Hello Jaguarforum members,

As a new Jaguarforums.com member and "Resident Detailer", I would like to introduce myself. My name is David Sylican, owner of Innovative Detailing located in Orange County, California since 1986. I specialize in high end automotive detailing, paint restoration, concourse & show detailing and movie studio prep work. My goal is to help other members raise their standards in automotive car care, while maximizing their detailing objectives.

I wanted to start a thread, "Ask a Professional Detailer" on Jaguarforums.com so that you may ask me any questions you might have on auto detailing. We'd like to build up a great reference tool here on Jaguarforums, specifically for all model Jaguars and other fine vehicles.

I know this is a great forum already, I see some familiar faces on here, and a wealth of information from JimC64 and other members. I hope to help contribute to the forum and answer as many questions as I can in a detailed and timely manner. I would also like to extend a 10% discount to all members on some of my detailing services from Innovative Detailing.

Please feel free to browse my website @ www.innovativedetailing.com


I look forward to taking part in some great conversation.

 

Dave, great intro and I can see the " ask a detailer" section being popular with the members too.
Thanks for the discount offer which I'm sure wil be appreciated.

If you haven't done so already, why not post into the regional section for your local area and see who's who there?
I don't know about in the Sates, but over here, some members will travel 200 maybe 300 miles to get a really good cost effective detail done by a real professional.
A post of that nature in the regional section would be of some interest I'm sure!

 

I've got a question...

Let's say we're **** about our finish, so we want more than just the 'basic' applicator and products to do our finish. Let's also assume we would rather do our own finish work, say there's some hazing, maybe some small surface scratches (nothing requiring MAJOR pad work)...

Can you recommend a machine buffer/polisher (not too expensive, but a good one) and a set of pads and applicators that would work for almost all of our basic detailing jobs. I see these packages with 15 speeds, a combination of dozen different pad materials... surely with your hands-on use, you might be able to provide a link for a good machine and beginner pad set. Maybe throw in some 'tips' for the correct product for our basic junk... bird poop damage, swirl marks (again, only minor), etc.

thanks in advance!

 

I would be more than happy to help you out on this one, sorry I did not respond sooner...but after getting 5 days of nothing but rain here in California, we are just slammed with work and lots of cool projects. Even one I finished yesterday for the Dicscovery Channel with some wild rides!

In the meantime look at this, which is basically the what I am going to recommend.

I would advise that before you even consider polishing which is 100% safe with a D/A, that you have all the prep proceedures down to make the polishing effective.

The learning cure is very quick.....its just intimidating at first, but you will get the hang of it.

I recommend always taking the least aggressive approach possible, that way you wont butcher or hack up your paint.

Here is my 2 cents......

If the paint has just minimal fine hairline scratches or cobwebbing, and you have clayed and prepped the vehicle thoroughly......I would recommend use the following

*Porter Cable 7242Xp - Awesome Machine for the price....under $100 at my doorstep
*Lake Country backing plates 4" & 6" http://www.detailedimage.com/Lake-Co...P56/148-mm-S1/
http://www.detailedimage.com/Lake-Co...P263/85-mm-S1/
*Lake Counry Pads - 4" assortment http://www.detailedimage.com/Lake-Co...-7x-pads-P339/
*Lake Country Pads - 6.5" assortment http://www.detailedimage.com/Lake-Co...-7x-pads-P342/
*Meguiar's M205 or M80 for Polishing - White pad works awesome
*Meguiar's M21 for LSP - Blue or Black pad works awesome
*1 dozen premium MF towels
*Blue 3M masking tape
*Old tooth brush - clean one for pad cleaning

With this assortment of pads you are able to mix and match the action of the pads with the product as you work, always start with the least aggressive approach possible and work up from there. Get use to the speed control as it is very user friendly, and attempt to not push down on the machine excessively. I turn the speed on 6 for more intense polishing or go as low as 4 for wax or sealant application....

Tip - As you polish, concentrate on a 1/3 or 1/4 of the panel at a time...Make sure you make several even passes over the paintwork this way you break up the polish allowing it to flow evenly on the paint. Once it is worked in it will have a faint oily look to it, then remove it with a MF. Use only a little product at a time, when the machine is off, place 4 dots the diameter of a cigarette on the pad in a square formation. Then place machine and pad against paint and turn it on, do not turn it on while machine is in the air, major splatter will occur. At this point your learning curve begins.......


Good luck!

ADVISE....

Do not mix products on the pads.....use an old tooth brush to keep the pads clean before storage. I recommend that you put each pad from the start in a zip lock labeled. As you use the pad, then label on the bag the type of polish or wax used. This way you will not cross contaminate the pads, which will lead to aweful results...

 

fantastic, thanks!

To clean a pad, you only 'tooth brush' it? Surely there's more to getting it clean. On my simple hand applicator pads, I toss them in the wash with the rest of the car cleaning rags.

 

Here is some more detailed info on foam buffing pad care and cleaning..

Rotary Buffing and Polishing

• If the pad is new or dry, dampen the pad surface by misting it with water. This will aid in compound/polish dispersion. Continue periodic misting throughout the task. Remember that different foams will load up with compound/polish at different rates.
• Wash as necessary to prevent the compound or polish from drying out or becoming caked on the pad. Wash in our buffer powered System 2000™ pad washer or machine wash in warm water with mild detergent. Always clean the pad prior to storing for future use. It only takes 30 seconds in our pad washer!
• Do not place in dryer, as this will shorten the life of the pad. Air-drying is best.
• If the pad becomes dry or caked with compound/polish, spur the pad with a proper tool. Certain brushes with plastic bristles may melt leaving traces of bristle on the pad, which may result in scratching. We recommend our Duospur™ tool, which features nylon spur wheels that safely clean the foam without leaving any foreign particles on the pad surface.
• Occasionally foam pads will become torn or out of balance. This not only shortens the useful life of the pad, but also produces uneven surface patterns requiring additional work. Foam pads can be easily rebalanced with our Duospur™ tool. The sides of the tool have an abrasive callus plate designed for simple grinding. Let the pad surface dry, then reshape/repair the surface with the Duospur™ while spinning the pad on the buffer.

DA Orbital Buffing and Polishing

Due to the mechanics of DA machines, the ability to clean pads while attached to the machine depends on the type of tool being used. In the case of a Pneumatic DA with a dual-action offset cam, set the cam to circular mode and proceed to spur and/or clean the pad according the above instructions for Rotary Buffing and Polishing. With electric or cam-less DA tools, it is difficult to effectively clean the pad while on the machine. If a pad becomes caked with compound or polish, you can spur the pad surface while on the tool. Spurring may remove dried compound residue, but will not thoroughly clean the pad. To properly clean a pad, remove the pad from the tool and hand wash in warm water using a mild detergent, then air dry. Another option ... if the pad is loop backed, attach pad to a hook backing plate on a circular machine and follow the instructions for Rotary Buffing and Polishing. You may also spur and rebalance the pad using this method.

This is very useful........hope it helps you out!

 

Hi Dave, in your vids we see you using D/A buffing machines all the time. Now that Winter is drifting towards Spring many people, myself included will be starting to think about an annual Spring Clean.

Do you have a vid where instead of the music sound track you actually do a running commentary about what and how you are using the machine. Which pad/product at any given stage, depending on situation and desired result?

I for one would find it useful.

Sorry can't book the car in, you are just a bit too far away;-(

Cheers,
Richard

 

Not a problem at all....

I have one that I finished today, its a paint correction and complete exterior detail. I put together a bunch on taping's on my "Flip" and now I just need to edit it, then post....hopefully I should have it up tonight!

What I will be working on is a 2006 Black Porsche Cayanne Turbo S with garage door damage/paint transfer on the back hatch along with extensive scratches caused by the local tunnel wash. I will edit this video with no music as I have narrated the video myself. (Garage door was closed but the vehicle was not in all the way, causing it to slide down the back of the vehicle)

I will show you how to remove paint transfer and how to polish and remove the remaining scratches and which pads and products to use.

I will also show you how to polish out extensive fine hairline scratches as well as what products and pads to use.

It will be a new post, which I will title " Garage Door Wars" and I will try to get it posted this evening.......

 

That will be great. Sounds like it will be exactly what I requested.
Many thanks for taking the time.
Cheers,
Richard

 

I'll be tuning in later tonight to catch this one....should be good

Thanks Dave

 

Over time I forget the purpose of applicationsI rarely use. Is there a program that attaches to the files name a "sticky note" pop-up, like those you see in some apps when your cursor hovers over some highlighted text, to remindmyself the purpose of an app in my app folder?

 

Hello to all............Just sending a little message to all from Sao Paulo Brazil....I am here for the inagural Indy 300 in the streets of Brazil.....

I will post some pics after the race this evening..

Oi to all from Brazil....which means hello!

Be back in the US on 3/23/10

 

Nice one Dave... lookin forward to it

 

Hey Dave,
my A6 (07) is now 3 years old with 67k miles onthe clock and although she's been lovingly looked after, there are the inevitable swirl marks and hologramming left over from the dealership from when I originally bought the car.
These are now worse and need attention. As you are sooooooo far away (lol) I've found a guy local to me who specialises in paint correction and may be looking to get him to revitalise it for me.
This will be after the vehicle goes in to Audi for a respray on the front bumper due to lacquer peeling ( Under warranty of course)

Anyway - just thought I'd add a few of his detail links to see what your thoughts are?
detailing_links
Any comments appreciated as always

 

Jim,

Not to worry......it looks like the guy you chose is right on! After looking over his threads and his work I think he will be the right man to transform your Audi!. Just make sure that he expains to you whether or not you need a 3 step or 4 step polishing proceedure for a true correction...

Take some before and after photos with some good natural and artificial lighting to see the difference. If you have a disposible digital camera, leave it with him to snap some pics of the transformation of your Audi.

Just do not forget to allow the repaint at least a 30 day cure period prior to waxing or sealing...polishing this area would be ok....its important to allow the fresh paint to breath and cure properly.

 

Dave, you rock! I will be checking out all of your technical info on paint care and will start removing the huge paint transfer I found in the employee parking lot yesterday.

 

Whammer,

Thank you so much for the kind words! I am glad that my postings have been useful for yourself and others that read this part of the forum. Curious how your paint transfer removal came off, give us an update.....

 

Dave is a fine detailer, I would have hand picked him for you had you not contacted him. He has been extremely active in the elite service provider forums for years, and is a well rounded young man.

 

Anyone have any detailing related questions on their mind this 4th of July weekend....please shoot them off.

How many of you would be interested in a "Weekly Detailing Tips or Hints Thread" if so please let me know!.....

 

Hi Dave, great idea about the 'Weekly, Hints/Tips thread' if the titles could be along the lines of 'Swirl removal- How to' we could then also include them into the categorised FAQ for easy refference and searchability.

We have a bit of a Forums FAQ drive on at the moment updating, categorizing and alphabetizing all the existing Forums FAQs. I'll give you a lift with updating the existing Detailing FAQ, so that you have a 'clean' place to start.

Just don't get too bogged down, if you need any sort of help, sing out.

I might not comment on every post/vid that you share with us, but rest assured I watch and read all of them and have learned a great deal from you.

A+