfiber cloths. Even if the products they use remain subject of criticism, at least they would be using non marring material to wipe them on the car.



Hemmings is a respected name in the classic car community and if you pass on the word about this practice, show cars everywhere ( not to mention Autopian spectators ;) ) will thank you.
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One the same note, I can't count the amount of people that use WINDEX with those dirty rags! Quick detailers are so cheap there is absolutely NO reason to be using Windex.
 
No sponge's. Sheeps wool mitt, or microfiber mitt, or natural sea sponge. A dirty sponge is like a Brillo pad!!!
 
Good stuff guys. If you drop me a PM or an email, I'll be sure to include your names in the article if you're interested.



Oh, and one of the biggest tips I'm going to mention is to register on this forum.
 
The most helpful advice I've received here is using the two-bucket wash method, one bucket for clean soapy water, the other bucket for rinsing the dirty wash mitt, seasponge, etc. Otherwise, you're just reintroducing the dirt onto your paint every time you go back to reload with soap. As has often been stated by others, most marring and swirl marks are a direct result of poor wash technique.
 
Pennypacker said:
The most helpful advice I've received here is using the two-bucket wash method, one bucket for clean soapy water, the other bucket for rinsing the dirty wash mitt, seasponge, etc. Otherwise, you're just reintroducing the dirt onto your paint every time you go back to reload with soap. As has often been stated by others, most marring and swirl marks are a direct result of poor wash technique.
Click to expand...

Any opinions on the new soft body brushes offered by Meguiars and OXO? I bought a Meguiar's brush the other day and I was pretty happy with it using the two bucket method. I kept a close eye on whether any dirt remained in it when I rinsed it and I couldn't see any.
 
VespaFitz said:
Any opinions on the new soft body brushes offered by Meguiars and OXO? I bought a Meguiar's brush the other day and I was pretty happy with it using the two bucket method. I kept a close eye on whether any dirt remained in it when I rinsed it and I couldn't see any.
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I haven't used the new Meguair's brushes, but use an OXO brush for hard to get to areas in between panels (some, like Accumulator, prefer Boar's hairs brushes for washing). I have noticed no marring after using my OXO brush for those areas you just can't reach with a mitt. I inspect the brush before each wash and inbetween panels as a precaution as well.
 
Not sure about the angle you are perusing but here are some common mistakes or misconceptions to avoid:



1. Failing to frequently wash.

2. Applying too much pressure by hand when washing or waxing.

3. Picking the wrong product for the job. Example: Using a glaze as a single step product and wondering why the longevity was so poor.

4. Using dishwashing soap as automotive soap.

5. Missing spots while washing and then wiping after it is dry without first lubricating the surface.

6. Using old or dry chamois for drying.

7. Not drying after washing.

8. Fear of claying.

9. Misconception that clear coats do not need wax or sealants.

10. Incorrect assumption that if a little wax is good then thick heavy coats will last longer.

11. Incorrect assumption that a wax can fill a scratch.

12. Applying wax to body trim or moldings.

13. When washing or waxing and the towel hits the ground don’t risk it, get a clean one.

14. Washing in direct sunlight or when the vehicle is hot.

15. Follow the product directions. When using wheel cleaner don’t let the product dry.

16. Prevent placing boxes, purses, etc. on hood, roof or trunk lid while loading or unloading vehicle.
 
mosborn9 said:
Not sure about the angle you are perusing but here are some common mistakes or misconceptions to avoid:
Click to expand...



I'll definitely incorporate these somehow. Thanks!



Here's a dirty little secret from the publishing industry: If you can put "51" or "27" or some number of "tips and tricks from the pros" on the cover, you'll sell more magazines on the newsstand. It works every time. (Note: Penthouse doesn't have to bother. I could sell a zillion magazines if I could put naked women in the book somewhere.)



So the angle of the story is basically going to be a bunch of good advice illustrated by photographs showing what we're talking about. I'll cover interior, exterior and underhood detailing in different sections.



Hot Rod and all those guys do a "Paint Your Car" special once a year or so. That's good stuff, but the way I see it, even if you've never painted your car, you've probably washed and waxed it once or twice, and there's a pretty good chance you've done it wrong. [/quote]



15. Follow the product directions.
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Wait a minute: You mean to tell me that every product in the Turtle Wax arsenal isn't a cure-all panacea for every one of my paint and chrome issues?



My faith in corporate America is shaken to the core. :usa
 
VespaFitz said:
....even if you've never painted your car, you've probably washed and waxed it once or twice, and there's a pretty good chance you've done it wrong.
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Right on the money. :2thumbs:
 
Adding to mosborn9's list (for the inside):

17. Using vinyl protectant before cleaning the vinyl. You protect the dirt from coming off.

18. Not allowing sufficient time for carpet and upholstry cleaners to work before agitation or removal.

19. Using the same applicators for different products. (e.g. The car wash sponge is later used to apply the vinyl protectant, or the same brush is used for wheels and carpets.)

20. Using one product to clean the entire interior (seats, carpet, and windows). (See mosborn9's #3)
 
Wash the cleanest part of the car to the dirtiest part of the car. This is usually top down. I know a lot of people pick an arbitrary panel (i.e. the hood) and go around the car from there. It's best to start with the hood, move up the windshield to the roof, and then back down across the trunk lid. Then the c-pillars, side windows and upper portions of the doors and fenders. Finally, the lower portion of the doors and the bumpers.



"Paint cleansers" aren't meant to clean imbedded grit off of the paint. They're meant to chemically clear oxidation (white haze). Proper clay barring will make paint as smooth as glass.
 
The final finish is 90% in the prep. Probably the most common misconception people have is that a wash and wax can give them a showcar shine.
 
VespaFitz said:
Any opinions on the new soft body brushes offered by Meguiars and OXO? I bought a Meguiar's brush the other day and I was pretty happy with it using the two bucket method. I kept a close eye on whether any dirt remained in it when I rinsed it and I couldn't see any.
Click to expand...

I have not used the meguiars brush myself, but I did feel one that a customer of mine just bought. It felt fine when new, but from what I understand as these synthetic brushes wear the fibers become hard and will scratch the pain. I personally prefer a sheepskin and mocrofiber washmitt, but a boars hair brush is also safe.







Also, car wahes are evil :)
 
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