DIY Detailing- Tedium or Therapy?

[kdubber]

Love it or hate it -- Do you look forward to and enjoy the process or do you disdain the very phrase wash-wax-and-detail??

Do you tag-team detail with your significant other (wax-on, wax-off)?

One of our favorite weekend routines (...keeperwife of 23 years...) goes something like this- get comfy, pour a glass of chard, cue the prepared playlist on the iPod boombox, and get down to the business of washing and detailing. We enjoy the process! We finish the afternoon/evening satisfied and look forward to our next detail-therapy date! Our friends think we're crazy and we think (..know..) they're the ones missing out!!

[lotsie]

We don't tag team the detailing of our MINIs, but I get great smooches when I'm done hers

Mark

[gokartride]

I don't have a garden or pets....so detailing is a great chance to get outside and spend some good quality therapeutic time w/ my MINI. As much as I enjoy this car, the time spent has been well worth it!!!

[cadfael_tex]

Definitely a joy. As compared to my work, it something I can do that shows instant results

[lotsie]

Originally Posted by cadfael_tex

Definitely a joy. As compared to my work, it something I can do that shows instant results

Yeah, definitely a joy either working on ours, or working on other folks cars, but after 12+ hours to do a full exterior detail, not sure about the "instant" part

Mark

[kdubber]

lotsie,

[RandomGemini]

It's the only time I get peace and quiet... when I'm out washing my car and polishing her up to make her look gorgeous.

I love the quality time it gives me with her off the road and for me, it's one of those jobs worth doing well.

[cadfael_tex]

The full deal can be a bit long for my old bones but the results from it are instant :P

[gokartride]

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

washing my car and polishing her up to make her look gorgeous.

Ahem....RG, I think you meant gawjus!!!

[lotsie]

Originally Posted by cadfael_tex

The full deal can be a bit long for my old bones but the results from it are instant :P

Yeah, some parts of the full deal hurt my old bones too But I can clay, never get tired from it, and those results, from feeling the paint after.....priceless

Mark

[bee1000n]

Washing is therapy.

Trim and interior detailing gets a little tiresome.

Full claying, taping, polishing and waxing is tedium.

[kenchan]

honestly i hate washing cars. it's time consuming, hands get all dry and cracked, crap stuck in the fingernails, fingernails chip, hair gets all messed up... oh wait, i sound like a sissy.

jk

i just prefer to drive and admire clean and detailed cars so that's why i do it. the smell of the products are great therapy too. especially benzene. jk i like getting a sniff (and taste) of Hydro, Slick, Best of Show car wax, etc. while i work.

[cadfael_tex]

Just a spoon full of Hydro makes the medicine go down ;) Keeps the innards smooth too - good for digestion )

[jimmy_racoon]

Just finished cleaning-up the Minnesota winter damage to my MINI.
Every year I say I'm gonna leave it dirty until I can properly wash (2 bucket, grit guard, lambs wool mit, etc), but I end up "wiping" it dry and putting swirls back in. This was a rough winter so I had my work cut out. Clean with Dawn to cut through the wax layers, claybar pretty much everything, PC-out the swirls, re-wax, then buff. Black Wow the trim. Full interior treatment. Full engine detail. Chrome polish the Sports exhaust tip...2 days work. Always hated taping, but it clearly takes less time than getting wax off the trim after. Lastly, the power to control weather is priceless. I can guarantee rain within 48 hours of completion! Motor on.

[cadfael_tex]

Why not Black Wow before the wax so you don't have to tape Jimmy_racoon?

[RandomGemini]

Originally Posted by kenchan

honestly i hate washing cars. it's time consuming, hands get all dry and cracked, crap stuck in the fingernails, fingernails chip, hair gets all messed up... oh wait, i sound like a sissy.

Dude... this is why the "sissies" get acrylic nails... no hangnails, no chips.

[jimmy_racoon]

Originally Posted by cadfael_tex

Why not Black Wow before the wax so you don't have to tape Jimmy_racoon?

Never thought of it. Next go maybe. Probably too busy taking off the wheels so I can wax the insides (dang white holies!...gotta love 'em)!!

Good suggestion, tho-thanks

[freez3]

One of life's simple pleasures...
cleaning your MINI!

[kenchan]

Originally Posted by RandomGemini

Dude... this is why the "sissies" get acrylic nails... no hangnails, no chips.

but that would look too werd on me.

honestly though, i dont like getting crap stuck under my nails or my finger tips cracking since im also a musician and need my hands to be in top shape.

so i wear disposable gloves these days.

[RandomGemini]

Wow dude... you're more of a girl than I am... and that's saying something.

I just bought a pink scarf with black stars and silver threading all through it the other day...

[kenchan]

hahaha! man, my wife would be all over that scarf!

i would define myself as "i am lazy yet i am efficient."
i use tools, not waste energy.

[RandomGemini]

I like her already! Heading to MOTD with her next year?

[kenchan]

probably not going. ask blimey, he doesn't miss me any more. he says kenchan never comes.

[5PET5NAZ]

Detailing shouldn't be work it should be a chance to clear ones mind and their MC/MCS. I wash my MINI two times a week and detail every other weekend. But your casual wipe down is a good thing.
1st Gen.02 MC BRG-B.

[kenchan]

sounds great, 5PET5NAZ. wish i had that much free time.