Hands on a detailed Audi steering wheel

Training Day

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Detailing in the USA 🇺🇸 or Valeting in the UK 🇬🇧 is the process of working on the refinement of any area in or out of the vehicle.

The basics are:

  • Thorough cleansing and decontamination of a vehicle.
  • Followed by paint enhancement with machine polishing.

This allows you to get the most clarity and gloss out of the paint work before it receives any protection. Such as waxes, sealants or ceramic coating. This will pull even more depth from the paint work, allowing you to produce a better-than-showroom shine that other methods are unable to achieve. This can only be unlocked with a high level of attention to every tiny detail, hence the name.

You will undergo a 1-day-training process that covers every aspect of detailing, including (but not limited to):

  • Correct wash, clean and preparation technique.
  • An understanding of paint, machine polishing, protection, interior detailing and finishing touches.
  • You will carry out the detail work on the vehicle with constant demonstration, supervision and appraisal from myself.

Should you be considering taking up detailing as a profession, discussion of the considerations needed for such a business with respect to costings, best practice and work flow will occur throughout the day of the training. Although the training is laid out in three modules, the flow during each day will vary as the candidate learns, adapts and gains confidence.

The three modules

1

Module one: cleaning, decontamination & preparatory work.

This module covers all aspects of cleaning, decontaminating and preparing the vehicle for further work. It includes removal of tar, bird lime, brake dust, grease and other undesirable contaminants. It also includes discussion of product choices such as, the use of biodegradable chemicals so as not to damage the vehicle or the environment, and efficiency/best cost practices vital to running a successful detailing business. The day concludes with interior detailing and the practices and products used.

Costing Appraisal - Up-selling based on the condition of the vehicle i.e.

  • Decontamination
  • Engine bay
  • Exterior wash
  • Interior detail
  • Leather treatment
  • Fabric protector
  • Wax or ceramic style glass sealant
  • Wheels off decontamination
  • Machine polish exterior paint
  • Glass sealant
  • Washing - Pre-wash (snow foam), "two-bucket" method with safe wash mitt, claying, tar removal, iron & fall out removers, cleaning door-shuts, safe drying with towels
  • Engine bay detailing - Ensuring electronics & engine safety. Right type of products to use, process, application & finishing
  • Wheels-off detailing: Safely jacking vehicle & wheel removal & protection - Application of fall out remover, use of brushes
  • Glue & tar removal & re-applying of the wheel
  • Interior - interior plastics & rubber, fabric cleaning and sealant protection, leather cleaning and sealant protection
2

Module two: understanding of paint, correction, enhancement and machine polishing.

To get that better-than-showroom shine, any car on the road will benefit from paint correction; be it a light enhancement or full-on correction. This module covers the process from start to finish, from understanding how paints and lacquers are applied and assessing and recognising different paint types right through to machine polishing itself. It will also delve into removing light scratches, swirls, bird lime and tree sap marks amongst other imperfections, to reveal the true lustre of the paint. Depending on the colour of the paint and density of clear coat, the candidate will be shown the correct machine, pad and polish combination together with the correct techniques needed to enhance any car. The candidate will gain vital hands-on experience of both rotary and dual-action machines, and the benefits and limitations of both.

Paint Correction

The car is now clean and decontaminated, inspect the car for any re-spray work, accident damage, smart repairs, dents, major scratches, incorrect panel gaps or anything that would suggest that the car has had after market repair work to the exterior painted surfaces. Use of automotive masking tape to cover all external exposed plastics and rubbers. Use a torch to reveal the swirl marks on the paint work. Using a polisher with cutting pad & compound to correct the vehicle, panel by panel. Inspection of work to see correction results until desired level of paint enhancement is achieved. Moving on to application of polish with polishing pad to vehicle, finishing with inspection of the paint work with a torch to confirm that the swirls are removed. Rotary Polisher Tuition, paintwork inspection, paint enhancement, polish application, swirl and surface scratch removal.

3

Module three: finishing touches
  • Removal of masking tape.
  • Application of panel wipe to remove any remaining residue and dust.
  • Paint sealant application techniques, problem rectification & buffing.
  • Wax application techniques & buffing, tyre dressing, glass cleaning.

PricingFrom £699

  • (“from” due to location)
  • Maximum participants on each course is 1 - your course is just for you, no one else can attend.
  • Price shown is per person.
  • The program is set up for one full day from 8:30am in the morning until 6pm in the afternoon. With one hour of lunch typically at 1pm. If the candidate is not comfortable the training can be extended to multiple days. At further cost.

Want to make a booking? Get in touch with me via phone on 07426505186 or email on Kcdetails@hotmail.com.

I look forward to hearing from you. Thank you. Kozz, Owner and Operator at KC Details