Zen Details

 

Lately I have picked up auto detailing as my latest obsessionhobby. (And when did car washing become auto detailing?) I got the headlight restoration kit from Chemical Guys, and I went to town on the Blueberry. At first I struggled to get past wet sanding the polycarbonate lenses. Even though I watched a ton of instructional videos, it felt wrong at first to grind off the "dead plastic" on the surface.  Granted, you use 2000 grit and then 3000 grit sandpaper - these are very fine grits indeed - they left a haze that feels worrisome. But then you start in with the compounds and polishes with the rotary pad. They leave the lens crystal clear!

It all started when I decided to restore the plastic trim on the Blueberry. I made the mistake of waxing the trim a few years ago, and it turned a chalky grey colour. It's been like that for a couple of years now. I started surfing the web for products that could correct this mistake - this opened the portal into the universe of detailing products. Found the Chemical Guys VRP. This stuff performed its magic and made the trim look new. That was the gateway product ... now I have a pressure washer, foam cannon, gallons of different cleaning products, and an even growing pile of specialist microfiber towels. And yes, I just ordered microfiber laundry detergent. I have joined the cult and guzzled the Kool-Aid!

Detailing is quickly becoming my version of the mandalas Buddhist monks use as part of their Zen practice.  Detailing represents the transient nature of the world to me- as soon as I am finished primping and preening a car, nature starts to undo everything I did to strive for perfection. Detailing brings into focus the tension of the ideal world and the reality that we live in.

Namaste dude! ✌