Ill give you pro detailers credit

[sas71]

i did my first detail today..took me 6hrs or a little longer and i didnt even do the windows or the interior.



washed

clayed

washed

polished x2

sealed x1



gonna wash again tomorrow and apply 1 more coat of sealant. everything was done by hand and it was a 08 mazda 3. if it had been any bigger i would have had been up at the crack of dawn to have finished what i did lol



ill give you guys credit who do it every single day for a living. :buffing:



since youre here..how do you guys do the door jambs? i hit them with a little PBs S/W and toweled it off. im thinking tomorrow about putting some polish on them and sealant or is that even necessary for the jambs if i keep them clean?

 

[JonP]

For the jambs, I just use some diluted all purpose cleaner or soapy water and wipe them down if they are a little dirty. For the really greasy jambs, APC but let soak and use a very soft brush to clean in between everything and wipe off and apply some wax. A little practice and you will detail a whole car while it's still daylight. Also, keep the hinges greased.

 

[Accumulator]

..how do you guys do the door jambs? i hit them with a little PBs S/W and toweled it off. im thinking tomorrow about putting some polish on them and sealant or is that even necessary for the jambs if i keep them clean?

I treat 'em just like the paint on the hood. Since yours are already clean, polish them and seal. Then they'll a) shed dirt and moisture better, thus staying nice longer, b) clean up better/easier, and c) look better (I get lots of compliments on them). Once they're all polished/sealed you can clean them with either shampoo mix or maybe with just some QD (I use the former and spray QD on before drying).



Note that such areas aren't always clearcoated on Mazdas (and/or other cars). The paint is pretty thin there so don't go nuts polishing and don't if/when you get paint transfer onto your polishing media.



Oh, and at six hours I think you're doing things nice and quick I've been doing this stuff since forever and it still takes me a long, long time. You'll cut some time off that with more experience, so don't worry about how long it takes while you're getting the hang of it.

 

[abbeysdad]

I built my house but I'm not a carpenter, plumber, electrician, dry walller, or painter.

I grow lots of food organically but I'm not a farmer.

I'm a very good cook and have cooked for thousands, but I'm not a chef.

I write software for a living but never went to school for it.

I detail autos pretty well, but I'm not a detailer!

(OMG - I'm nobody. lol)



It does take a long time to do a true detail, paying attention to all the details. Full interior vaccum, 'shampoo'/extraction, dash 'n vinyl cleaning, exterior wash, clay, polish, LSP and glass in & out can easily span 6 hours. Faster may simply mean it was in good shape before the detail. Some would say they do it much quicker, but it's relative. A good procedure with good products can save time - so can a ride in good shape already - a messy challenge or bad paint can take much longer.



Okay, so I'm not a detailer, but I'm in a DG phase, so I hit the jams with DG AW and they pop. (note to self: next detail, steam clean door hinges and relube with white lithium grease).

I think any spray on / wipe off 'wax' would be very efficient and hold up well for clean frames, jams 'n threshholds.

 

[haper]

.

its an oddly nice feeling when you become <insert your child's name>'s dad.



and from your post we are very similar, except i've never cooked for thousands - although it feels like it when my son has his teenage friends over for dinner.

 

[abbeysdad]

its an oddly nice feeling when you become <insert your child's name>'s dad.

and from your post we are very similar, except i've never cooked for thousands - although it feels like it when my son has his teenage friends over for dinner.

It may be the most important thing I do in this lifetime...and I keep hoping I won't mess up too bad. She's 10 goin on 21 and there are days...well, there are days.

:furious: