Skill vs tools

[Old Tiger]

Just curious. In most professions a certain percentage of the work is due to the skill of the individual and another is due to the tool being used. i.e. A good race car drivers car may account for 35% while his ability to control it at high speeds may be the other 65% that wins him the race.

So how much emphasis do you put on the product & machine? Could you guys work the wonders that you do if top brands were not available to you and if you were stripped of your DA?

I couldnt but I believe a lot of AGO members can. I place skill of the man at 85 to 90%. Just my $.02 FWIW!

[kronos]

... Could you guys work the wonders that you do if top brands were not available to you and if you were stripped of your DA?

I'm a novice detailer, so my hopes aren't very high that I could produce very good results. I believe that only because I would probably tire and quit. I know myself.


I also agree with Old Tiger. Skill +90%, Machine & Products -10%.

[slickooz]

I rather have the skill then the tools. After reading 6 pages this remind me of when people talk about poker, skills or luck? Everyone gets lucky once in a while but I would rather know what I'm doing then donk off all my money away.

Give someone a rotary with no skills and he might make a car look good, but the next he can burn paint an cost him lots of money.

[Bates Detailing]

I rather have the skill then the tools. After reading 6 pages this remind me of when people talk about poker, skills or luck? Everyone gets lucky once in a while but I would rather know what I'm doing then donk off all my money away.

Give someone a rotary with no skills and he might make a car look good, but the next he can burn paint an cost him lots of money.

I totally tried the analogy thing..... and it has been finalized that analogies can be picked apart and disregarded in this thread lol! Read back a few pages!!!

[feslope]

I totally tried the analogy thing..... and it has been finalized that analogies can be picked apart and disregarded in this thread lol! Read back a few pages!!!

[Fly bye]

The machine and products are merely an extension of ones ability and will do only as directed.

[Lasthope05]

While tools and products do play a small role in detailing I believe the skill of the detailer plays a much larger part in the final product. I have proven you dont need a rotary buffer or DA to remove wetsanding scratches get a swirl free finish using nothing but a mothers powerball and drill. Likewise, another member over on MOL proved the same using only a cheap $30 orbital wax polisher.

I agree with members above. Skill +90% / Tools&Products - 10%

[BobbyG]

No that was good grasshopper!!

[Jossy92]

Skill plus focus...the kind that comes from caring. I think I read something about working as if it was your own car.

[Kristopher1129]

I really don't get where this thread is going. I don't understand the argument. Is this just a debate about whether skills are greater than tools, and vice versa?

Cause to me. There are just flat out different types of detailers. Some rely heavily on their tools. You take certain tools away...and they're all the sudden clueless. There are also detailers who can grab any tool, and create great results no matter what. There are also detailers who don't use tools at all. They do everything by hand. In fact, they tell their customers that they shouldn't even allow tools to touch their paint.

Whether the detailer working by hand, is better than the one using the tools...I think that's a different debate. All that matters, is who is getting great results.

As long as they are skilled...I don't think it matters what type of detailer you are. Regardless, you're probably getting great results. That's all that matters. IMO.