Today I did some detailing...

Curran wrote: »

Bilt Hamber Auto Wash is my current favourite.

Bilt Hamber are a company that spend their time in the labs creating excellent products; that do exactly what they say on the tin. They don't spend a huge amount on advertising, so you won't get marketing hype, nor flashy coloured or fancy fragrances; just a product that wI'll do the job and do it well.
With notice; I can arrange larger sizes if needed.

How many washes would that bottle typically last?

Long time at home use (1 or 2 cars) Had a couple bottles at home that's lasted best part of 3 years and still a couple wash's left. Small bottles but they only need a teaspoon/cap full each wash.

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

i didn't really take it out of context, i directly quoted you.

i just think some of these things are a bit up in the air. like will that product really diminish his finish? how so? how is it measured? what product will react with what? or is it all anecdotal?

it's well known that there comes a pivotal point in ones efforts where some efforts just don't make a markable difference to the task at hand anymore and i wonder is that one of those times? genuinely.

i once had the opportunity to interview one of the MD's of Wurth HQ in Germany through college. it was a rushed affair and we only got one question each, i said i'd ask "what's a good answer to when an employer asks you at an interview - what are your weaknesses"

and their response was, "tell them; i have a tendency to give 110% to everything i do, but sometimes i need to realise that 90% is enough, because sometimes the difference, makes no difference".

now i know they probably stole that from a poet or something, but my genuine question is, do you think the same thing could be said for the shampoo? could the human eye detect a diminishment to the LSP or whatever assuming that the paint condition below the product was 90% correct?

Wrong on both points there.

Anyone that thinks the extra effort makes no difference should stick to a sponge and bucket and a bottle of €2 wax from the local discount store

And on point 2..!!

How the hell can 90% be as good as 110%????

Take Brian in spirit detailing fro instance.

If he only put 90% effort and enthusiasm into his work do you honestly think he would be as respected as he is?

or I Lewis Hamilton only gave it 90% instead of the 110% he constantly gives. Would he be wdc 3 times over?

I think not.

vectra wrote: »

Wrong on both points there.

Anyone that thinks the extra effort makes no difference should stick to a sponge and bucket and a bottle of €2 wax from the local discount store

And on point 2..!!

How the hell can 90% be as good as 110%????

Take Brian in spirit detailing fro instance.

If he only put 90% effort and enthusiasm into his work do you honestly think he would be as respected as he is?

or I Lewis Hamilton only gave it 90% instead of the 110% he constantly gives. Would he be wdc 3 times over?

I think not.

it's clear in most nearly every aspect of any job that needs to be done on the face of this earth that there is a pivotal point where additional effort doesn't reap extra benefit. how do you know Brian in spirit detailing isn't only giving 90%? of course he's never going to admit to it and i'm not trying to say his work isn't excellent, but most times, giving 110% is only really feasible when a person has no necessity to regard one of the 3 key elements time, resources or gain, particularly when running a business.

of course on point 2, it's a somewhat whimsical expression, but it's just adhering to the above principal, that with most things we do in life, we have a finite amount of time and resources and there is only a maximum amount of gain to be extracted from any particular task and that sometimes exerting maximum time or maximum resource doesn't equate maximum gain, because sometimes the time or resource itself is the gain.

even to elaborate on a point Curran made earlier.

- 1 coat of LSP applied, 1 hour, 70%, looks good, will wear well
- 3 coats of LSP applied, 3 hours 90%, looks fantastic, will last that little bit longer which makes all the difference
- 20 coats of LSP applied, 2 working days, 110% effort, looks about as good as 3 coats and probably won't last much longer, cost you 2 days of your life and 4 bottle of product and a bale of microfibres, 110% cost you more than you gained...

there just comes a point where going the extra mile doesn't count for anything anymore.

now don't just think, "i love detailing, i must get my back up and reply with "wrong" because that's all i can think of" but actually think on the principles of the points at hand. but it's nice to see the "wrong" mindset is as alive and well in here as i had assumed.

Curran wrote: »

Dont take this the wrong way, but I just feel the need to reply

Firstly, its impossible to give 110%

"wrong".

apparently Brian in Spirit Detailing and Louis Hamilton are giving 110% the whole time, unless vectra is wrong.

vectra wrote: »

How the hell can 90% be as good as 110%????

Take Brian in spirit detailing fro instance.

If he only put 90% effort and enthusiasm into his work do you honestly think he would be as respected as he is?

or I Lewis Hamilton only gave it 90% instead of the 110% he constantly gives. Would he be wdc 3 times over?

I think not.

absolutely i agree with you though, nobody is right 100% of the time, or even half that :pac:.

i just would love to have the time to tot up a cost/time/benefit analysis on the original scenario of the potentially unsuitable shampoo/ lsp combo from a discussional point of view, that's pretty much all i'm getting at. that sometimes, some things really don't make a difference of note.

Toyotafanboi wrote: »

it's clear in most nearly every aspect of any job that needs to be done on the face of this earth that there is a pivotal point where additional effort doesn't reap extra benefit. how do you know Brian in spirit detailing isn't only giving 90%? of course he's never going to admit to it and i'm not trying to say his work isn't excellent, but most times, giving 110% is only really feasible when a person has no necessity to regard one of the 3 key elements time, resources or gain, particularly when running a business.

of course on point 2, it's a somewhat whimsical expression, but it's just adhering to the above principal, that with most things we do in life, we have a finite amount of time and resources and there is only a maximum amount of gain to be extracted from any particular task and that sometimes exerting maximum time or maximum resource doesn't equate maximum gain, because sometimes the time or resource itself is the gain.

even to elaborate on a point Curran made earlier.

- 1 coat of LSP applied, 1 hour, 70%, looks good, will wear well
- 3 coats of LSP applied, 3 hours 90%, looks fantastic, will last that little bit longer which makes all the difference
- 20 coats of LSP applied, 2 working days, 110% effort, looks about as good as 3 coats and probably won't last much longer, cost you 2 days of your life and 4 bottle of product and a bale of microfibres, 110% cost you more than you gained...

there just comes a point where going the extra mile doesn't count for anything anymore.

now don't just think, "i love detailing, i must get my back up and reply with "wrong" because that's all i can think of" but actually think on the principles of the points at hand. but it's nice to see the "wrong" mindset is as alive and well in here as i had assumed.

I can assure you Brian is a dedicated detailer and would never give only 90% to any job.

Lets give another example

I recently put a glass coating on my car and wheels,
Had i only given 90% detail to preparation and application it would be nothing short of a waste on time and a mess in the end result.
Now because i did apply it properly I can reap the benefits of having a car that is much easier to clean and maintain,
I am glad I give 100% to every aspect of cleaning my car.
Then again
this brings us back to the original suggestion of the difference between a weekend warrior and a person that wants their cars cleaned properly/

Curran wrote: »

No familiar with the Muc-Off range; but since it's Ubershine, it may have enhancers in it.

Be no harm using any if you've nothing else!

We use the Muc-off Caravan and Motorhome cleaner and its excellent on the Motorhome body. Dilute it as a Shampoo or used neat on the stubbern black water marks that every Motorhome gets from standing in the rain. It was recommended by the main dealer when we bought ours.

As for the rest of the range I have no first hand experience, sorry.

Went to go wash the car - no hose One of the father in-laws workers must have borrowed it and its perfect washing weather too! Hasnt been done in few weeks

Gavman84 wrote: »

Car got long over due wash was filthy!
Before:


After 2 bm wash,de tar 1 coat of collanite 845 and polished the windows and dressed the tyres!


I also had a helper today!

What's do you use for de tar?

I found their Tar Remover very good too, must get another bottle actually.

Gave the Corolla the quickest clean of its life today (took less than 2 hours).

The greyish-blue colour really does hide the dirt well, but the alloys were a state - looked worse in person!

Came out pretty decent if you ask me though.. Pity it will be as dirty again next weekend!

I hope the hedgehog wasnt used on the bodywork, awful rough surface to be drying the car with

Mc Love wrote: »

I hope the hedgehog wasnt used on the bodywork, awful rough surface to be drying the car with

Hedgehogs are the new sponge! Great for the stubborn marks!

micks_address wrote: »

A question that crossed my mind yesterday... When do you cross the line from washing to detailing?
Cheers
Mick

For me that time comes when you wash your car and then spot something you missed. Then you do that and spot something else.
After that you start looking at the finer details that never bothered you before. Then you look at you arsenal of cleaning products and you suddenly realise you have got the bug.

^^ They are the ones a person gets a lot of satisfaction from.

Good job.