We are not discouraging you per say. it just seems like you may not be fully prepared for the task at hand. There is SO much more than meets the eye.

Take some pictures and post them up and we'll give you some more suggestions as you go! good luck

 

My time is worth more to me then the time spent detailing my car. Love my car, dont get me wrong but I can just drop it off at the detailing place down the way and go to work. They do a great job and are reliable. They have done all my cars and never let me down. And they only charge about 150. It would take me all day to do it and i dont have that kind of patience.

 

Once again I appreciate the concerns, and although I have never performed the task at hand before, I am 100% certain that it is not nearly as difficult as you folks are trying to make it seem. I suppose you all have the assumption that I am incompetent simply because I asked a few newbish questions, but that's fine.

I think that me spending the money on the supplies and saving around a $100 detailing the car myself is well worth a days work and my valuable time. Then again it's all based on perspective, and I guess you'd have to actually know me personally before you can judge my competence and if i'm capable of the task at hand. Then again I started this thread looking for tips and suggestions, not opinions and personal beliefs.

Here are some pics, they're not too great, but it was freezing outside.

 

this is before the detail? correct?

 

Remember to use a lighter hand on the body contour lines. It's easy to burn through the paint at points where YOUR weight distribution on the buffer is not even (unlike flat of flatter surfaces).

Silicone your door/body jams so brushing out the dust will be easier.

Do not work in direct sunlight or if the surface of your car is too hot to touch.

Apart from sanding, what you do to the skin, do to the glass. Period.

Everyone who is telling you to go for it....would never let you work on their car being the novice that you are. I read this whole thread and these guys were on effin point with practically everything. It should not take you more than a day to do everything. The paint takes the new cutting, waxing, polishing and sealing in immediate succession to be really effective. You'll do great. Take your time and keep us posted. I detailed professionally for ten years. And I am not doing my own car if I can help it. GOOD LUCK!!!!!

 

I am all for you trying to detail your own car. In my first post, I tried to explaing briefly about how to simply attack it. Take your time and prep is most important. Any areas that you dont feel comfortable, use tape to cover the edges or jambs or black plastic. Good luck in whatever you decide. PM me if you need further assistance. I have been detailing for many, many years.