New (again) member from Upstate NY

ScionDave

ScionDave

New member
Hello everyone!



First, a little background. I've always had a love for cars for as long as I could remember. I was always washing people's cars for some extra spending money through middle school and high school. I then decided to go to school for auto body where I wanted to focus on painting. It was then that I found out the true power of a buffer and how, with the right knowledge could make paint look as good if not better than refinishing. I then got my first detailing job at a local dealership they asked if i knew how to buff cars and i was hired on the spot, and was made head detailer in about 3 weeks (there were 3 other guys that detailed there when I was hired) that's when I first found out about autopia.org, and almost immediately learned a lot of things from everyone that i wouldnt have on my own. then for some reason I stopped visiting here.



I was laid off from there a few years ago when they closed and they allowed me to take everything I had there so I could get by until I found steady employment. Ever since then I had the idea of starting my own mobile detailing company which until recently I've done unofficially but more recently I've gotten more serious about it and went and got a DBA.



Now I'm back once again under a new name because I couldn't remember my old user name for the life of me. I decided to come back because I had a problem with a new customer and had no idea how to resolve it. I'm going to be staying for good now because I love how friendly everyone is and how they're willing to help others out.



---Dave
 
Welcome back Dave and a great story at that! I too joined a few years ago but the birth of my daughter took me away from doing any hardcore detailing until now! I'm kinda like you, I was fascinated by cars growing up, but I like form over function meaning I don't really care about power but looks is everything to me. I'm a detailing enthusiast, will only do it for cash if someone asks me to detail their ride. I'd like to get into the biz but I have absolutely no train of thought when it comes to running a business or the finances needed to make it work. I saw your post about the dealership, it sucks big time and you'll have them no matter what career field you go into. Take the advice given and keep your duckies in order and you'll succeed!

So you're from Schenectady? I have family up there although I've never been that deep into "Upstate".



Anyways the best of luck to ya!!



Sean
 
Welcome back Dave and a great story at that! I too joined a few years ago but the birth of my daughter took me away from doing any hardcore detailing until now! I'm kinda like you, I was fascinated by cars growing up, but I like form over function meaning I don't really care about power but looks is everything to me. I'm a detailing enthusiast, will only do it for cash if someone asks me to detail their ride. I'd like to get into the biz but I have absolutely no train of thought when it comes to running a business or the finances needed to make it work. I saw your post about the dealership, it sucks big time and you'll have them no matter what career field you go into. Take the advice given and keep your duckies in order and you'll succeed!

So you're from Schenectady? I have family up there although I've never been that deep into "Upstate".



Anyways the best of luck to ya!!



Sean
 
Thanks. Yup I live in Schenectady. Its not too bad, I live near GE, I guess everything north of Kingston is classified as upstate. Usually when I tell people I'm from NY they think NYC, and when I say upstate they imagine the Adirondacks (forests, mountains, and lakes). And I hear ya on the logistical parts of running a business, I'm sure I can get some help from some of the entrepreneurs around here. And thanks for the good luck, I'm sure I'll need it.
 
Here is a picture of what I drive daily. The paint needs some serious love. The previous owner severely neglected it, and unfortunately I have too.



0c249065.jpg
 
Thanks. Yup I live in Schenectady. Its not too bad, I live near GE, I guess everything north of Kingston is classified as upstate. Usually when I tell people I'm from NY they think NYC, and when I say upstate they imagine the Adirondacks (forests, mountains, and lakes). And I hear ya on the logistical parts of running a business, I'm sure I can get some help from some of the entrepreneurs around here. And thanks for the good luck, I'm sure I'll need it.
Click to expand...



I always thought anything outside of NYC is "upstate", being from southern Penn, everything north of me is upstate! I feel ya though. Being from the Penn Dutch Country, I get the "are you Amish" question a lot!

That's a nice Subie you got, what are your plans on bringing back the shine? My dd has been severely neglected too, It's been detailed once in the past 2 years and maybe washed in the most non Autopian way a handful of times since then. I plan on giving 3D a shot and acquiring some UNO and Poxy with the free Polish and pads that I lucked out on and hopefully turning the "turd" back into a perfect(ish) mirror finish!
 
I have a few (all 5) different black pearl polishes that I use, but it isn't easy buffing a car in an apartment complex. I would love to do it so it looks better when I show up to my customers, but most of them only see the clean car and not all the swirls. But once I get to it I'll use the Black Pearl polishes followed up with a Bahama Mama paint sealant (for darker cars) and then finish it off with a nice coat of Dodo Juice Supernatural Wax.
 
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