New to the site - Oly, WA

[NOFX]

Hey, I'm Amelia. I mostly detail for a hobby and just recently was hired (and laid off...) from my first job detailing. (No fault of my own. I was told I was the weakest link though I was one of two people who detailed well, didn't skip the details, and was insurable to drive.)

I can't say I'm too upset. I prefer detailing by hand and not only did I have to use a pressure washer and orbital, but I had to mostly clean and drive automatic transmission trucks and SUVs. So back to looking for a new job. I still want to detail!

I guess besides that I don't have much to say except to maybe post up some examples of previous jobs I've done on the side or just for enjoyment. Sorry for the lack of before photos.

First, one of the first cars I ever detailed. I can't even remember when it was... Probably about four years ago or so that I first got to detail this car. My own '98 Honda Civic EX coupe. Milano Red Tricoat. Sorry, no before photos. (I have a couple, but they're all badly bleached out and the entire car looks pink. In reality only the first couple inches under the windows - about to the pinstripe - was pinkish when I bought it.)

I wanted to post an example of a lighter colored vehicle I cleaned up. This is the only one I could find though since I usually forget to take pics. This one's from a few years ago too.

My sister's first almost new car! Her Cayenne Red Pearl '98 Acura Integra GS hatch. She only let me do a quick exterior detail on this one because she wanted to go out and drive it.

Before... This is before she even bought it, but the same day she decided to get it instead of the Sunfire that she had been more interested in before driving.

And after...

I didn't even get to do under the hood.

Okay... now finally for some recent details! Here's a '96 Honda Civic EX coupe I was asked to do for a friend. It's Granada Black Pearl which is a black paint with a goldish colored pearl in it. He picked it up for $1000 after the previous owner threw a rod. He told us he was driving through town and it suddenly just stopped... :lol:

The before pics.

(We just decided to end up putting an extra set of headlights we had on it instead.)

Apparently the rear deck began to shake (perhaps because of the system that had been installed in it). Erasers jammed between the deck and the rear window was the solution... They melted to the plastic.

And after... Too bad this one had paint damage and etching that I couldn't take care of with the products I had, which are all applied by hand.

And after seeing the Civic, my friend, who is one of the owners of the shop these photos are taken in and owns the black Civic, was so happy that he asked me to detail his STi. I kind of find this funny because before the closest I was allowed to get to washing his car was he allowed me to rinse it while he washed it. :lol: No befores on this one either, but it was an easy job because the owner is pretty picky about the care of his vehicle. This car is stock World Rally Blue Pearl with an aftermarket black pearl front end.

If anyone would like to give me tips, I'm open to them. I hope to learn more about my hobby here. And yes, in case you haven't noticed after reading this post I am completley infatuated with cars, color codes, (and though I didn't mention it yet) engine codes and pretty much anything to do with cars!

And sorry my post is so longwinded!

 

[CalgaryDetail]

looks good nice work, welcome to dc.

 

[cwcad]

Quite an introduction. I can say one thing for sure. You have a lot more energy than I do to have detailed any one of those cars much less All of those cars by hand. Nice shine and good look to all of the mentioned vehicles.

Read, learn and post more pictures of the process and products that you have chosen to work with by hand application. I know of one other member that did a lot of detailing by hand application. Then after time this member decided to start using a PC. The vehicles that were once done by hand have now gone to the next level of shine and protection.

My suggestion is please consider purchasing PC and pads. Then learning the techniques of the machine with the plethora of products available to attain the next level of detailing.

Having said that ...Welcome to the forum!! Good Luck!!

 

[NOFX]

Thanks for the warm welcome so far.

I have thought about learning to use a buffer (I assume you were referring to "Porter Cable Orbital Buffer 7424 or 7336" when you said PC as the acronym list tells me...). I've never really had the chance nor have I had any good suggestions on what to use. I did recently purchase a trunk for my car that is exactly like mine besides the fact that it has no spoiler. I bought it for $50 because I'd like to know how I like my car without a spoiler but upon cleaning it up at home I noticed not only does it have some light dents on the top, but it has two spots of clearcoat damage. It appears that the clearcoat just plain peeled right off. One spot is maybe an inch or so round and the other is perhaps an inch by two inches. They are within four or five inches of each other.

After finding that damage on the trunk lid I figured I could at least use it for practice. Alas, I got let go from that job as a detailer. I really wish they hadn't let me go because I didn't do anything wrong, I REALLY want to and enjoy detailing, and it was the first time I've gotten a job detailing after many attempts at getting hired! I usually end up being made a secretary instead. Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I belong inside answering phones!

Sorry... ADD kicking into high gear again there...

So, was that what you meant when you said PC though? I see so many acronyms on this site and it's going to take a bit of time getting used to them all.

 

[NOFX]

Oh, and that trunk is factory painted Honda MIlano Red Tricoat/Clearcoat (R-81). I'm not sure if the presence of a tricoat might make any difference.

 

[joe.p]

I agree with cwcad ,great introductory.
You posted some nice work not to mention it was done by hand.
I can only imagine what you could do with a PC and quality products.

Congrats on your nice work and welcome to DC..

 

[NOFX]

Thanks again for the compliments.

I'm hoping I'm good enough to get another job detailing locally and I hope this time I won't get "discharged" without reason.

It sounds like a customer at my friends' shop with a black Audi A8 wants me to do an exterior detail on his car. I might also have a red Supra (~'92) and a black 2G Eclipse to detail from that shop.

There is also a couple in my apartment complex who wants their pale blue Z3 to be detailed, though she told me to to wax it because she has "Liquid Glass" on it. I don't know what that is... For all I know it could be some spray from a local carwash though. I think they might want to lowball me on the price too though.

I better get a couple cars done soon though. I need a new tranny (bad ISB) and I found something compatable for $140... but I don't even have that much right now.

Might anyone know of any places in the Olympia, WA area who might need a detailer and be willing to try me out for the job?

 

[norahcrv]

Welcome to the City, Amelia! It's nice to see another gal who is interested in keeping cars looking their best.

As for the PC - I fought the idea for some time, believing that I could turn out results that were as good by hand, but having just spent my Mother's Day weekend working on my CR-V, I've got to say, I'm glad that I was swayed to purchase a Meguiars G100 (same as PC7424) two years ago. It really does make things easier & I think notches up the final quality of the work you do.

Nice pics of your work - good luck in your search for gainful employment using your skills.

Search, read & ask lots of questions - there are some really knowledgeable folks here & enjoy your stay in the City!!

Norah

 

[NOFX]

I'm not really fighting the idea of a PC really. It's just that until just recently I really didn't have anywhere to test it. Nowhere to play with it without fear of damaging anything.

My previous boss buffed out a scratch I got from driving down the road (sounded like rubber or a piece of wood hitting my sideskirt, but come to find out it put a mark about eight inches long right above my driver's rear wheelwell). He buffed that out and it looked fine, and then he asked if he could do my spoiler too. He had been drooping over touching my car since I first pulled onto the lot. So I agreed. I'll admit... it looked a tiny, tiny bit brighter in that light. But he left what looked like a track mark right across the top of it. I was upset but didn't say anything. Most people who had spent 12 hours on their first cleaning of their car then followed up with normal details might be a little upset about that.

Luckily I was able to remove it just by washing it. It was probably just his wax residue left on top of it (the terry clothes there once touched my hood and left deep scratches that I still haven't addressed because I've been sick and too busy with other's cars). Oh yeah.. and the spoiler didn't look anymore red once it was washed and dried.

Still, I'd like to really learn how to use a PC. And not be handicapped on the hood of cars like my previous boss was.