Category Archives: Professional Detailing

The Ultimate Guide to Polishing Pads
04
Dec
Auto Detailing Training Classes, Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Paint Correction, Professional Detailing

The Ultimate Guide to Polishing Pads

Posted on by Mike Phillips

In the world of detailing, few topics are as confusing as polishing pads for buffing paint. With so many different kinds of materials, designs, sizes and shapes, it’s hard to know what to use and when. In this condensed version of a recent livestreamed detailing class, I explain ALL the different kinds of pads from […]

Continue reading →
How to wax a black car
30
Aug
Behind the Detail, Ceramic Coatings, Exterior Detailing, Featured, Guides & Tips, How To, Paint Correction, Professional Detailing

The Best Wax for Black Cars (2024) | What to Look For & How to Wax Black Paint

Posted on by Mike Phillips

The biggest reason black cars is different than waxing any other color of car is because black shows everything! I have a saying, it goes like this, Black is not a color… it’s a full time job! And that’s a true statement, at least if you’re someone who cares about how your car looks.  But […]

Continue reading →
Ceramic coating product displayed in front of a car
03
Apr
Behind the Detail, Ceramic Coatings, Exterior Detailing, Guides & Tips, Paint Correction, Professional Detailing

Why Ceramic Coatings Fail (And What Actually Makes Them Last)

Posted on by Jim Lafeber

A lot of people are skeptical of ceramic coatings, and I understand why. They’ve been burned before.  Marketing makes ceramic coatings sound impervious. You hear it over and over: “Years of protection!” “9H Hardness!” “Extreme water beading!” And yet six months later, the gloss is gone, the finish is swirled and there’s no water beading […]

Continue reading →
Drying automotive paint with a microfiber towel
27
Feb
Behind the Detail, Ceramic Coatings, Exterior Detailing, Garage & Equipment, Guides & Tips, How To, Professional Detailing, Tips

How to Dry Your Car (Without Scratching the Paint)

Posted on by Jim Lafeber

Drying a vehicle is often perceived as a quick, final step after washing with little risk.  It is not. Drying is actually one of the highest risk steps in the wash process if your goal is maintaining paint clarity and preserving the clear coat long-term.  Although they are often called “wash marks”, most swirl marks, […]

Continue reading →
Swirls in automotive paint
21
Feb
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Garage & Equipment, Guides & Tips, How To, Paint Correction, Professional Detailing

How to Avoid Swirls & Scratches in Your Car’s Paint

Posted on by Mike Phillips

Now follow me. It takes hours to buff out a car. For example, this black 1957 Chevy. I have literally hours into perfecting the paint. It takes seconds to put swirls and scratches back in. And the question is, how did the swirls and scratches get back in the paint after you remove them? In […]

Continue reading →
The best way to remove water spots
22
Jul
Behind the Detail, Exterior Detailing, Guides & Tips, How To, Paint Correction, Professional Detailing

The Best Way to Remove Water Spots

Posted on by Mike Phillips

One of the most annoying paint defects to see on your car’s paint and then have to somehow remove are water spots! And while you may think removing water spots is a simple process, it can actually be quite complicated because there are more than one type of water spot.  In fact, I’m the guy […]

Continue reading →
How to Maintain Ceramic Coatings
04
Oct
Behind the Detail, Ceramic Coatings, Exterior Detailing, How To, Professional Detailing

How to Maintain Ceramic Coatings | DIY Beginner’s Guide

Posted on by Mike Phillips

Download PDF Checklist Transcript So, now that you have your car ceramic coated, let’s talk about how to take care of the ceramic coating, how to maintain it. I’m going to show you two different ways. One is through the gentle wash process. The other is through maintenance products. So, let’s start over here. The […]

Continue reading →
How to Apply Ceramic Coatings
27
Sep
Behind the Detail, Ceramic Coatings, Exterior Detailing, Guides & Tips, How To, Professional Detailing

How to Apply Ceramic Coatings | Beginner’s Guide

Posted on by Mike Phillips

Download PDF Checklist Transcript So, in this video, we’re going to cover how to properly install a ceramic coating. This is part two of a three-part series. The first part was how to prep the car for the ceramic coating. And that included washing, clay, and machine polishing to get that paint perfected so the […]

Continue reading →
How to Prep for Ceramic Coatings
20
Sep
Behind the Detail, Ceramic Coatings, Exterior Detailing, Guides & Tips, How To, Professional Detailing, Videos & Media

How to Prep for Ceramic Coatings | Beginner’s Guide

Posted on by Mike Phillips

Download PDF Checklist Transcript Hey, welcome to this video. I’m going to be sharing with you how to install a ceramic coating. So, if you’ve never done this before, uh, no need to take notes. You can actually download a PDF checklist. It’ll cover everything I use and all the steps. Plus, I’ve written a […]

Continue reading →
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 […]

Continue reading →