Hey everyone the guys from DI emailed me and asked me to take part in a series in which they will be interviewing each author. They asked me to provide you with a little information about myself along with answering a few detailing questions they provided. If you are interested in learning more about any of the other authors, check out the complete line of the Get To Know Your Ask-A-Pro Author articles by clicking here!

1. How did you get started in detailing?

I was always taught to take care of my belongings, and my car was no exception.  My dad washed his vehicles on a regular basis and he clayed, polished, and waxed them as needed.  Naturally, when I got my first car I learned to care for mine in the same manner.  As I grew to learn more about proper processes and techniques, I became obsessed with the art of detailing.  I am happy to say that I am still obsessed and will continue to try to improve my skills and knowledge of detailing as best I can.

2. What is your favorite car that you have worked on?

Last year I worked on a 2013 Nissan GT-R Black Edition.  The car was like new, but still needed some refinement to remove some deeper scratches and light swirls.  The car was then coated with Cquartz Finest and it looked great.   While this may not be the typical ‘super car’, it’s power was evident and I enjoyed spending a couple of days with it.

3. What is the longest and most challenging detail you have ever had?

The most challenging vehicle that comes to mind would have to be a 2004 Porsche 911 Turbo – Jet Black.  The car was not in great shape to begin with, but it was my lack of preparation that led to the majority of my troubles.  I had always heard that the dreaded “Porsche Black Paint” was incredibly soft and could be a nightmare for those who have not worked with it before.  I suppose I should have paid better attention to the warnings I had read, however after my test spots revealed quite a bit of marring with M205 & a finishing pad, I knew I was in for a struggle. Unfortunately I did not have the coveted Menzerna SF4500 to use at this particular time, so after much trial and error, I ended up finishing down with Chemical Guys Black Light and an ultra fine finishing pad.  This was not an ideal situation.  Needless to say, I learned my lesson.  That was the last time I will be caught without the “proper” products!

4. What is your least favorite area to detail, if any?

That’s an easy one – glass!  Specifically the inside of the windshield.  This area typically has a pretty thick layer of grime on it which takes some time to clean and leave streak free.  It is also quite awkward to reach.

5. What was the best and worst customer experience you have had?

Fortunately the vast majority of my customers are nothing short of amazing to work with.  I enjoy getting to know other car owners who are passionate about their cars and are willing to listen and learn from my recommendations on how to continue to maintain their vehicles in between appointments.  I started detailing professionally because it was something that I enjoy doing, but I continue doing it because my customers make it a lot of fun.  I’ve made a lot of friends through my detailing work, and it is great to be able to share a common passion for cars with others in my area.

While I would not consider this a “bad customer experience”, it was definitely a learning experience.  It is a job where I feel like I exceeded all expectations, yet the customer was not entirely pleased.  The vehicle was older and in poor shape.  The budget for this car was extremely low for the amount of work I felt it needed, but he wanted to at least have it cleaned up so it looked better when he decided to sell it.  I made the decision to go above and beyond what we had agreed to for the paint correction process and was able to make a dramatic difference.  In choosing to spend the majority of my allotted time on the paint, I chose to overlook some more of the minor details as I felt these areas would go unnoticed if the paint remained in such poor shape.  Ultimately the customer was happy with the paint, but not pleased with my decision to spend all of my time on it.  The lesson I learned was to simply stick to the agreed plan of action regardless of what I feel is more important as the customer’s priorities may not be identical to my own.

6. Imagine that you awoke on a magical detailing island and a VIP client is having their vehicle flown in but you have no idea what it will be.  The island has a wash bay, water, hose, two buckets and electricity.  What 10 products would you want Detailed Image to ship you?

• Fine Grade Nano-Skin Mitt – A must have for quick an easy decontamination… can also be used as a wash mitt if needed
• ONR – For washing and for clay lube
• Rupes Bigfoot LHR15ES – A great tool that would work well on any vehicle
• Menzerna FG400 – One of my favorite compounds
• Meguiar’s M205 – A fantastic polish
• Orange Light Cutting Pads – Easily my most used pad, great for one steps with a finishing polish or cutting with a compound
• Crimson Polishing Pads – Helps to finish perfectly on even the trickiest finishes
• Microfiber Towels
• CarPro Reload – An awesome spray sealant that is quick and easy to use.  It beads as well as most coatings, and looks great too!
• Opti-Bond Tire Gel – no car is complete without nicely dressed tires… even if you are stuck on an island!