Ladies and gents

 

I posted this in the styling and car care section but only received one reply, good as it was, so thought I'd have a punt on here too.  Moderators, if you need to delete then so be it.

 

I'm looking into courses/tuition for car detailing and found a few online courses. Initially it's just for personal interest for my own car (an old Roomster I could practice on) and if I win the lottery I can spend all day doing the job right on the new addition!

 

On a serious note, I'd like to see it as a hobby but may even consider it as a second career.  Anyone with any suggestions for individuals or companies to seek out to get me started?  I live in West yorkshire if that helps.

 

All advice and help will be gratefully received.

 

Regards

 

Chubbs

Hopefully youll get a reply I'm interested in something like this too!

Autobrite run one I believe. Thats what it looked like on their fb today anyway.

Yes, Autobrite do courses sometimes - I'm not too sure how frequently or to what degree they do these.

Personally, I'd recommend Gordon Muir at Defined Details. Gordon is one of the UK's top detailers and has more experience in group and one to one training than anyone else I can think of!

You can contact him directly or you will be able to find a thread of his on Detailing World's forum with details of the next one. Folk come from all over the UK and it's usially a small group - you'll have a great day!

If you want, I have details for him I can pass on to you? Just give me a shout if you want

I have already posted this in the other thread but for the benefit of Toxicvrs etc this is my reply:

 

 

If you are prepared to travel down to Kent then Kelly at KDS is one of if not the best ... he also has people travelling hundreds (and in some cases thousands) of miles to attend his courses.

 

I had intented to run a Detailing/Tutional meet at my house...but due to being accused of being a Commercial user, I have not proceeded with this idea in case I get my posting restricted again

Yes, Autobrite do courses sometimes - I'm not too sure how frequently or to what degree they do these.

Personally, I'd recommend Gordon Muir at Defined Details. Gordon is one of the UK's top detailers and has more experience in group and one to one training than anyone else I can think of!

You can contact him directly or you will be able to find a thread of his on Detailing World's forum with details of the next one. Folk come from all over the UK and it's usially a small group - you'll have a great day!

If you want, I have details for him I can pass on to you? Just give me a shout if you want

 

Yes please, thanks for your post!

 

Regards

Thanks for all the replies, will do some more homework.

 

Regards

I had intented to run a Detailing/Tutional meet at my house...but due to being accused of being a Commercial user, I have not proceeded with this idea in case I get my posting restricted again

You were one of the accused? Oh god.

Well we need you on these forums you're a great help.

 

Back on topic: A detailing course would be something that would really appeal to me if there was something locally however It wouldn't be worth it for me otherwise because I only have my car and don't have a whole lot of time to do anything with.

detailingworld.co.uk is the place to ask mate

That place confuses the hell out of me.

Soooo many products, with soo many abbreviated names haha.

The basic guides are very good though and anytime I asked a question I was never made to feel stupid. Some incredible detailers on there with a vast amount of experience.

I should spend more time browsing over there really.

Detailing does really interest me

Learned purely from experience and practise, coupled with lots of DW research.  I think I would really really hate going on any kind of course.  :(

Learned purely from experience and practise, coupled with lots of DW research. I think I would really really hate going on any kind of course. :(

I've got an old Vauxhall here that I'm tempted to just test my skills on it's poor anyway so I can't make it any worse

I've got an old Vauxhall here that I'm tempted to just test my skills on it's poor anyway so I can't make it any worse

 

I literally probably started out when I borrowed my mate's MX5 for a few months during a mongrel rebuild and he said "do what you like" - I spruced up that thing sweetly - Also practised my wet sanding skills on it, and I've got that down a tee now to the point I am happy to do it on customer's cars too.    Then I did my Dad's Golf, my Fabia, a mate's octy, Mum's micra and it kind of grew from there and now I've polished Bentleys and RS6, etc.

 

Definitely a case for getting scrap panels from scrapyards to practise on.  I can donate a Fabia wing if anyone wants one.

If you don't mind me asking what processes do you use?

Snow foam

2BM wash

Clay

Polish

Wax

Sealer

Is that sounding about right?

If you don't mind me asking what processes do you use?

Snow foam

2BM wash

Clay

Polish

Wax

Sealer

Is that sounding about right?

 

Pretty much it.  Although I do an awful lot of prep work besides the claying - tar removal, iron fall out remover, paint depth measurements.  And the polishing is usually a lot more convoluted than just "polish" and is usually tailored to the car and the state it is in.  All this kind of comes naturally and I've only been doing it seriously for about 18 months - but about 5 to 6 years of learning and practise before I jumped in head first.

 

Then at the end there's also wheel cleaning, exhaust polishing, trim "blackening" (no idea of the official term ) tyre cleaning and dressing, glass polishing.  It can go on for an awfully long time.

Many Thanks that's very interesting. I assume different paint qualities and thicknesses therefore need a different cut from the pad and polish so each car needs to be looked at first rather than a generalisation like I said of "polish"

Yes - That's about it.  I won't work on a car until I have spent at least a few minutes looking on DW and generally finding out what the paint is like based on other experiences.  Can learn more that way than doing your own testing (and saves time testing too)

 

Anyway - enough from me as this is bordering on me advertising, and I shouldn't.

Yes - That's about it. I won't work on a car until I have spent at least a few minutes looking on DW and generally finding out what the paint is like based on other experiences. Can learn more that way than doing your own testing (and saves time testing too)

Anyway - enough from me as this is bordering on me advertising, and I shouldn't.

Thank you very much I've found that very helpful and shall sign up to dw in the morning and slowly start practising!

i like the idea of using scrap panels to practice on, ii had a scrap ford escort here for a while quite some time ago now methinks, ii practiced denting it in with a sledgehammer then doing weld//filling/repairs on it to death blending in new paint with old etc, well worth the effort.

It's all worth it when you get the improvements.  My dad's missus bribed me with roast dinner to get her hedge scratched nearside polished up.  She's only gone and made it as bad again already in only 12 months.....

 

i do it more for the improvements, than for the money to be honest.  Well, that might be a bit of a lie but it's just as rewarding.  

 

 

How has she even done that?

Driving in bushes?

I used to love detailing when I was younger. I had a punto 1.2 16V sporting 1998 and it was detailed meticulously most weekends. Unfortunately children and work now take most of my time but i'm hoping to rekindle my love for CCO with the octy!