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My Life-Changing Detailing Story

Discussion in 'Detailing' started by bradleykd, Oct 7, 2020.

  1. Oct 7, 2020 at 8:56 AM
    #1
    bradleykd

    bradleykd [OP] New Member

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    Here's a long story that I feel like telling but I don't have a lot of people who would understand.

    Last year I decided I was going to black out my truck, so I removed the emblems. I got a rubber eraser wheel, a bottle of bourbon, and went to town. That bottle of bourbon part was a problem that was continuously getting worse. Anyway, the emblems came off but I screwed up the paint with the eraser wheel. Here's a pic from last year that you can see where the 5.7 badge was:

    [​IMG]Untitled

    So I turned to the Ask the Detailer thread and was led to the Iron-X, Clay mitt, Wash suggestion followed by a buff if that didn't work.

    Here's where the life-changing part comes in.... On November 9th, 2019 I got a bigger bottle of bourbon, and went to town washing the truck. I remember getting through most of the clay mitt part, but that's about it. I woke up in my guest room with a bruised hip. I went in the garage to find my truck with dried soap on it and a broken 3-step ladder that I was using to get to the top of the truck. I had also knocked some paint off in a few places with the pressure washer.

    That was the last day I'll ever drink alcohol again. I've been completely sober since that day and spent most of the last year focusing on repairing other problems in my life but let the truck go. It hadn't been washed since that day. So I'm coming up on a year of sobriety and decided that fixing the damage I did to the truck would be a good closure to the year and a good way to move forward.

    Here's what the truck looked like before I washed it last week:

    [​IMG]Untitled

    [​IMG]Untitled

    [​IMG]Untitled

    I did the wash, Iron-X, and clay mitt again to start:

    [​IMG]Untitled

    This is some of the defects after the wash:

    [​IMG]Untitled

    [​IMG]Untitled

    [​IMG]Untitled

    I got some orange Lake Country pads for my Porter Cable DA buffer and some Carpro Essence and polished the entire truck. I finished it off with some Griot's 3-in-1. Here are some after shots:

    [​IMG]Untitled

    [​IMG]Untitled

    [​IMG]Untitled

    [​IMG]Untitled

    It still isn't perfect, but all of the stuff I did to it is fixed. I'm happy to put an end to the negativity I feel looking at it every day and move forward on this sobriety journey in a positive light.
     
  2. Oct 7, 2020 at 8:58 AM
    #2
    bradleykd

    bradleykd [OP] New Member

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    Side note about the 3-in-1 - I had a hard time getting all of it to buff off without streaking. I was using a dry PFM towel to buff it after I wiped it on, but you can still see in the after pics some of the streaks. I think I like the Beadmaker better in that regard. Hopefully this lasts a good while though. I put two coats on with 12 hours in between.
     
    Beesta, jewsNbrews and War Machine like this.
  3. Oct 7, 2020 at 9:07 AM
    #3
    C.I.

    C.I. Surf, off road, sleep, repeat

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    Cesar Pedrin
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    Mods: Ongoing... probably never ending
    great job!!
     
  4. Oct 7, 2020 at 9:09 AM
    #4
    TundraPHX

    TundraPHX Ryan started the fire.

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    Congrats on your sobriety! Truck looks great. You got your life back!
     
    GODZILLA likes this.
  5. Oct 7, 2020 at 9:15 AM
    #5
    kstateskier

    kstateskier New Member

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    Bradley
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    A finishing polish like a Menzerna 3500 or SF4500 would net you a much better final state and gloss than a 3-1... products like that aren't meant to finish really nicely and the Menzerna or adams finishing,etc would be much better. But great start!
     
  6. Oct 7, 2020 at 9:24 AM
    #6
    Sunnier

    Sunnier Pity the warrior that slays all his foes

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    Good story, Brad— I look forward to reading next year’s chapter. 2020 has been a suck year for a lot of people for a lot of reasons; you getting through it on course and sober is a damn fine plot turn.

    Good work with that truck restoration too!
     
  7. Oct 7, 2020 at 9:40 AM
    #7
    Green Thunder

    Green Thunder Smooth in the Cruise

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  8. Oct 7, 2020 at 9:41 AM
    #8
    GiantWinston

    GiantWinston New Member

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    Great story. Thanks for sharing. Truck looks great also!
     
  9. Oct 7, 2020 at 9:43 AM
    #9
    RitcheyRch

    RitcheyRch New Member

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    Nice job and congrats on the sobriety.
     
  10. Oct 7, 2020 at 9:47 AM
    #10
    cctxquicksand

    cctxquicksand IG - TRDistheWrd

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    Awesome job on the truck

    awesomer job on the sobriety!
     
    GODZILLA likes this.
  11. Oct 7, 2020 at 9:53 AM
    #11
    glowblue

    glowblue From time to time

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    Nice looking truck hat off to you :hattip:

    Thanks for sharing your story and happy for your sobriety, it’s nice to hear good news for a change!:thumbsup:
     
  12. Oct 7, 2020 at 9:55 AM
    #12
    YotaFan05

    YotaFan05 New Member

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    Thanks for sharing, and congrats on the sobriety! Truck is looking great! I can relate to the almost endless battle of trying to get defects out of a black truck!
     
  13. Oct 7, 2020 at 9:58 AM
    #13
    Sundog

    Sundog Zoom Zoom

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    Congrats, on getting the truck looking nice and sobriety!
     
  14. Oct 7, 2020 at 10:01 AM
    #14
    infamousavi

    infamousavi New Member

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    Truck looks great! Congrats and good luck with your journey
     
  15. Oct 7, 2020 at 10:20 AM
    #15
    oldscout1001

    oldscout1001 New Member

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    Congratulations on your sobriety.
     
  16. Oct 7, 2020 at 10:41 AM
    #16
    10TundraSR5

    10TundraSR5 Happy Tundra owner

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    Curse you Perry the Platypus!
    Congrats!
     
  17. Oct 7, 2020 at 10:43 AM
    #17
    Thenuwguy

    Thenuwguy New Member

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    Glad to hear you decided to get your life back on track and that was a great way to put the cherry on top by cleaning the truck in a proper way.
     
  18. Oct 7, 2020 at 10:46 AM
    #18
    War Machine

    War Machine SSEM # 5 3MW

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    OUT-FALCON-STANDING SIR. :bowdown:

    Having grown up around alcoholism, I know how damaging it can be, and how hard it is to turn around. I rarely drink at all because I always worry I’d go down the same path. I applaud you for making that decision and sticking to it. A huge accomplishment Brad.

    Your truck looks fantastic on it’s own, but the story makes this one of my favorite posts I’ve read here. Detailing is my way of working through my own bs, and I’m happy to hear it played a part in your journey as well. It’s symbolic of you getting yourself clean. Thank you very much for sharing.

    As for the 3-in-1 streaking, it is something to be careful of, especially in warmer weather. I’ve taken to just doing small portions at a time and getting it buffed off quickly. It definitely will last a really long time. 4-5 months is my experience with one coat.
     
    ToyoMafia, GODZILLA, FTI and 3 others like this.
  19. Oct 7, 2020 at 10:48 AM
    #19
    War Machine

    War Machine SSEM # 5 3MW

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    The 3-1 he’s talking about is a paint sealant, not a polish.
     
    ToyoMafia likes this.
  20. Oct 7, 2020 at 10:50 AM
    #20
    jewsNbrews

    jewsNbrews SSEM #8 level 3, RGBA #5 lab tested lab approved

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    Way to get sober! Keep it up!
     
    GODZILLA likes this.
  21. Oct 7, 2020 at 10:52 AM
    #21
    Krezz

    Krezz Doesn't want to be new member

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    Fuckin aye mate! Well done on life and truck.
     
    GODZILLA likes this.
  22. Oct 7, 2020 at 10:58 AM
    #22
    Kung

    Kung [Insert Custom Title Here]

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    This is a most excellent post. You, sir, have my congratulations and respect; breaking any sort of addiction/dependency can be hell, and VERY tough to do.

    And nice job on the truck!
     
    GODZILLA and War Machine like this.
  23. Oct 7, 2020 at 11:11 AM
    #23
    CaptainGrumpus

    CaptainGrumpus The Mailman

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    Congrats to you on all fronts. Way to turn your life around and get your priorities in order. A healthy sober mind will do wonders for your mental well being. Your truck looks beautiful.

    Btw, Beadmaker is awesome.
     
    GODZILLA and jewsNbrews like this.
  24. Oct 7, 2020 at 11:11 AM
    #24
    41bigdawg

    41bigdawg Let the BIG DAWG Eat

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    Awesome story, congratulations on getting sober! I wish you all the best...truck looks great too :)
     
  25. Oct 7, 2020 at 11:15 AM
    #25
    Newm

    Newm New Member

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    Great post! Congrats on your sobriety and props for having the courage to share. Life can get pretty murky at times and happy you have found a better version of you. Keep up the great work brother.

    Oh...and your truck looks amazing! Nice job.
     
  26. Oct 7, 2020 at 11:23 AM
    #26
    bradleykd

    bradleykd [OP] New Member

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    Brad
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    Thanks everyone! I'm really excited about how the truck turned out!

    I'm looking at the sobriety thing in a positive light these days too. I hasn't been like that for the entire time... lol. Still hard some days, but my focus now is not transferring those feelings into eating food! :D
     
    41bigdawg, jewsNbrews and War Machine like this.
  27. Oct 7, 2020 at 11:24 AM
    #27
    Medinasmoke

    Medinasmoke New Member

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    One year turns into ten years. , Ten turns into lifetime. Congrats. Sober since 1dec06
     
    jpod, GODZILLA, jewsNbrews and 3 others like this.
  28. Oct 7, 2020 at 11:26 AM
    #28
    TheBeast

    TheBeast The Beach

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    clean black truck ! ;)
     
  29. Oct 7, 2020 at 11:34 AM
    #29
    Sean492

    Sean492 New Member

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    Nice work, proud for your life changing decisions.
     
  30. Oct 7, 2020 at 11:39 AM
    #30
    NoRcptn

    NoRcptn Better than mediocre poster

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    Congrats on your sobriety! Truck looks awesome.
     

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