[Corsairkid]

I am relatively new to the whole car thing, being only 17 years old, and I just wanted to clarify what a "detail" was. Many members have mentioned getting their Nitro "detailed"...I know Tammy gets hers done every week. What constitutes a "detail"? Is it professionally done, or can you do it yourself?

 

[MeanGirl]

not "gets" does!! I wash the outside, dry and use quick detailer, then I move on to the inside....it is spotless.....so detail in my book=spotless and sparklie!!!

you can totally do it yourself. Whisper has a car guy and has hers done, but DK and CL do their own and so do several others, fhartell, fscallan, bubba 53....the list is endless....but not spazzie, he is scoping out girls at the ball field....lol

I do this weekly and then every other month I do the wax/polish thing, so that is a saturday and sunday

 

[BLUBYU]

I am sure there are better definitions, but to me detailing is bringing the vehicle back to as close to "showroom" condition as possible. This may involve cleaning the inside and outside, washing & waxing including all edges of doors, hood and hatch. Treating the rubber and black trim pieces and cleaning under the hood.

 

[Corsairkid]

OOOO Ok. Thanks for clarifying. Basically it is just really really cleaning the car good haha. Well I do that almost everytime I wash my Nitro! I almost always use some kind of wax or polish, I clean every inch of paint, plastic, etc, including in the door jams and under the fenders. Then I vacuum out the inside and clean all of the windows, and dust the dash. It usually takes me a few hours to get it how I want it.

 

[dk1677]

I will second MG and BLUBYU, you can do it from just a wash and wax to a Concours, it just depends on the time you have and how you want it to look. I will wax all the pained I can get to at least one a year the usual body that you see about once a month . I pained the rust on the rear axle and suspension this spring ( I hate to be in a car and pull up to a fairly new truck and see rust under the rear)

 

[cowboytruckn]

I am sure there are better definitions, but to me detailing is bringing the vehicle back to as close to "showroom" condition as possible. This may involve cleaning the inside and outside, washing & waxing including all edges of doors, hood and hatch. Treating the rubber and black trim pieces and cleaning under the hood.

The only thing I will say differently is that with a correct detail you can get it BETTER than "showroom" condition.

I do a lot of detailing on all my cars and even for friends and family. I am as close to a professional without being paid for it. With the right tools and polishes you can repair 95% of all defects on your paint. I am only 23 myself and I remember learning the hard way how to detail. My truck that I have had since I was eighteen and have done numerous details and corrections since to repair defects I introduced about your age. My dad never was a big appearance guy other than a drive through a car wash once a month. My knowledge went as a far as an old rag, a bottle of Dawn, and a can of Turtle Wax (all three I would not recommend).

If there is anything I can do to help feel free to yell and I will even hold your hand and walk you through step by step a proper wash and detail without introducing defects that are a lot harder to remove later.

 

[dk1677]

Meguiars has some great tips and videos at their web site

 

[cowboytruckn]

Meguiars has some great tips and videos at their web site

Absolutely! They make quality products as well and are reasonably priced. I believe they and Mother's also offer forums as detailing. I know Mother's actually have their own guys answer questions I am a member there as well.

 

[Corsairkid]

Absolutely! They make quality products as well and are reasonably priced. I believe they and Mother's also offer forums as detailing. I know Mother's actually have their own guys answer questions I am a member there as well.

This is very interesting. I might have to take a look at their forums.