Dave KG & Caledonia & Autobrite - Midlands Machine Polishing Classes 2010

[Dave KG]

Important Note: I will be away on holiday from 3rd June to 21st June so will be unable to update the main class lists during this time - I will update all lists on my return


Following popular request, we are delighted to announce that this year we will be teaming up with Mark at Autobrite Direct to offer our Machine Polishing classes in the Midlands! The classes will take place at Autobrite’s unit in Newcastle-Under-Lyme, full directions to which would be PMd to you in advance of the class after signing up. We are really excited to be able to offer classes in conjunction with Autobrite who will be on hand throughout the days as well to offer advice on products you may be interested in.

The classes will simply be divided into Beginners and Advanced. Both machines will be covered on the day – you will spend the majority of the day working on the machine of your choice and then have the opportunity to spend some time on the other type of machine as well, giving you experience of both! Full details of the class contents are given below

The classes this year will cost £65 per head. We realise this is a little more than for our equivalent Scotland days, the difference in price is to account for our additional expenses for running the classes. We hope that folks will understand this Payment can be made on the day by cash or cheque, no deposit is required to book your place.

The classes will start at 10am and will finish in the late afternoon / early evening: we wont put an exact time on finishing as we aim for a relaxed an enjoyable day where we can spend as much time going over things as is required. Full details of locations, times, and the all important lunch arrangements will be PMd to you in advance of the class after signing up.

To sign up for a class, simply post up below your name and the class you would like to attend and I will add your name to the master list. We are limiting the classes to a maximum of 6 as we have a bit more space in the Autobrite unit and it will divide you neatly into teams of three for part of our plans . You can choose from the following classes:


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Machine Polishing Beginners Class – Saturday 10th April (Class Full - Reserve Places Only)

Class Complete!


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Machine Polishing Advanced Class – Sunday 11th April (Class Full - Reserve Places Only)

Class Complete!

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Machine Polishing Beginners Class – Saturday 15th May (Class Full - Reserve Places Only)

Class Complete!

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Machine Polishing Advanced Class – Sunday 16th May (Class Full - Reserve Places Only)

Class Complete!

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Machine Polishing Beginners Class – Saturday 26th June (Class Full - Reserve Places Only!)

Class Complete!

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Machine Polishing Advanced Class – Sunday 27th June (Class Full - Reserve Places Only!)
Class Complete!


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Machine Polishing Beginners Class – Saturday 17th July (Class Full - Reserve Places Only!)

1. 03OKH
2. Johnathan B
3. Schizophonic
4. andyp
5. tosh
6. Shared




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Machine Polishing Beginners Class – Sunday 18th July (Class Full! Reserve Places Only)

1. DeanA
2. Mike Rose
3. MJ
4. alxg
5. KEVLO
6. NickMal



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Machine Polishing Beginners Class – Saturday 14th August (Class Full - Reserve Places Only!)

1. J99NNO
2. NeilG40
3. kiruji
4. pajpower0
5. dandman
6. rex

Reserve 1. Trebor
Reserve 2. NCB
Reserve 3. PadTwo
Reserve 4. andyp


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Machine Polishing Beginners Class – Sunday 15th August (Class Full - Reserve Places Only!)

1. BigIan
2. dest
3. Richarl VXR (Rich)
4. Richarl VXR (Charl)
5. chunky79
6. PSJ

Reserve 1. NCB
Reserve 2. deano_uk
Reserve 3. PadTwo
Reserve 4. andyp




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Machine Polishing Beginners Class



This class is designed to introduce you to machine polishing, both by DA and rotary (with a focus on the machine of your choice), starting from the basics. No prior knowledge is assumed! The class covers the basics of paint correction in theory, then machine control in practice, paint assessment, choosing pads and polishes, paint correction, refining and final assessment, introduction to severe correction (compounding), filling, paintwork protection. The aim is to introduce you to the skills and techniques required to produce finishes like these, achieved by a class in 2009!:







The class is ideal if you are new to machine polishing and looking to get into it and learn the basic skills needed to make your car’s paintwork look its best. If you are contemplating machine polishing and wondering what benefits it can have for your car this class will show you what can be achieved. Plus you will get the opportunity to try out several different machines (Kestral DAS-6, Meguiars G220, Makita 9227CB, Festool RAP-150, Festool RAP-80, Flex 3401), pads and polishes so if you have not yet bought your machine polishing kit, try out the machines and products and see what work for you best before you invest! Some changes have been made over the 2009 classes but if you have already attended either a DA or rotary day in 2009 a lot of the Beginners class will be a repeat, so consider the advanced one instead!

The outline of the day:


1 – Paintwork Correction: Introduction

A introduction to paintwork correction in theory. This part of the class will be a talk about paint systems, and what kind of defects you may come across and how they can be corrected. It is the introduction to the day to give you a basic understanding of what is going on when you pick up a polisher! We will talk about how different polishes break down and what the general ideas of machine polishing are.


2 – Machine Control





Before looking at paint correction in practice the first practical part of the day focussed on handling a machine polisher. This is very important to getting you used to handling the polisher (DA and rotary) on a typical car – and that includes the more difficult panels as well! Demonstrations of how to comfortably hold and control and machine polisher and plenty of opportunity to practice and get used to the machines will be given.


3 – Working a Polish











Once happy with controlling the machine polisher, this part of the day looks at the working techniques for polishes – how big an area to work, how long to work for, pressures, movement paces and how they all affect the working of a typical polish. The basics will be covered at this stage to give you a solid grounding in how polishes work and how to get the best from them.


4 – Paint Assessment





On this part of the day we will look at how to assess the condition of the paintwork on a car. The paint defects discussed at the start of the day will be seen (and created!) in practice! We will look at using different lighting to see different types of defect. Having assessed the paint condition we will then look at how to assess the paint thickness and how to get the best from a paint thickness gauge.


5 – Choosing Pads & Polishes





Confident with the machine polisher. Confident with how to assess the paintwork condition. Now its time to choose what pads and polish will work best. Here we look at how we choose the best polish and pad combination for achieving the results we’re after. We also look at how to measure paint removal rates, what level of correction is deemed safer and what happens when we go too far!


5 – Paint Correction









Down to the nitty gritty! Having chosen a pad and polish combination that works and looked at how to get to that combo, we now spend some time practising the techniques and achieving paint correction. Focus on different areas of a car to get further practice in machine control and working typical polishes.



6 – Refining & Final Assessment









On this part of the day we look at techniques that are used to get the best out of the finish once the correction has taken place and how to assess the quality of the work. Refining and burnishng techniques with finishing polishes will be covered. We’ll also look at the importance of the IPA wipedown, and how to use lights to really highlight the quality of a finish (and how certain lights can mask defects such as holograms).



7 – Severe Correction



Here we look at an introduction to more advanced techniques that can be used for correction of more severe marks – looking at the Slow Cutting technique by DA, aggressive compounding by rotary, and wet sanding. This is just an introduction to the techniques and is designed as a precursor to the Advanced Class which covers the techniques in more detail.


8 – Filling & Cleansing



Its not all about correction with abrasive polishes! Sometimes you just want to cleanse the paintwork, sometimes its not possible to use an abrasive polish because of thin paint. Here we look at how to get the best out of paint cleansers with your machine polisher and techniques that can be used to achieve correction without using abrasives.


9 – Paintwork Protection

We round the training part of the day off with examples of how to protect your hard work. Several products will be available for trial on the day so you can compare for yourself different LSPs and see what differences you see (if any ). We talk about possible machine application of waxes and sealants and the necessary prep-work required before applying your LSP.


10 – Putting It Into Practice: “Competition”





The day will be rounded off with an opportunity to put everything you have learned and practiced to the test in a fun competition (which is opt-out if you don’t want to take part, but where’s the fun in that?!). A region of the car will be damaged with swirls. You will have to assess the paint finish, measure its thicknesses, and correct the paint to a level you feel happy with safely. We are not looking for full correction, we will be looking for the best results in the safest way to the long term life of the paint. So you’ll have to assess the paint and justify your choices. And of course, produce the finish! Its all for fun, but also serves to put into practice everything you’ve learned on the day. Gordon and I will watch, but not help at this stage – you’ll be on your own. At the end, the best finish(es) will receive a small prize.

The competition replaces the open ended workshop part of the day that was part of the 2009 training days. However if you would like to specifically address an issue on your car’s paintwork or want to see what polishes will work on your specific car then PM either myself of Gordon and we will arrange a slot at the end of the training day for you to bring your car into the unit and spend a little time trialling products. This will be on a first come first served basis, so if you want in first so you can leave earlier (not that you’d want to leave us, surely! ) then get your request in first!


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Machine Polishing Advanced Class

Details to follow very soon!


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The opinions of our previous tutees....

Originally Posted by Adam D

Fab tuition day!

I would thoroughly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn the basics of learning how to get the best out of the machines and polishes.

Gordon and Dave are excellent tutors and I had a great time both learning and enjoying

Originally Posted by alx_chung

I can only repeat what I have said before. Dave and Gordon are two of the nicest guys that you will ever meet and they make sure that its not all hard work on these courses, you actually have a lot of fun too!
If you are sitting on the fence humming and haaing, then sign up and have fun!
Alex

Originally Posted by M4D YN

a little push for the readers of this thread if your thinking about doing any of these classes,then don't keep thinking and just do it,because you wont look back,the day as a whole is great and two of the most easy going guys you could ever get to meet are teaching you and the knowledge is phenomenal to say the least and the best part is once you've done it,you'll strive for more knowledge and that is a good thing to have in your life,whether it be detailing or something else for that matter,so spend the small amount of cash and be pleasantly surprised for sure,oh and i have been on them you might have noticed by the post and i do this as a job

regards scott

Originally Posted by a4ndy

well theres a big thanks to both Dave and gordon for there time and knowledge yesterday it is appreciated

this is an absolutely brilliant day well worth going and definitely recommend
i learned loads and was able to ask pretty much anything to do with detailing and they were able to give suggestions, reasons and product knowledge this was great, was very impressed

thanks again guys
Andy

Originally Posted by Leodhasach

Again, massive thanks to both Dave and Gordon for a hugely informative day yesterday, with great banter too! It's really given me the confidence to use my rotary in anger, as well as loads of info on products etc (seriously, I think Gordon might just know the chemical makeup of everything, ever).

To quote Arnie...

'I'll be back.'

Originally Posted by stuart1164

Hello

Having done the day's training I thought I would give my personal view..........

AWESOME

I had already done the DA day and this time I wanted to do the Rotary.

So there were 5 of us, 2 of which were on the Rotary and the other 3 were on DA duties.

Dave KG was the tutor for the DA'ers and Gordon was tutor for the
Rotary(etts)

I found the Rotary totaly different to the DA but after some practice I was getting there but constantly under the watchful eye of Gordon.

As he only had myself and Ross we got alot of knowledge and time devoted to us and equally I would say the same for the DA'ers.

Both Dave and Gordon make it look so easy as you watch the doing a bit you say to yourself " that looks straight forward enough" til you have a go then the dam thing takes off or jumps about like a mad kangaroo.

Again Gordon was there after he stopped laughing to sort my style out ie, stop holding on to the machine with a death grip

Ross on the other hand was very good with it I suspect he has had more practice but it could be that he is simply good with it.

As the day progressed and we took to watching each other Gordon took the DA'ers for the Rotary class too which they were better than me much to my dismay

The down side was a little cold as my toes had gone numb after a while but the polishing stage helped that and warmed up fine.

The end results were brilliant for all on the day.

It's not just the polishing knowledge you get but the waxes, cleaning advice etc too not to mention the different products you can try.

Nothing is a bother to Dave and Gordon they were born to do this kind of training. The best trainers are those who have such energy for what they do and you can tell a mile off they love it.

I need to go on an advanced class next.

so thank you to all the trainees on the day it was a great pleasure having your company and ofcourse to D&G you make me want to do more detailing / valeting ( I can't call it Detailing )

What ever it is I LOVE IT

Thank you

Stuart

Originally Posted by johnbuck

Yep, have to agree with the sentiments of Ross and Stuart.

If you're thinking of getting into machine polishing then this type of training is invaluable; and with tutors like Dave and Gordon you can't go wrong. So many tips and hands on practical under the watchful eyes of experts is the ideal way to start.
Good idea to have both DA and Rotary on the same day, personally I would not have gone near a rotary due to the myths of the beast often mooted on forums.
I had not touched either machine prior to this tuition but I felt comfortable with both on completion of the day; not an expert by any means but comfortable enough to practice further.

Originally Posted by wizard77

I've already sent Dave a text thanking both himself & Gordon for a brilliant day, but I also want to say It was a pleasure meeting everyone else there on the day.
The 700 mile round journey was well worth It, Russ & myself learnt alot. I hope Dave didn't get fed up with all the questions I asked
I went for the DA, but It was also nice to have some tuition on the rotary & spend some time on It, as now I know It isn't the fire breathing dragon Its sometimes made out to be.
I hope some pics get posted up as I know there was some cracking ones taken

Cheers,
Paul.

[Andy Bray]

Beginners please.

[Dave KG]

Originally Posted by Andy Bray

Beginners please.

Certainly, name added Cheers

[Andy Bray]

Originally Posted by Dave KG

Certainly, name added Cheers

Thanks for offering the class.

[DavieB]

Can I be added to do the advanced?

I have used the DA a lot and have recently switched to Rotary so looking for more tips and techniques to develop this further. Is the advanced what I'm after?

[Dave KG]

Originally Posted by DavieB

Can I be added to do the advanced?

I have used the DA a lot and have recently switched to Rotary so looking for more tips and techniques to develop this further. Is the advanced what I'm after?

Hello Davie,

If you are comfortable with at least one machine, in your case the DA, and have experience of the rotary then the advanced day would be more appropriate. The advanced day will build on all in the beginners day (details to follow shortly, I've been doing interview prep for the past couple of weeks so I'm still writing out all the info on the advanced class), but there will also be some time on the day too to familiarise yourself more with the machines before we go into depth on wetsanding, glass correction etc.

I'll add you to the advanced day

Dave

[DavieB]

Thanks Dave!

[chrisc]

stick me down for whatever you do please dave.at midlands.starting with beginner

[faboka vrs]

Hi Dave, can you put me down for the saturday 10th beginners day please.

[Showshine]

Nothing like treading on midlanders toes ah dave