We started carrying Griot’s Garage products in the stop this month and as part of the dealer agreement, we have to be familiar with the full line of products. So dang, now we have to stay in the garage until everything is polished. I now completely understand why one of their kits is called “weekend garage therapy” – I’m a believer.

Start with the book young Jedi: Once you admit you don’t know what you’re doing, read the Detailer’s Handbook cover-to-cover and you can start the journey of learning. Turns out I’ve been polishing, waxing, and buffing wrong all of these years, likely doing more damage than good. Fortunately the Porsche has a really thick layer of clear coat and quality paint.

It’s hard to try to photograph before and after pictures of scratches in paint, but I think this one spot is a good example. This was a scratch on the driver’s side just past the driver’s door. Probably came from a parking lot. There was no ding or chip, but this mark would not come out even with a clay bar.

But just by following the right steps: wash, claybar, machine polish, and wax – it disappeared. I haven’t completed the whole side of the car yet, so right now there’s this one two-foot section that has a very deep shine surrounded by a rather dull, much larger field of blue. Ah something to do for the long weekend coming up!