WHIZZER
14-12-2007, 05:31 PM
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/2994/finerdetailsmn7.jpg
www.finerdetails.co.uk
Can you start by telling us a little about yourself?
Iain Brown, aged 33 and married to Mrs Newsham-Brown.
What else can I tell you about me?
I'm organised & strong willed. Generally I'm pretty laid back, very relaxed and easy going.
How did you ‘get into’ detailing?
My first car. It was brand new, and I just had to keep it looking as good as I knew how too. Obviously looking back I was a nightmare. My OCD meant I had the whole AG range, god knows why as I didn't use half of it, lol. And things just expanded from there, with family very soon keeping me busy with their cars, then neighbours, and so on. Here is a pic of my detailing stock over five years ago, when I had to keep it down in the cellar:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid161/pb68e9d339ff826fc0d8df50f9466796a/f4d21247.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid161/p8d0d6d57e807d69fd238058bf247e6e0/f4d2123f.jpg
How long have you been detailing at ‘this’ level?
Finerdetails is just about to complete its first year of trading. I felt this in its self is another mile stone for me and my company. With regards to detailing at this level - we continue to develop and improve continuously, so what is this months level will be below what is happening by March next year - or at least thats how I approach my detailing.
How did you learn to machine polish?
I bought my Porter Cable years and years ago. I wanted the next level of detailing, and the Guys on Diesel Car - now Diesel driver got me started and I went from there. I've just spent half an hour trying to find a pic of me using the PC for the very first time, but couldn't. I'll keep searching, its bound to turn up. After years of PC'ing I then moved to the rotary, spending four months on speed one before starting to climd the speeds and pads and polishes.
How many cars have detailed over the years?
Oh my word, I have absolutely no idea! I can tell you FinerDetails has done around 255 to date.
Tell me about your first detail
SEAT LCR, black magic met paint. Phil from the SEAT Cupra net forum. I spent over eight hours PC'ing the car with four inch pads trying my best to improve his deep swirls. It was a really hot day, and I was sweating buckets, might have had as much to do with the stress of my first detail, and Phil stayed to watch too. Washed, clayed, and then Megs 83, 80 and NXT.
Before and after as proof:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p2677a0efb5cc99d43a09cc2663037836/ef239677.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p43ae184f53ca5b73562743312dfd561e/ef239641.jpg
The car will actually becoming back to me at the start of next year, as a gesture for my first customer I am going to detail it again and see how things have moved on.
What do you drive and how often is it detailed?
Well the FD van is my obvious drive. It gets washed weekly, if it needs it, and usually waxed monthly. It currently has two layers of divine on it, and some Collinite 915 on the lower sills, bonnet edge, and back doors. The working end - ie the back, gets tidied and cleaned every couple of days to keep it organised and clean. The other drive is our car which my wife strives to keep dirty and in a state of embarressment to me. Thats been detailed regular, washed every 1-2 weeks and waxed every couple of months. It currently has two layers of Divine on it.
What is your favourite car to detail and why?
Black cars for the results, red cars for the deep warm gloss they give. I really like the 996 Porsche when it done, but its not my favourite car to detail as all the floor crawling round breaks my back! As an individual car, I think the A3 from Audi or the MkIV Ford Focus are a great car to detail, flat panels, and just the right size for a full on detail in a day.
Do you prefer to detail a Supercar or everyday car?
Everyday car no doubt. Supercars are extremely hard work, low to the ground and full of detail bodywork. Interior wise is always so cramped too, I find myself kneeling on the floor outside the car climbing in to reach under seats etc.
What piece of detailing kit do you think every detailer should have in their arsenal? (excluding the obvious stuff like wash mitts etc.)
For the new guys I think the Paint Dpeth Gauge is a must. For the more established, its a mobile phone. A good network of buddies to keep the day rolling is priceless!
What are your current favourite brands and why?
Well I could be biased and say Swissvax. Or I could be honest and say Swissvax. Thats thats covered then. :D I've never been a huge brand believer. I more seek the product for my task and find the best one for it. So if you see me using a brand, there is more likely to be an underlying reason behind it..... For me Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish is the most under rated and best performing FF there is.
What do you do when you’re not detailing?
Paper work, accounts, write ups, job quote, product reviews, stock ordering, business development and marketing. After that, gym, my garden project, DIY, time with my wife and family, or helping with our two horses usually takes any remaining time up. I think managing my time is the hardest thing for me personally. Not because I struggle with doing it, but because I just physically cannot get everything in that I wish too. I had plans for things I wanted to do this year and haven't so this will be on the list for next year instead.
A few quick fire questions
Ferrari or Lambo ? Ferrari
Wax or Sealent ? Wax
Fish and chips or bangers and mash ? Fish and chips
McDonald's or Burger King? Maccy Dees
Coffee or Tea? Coffee - 2 sugars and milk!
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/2994/finerdetailsmn7.jpg
www.finerdetails.co.uk
www.finerdetails.co.uk
Can you start by telling us a little about yourself?
Iain Brown, aged 33 and married to Mrs Newsham-Brown.
What else can I tell you about me?
I'm organised & strong willed. Generally I'm pretty laid back, very relaxed and easy going.
How did you ‘get into’ detailing?
My first car. It was brand new, and I just had to keep it looking as good as I knew how too. Obviously looking back I was a nightmare. My OCD meant I had the whole AG range, god knows why as I didn't use half of it, lol. And things just expanded from there, with family very soon keeping me busy with their cars, then neighbours, and so on. Here is a pic of my detailing stock over five years ago, when I had to keep it down in the cellar:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid161/pb68e9d339ff826fc0d8df50f9466796a/f4d21247.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid161/p8d0d6d57e807d69fd238058bf247e6e0/f4d2123f.jpg
How long have you been detailing at ‘this’ level?
Finerdetails is just about to complete its first year of trading. I felt this in its self is another mile stone for me and my company. With regards to detailing at this level - we continue to develop and improve continuously, so what is this months level will be below what is happening by March next year - or at least thats how I approach my detailing.
How did you learn to machine polish?
I bought my Porter Cable years and years ago. I wanted the next level of detailing, and the Guys on Diesel Car - now Diesel driver got me started and I went from there. I've just spent half an hour trying to find a pic of me using the PC for the very first time, but couldn't. I'll keep searching, its bound to turn up. After years of PC'ing I then moved to the rotary, spending four months on speed one before starting to climd the speeds and pads and polishes.
How many cars have detailed over the years?
Oh my word, I have absolutely no idea! I can tell you FinerDetails has done around 255 to date.
Tell me about your first detail
SEAT LCR, black magic met paint. Phil from the SEAT Cupra net forum. I spent over eight hours PC'ing the car with four inch pads trying my best to improve his deep swirls. It was a really hot day, and I was sweating buckets, might have had as much to do with the stress of my first detail, and Phil stayed to watch too. Washed, clayed, and then Megs 83, 80 and NXT.
Before and after as proof:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p2677a0efb5cc99d43a09cc2663037836/ef239677.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid205/p43ae184f53ca5b73562743312dfd561e/ef239641.jpg
The car will actually becoming back to me at the start of next year, as a gesture for my first customer I am going to detail it again and see how things have moved on.
What do you drive and how often is it detailed?
Well the FD van is my obvious drive. It gets washed weekly, if it needs it, and usually waxed monthly. It currently has two layers of divine on it, and some Collinite 915 on the lower sills, bonnet edge, and back doors. The working end - ie the back, gets tidied and cleaned every couple of days to keep it organised and clean. The other drive is our car which my wife strives to keep dirty and in a state of embarressment to me. Thats been detailed regular, washed every 1-2 weeks and waxed every couple of months. It currently has two layers of Divine on it.
What is your favourite car to detail and why?
Black cars for the results, red cars for the deep warm gloss they give. I really like the 996 Porsche when it done, but its not my favourite car to detail as all the floor crawling round breaks my back! As an individual car, I think the A3 from Audi or the MkIV Ford Focus are a great car to detail, flat panels, and just the right size for a full on detail in a day.
Do you prefer to detail a Supercar or everyday car?
Everyday car no doubt. Supercars are extremely hard work, low to the ground and full of detail bodywork. Interior wise is always so cramped too, I find myself kneeling on the floor outside the car climbing in to reach under seats etc.
What piece of detailing kit do you think every detailer should have in their arsenal? (excluding the obvious stuff like wash mitts etc.)
For the new guys I think the Paint Dpeth Gauge is a must. For the more established, its a mobile phone. A good network of buddies to keep the day rolling is priceless!
What are your current favourite brands and why?
Well I could be biased and say Swissvax. Or I could be honest and say Swissvax. Thats thats covered then. :D I've never been a huge brand believer. I more seek the product for my task and find the best one for it. So if you see me using a brand, there is more likely to be an underlying reason behind it..... For me Pinnacle Advanced Finishing Polish is the most under rated and best performing FF there is.
What do you do when you’re not detailing?
Paper work, accounts, write ups, job quote, product reviews, stock ordering, business development and marketing. After that, gym, my garden project, DIY, time with my wife and family, or helping with our two horses usually takes any remaining time up. I think managing my time is the hardest thing for me personally. Not because I struggle with doing it, but because I just physically cannot get everything in that I wish too. I had plans for things I wanted to do this year and haven't so this will be on the list for next year instead.
A few quick fire questions
Ferrari or Lambo ? Ferrari
Wax or Sealent ? Wax
Fish and chips or bangers and mash ? Fish and chips
McDonald's or Burger King? Maccy Dees
Coffee or Tea? Coffee - 2 sugars and milk!
http://img107.imageshack.us/img107/2994/finerdetailsmn7.jpg
www.finerdetails.co.uk