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Car Detailing Training

I started LUSTR Detail in 2007 focusing on quality detailing services.  Over the years we’ve done a ton of paint corrections, PPF installations, coating applications and even basic detailing.  In addition, I have written many detailing articles to show the quality of our work and provide educational material for enthusiasts worldwide.  Our focus was always teaching clients to maintain their vehicles so they don’t waste money on our services only to be ruined by a bad hand or automatic car wash.

Due to all the experience in the world of detailing, we constantly get requests for car detail training and education from clients and professionals alike.  Also, many more of our clients are doing their own maintenance and detailing, so we’re starting up Car Detailing Training again.  We created 3 distinct options that accommodate individuals of all skill levels.  Each class is different and planned out according to the general skillset of those attending.  All training options are mostly hands-on, but allow for more than enough discussion between everyone attending.

Our Maintenance Class focuses on basic car care, so it’s all about proper washing and drying to avoid swirl marks, thorough detailing of specific areas to avoid buildup and general tips and tricks for keeping the car clean and shiny.

The Enhancement Training adds a lot of value to the Maintenance because we go into decontamination as well as light polishing.  We cover decon techniques such as clay bar, decon pads and chemicals.  After decon we cover light polishing techniques that clean up clay bar marring and light swirl marks to improve the paint finish.  Finally, we teach different kind of paint protection like sealants and ceramic coatings.

Advanced Training is where we cover the basics mentioned above, but mainly focus on thorough detailing and paint correction.  You’ll learn how to polish various panels on a car safely and effectively using different polishers.  We get into curves, edges and other complex surfaces using multiple pads and polishes for best results.  After the polishing each student will learn ceramic coatings with multiple products and different methods of application.

Needless to say, each training option has great benefits and even our basic class can be beneficial for a seasoned veteran.  Have a look through the options below and Contact Us with any questions and scheduling.

Thanks for visiting!

Ivan Rajic,
Owner and Founder

NOTE:  We also offer 1-on-1 Advanced and PPF training for anyone looking into a more custom tailored option.

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Why Apply a Ceramic Coating?

I wrote this article a few years ago and it still applies today.  The article Why Apply a Ceramic Coating goes into a few different aspects like durability, performance and value of ceramic coatings.  I also cover some tips and tricks for those who want to apply a ceramic coating to their own vehicle.  While coating technology has been around for well over 10 years, it’s still the best value and performance in terms of protecting your paint.  Whether you pay a professional or apply it yourself, a ceramic coating is well worth the time and money.

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Audi RS5 Correction, PPF and Ceramic Coating

We just added some photos of this Audi RS5 to our Portfolio.  The car looked great for 20 feet away but it had a ton of swirl marks all over along with lots of dirt and contamination.  It took us a solid 2 days to finish all the detailing and paint correction, which turned this paint around completely.  After the paint correction we applied Paint Protection Film to the entire front end of the car, then coated everything with CQuartz Pro ceramic coating.  Check out the portfolio page for some before and after photos!

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Quick intro video to LUSTR Detail

After planning this for a while, we finally made a quick little video to introduce ourselves at Lustr and show a few of the cars we work on every day. The plan is to do a few simple videos monthly with some input on what we do as well as provide detailing tips and tricks for our fans and clients. Check it out and leave any feedback as we greatly appreciate it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zg-bRr3OFsM&t=6s
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Ferrari F12 Paint Correction and Ceramic Coating

Here’s a quick video summarizing the extensive work we performed on a black Ferrari F12.  The paint was in bad shape for a new car, riddled with swirl marks, buffer holograms and many random sanding marks.  We did 3-4 stages of paint correction to restore it to perfect condition and make it a shiny, new Ferrari.

After the paint correction, Suntek Paint Protection Film was applied to the entire vehicle.  On top of the PPF we applied GTechniq CSL protective coating for added gloss, ease of maintenance and extra protection.  Enjoy the video and definitely watch in HD!

 

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Porsche 911 GT3RS Paint Correction and Ceramic Coating

A few months ago we were contacted by a client to prep his brand new Porsche GT3RS before a full car PPF/clear bra application.  While it’s a brand new car, it definitely suffered from bad swirl marks, buffer holograms and even sanding marks left over from the factory.  By performing a very thorough paint correction, we were able to make the paint look like it should have for a brand new Porsche.

After we were done with it, the Xpel PPF was applied to the entire vehicle for the best protection.  Finally, 22PLE protective coating was applied for added gloss, ease of maintenance and extra protection.  Check out the video below showing the process we performed on this gorgeous GT3RS.

 

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Dodge Viper Detailing and Video Series

A year ago we teamed up with Big Media Productions in their series portraying the Dodge Viper.  Two Dodge Vipers were brought to use for a thorough paint correction and coating.  We performed a 2-stage paint correction on the vehicles and then protected the paint with a long lasting protective coating.

Recently, our episode on correcting and protecting paint was completed and can be viewed on Youtube so please check it out and let us know how you like it. We’re very happy with how it came out.

 

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Different Levels of Paint Correction

Paint correction is our specialty at LUSTR and we always try to do our best with each vehicle.  We educate clients on what’s possible and what’s practical when correcting paint on various vehicles.  Sometimes multiple stages of polishing can yield a perfect finish, which provides the best looks and paint quality.  Other times a single stage polishing detail will greatly improve the finish, make it look great and be practical as well as economical for a daily driven car.  In the article Different Levels of Paint Correction I try to explain in depth the amount of correction we’re able to accomplish and what it means for different vehicles.

Different levels of paint correction

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LUSTR Paint Polishing and Correction

Most clients come to us for our paint correction and polishing services, without knowing exactly what it is that we do.  We recorded this video to show exactly what we do on a daily basis and the results we can get with a thorough and careful paint polishing process.  Below the video is the description of exactly what you’re seeing, so please read it before or after viewing as you wish.  For best viewing select HD and full screen mode.

To explain the video… basically we did random levels of polishing on a trunk that has suffered years of neglect and bad washing techniques.  We divided the trunk lid into four sections.

The first/left/driver side section received one stage of polishing, which would be our Paint Enhancement Detail.  The 2nd section, just to the right, is the actual condition of the paint after receiving a wash.  As you can see in the video, while the Enhancement polishing doesn’t eliminate all the deeper marks, it significantly increases the gloss of the black paint by removing all the minor swirl marks.  This also creates a more level paint surface to which wax, sealant or a paint coating will adhere better and last longer.

The third section received 3 stages of correction and the last section to the right received 2 stages of correction.  In the video, it’s hard to tell the difference between these two sections because the 3-stage section simply removed a few more deeper swirl marks than did the 2-stage, but you have to really look at it with the right light and the right angle to see the difference in this case.  As you can see in the video, between the 3rd and 4th section we put down a tape line to indicate the difference between the Enhancement (1-stage) and Correction (2+ stage) detailing.  The most notable thing of course is looking at the center of the trunk and comparing the original paint condition to the 3-stage polishing that made it practically perfect.

While results may and will vary depending on the paint type and condition, this is typically what we’re able to accomplish with a proper 2-stage Paint Correction Detail, which is mainly what we do at LUSTR Auto Detail.  Whether it’s an Ehnancement or multi-stage Correction Detail you’re after, we’re more than happy to take proper care of your vehicle so don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or to schedule an appointment today.

Respectfully yours,

Ivan Rajic, Owner and Operator

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What Can I Do After My Car Has Been Repainted?

Here’s a question that comes up quite a bit both from friends and clients alike.  Most body shops, whether they perform quality paint work or not, leave clients with only a general and vague idea of what can and should be done in terms of detailing just after a paint job.  With the large mix of terminology in the detail industry, the phrase “don’t wax your car for a month” usually gets more questions, such as “Don’t wax with a certain wax or any?  Can I polish the car and not wax? A month as in 30 days, or 4 weeks, or…?”  Regardless, most people don’t know exactly what can be done after a paint job, which can many times even be detrimental to the finish if treated improperly, so here’s a quick guide on exactly What Can I Do After My Car Has Been Repainted?

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