A Detailing "How To" Walkthrough (with pictures!)

[Wills]

I always wondered what the hell was on the inside of the windshield, now I know. Thanks!

Yeah that oil in the vinyl can make a nice mess...and is even faster after you dress it (but id rather have a foggy windshield than a cracked/dry dash!). And if you smoke it gets foggy even faster...

I'd never really -had- to do headlights before, but there wasn't any choice on the Dakota...




Wet sanding is as much art as black magic and science I'm figuring, some really nice results in not much time at all. One point to make though, if doing them off the vehicle, like these, remember to tape off any opening - this set didn't have bulbs yet and it could have been ugly.

I've always waxed the headlights when I do a car - same thing with side windows.

Mike

Very nice job. I had a pair yesterday that the seal had been opened some and some water apparently got in and eventually cause light cracking on the inside. Sanded my A** off on the outside but couldn't get them perfect. The one side came out great, but drivers side just wouldn't give me the usual perfection we get.

Wax is great on headlights, but look into Opti-Coat 2.0...lasts forever. Another option...seal it with a 50/50 mix of Helmsman Spar Urethane and Mineral Spirits (just tape rubber peices off first). Use some Scotts Blue Paper Towels..wipe light clean w/spirits first...then take a 1/2 of one of the towels ...then fold it to a pretty small square and soak it in the 50/50 mix and wipe it on in one direction in slightly overlapping rows. It will last much longer than wax if you don't want to dish out $60 for the opti-coat (bu if you get the OC you can do your whole car )

[Davesatdoasisbar]

I haven't read all the how to's yet, my attention span won't allow it right now but those before and after pix are awesome. I see those exact swirls in my CV and would love to get rid of them.

[Wills]

I haven't read all the how to's yet, my attention span won't allow it right now but those before and after pix are awesome. I see those exact swirls in my CV and would love to get rid of them.

lol, yeah its a long read but kind of necessary . Im glad you liked the pics and thats really good your eyes can pick up on the swirls. Often times i have to help people adjust their eyes (usually on lighter colored vehicles) to see EXACTLY what it is i'm talking about...darker colors its pretty easy to see.

You can surely get rid of them if you have a day you can set aside and you have patience, if you need any help at all don't hesitate to PM me or make a post!

[Davesatdoasisbar]

Greatly appreciated.
Thx

[LIME 108]

Wills & Dani www.windowsandwheels.com are doing my brand new Charger.
I know it sounds nuts, but i want it cleaned, buffed and sealed before it hits the street.
I met the two at dinner one night and felt him out as to if he really knows what he is doing or is it bluff. I think he is the real thing. We shall see this weekend. I'm sure he will post pictures of the work.

[Wills]

Wills & Dani (www.wheelsandwindows.com) are doing my brand new Charger.
I know it sounds nuts, but i want it cleaned, buffed and sealed before it hits the street.
I met the two at dinner one night and felt him out as to if he really knows what he is doing or is it bluff. I think he is the real thing. We shall see this weekend. I'm sure he will post pictures of the work.

[non-supporting vendor information removed by staff]

[SRTLUVR]

It is ABSOLUTELY NOT CRAZY to get this done to a brand new car. Matter of fact, it's the SMARTEST decision you can make to protect your paint. The big mistake most people make is thinking the opposite!! "Oh I don't need to polish/wax/seal my new car's paint.....it's brand new!" And that's exactly when you SHOULD!! To KEEP IT that way!! Smart move bro.

Sad part is, most dealers put swirls in the paint when they do the "courtesy" detail anyway. Bummer, 90% of new cars that leave the lot, need paint correction lol.

[Wills]

It is ABSOLUTELY NOT CRAZY to get this done to a brand new car. Matter of fact, it's the SMARTEST decision you can make to protect your paint. The big mistake most people make is thinking the opposite!! "Oh I don't need to polish/wax/seal my new car's paint.....it's brand new!" And that's exactly when you SHOULD!! To KEEP IT that way!! Smart move bro.

Sad part is, most dealers put swirls in the paint when they do the "courtesy" detail anyway. Bummer, 90% of new cars that leave the lot, need paint correction lol.

You've got that right man. But guess what...Jeff made a super smart move...he called and told them NOT TO WASH IT when it got off the delivery truck. It was dirty as hell when he picked it up...but we checked it out last week and there were minimal swirls...and we're off to go polish her up and seal it up now

[Vipere]

Sad part is, most dealers put swirls in the paint when they do the "courtesy" detail anyway. Bummer, 90% of new cars that leave the lot, need paint correction lol.

Man I've dodged that bullet for a long time and they just recently got me... I got swirls out the @ss from their freaking "Courtesy" screw up... I said NO WASH and they did it anyway...

[Wills]

Man I've dodged that bullet for a long time and they just recently got me... I got swirls out the @ss from their freaking "Courtesy" screw up... I said NO WASH and they did it anyway...

Wow, thats sad. Too bad there isn't a way you could get them to pay for the detail you want us to do on the car lol. Ive seen that story a lot..someone goes and spends HOURS doing it themselves or they pay someone 100's of dollars to do it for them...then in 15 freakin' minutes some idiots at a dealership or a mechanics garage screw it up...just that quick...and theres nothing you can do about it because you can't PROVE it was in good shape before hand unless of course you took pictures right as you dropped it off.

Now that i think of it...i bet if the dealership guys saw you doing pictures to show the paints condition right before they took it...they wouldn't even LEAN on it funny let alone 'wash it' because they'd have to pay to have it fixed. Maybe an idea for next time huh?

[Vipere]

Wow, thats sad. Too bad there isn't a way you could get them to pay for the detail you want us to do on the car lol. Ive seen that story a lot..someone goes and spends HOURS doing it themselves or they pay someone 100's of dollars to do it for them...then in 15 freakin' minutes some idiots at a dealership or a mechanics garage screw it up...just that quick...and theres nothing you can do about it because you can't PROVE it was in good shape before hand unless of course you took pictures right as you dropped it off.

Now that i think of it...i bet if the dealership guys saw you doing pictures to show the paints condition right before they took it...they wouldn't even LEAN on it funny let alone 'wash it' because they'd have to pay to have it fixed. Maybe an idea for next time huh?

Yes it sucks!!! Talk about being ticked off...