Pictures & Comments: September 2015 Detailing Boot Camp Class!

[Mike Phillips]

Pictures & Comments: September 2015 Detailing Boot Camp Class! (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/pictures-detailing-boot-camp-classes/95497-pictures-comments-september-2015-detailing-boot-camp-class.html)


Well it's Friday morning, the first day of our 3-day class!

We have an exciting schedule today that's going to keep everyone busy and having fun.

I'll be posting pictures on my Facebook page today and my co-worker Paul will be posting pictures to the Autogeek Facebook page.

Mike Phillips Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/Mike.Phillips.Autogeek?ref=hl) - Twitter (https://twitter.com/MikePhillipsAG/)
Autogeek Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/autogeek/timeline/)

Below are the cars we'll be using today to go over machine polishing techniques including these tools,

FLEX 3401
RUPES BigFoot 21, BigFoot 15, Duetto 12, Mini 12 and TA50
Cyclo Mark 5
Griot's BOSS G21 & G15
Meguiar's MT300
Griot's 6" DA
Porter Cable 7424XP

All of the above are orbital polishers. Saturday we go over rotary buffers and Sunday we go over hand wetsanding and machine wetsanding.


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=100023


:dblthumb2:

[Jaretr1]

Is AJ in this class?

[Mike Phillips]

Is AJ in this class?




No.

AJ will be my co-host on our TV show. This is our 3-day detailing class.


Good questions but sad to say, AJ is not here helping us detail cool cars today.


:) :xyxthumbs:

[Mike Phillips]

Here's the cars we trained on today.


2004 Corvette & 2006 Mercedes-Benz

These two cars were

Aggressive Wash Method
* Headlights machine polished
* Wheels and tires
* Iron X
* Foam Gun
* Rinse
* Foam Gun
* Cobra Clay Mitt
* Final rinse and dry

Exterior Detail
* Compound = BLACKFIRE SRC Compound with PC/Griot's/Meguiar's MT300
* Polish = BLACKFIRE SRC Polish with PC/Griot's/Meguiar's MT300
* Seal - BLACKFIRE Crystal Coat Paint Prep + Crystal Paint Coating

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=100067

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=100068



1950 Ford Custom
DP Waterless Wash
Pinnacle Ultra Fine Poly Clay
Cyclo Polisher with Pinnacle Advanced Compound
Cyclo Polisher with Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish
Cyclo Polisher with Pinnacle Liquid Souveran

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=100069

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=100070



1971 Chevelle 454 4-speed Muscle Car

DP Rinseless Wash
Nanoskin Autoscrub pads
RUPES BigFoot Polishers + RUPES Zephir Gloss Coarse Compound
RUPES BigFoot Polishers + RUPES Diamond Ultra Fine Polish
RUPES BigFoot Polishers + Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax


http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=100071

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=100072

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=100073



First day over, two more days to go!

:dblthumb2:

[whavens]

Man, this thread brings back memories. Hope you guys are having fun.

Walter

Sent from my KFSOWI using Tapatalk

[Craig Parker]

Awesome first day Mike, beautiful finish on all the cars, excellent work all around.
Good job Mike, class:dblthumb2:

[AttyVette]

Wish I could have been there but my mother is in the hospital so I couldn't have attended this weekend class anyways. Love the cars and the "after" pictures too!!

[Mike Phillips]

Just to note, all the pictures you see in this thread are cropped, then resized to 800 pixels wide, then uploaded to the gallery and then "inserted" into this thread.

That's the right way to work with pictures on a forum but there's not that kind of time when I'm teaching the class to do all of the above.

I do however take and share pictures of the class on my FB page if you want to check them out....


Mike Phillips Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/Mike.Phillips.Autogeek?ref=hl)



:Picture:

[dlc95]

Looks great, Mike!!

[custmsprty]

Simply awesome, amazing, outstanding work.

[FrankS]

Great Boot Camp Class!

Worked on some really cool cars during the class and got a chance to meet and work together with some great people.

This is definitely a hands-on class. Mike kept us busy all weekend on various tasks, from washing cars to polishing paint. A lot of topics were covered in this action packed class such as headlight restoration, engine detailing, steam cleaning and extraction, wet sanding, glass polishing and more.

For me, the best part of the class was the opportunity to meet and work together with some great folks who were all interested in learning more about car care.

Mike and Nick did a super job on sharing plenty of information with us and giving us some laughs along the way.

Thanks Mike and Nick for your amazing dedication, service and hospitality.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/watermark.php?file=100173


:)

[Terrollc]

Man, I just did the class for Sept. 2015... WOW, WOW; A must do if you ask me for anyone who truly loves automobiles, detailing or learning something new in life. I flew in 10 hours from my location and drove 3 hours a day for 3 days. I would do it again! The way you look at automobiles, boats and motorcycles after this class will never be the same! Trust me!

[Mike Phillips]

Great Boot Camp Class!

Worked on some really cool cars during the class and got a chance to meet and work together with some great people.

This is definitely a hands-on class. Mike kept us busy all weekend on various tasks, from washing cars to polishing paint. A lot of topics were covered in this action packed class such as headlight restoration, engine detailing, steam cleaning and extraction, wet sanding, glass polishing and more.



That's a great summary Frank, thank you. And "yes", these classes are intensely hands-on. I'd say the tables and chairs were used less than an hour each day as everyone in in training mode from start to finish.







For me, the best part of the class was the opportunity to meet and work together with some great folks who were all interested in learning more about car care.



I agree. Meeting everyone and getting to know them as we work through all the class material over the course of 3 days is to me, the most rewarding part.





Mike and Nick did a super job on sharing plenty of information with us and giving us some laughs along the way.

Thanks Mike and Nick for your amazing dedication, service and hospitality.




Thanks for attending the class Frank and you know we're always here to help after the class and into the future.


:dblthumb2:

[Mike Phillips]

Man, I just did the class for Sept. 2015... WOW, WOW;

A must do if you ask me for anyone who truly loves automobiles, detailing or learning something new in life.

I flew in 10 hours from my location and drove 3 hours a day for 3 days. I would do it again!

The way you look at automobiles, boats and motorcycles after this class will never be the same!

Trust me!





Hi Terroll,

It was a genuine pleasure having you at the class. Can't wait to see you again on the island of Saint Lucia!


To give everyone an idea as to where Saint Lucia is located, check this out....

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/722/Saint_Lucia_to_Stuart_Florida.jpg




Terroll is starting a detailing business on the island of Saint Lucia. He says there are a LOT of high end cars like Audi, Range Rover, Mercedes-Benz but there's no one or no company with the education, skills and equipment to offer professional detailing to this market.



:dblthumb2:

[rfjones]

I was also an attendee of the September 2015 Detail Boot Camp. Let me tell you, make sure you schedule a complete day off the Monday after the class. Most of the time spent during the three days is HANDS-ON training.

A quick note before I add my comments. I also attended the July 2015 class. I ran myself down due to some physical limitation (plus old age). Of course when you’re exhausted, your ability to think also degrades. So I felt I needed to “catch up” with another class. This is not the norm! Almost anyone can complete the class. Mike has designed a course that is aggressive but completely doable in the three days.

If you are currently a full or part time professional detailer or you’re thinking of starting a business, these comments may not be as useful. Mike’s class is full of information and tips for the professional. He spends a fair amount of time discussing the “money side” of this “art”. I’m just coming from a different starting point.

Now, let me approach my comments on the class from a slightly different angle. Namely, why would someone spend $1250.00 on yet another car expense? My thought before the class was something like this:

Are you just going to showcase your “house brand” products and be downplaying the competition? I personally hate the hard sell and the “You must be an idiot if you are not using MY special products” marketing technique.

I sometimes send my cars (both daily drivers and special interest cars) to detailers. I always thought the cars came back in great shape. Shinny and clean! So, why go to Mike’s class?

I’ve been cleaning and “detailing” my cars for over 30 years. I think I do a pretty good job. My wife always says her car “Never looked better!” Can’t get much better than that, so why go to Mike’s class?

Why so much money? Can’t I read Mike’s books and watch all the videos? The $1250.00 tuition can sure buy a lot of new chrome for the “ol’ 57 Chevy”!

Let’s begin.

First off, the $1250.00 is NOT an expense. We car guys would spend that in Manhattan Minute if the money went towards improving our rides or bringing further enjoyment of our hobby. Heck, I spent three times the tuition on the Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour in 2012. Enough said.

Mike is a professional first and foremost. His entire effort during the class is to impart his knowledge of auto “detailing” to his students. He uses and discusses products that he knows works and saves time. Sure, AG sells most of the products he is demonstrating or you are using during the hands-on training. It’s never use this or you are on your own. Only once did he ever comment on “selling” and it was more of a joke. It went something like this: “Why use a machine to do this and not your hands? I don’t sell hands!”

Even if you never put MF mitt to paint, after the class you will have the ability to recognize a true professional detailer from someone you would want to avoid. It’s all about how to “touch” your paint. How to avoid introducing particles that add to the dullness (scratches and swirls). Care of the tools that touch your paint. Mike has horror stories and I have horror stories. I still remember the wool buffer pad on the machine of the guy who “detailed” my 57 Chevy. It was a mess. Looked like it had never been cleaned or dressed properly. I spent twice as much getting the car fixed. Over the years Mike has developed a methodology that has proven to produce a “Show Car Shine”. It works. It makes sense (even if you have to go the class twice). How do I know? I did my first car after the first class. Although I struggled, it was my best effort to date. So much so, the car was the demo vehicle at September’s “Cars and Coffee”. I think Mike approved of my work. At least I hope so.

I did okay with caring for my cars over the years. But I never improved the finish. Yes, I was slowly degrading the car’s finish every time I washed and waxed them. Why? I was not removing the bad things and I was doing things out of order. Just think of the trade-in value on a car that looks “as good as new” over one that shows it’s age. That alone is worth the price of admission. I could have saved ten times the tuition over the years. Oh another thing, I avoided machines because I had never used one and was afraid to try. In Mike’s class you spend hours with most every machine on the market. Saving time is just like saving money.

Books and videos help. I think they mostly introduce you to new products or ways to use them. They are not going to give you the training that a hands-on class with instruction from a knowledgeable teacher will.

And Lastly, the intangibles.

Mike and Nick are great guys to work with. They are there to help you succeed. Their effort behind the scenes is what makes the class. Like magic, every MF towel used during the day is ready to go again the next day. Both guys are readily accessible long after the class is over.

You meet some other people with different backgrounds and goals. It always helps to see the bigger picture. One guy, Rob from the July class, is always available by phone to help me out. He’s ahead of me in his detailing experience so it helps to have someone to bounce ideas off of. A lot of costly mistakes were avoided.

Hope this helps.

Bob Jones