falcaineer Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 (edited) Admit it. Despite how easy Adam's makes it, whether you've been detailing for days or years, we've all made a mistake or two along the way. It comes with the territory. So I figured, while many threads on here contain solid advice of "How To's" and "To Do's," I thought it'd be fun to have a thread dedicated to our "Don't Do's." A catalog of lessons learned, if you will. Those things we did that we still scratch our heads over. Those little golden nuggets you want to share a laugh with over a "virtual" beverage of choice with fellow detailers. Now, this sort of thread is liable to stall after my post, or go on for a while, so I'll start and we'll see what happens....... I love my Sidekick, as I proclaimed here and other threads across the forum. Awesome tool, and I'd highly recommend it to anyone. When I first got it, though, I was a little apprehensive about its performance. Sure, the air was blowing like crazy, as advertised, but I had to get pretty close to the car for it to be effective. I was also very deliberate, even careful, while doing so. Still, I wasn't getting good results, and I even nicked one of my rims. That is, until I came across and actually "studied" the picture of it on the Adam's site... Pretty straightforward tool, right? The Sidekick itself, all 1.3hp of warm, filtered air. The long 12' extension cord. The comfort grip handle. The Adam's logo. The 2 nozzles...wait, what? See those black things? The rubberized cone and fan shaped nozzles, meant to focus the air stream and protect your car? Yeah, I forgot to install them. For...let's just say, a while...I was using the Sidekick with a small, sharp metal nub as my blower. There's a reason they're in the box. Don't forget the nozzle! Edited May 23, 2017 by falcaineer Chadley, zapdon, BradlyFitness and 6 others 5 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LT1xL82 Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Just checking...you use it plugged-in? kb9nate, falcaineer, Nathan and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PostalTwo Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Don't use cheap towels on paint it's not worth it. i found out the hard way on my last vehicle . Now I spend a few extra buck and keep my ride swirl free falcaineer and zapdon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc2hill Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Don't correct a entire vehicle without doing a test section... kstateskier, falcaineer, zapdon and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nathan Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 :lolsmack: I've never found a use for the wider air pattern, maybe for interior when you don't need much air? falcaineer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakerodz7 Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Always check your nozzle on your pressure washer lance before spraying it at the car. Hupp2it, Derek, falcaineer and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Don't buy mystery boxes or buckets if you're going to complain about what you get. joelilton23, avimore, slapshot87 and 29 others 30 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philhibner Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Don't move the vehicle until you have completely removed the hose slides..... PostalTwo, Captain Slow, 1911A1 and 8 others 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HFX Detailing Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Don't bite off more than you can chew. Take breaks! Going full tilt for 12 hours is a big mistake. You will hurt for the next few days. mathews31, Chadley, PostalTwo and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chops1sc Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Don't lean on the customer's (or your own) vent visors! falcaineer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ls1transam Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Don't have VRT and BG sitting side by side. You might try to apply VRT to your vehicle.... IAcamoprincess01, Cleb1021, falcaineer and 1 other 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmccoy2236 Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 (edited) Close the lids, close the lids, CLOSE THE DAMN LIDS !!!! Adam even mentions this on a ton of his videos... my suggestion.. heed the advise and don't think you will 'just be careful'. Not only will you waste product... the neighbors just don't want to hear that type of language. Edited May 23, 2017 by tmccoy2236 Nickfire20, LT1xL82, BrianT and 4 others 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcaineer Posted May 23, 2017 Author Share Posted May 23, 2017 Just checking...you use it plugged-in? Of course. Where else would blasts of warm air come from?! Oh, wait... Keep the stories/lessons coming. Pics welcome, too! LT1xL82 and zapdon 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hupp2it Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 I actually have a tip for this, Don't wash your car in pants with rivets unless they are completely covered. Learned this many cars ago... SCREW YOU LEVIS! mathews31, tmccoy2236, BradlyFitness and 1 other 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GXPaycheck Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Don't drop the clay! Or the towels ;-) falcaineer, IAcamoprincess01, LukeZimTDI and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rich Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Don't move the vehicle until you have completely removed the hose slides..... Guilty!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Don't polish your vehicle after minor surgery when you are on pain killers. Just don't. pirahnah3, jakerodz7, tmccoy2236 and 3 others 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zapdon Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 (edited) Don't mistaken waterless wash with wheel cleaner. Did that once.....once!! Edited May 23, 2017 by zapdon jakerodz7, BradlyFitness and falcaineer 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1911A1 Posted May 23, 2017 Share Posted May 23, 2017 Don't move the vehicle until you have completely removed the hose slides..... Guilty as well but also forgot my wash bucket was sitting behind the truck at the same time,until it popped out from under my front bumper.At least the grit guard survived, jakerodz7 and falcaineer 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pirahnah3 Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 Get a long enough extension cord....nothing like bragging about how great the stuff is and walking out with the extension cord to get stopped about 5 feet short of where you are working......you look REALLY smart when that happens lol. mc2hill, falcaineer and mathews31 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
falcaineer Posted May 24, 2017 Author Share Posted May 24, 2017 (edited) Get a long enough extension cord....nothing like bragging about how great the stuff is and walking out with the extension cord to get stopped about 5 feet short of where you are working......you look REALLY smart when that happens lol. Or move the car forward 5ft forward. Save the money for more Adam's stuff. P.S. Jim, I laugh because I can totally relate! Edited May 24, 2017 by falcaineer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chops1sc Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 Get a long enough extension cord....nothing like bragging about how great the stuff is and walking out with the extension cord to get stopped about 5 feet short of where you are working......you look REALLY smart when that happens lol. Don't forget to get an extension cord that is of the correct wire gage. You can burn up your expensive polisher or air dryer real quick with the incorrect size! zapdon and falcaineer 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Last_cast Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 Dont buy anything other than Adam's polishes Rich, falcaineer, IAcamoprincess01 and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
goheels Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 I was going to town with the visco clay bar and then realized, umm.... There is a plastic protector on both sides of the clay bar (just removed it on one side). When I was done I had some beautiful swirl marks to show for it The good news is that the Adams Correcting Polish works as advertised and I was able to remove the damage quite easily. LukeZimTDI, Rb1274, falcaineer and 2 others 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
philhibner Posted May 24, 2017 Share Posted May 24, 2017 I was going to town with the visco clay bar and then realized, umm.... There is a plastic protector on both sides of the clay bar (just removed it on one side). When I was done I had some beautiful swirl marks to show for it The good news is that the Adams Correcting Polish works as advertised and I was able to remove the damage quite easily. I made the same mistake first time ever using it. 3 seconds after starting I realized something just didnt feel right... falcaineer 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now