Tato
11-28-2013, 02:26 AM
Greetings AGO!
My name is Rafael, but you can call me Tato (actual nickname).
I'm brazilian, and been 'lurking' here for a while, until some hours ago. Fact is I love this forum (have read a great amount of topics), and I can feel the nice ambience provided here.
I had a though start some years ago, when I did not knew the difference between a Swirl and a Squirrel but loved to wash my own and family's car... lol!
During a travel, I've found a store which sells Meguiar's products (we can't find them at walmart here!).
The seller tried to convince me to pay $80 for a can of NXT Wax instead of $18 for a cheap can of wax. Interested in this $80 car Wax, I've ordered and used it at the same day. (I was not mistaken by him, it was the actual price of this product that time - today NXT goes for ~$60, UW for ~$85).
That was when all truly begin... You guys probably know how I've felt! Easy on, Easier off, and what a shine!
After that sensation I could not stop looking for knowledge regarding this art form... I wanted more, much more!
I've ordered all Meguiar's I could find that date (shampoo, clay kit, UC, UP, 105, 205, etc), applicators and microfiber towels.
Always, working by hand (really scared of machine polishing that time).
After some practice, I could achieve nice results by hand. As a physical therapist (main job), I knew how to use body and arms in my favor, and also treat that initial back/shoulder/everywhere pain associated when you begin to hand polishing!
I've found autogeek by chance. When I saw Mike Phillips, I could not believe what in the world I was missing.
That guy was so confident, and had so much passion in what he was doing and saying, I couldn't wait to order a DA Polisher - (is it cliche to cite Mike Phillips in introduction topics?).
While the machine didn't arrive, I've watched all Mike Phillips videos I could, and read all of the great input you guys make here.
The DA was (actually is) a Meguiar's G220V2. Sad to say, it costed $450 here, not talking about ~$30-$40 per polishing pad.
A Flex here costs a tad more than $1100, so I had to choose between a 'common' DA and lots of pads/plate instead of only a Top DA. With pads I would spend ~$1600...
The machine arrived with some LC pads (6.5' in that occasion and 4' for spots) - I already had the compound/polishes, and I had a REALLY hard time with the polisher in the first 15 minutes of use (Mike, you made it look so easy when doing the videos, how much I 'hated' you during that longest first 15 minutes!).
However, many hours later with the finished results, I was absolutely 'shocked'. Almost show car finish for my initial standards that time, first use. I like my G220V2 very much, although I'm really looking forward to get a Flex (yeah, you know...!). I'll grab one as soon as a friend travels to USA.
After my first use of DA, I've started immediately a 'weekend warrior career' :buffing: Working all week waiting impatiently for weekend to grab my DA! When I sleep, I dream I'm detailing!
Recently I've ordered some really nice products at AG (BL Surface Coating/Polish, etc), and I'm planning to place a new order to use black friday's discount (if any!) to improve my 'PREPARATION' arsenal that will be topped with the coating. I'll start a coating business here as soon as I can.
I apologize for ending up in a huge writing (it was veryyy large, I've removed a lot of in between details), but I really would like to describe part of my point of view and how difficult it is for us to execute a 1st world job in a 3rd world context.
Finally, I end up asking for attention to my avatar. That's my 2 years old, doing (by herself, not induced) what 'daddy' likes most! I just couldn't believe when I arrived and saw her 'detailing' her car... had to grab a picture, and here it is. I'll use this picture for a while to transmit my passion and admiration for this job. Feel it by the purity of a child.
Again, thank you for everyone who end up with me here.
PS: I also would like to especially thank 2 people who personally encouraged me to register here, Andre and Kendra. Kendra is my order consulting, a very dedicated person who really helps me preparing my orders. Andre was the guy who kindly opened my eyes to detailing essentials and helped me choosing a really great set of products for my next order. He talked to me by phone for a long time, and that was a very nice talk! Thank you very much!
I'm planning to place reviews when I receive BL Surface Coating and related. I also do plan to learn a lot more, and help you with everything I can!
Kind Regards,
Count on me!
My name is Rafael, but you can call me Tato (actual nickname).
I'm brazilian, and been 'lurking' here for a while, until some hours ago. Fact is I love this forum (have read a great amount of topics), and I can feel the nice ambience provided here.
I had a though start some years ago, when I did not knew the difference between a Swirl and a Squirrel but loved to wash my own and family's car... lol!
During a travel, I've found a store which sells Meguiar's products (we can't find them at walmart here!).
The seller tried to convince me to pay $80 for a can of NXT Wax instead of $18 for a cheap can of wax. Interested in this $80 car Wax, I've ordered and used it at the same day. (I was not mistaken by him, it was the actual price of this product that time - today NXT goes for ~$60, UW for ~$85).
That was when all truly begin... You guys probably know how I've felt! Easy on, Easier off, and what a shine!
After that sensation I could not stop looking for knowledge regarding this art form... I wanted more, much more!
I've ordered all Meguiar's I could find that date (shampoo, clay kit, UC, UP, 105, 205, etc), applicators and microfiber towels.
Always, working by hand (really scared of machine polishing that time).
After some practice, I could achieve nice results by hand. As a physical therapist (main job), I knew how to use body and arms in my favor, and also treat that initial back/shoulder/everywhere pain associated when you begin to hand polishing!
I've found autogeek by chance. When I saw Mike Phillips, I could not believe what in the world I was missing.
That guy was so confident, and had so much passion in what he was doing and saying, I couldn't wait to order a DA Polisher - (is it cliche to cite Mike Phillips in introduction topics?).
While the machine didn't arrive, I've watched all Mike Phillips videos I could, and read all of the great input you guys make here.
The DA was (actually is) a Meguiar's G220V2. Sad to say, it costed $450 here, not talking about ~$30-$40 per polishing pad.
A Flex here costs a tad more than $1100, so I had to choose between a 'common' DA and lots of pads/plate instead of only a Top DA. With pads I would spend ~$1600...
The machine arrived with some LC pads (6.5' in that occasion and 4' for spots) - I already had the compound/polishes, and I had a REALLY hard time with the polisher in the first 15 minutes of use (Mike, you made it look so easy when doing the videos, how much I 'hated' you during that longest first 15 minutes!).
However, many hours later with the finished results, I was absolutely 'shocked'. Almost show car finish for my initial standards that time, first use. I like my G220V2 very much, although I'm really looking forward to get a Flex (yeah, you know...!). I'll grab one as soon as a friend travels to USA.
After my first use of DA, I've started immediately a 'weekend warrior career' :buffing: Working all week waiting impatiently for weekend to grab my DA! When I sleep, I dream I'm detailing!
Recently I've ordered some really nice products at AG (BL Surface Coating/Polish, etc), and I'm planning to place a new order to use black friday's discount (if any!) to improve my 'PREPARATION' arsenal that will be topped with the coating. I'll start a coating business here as soon as I can.
I apologize for ending up in a huge writing (it was veryyy large, I've removed a lot of in between details), but I really would like to describe part of my point of view and how difficult it is for us to execute a 1st world job in a 3rd world context.
Finally, I end up asking for attention to my avatar. That's my 2 years old, doing (by herself, not induced) what 'daddy' likes most! I just couldn't believe when I arrived and saw her 'detailing' her car... had to grab a picture, and here it is. I'll use this picture for a while to transmit my passion and admiration for this job. Feel it by the purity of a child.
Again, thank you for everyone who end up with me here.
PS: I also would like to especially thank 2 people who personally encouraged me to register here, Andre and Kendra. Kendra is my order consulting, a very dedicated person who really helps me preparing my orders. Andre was the guy who kindly opened my eyes to detailing essentials and helped me choosing a really great set of products for my next order. He talked to me by phone for a long time, and that was a very nice talk! Thank you very much!
I'm planning to place reviews when I receive BL Surface Coating and related. I also do plan to learn a lot more, and help you with everything I can!
Kind Regards,
Count on me!