What is the most important thing you need to detail?

[THE BIG BUFFER]

I was thinking about this today and the one thing I can't get non-detailers to understand is the amount of time required to accomplish a A+ detail their car.
Most say they could do it if they just had the tools. Well what about knowlage? Products? or????

[RDVT4ME]

Re: What is the most important thing you need to detail?

Patience.

[smack]

Re: What is the most important thing you need to detail?

You should have all of the above but IMO, the last two are not as important as the first three.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: What is the most important thing you need to detail?

You do need all that you have listed. Some, obviously are needed more then others.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: What is the most important thing you need to detail?

While we firmly believe that the answer is "All of the above", you can probably still do an outstanding job if you lack any one of the items listed. Probably. The definite exception to that is if you lack knowledge. The best products and best tools in the world can't do the job on their own - they need to be used by someone who knows what they're doing.

Even then, you need to be able to think on your feet and respond when things don't go the way you planned. We often say that of all the tools available to a detailer - liquids, pads, towels, buffers, lights, your hands even - the most important is that lump of gray matter between your ears. And that often seems to be the tool people stop using first.

[Chris Thompson]

Re: What is the most important thing you need to detail?

You can have the right products, tools, time, and space but I have seen guys who have all of those things but are lacking knowledge just butcher a finish.
IMO, knowledge is the most powerful tool.

[THE BIG BUFFER]

Re: What is the most important thing you need to detail?

Well I still stand by "time". I 've done some amazing work even after running out of certain produts or having a tool break in the middle of a detail. On the other hand think of it this way. Here detail this car, you got one hr! NOW time becomes important eh?

[Michael Stoops]

Re: What is the most important thing you need to detail?

Well I still stand by "time". I 've done some amazing work even after running out of certain produts or having a tool break in the middle of a detail. On the other hand think of it this way. Here detail this car, you got one hr! NOW time becomes important eh?

You do realize that without proper knowledge, without being able to think on your feet, running out of product and/or having a tool break would mean you'd be hopelessly stymied, right? But you had the knowledge, experience and brain power to overcome those obstacles. Good for you!

[Tuck91]

Re: What is the most important thing you need to detail?

Real detailing takes time.

[THE BIG BUFFER]

Re: What is the most important thing you need to detail?

Real detailing takes time.

Exactly! Thank you.

[THE BIG BUFFER]

Re: What is the most important thing you need to detail?

You do realize that without proper knowledge, without being able to think on your feet, running out of product and/or having a tool break would mean you'd be hopelessly stymied, right? But you had the knowledge, experience and brain power to overcome those obstacles. Good for you!

I agree with you Michael but I think my point is being missed. When I was teen in the late 70's early 80's I no knowledge, tools or anything else for that matter related to detailing but when i did "clean" my Dads truck I used good ol wax on wax off tech of the day and did a pretty good job (relitive to the period in time). What I did have was time. Lots of it.

To day I would probably answer "all of the above" but being in a situation now where time is very limited I know how important it is to have to do a real detail job. 2 hours is not enough time to do a good job imho.

And the poll is just to get people talking and share thoughts on the subject.

[cnfowler]

Re: What is the most important thing you need to detail?

Real detailing takes time.

I agree. Even Joe or Nick Chapman couldn't produce results without the right amount of time.

Knowledge is extremely important and is probably the best thing to have before even starting a project. Time is probably number two, IMO.


Colin

[SVT Lightning]

Re: What is the most important thing you need to detail?

Electricity!

[thepanchmx]

Well you need time, and love for what you do thats the key.

If you dont have the right tools or knowledge eventually you will achieve what you want with what you have, thats how the human works.

[Top Gear]

Re: What is the most important thing you need to detail?

Spelling "knowledge" correctly is a start But seriously, I agree with many of you on this. I know people who have all of the poll options at their disposal for a given hobby they claim to love and still don't achieve much. I'd say "passion" and "patience" are the most important aspects of doing any skilled work right. You have to love it and you have to be willing to learn and adapt as you go.