Author Archives: Mike Phillips

How to use a paint thickness gauge
30
Apr
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Garage & Equipment, Guides & Tips, How To, Paint Correction, Professional Detailing

How to Use a Paint Thickness Gauge

Posted on by Mike Phillips

A paint thickness gauge (PTG, also known as a coating thickness gauge) is an electronic device used in the auto detailing industry to accurately measure the thickness of a car’s paint and/or any protective coatings applied to it.  In this article, I’ll explain what paint thickness gauges are used for, how they work, when to […]

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How to Correctly Hand Wash a Car
16
Aug
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Guides & Tips, How To

How to Correctly Hand Wash a Car | Beginner’s Guide

Posted on by Mike Phillips

Download PDF Checklist TRANSCRIPT You know, the most common way we get swirls and scratches into the finish on our cars comes from the way we wash it and dry it and also anytime we wipe it with a microfiber towel. Now, I’ve already completely polished out this car. It has a scratch-free, a swirl-free […]

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Beginner's Guide to Polishing Cars
09
Aug
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, How To, Paint Correction

Beginner’s Guide to Car Polishing

Posted on by Mike Phillips

Download PDF Checklist TRANSCRIPT Over time your car becomes filled full of swirls, scratches, water spots, and oxidation. And if you’re a beginner—you’ve never machine polished before—trying to fix this can be kind of intimidating. Let me show you how, and I’ll make it easy. In this video, I’m going to show you how to […]

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Detailing class photos
31
Jul
Behind the Detail

313 Pictures: The most hands-on detailing classes on planet Earth!

Posted on by Mike Phillips

3 cars – 3 Primary Topics – 1 Very Intense and 100% Hands-on DayHere’s the three cars this class detailed in a single day not including the extreme headlight correction on the Ford Escape. From left to right, 1934 Chevy Sedan Streetrod – 1969 Dodge Dart GTS Convertible – 1977 Pontiac Grand Prix JS(The 1977 […]

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Mike Phillips and Dr. Beasley's guide to polishing compounds
04
Jun
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Guides & Tips, Paint Correction

The Ultimate Guide to Polishing Compounds for Car Paint (2025)

Posted on by Mike Phillips

Doing a major paintwork correction on a car with deep swirls, scratches, water spots and/or oxidation often requires something called a “compound” or “rubbing compound” that cuts paint faster and more aggressively than a polish.  There are a lot of different compounds on the market today using a lot of different technologies. In this article, […]

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EGO Power+ Pressure Washer Full Guide and Review
20
May
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Garage & Equipment, Guides & Tips, Professional Detailing, Videos & Media

EGO Power+ 3200 PSI Pressure Washer | Complete Review & Guide

Posted on by Mike Phillips

If you like to wash your car regularly, one of the handiest tools you can own is a pressure washer.  Pressure washers excel at cleaning just about anything with minimal effort. The high pressure water jet blasts the contaminants away while you simply hold the wand and aim.  There are a lot of consumer-friendly options […]

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How to Remove Oxidation from Boat Gelcoat
12
May
Behind the Detail, Ceramic Coatings, Exterior Detailing, Guides & Tips, How To, Paint Correction

How to Remove Oxidation from Boats

Posted on by Mike Phillips

There’s nothing like spending the day on your boat enjoying some relaxing time out on the water.  But enjoying your boat is only half of what it means to own one. The other half? Maintaining your boat.  Beyond repairs and general upkeep, one of the hardest parts of owning any boat with a gelcoat hull […]

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Detailing class at The American Muscle Car Museum in Melbourne, Florida
06
May
Auto Detailing Training Classes, Behind the Detail, Paint Correction, The Future of Detailing, Videos & Media

Pictures: Mike Phillips & Jason Rose 2-Day Detailing Class at the American Muscle Car Museum

Posted on by Mike Phillips

This picture was taken after the final 2 cars were finished and the class was coming to an end. I would like to thank everyone for their extreme focus on the tasks at hand to ensure all 6 cars came out freaking amazing! 100% Hands-On Training! This 2-day class was held at the American Muscle […]

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How to Use a Foam Cannon: Step-by-Step Guide
28
Apr
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Garage & Equipment, Guides & Tips, How To

How to Use a Foam Cannon (Step-by-Step Guide)

Posted on by Mike Phillips

Foam cannons are unique soap-delivery systems for washing cars. They spray layers of thick, sudsy soap foam that help loosen and break down dirt, grime and other types of contamination.  Professional detailers love them because they speed up the washing process and provide extra lubrication between your wash mitt and the paint to prevent scratches.  […]

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How to Lubricate Felt Ring on Harbor Freight Hercules Forced Rotation DA
13
Mar
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Garage & Equipment, Guides & Tips, How To, Paint Correction, Videos & Media

How to Lubricate Felt Ring on Harbor Freight Hercules Forced Rotation DA Polisher

Posted on by Mike Phillips

The Harbor Freight Hercules Forced Rotation DA Polisher is an almost exact copy of the Flex XC 3401 VRG Dual Action Polisher, AKA the BEAST — all the way down to the felt ring that lines the inside of the aluminum housing behind the backing plate. I noted this when I first reviewed the Hercules […]

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