The Ultimate Guide to Car Detailing.

The Handbook of Automotive Cleaning, Paint Correction, Interior Restoration and Long Term Protection

Detailing is not the pursuitof shine at any cost.

It is the controlled care of a vehicle: understand the surface, identify the contamination or defect, choose the least aggressive effective process, prove it on a test area, and protect the result in a way that suits the car's actual life. This UK handbook teaches that method from the first wash to the annual reset.

Kindle Paperback Apple Books

Amazon USKindle Paperback

Author: Auto Culture Society
Paperback: 269 pages, 6 x 9 in, black and white
Inside: 25 diagrams and 70 reference tables
Ebook: Kindle and Apple Books

7Parts

43Chapters

25Diagrams

70Reference tables

269Pages

Contents

Seven parts,43 chapters.

From the first wash to the annual reset.

I
Foundations
Six chapters: detailing, valeting and the preservation mindset; reading the vehicle; paint systems and finishes; chemistry; tools, towels and machines; water, weather, safety and the environment.
II
Exterior cleaning
Seven chapters: job planning, wheels and tyres, pre wash, contact washing and drying, rinseless and waterless methods, decontamination, and glass, trim, shuts, engine bay and underbody.
III
Paint correction
Six chapters: diagnosing defects, machine polishing, one step to multi stage correction, deep scratches and touch up, difficult paints, and quality control.
IV
Protection systems
Five chapters: waxes and glazes, sealants, ceramic coatings, PPF and vinyl, and how to choose and layer them.
V
Interiors and specialist areas
Seven chapters: leather, fabric and stains, Alcantara and headliners, plastics and screens, odour and mould, and convertible hoods.
VI
Vehicle specific programmes
Five chapters: daily drivers and new cars, classics and single stage paint, matte finishes and wraps, performance cars, EVs, 4x4s, winter, track and show cars.
VII
Brands, buying and ownership
Seven chapters: the history of car care brands, building a kit, maintenance programmes, choosing a professional detailer, and common myths and rescue strategies.

Appendices

The Detailer's Handover Pack.

Record forms for briefing, condition, paint depth, dilution, correction, protection, interior stains, odour, quality control and customer handover, with a glossary and quick reference index, and references and source notes.

The record forms are made to be written on, so they are printed in the paperback edition.

Questions

Beforeyou buy.

Is it written for the UK?

Yes. It is a UK handbook that teaches one method, from the first wash to the annual reset.

Does it cover ceramic coatings and PPF?

Yes. Part IV covers waxes and glazes, sealants, ceramic coatings, PPF and vinyl, and how to choose and layer them.

What is the difference between the paperback and the ebooks?

The paperback has 269 pages, 25 diagrams and 70 reference tables, with the record forms of the Detailer's Handover Pack. The Kindle and Apple Books editions leave out the forms you write on, and have 24 diagrams and 56 reference tables.

Is it tied to a brand?

No. It is an independent editorial guide. Brand names and trade marks belong to their owners, and the book tells you to follow the current product label, safety data sheet and vehicle handbook.