Wow, today sucked. My truck was just looking really dirty from all of the rain, and of course the sun was just beaming down on my black paint. It's been a ****ty year for washing the vehicles though because every other day it seems to rain or a thunderstorm rolls through just to ruin all of the hard work...

Anyways, I took the initiative to hand wash the truck. I got the power washer out, the hose, the soaps, the buckets, the microfiber towels, and the products. Once I start doing a hand wash, I just get vortexed in from that point forward...I knew I was in for a project. Anyways, as I'm spending all this time washing the truck, I'm increasingly growing more and more angry. I can just see all of these buff marks everywhere on my paint, as well as tons of areas where wax was still left on the paint. Obviously I wasn't going to quit washing the truck to leave water marks everywhere, so I had to finish the job.

I am very irritated. Even after giving him two chances to fix the truck, he still slaughtered the job. I'm extra pissed off that he gave me such a hard time when I took it back, and then tried to make me feel bad after he delivered the truck to me the second time. Now I have to get this truck detailed (once more). Whatever you people do....do not go to PORTLAND TINT in Portland, Maine.

 

Lol, ADAM CALIENTE!

 

Word to the wise, get yourself the Porter Cable buffer & pads and do it yourself. It will cost you less than another detail (or maybe the same) and it will pay for itself after one use.

 

I thought you said that you were happy with the way it looked when you picked it up after his second attempt at it? What happened?

 

Most likely it was a combination of plenty of wax to cover the buff marks, and anxiety on the part of the OP due to the problems with the picture taking of the detailer. No one likes a bad situation when you have to complain (we've all been there) but it doesn't get any better by hoping and wishing it to go away.

Some people are crazy and love to fight and yell and scream, but most normal people don't enjoy it. You just have to buck up and tell the guy you want your money back. If you don't want to do that, then just chalk it up as a lesson learned and move on. Very seldom am I happy when I have someone do anything for me. The way I have learned to deal with my lot in life is to become a jack of all trades. My wife says it must be hard to be me, but I just like things done a certain way. Know what you want and follow it.

 

while i agree that doing it yourself is great and I too enjoy it when it comes to detailing some things will require a decent investment in tools and product to do effectively. as far as heavy swirl removing and scratch removal it is almost impossible to do this without a rotary or a DA and these tools are fairly expensive well over 100 dollars. and in the hands of a rookie can be harmful to the finish of the vehicle. while i agree that washing/waxing and the general cleaning is easily done by the owner some of the more corrective procedures will either require a professional or a investment of the owners time and finances to become proficient in the techniques required.

 

I detailed my truck myself before all this rain we have been getting up here and I have to say my O.C.D gets pretty damn bad! Lol. I could detail this truck alllllll day!!!

 

Actually the random orbitals pretty much guarantee that any idiot can do it without causing damage to their finish. Also, for under $200 you can get the machine, several pads, polishes and waxes all in a bundle and that will last you for a long time. Most people don't detail their vehicles every weekend. If you do it 2 or 3 times a year, the materials will last you a few years.

 

a random orbital is fairly safe but if you try to remove deep scratches with a cutting pad and an abrasive polish and don't know when to stop you will eventually go through the clear.

and plus let's not underestimate the power of the common tard lol


i've been thinking about picking up a PC and menzerna polishes right now to compliment my Zaino sealants but right now I don't have any issues with swirls so paint correction is kind of on a back burner but i'm sure in a year or two i will be in need... truly isn't a way to avoid swirls on a daily driver... especially with where i live to keep it clean it needs washed at least once a week weather permitting.

 

Washing seems to always create swirl marks. I have not heard ANY washing method that completely avoids it, but on other colors it shows less than on black. That's just the price we pay for the choice we made.