kiddin ourselves

[spetulla]

i feel more and more, as i detail, that so many products look so similar, and there is only so much i can do with paint.



i can use the best products and buff paint until its completely flat, but it still won't look as good as new.



i can use crappier products, according to this site, and neglecting ease of use, if i get the paint level, it will look almost the same.



the topper I use usually varies in durability, but shine wise, they all look to me very similar. Some flatter or harder slightly, but its so subtle that only I notice it.



Do you guys ever feel like you are fighting a losing battle? I almost want to give up detailing other people's cars and just do mine, becuase the results I get sometimes annoy me, and even with the best products, methods and tons of practice, the cars never look THAT amazing.

 

[zzyyzx]

I wouldn't say that I'm fighting a losing battle, but it's an acquired skill. Some products I can tell the difference between, some I can't. It matter on a number of factors.



At the Detail Day @ Meguiars, a couple of the guys put 3 different Meguiars products on the hood of Mike's new black Honda Pilot. Most of us there that day said it looked good, noticed ever so slight (or no) difference between the three test areas. But then Mike came over and named exactly which product was which in seconds. It's just experience.... I'm getting it slowly, but there's still a LONG way to go for me.

 

[SpoiledMan]

At the Detail Day @ Meguiars, a couple of the guys put 3 different Meguiars products on the hood of Mike's new black Honda Pilot. Most of us there that day said it looked good, noticed ever so slight (or no) difference between the three test areas. But then Mike came over and named exactly which product was which in seconds. It's just experience.... I'm getting it slowly, but there's still a LONG way to go for me.

Actually, it was Souveran, NXT and some other product and he named them all correctly. That makes it even more amazing.

 

[imported_Luster1]

Do you guys ever feel like you are fighting a losing battle? I almost want to give up detailing other people's cars and just do mine, becuase the results I get sometimes annoy me, and even with the best products, methods and tons of practice, the cars never look THAT amazing.

I get a little burned out on doing other people's cars, even if it's for big bucks.



But 99% of the time, the customer sees a miraculous transformation and is simply amazed. We know what scratches and stains we couldn't get out but the customer sees a brand new car!



But I love doing my own! Can't seem to get enough of it... and it's a great workout!

 

[maecrispy]

That's funny, I have the opposite problem. My car is practically new and the few swirls that the dealer created when prepping the car, I've since taken out. That's why I'm experimenting so much with diferent LSP's right now. No prep to be done right now. I guess I'm a little bored with my own car. I'm almost looking forward to the fall (when I'll go through another full prep.)



On the other hand, doing customer's cars gives me a lot of satisfaction, specifically because of the transformation from old and beat up to like new. Yes, the few scratches I can't take out bug the heck out of me but it doesn't diminish the good feeling I get, especially when the customer is happy with the work.

 

[Vadar]

I think I've been saying this now for a while. For most of us (yes, there are exceptions- but I'm not a pro detailer), there is very little difference between one product or another.



I've used lots of botique products, and all I can say is after using them, my car looked good. Can I really tell the difference between Zaino and NXT, or S100? No. Maybe someone like Mike Phillips can, but he is a pro, with years of experience. I will never acheive that level of perfection.



Paint preparation is ultimately what makes my car look good, and what I choose to protect it with doesn't make that much difference to me.



That's why I've pretty much stopped buying botique products, and stick with off the shelf, readily available products like Meguiars or Mothers.



More important to me than looks is stuff like: how easy is it to apply, how easy is it to find when I'm trying to buy it, etc.



I think Mike Phillips mantra of "find something you like and use it often" is the best advice anyone can give.



Dom

 

[cpaddock]

I get a little burned out on doing other people's cars, even if it's for big bucks.



But 99% of the time, the customer sees a miraculous transformation and is simply amazed. We know what scratches and stains we couldn't get out but the customer sees a brand new car!



But I love doing my own! Can't seem to get enough of it... and it's a great workout!

That is the thing right there. Most people are nowher near as critical as we are. All they see is a car that shines like when they first got it. I have to agree with Dom as well I stick with local products that leave a killer shine are easy and cheap to get.



While my car may never be perfect it looks a damn site better than most of the ones I see in car show:bounce

 

[spetulla]

i hate being a perfectionist

 

[GearHead_1]

I can usually see it. Occasionally I wonder if I'm just seeing things but that is the exception. Lot's of times you can feel it as well. I really like doing a couple of side by side panels with identical prep but different final products and then watching them over the next few days or even the next couple of washes. That's where I get the satisfaction of knowing that there is a reason why I like the products I use. What is even more important is that I feel like I can make a qualified recommendation.

 

[Scottwax]

I like playing around with different combos to tweak the look. You are not going to get huge differences once the paint is properly prepped but you have a 5-10% zone that is fun to play around with.

 

[SVR]

I think I've been saying this now for a while. For most of us (yes, there are exceptions- but I'm not a pro detailer), there is very little difference between one product or another.



I've used lots of botique products, and all I can say is after using them, my car looked good. Can I really tell the difference between Zaino and NXT, or S100? No. Maybe someone like Mike Phillips can, but he is a pro, with years of experience. I will never acheive that level of perfection.



Paint preparation is ultimately what makes my car look good, and what I choose to protect it with doesn't make that much difference to me.



That's why I've pretty much stopped buying botique products, and stick with off the shelf, readily available products like Meguiars or Mothers.



More important to me than looks is stuff like: how easy is it to apply, how easy is it to find when I'm trying to buy it, etc.



I think Mike Phillips mantra of "find something you like and use it often" is the best advice anyone can give.



Dom

Well I disagree in that regard. Mothers and Meguiars consumer line products are among the best you will find at an auto parts store but are no comparison to the products that I and some of us here use. Meguiars consumer is full of mineral oils and is therefore conventional technology. They all smell like a gas station. Today's professional brands, found only at wholesale distributors or mobile detail supply businesses are not and simply out shine the rest.



I'll never find a brilliant product and stick with it, no matter what number of brands I have, there is always a brand out there with a few or many products that are better.

 

[Aurora]

Jusrt being on this forum makes us perfectionists. atleast when it comes the looks of the car. I was pointing scratches I'm trying to get rid of to a co-worker and he looks at me like I'm insane. Like,"There's nothing wrong with you paint".

 

[tom p.]

I almost want to give up detailing other people's cars and just do mine, because the results I get sometimes annoy me, and even with the best products, methods and tons of practice, the cars never look THAT amazing.

I think it's important to identify if your clientele is happy with your work: Do they keep coming back for more? They may be handing you cars that are in crap condition and they may perceive a major transformation because of your effort. It may not look fantastic to you but it probably does to them…keep it in perspective.



Now, if you have no repeat business, then it may be time for a re-assessment



I got tired of working on trashed cars that belonged to others…it really bothered me after a while. I’d do an awesome job, they were thrilled but I’d see the car a few weeks later and it was trashed again….that finally did it for me.

 

[freedre]

You are always going to be your own worst critic.



Step back and let the customer do the evaluation - his opinion is the one that counts!



I hope I said that right.

 

[Mike_Phillips]

Meguiar's consumer is full of mineral oils and is therefore conventional technology. They all smell like a gas station.

You're stating Meguiar's Consumer line is full of mineral oils?



You think they smell like a gas station?



Some of the paint cleaners do have a solvent smell, but Deep Crystal Carnuaba Wax smells like Bananas, I applied a coat just this morning to Lynn's Honda Pilot. It not only left a clear beautiful shine, it was a pleasure to work with because I liked the smell.





One coat of Deep Crystal Carnuaba Wax on a black 04 Honda Pilot

Mike

 

[GoodnClean]

I disagree. I think the paint looks better than new after a few detailing sessions. To me new car paint seems flat and lifeless a lot of times.

 

[SVR]

The professional line is much better thats for sure but still overpriced, at least in Australia