Hello to all the friendly members of Ferrari Talk. My name is Tyler Norwood and I am the owner and sole employee of Apollo Detailing. I go by the nickname “Holden_C04” on Autopia.org. Modesty may not be my finest quality, and, if I may be so bold, I consider myself to be one of the finest detailers the world has to offer. I have years of experience perfecting the art of paint polishing (aka paint correction). I have performed my skilled process on everything from a Ford Taurus and Honda Accord to a Lamborghini Murcielago and 997 Porsche Carrera 4S.
Because I am an expert paint polisher, the majority of my work tends to be rather extensive – starting at eight hours for a Multi Step Correction, and twelve to forty hours for a Concours detail, going all the way up to 60 hours for a Perfection detail.
Here is an example of a Multi Step Correction. The owner of this Porsche also owns a beautiful self car wash here in Toronto. During the course of his training to run his own detailing service, I performed this detail with his help. In this shot, I was showing the gentleman how to correct rough and scoured paint, to bright, vibrant, and glossy. It’s difficult to calculate how long this would have taken during a normal correction, but these results may have taken 8-10 hours full stop.
Following this, I taped off a section of paint and performed a similar process on the panel closest to the camera.
Now, this brings me to the point of this post. On December 17th, I will be beginning a business trip for approximately two weeks to the US (I'm located in Toronto, Canada), serving dozens of clients from Buffalo, NY all the way to south Florida. I would love for the 350z Club of Florida to take part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Here’s a recent detail I posted on Autopia. It’s a 997 Porsche Carrera 4S in Silver. It was in excellent condition so it received a Single Step Polish and basic interior vac.
Apollo Detailing: 997 Porsche Carrera 4S - Autopia.org
Everybody loves a good exotic, right? Well this one costs nearly $500,000 new!
Apollo Detailing: 2006 Lamborghini Murcielago (56k = go have a coffee) - Autopia.org
Excuse the bad hair/fashion day…
Now, the answer of products comes up pretty often so I guess I will answer that now. I use Optimum No Rinse to wash with large, five gallon buckets with a grit guard to prevent re-introducing dirt onto the paint and causing unnecessary marring during the wash process. I use a Grout Sponge as my wash medium. These are porous which pulls in grit during the wash, but it also releases dirt and water extremely well unlike a lot of other sponges. They allow me to wash without marring your clear coat/paint. I know a lot of people like sheepskin mitts and they’re great, but everyone has their own non-marring wash technique and the Grout Sponge fits mine.
The next step is claying your vehicle and unlike US nationals, I have access to the finest clay in the world. It’s called Riccardo clay and it’s supplied by eShine.ca but he won’t sell to Americans. The reason is that there is a patent for detailing clay held by AutoMagic, a huge multi-national corporation which has sued the pants off everyone who had a similar product; hence why only Canadians have the stuff. It outperforms conventional clay because it’s more flexible, lasts longer, and is less likely to mar paint than the alternatives. I then lubricate the clay with ONR at its clay lubricant dilution. This is great because it saves time, as I don’t have to perform a complete wash afterwards. All I do is wipe the surface clean with a waffle weave microfiber towel and continue with the process.
Next, it’s time to polish the car. I use Menzerna, 1Z Einszett, and, on occasion, Meguiar’s polishes (I absolutely adore M105…but it’s hard to come by). The vast majority of the time, I use Menzerna because they always give me the best possible finish in the least amount of time. The exception to this rule is M105. Menzerna’s Powergloss was the best compound around for a long time. But it wasn’t always easy to use. Then Meguiar’s introduced M105 and changed everything. Although the finish itself is not dramatically improved, the difference is workability is huge. Einszett also makes some great polishes but they don’t always perform as well as Menzerna. They are my backup, my wildcard essentially. Many times I use HGP (High Gloss Polish) for a bit more cut than Menzerna’s Final Polish and PO85RD.
Paired with these polishes must be a set of pads and a good rotary and I’m no exception to this rule. I use Lake Country pads exclusively. I have
never been let down by a Lake Country pad. Well, that is, if you discount the Yellow CCS. That was rubbish.
In all seriousness, though, I use both their flat and CCS pads (though I prefer flat pads). For serious compounding, I use their Purple Foamed Wool which keeps the heat down but it finishes like a foam pad; a serious breakthrough in engineering! Then, I follow up with White (polishing), Black (finishing), and Blue (fine finishing/waxing) pads depending on the job.
Bare Hand Wax Application Method
YouTube - Bare Hand Wax Application - Apollo Detailing
Now once it’s finished, it will need some protection and I have got you covered there. This is a pretty contentious topic (and not near as important as people believe) and I am sure everyone has their own opinions on what is best. I try to offer a complete service to satisfy everyone.
For the most part, I use the Klasse Twins as my sealant. They have been around for decades and there is a reason for that. They are durable, glossy, and relatively easy to apply and remove (though same may disagree). It’s an excellent product.
For those who appreciate depth and dripping wet paint, there is Swissvax Saphir. I have used a lot of different waxes (including Zymol Vintage) and I can’t say that I have had a wax deliver more gloss or depth. That includes its more expensive counterparts in the Swissvax range. It’s a wonderful product.
Now, I will soon be offering a new paint protection treatment. And the reason for doing so is simply consumer demand. Everyone loves Zaino! I have been in discussions with Sal Zaino about offering his products and I should have his products in my possession for this trip. So, now you guys will be the first to experience Apollo Detailing performing Zaino treatments.
If you would like a service I haven’t mentioned, I probably already do so send me a PM with your idea.
I already have a few appointments in the NJ/NY/MA area, as well as a few in Florida. Space will be limited. Nonetheless, I will do my best to accommodate as many forum members as possible.
Book Your Appointment!
The way I charge is simple. I charge a standard hourly rate of $60. I provide a sampling of estimations on my website to give you an idea of the type of services I provide. Despite the rarity of my work, this rate is exactly half what the mechanic at a luxury car dealer charges and is in line with what many unskilled detailers charge per hour.
To secure your appointment, I will need a nominal, non-refundable deposit of $50 right away. During the first week of December, I will provide you with an exact date when all appointments have been confirmed. Then, I will take another deposit for 50% plus shared travel expenses (shared by all clientele). The remainder will be paid out upon completion. I accept cash.
If you would like to take part, please write to me (Tyler Norwood) via PM or email right away to secure your spot. Please include your email address as all deposits will be securely, safely, and conveniently processed through Paypal. As well, please include in your message the following:
Full name:
Phone number:
Exact address:
Thank you for your time and I am looking forward to meeting everyone from the forum!
World Class Detailer en Route to Florida!
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