David Fermani:
If anyone should know what "professional detailing" is like and about, it is you, since you ARE one of my-own-rated Autopian All-Stars,.
There was, and still is, a great deal of discussion and debate on whether detailing is an art-form or an applied human skill-set. I am of the later interpretation, BUT just as in scenic painting, there is an application of the ability and human skill of art painting to MAKE a the scene appear as art and what is painted can be abstract, interpretive according to the "style" associated with an artist , or detailed. Each of these can render the painting of the same scene `artistic" and each picture can have its value to the person viewing the art. Or as the saying goes, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
I do NOT think that applies to detailing vehicles. Detailing a vehicle can look over-the-top, good, so-so, or just plain bad. Nor can I tell specifically a `style of detailing" as determine that a particular detailer did this vehicle. I CAN tell the quality of a detail and the attention to detail how good a vehicle looks. To me that`s the application of a skill-set by a detailer and just as in painting, there are great detailers (you being one of them) and there are so-so detailers, or "hacks" as we call them. Individuals who THINK they are good detailers. (Like you, Captain Obvious.. Just saying`)
That said, while the skill of detailing takes on SO many variables and abilities for detailing tasks, the most important to me is paint correction. How to handle a polishing machine, whether long-throw dual action or rotary and how to "read" paint surfaces and choose specific pad types and compound or polish to perfectly correct and finish out a surface takes practice and experience that can ONLY be developed over time. Granted, some of these "skills" can be taught and its better learned if taught by someone who who already has those skill-sets, but the student must possess some natural ability and a desire to learn and improve to become great detailer.
Detailing is a difficult skill to truly master. Every aspect of detailing changes as vehicles change in design and materials used to manufacture them, and the car-care product and equipment are developed to adapt and keep up with those vehicle changes. It NOT a stagnant career or hobby.
That is one reason I subscribe to this forum; to keep up with what`s new in detailing and how it relates to the automotive world. The information shared by fellow Autopians, such as yourself, is so important to the development and enjoyment of my detailing hobby to this point. And yes, I deeply grateful for those contributions by so many who take the time to post their reviews and pics of detailing-related subjects. It has reduced the trial-and-error, school-of-hard-knocks, frustration, or just-plain mistakes and faux pas out of my detailing experience.
But that`s the whole point: detailing is still a hands-on, physically-demanding experience and to get really good at it requires practice and application of what has been learned, and yes, as stated, some human skill. Some don`t want to take the time to do that OR develop bad self-taught techniques OR cut corners and pay no attention to detail.
Or as the saying goes, "If it were easy, EVERYBODY would do it."
That`s why detailing, the art-form is being lost. Everyone wants it to be easy and they want it now with no work. It`s the expectation, and lifestyle by many in this generation and society. AND because of our dependence on the government to do everything for us, many have become lazy and indolent from current or expectant "entitlements", but that`s a whole different topic that will get me banned, so we will not go there.
Let`s just put it this way: "The only place where `success` comes before `work` is the dictionary."
(Captain Obvious: AKA, Captain Cliche)
