Event Type : Academy Events

Take your paint-perfecting skills to the next level! The BigFoot Academy 2-Day Advanced Sanding & Polishing Training Course is hosted by RUPES USA in the BigFoot Detailing Academy near beautiful Denver, Colorado.  This intensive course will be conducted by our world-class training team and will feature a mix of both classroom instruction and hands-on training.  This class will focus on proper sanding techniques to remove texture and severe paint defects, as well as refining paint correction techniques for improved efficiency and results. In addition to the training, the students will also be given a behind-the-scenes tour of the RUPES USA facility and have a chance to see the manufacturing of BigFoot polishers up close.

THIS CLASS IS RECOMMENDED FOR PROFESSIONALS ONLY. Students must have a working knowledge of paint correction and be proficient in the use of random orbital polishers at the very minimum. Students should be comfortable with the basics of sanding techniques. There will be no novice-level instruction included.

A registration fee of $900 per student is required in advance, no payments will be accepted at the door.  Lunch will be provided for each day of the class. Each student will receive a certificate of completion, a collection of limited edition RUPES merchandise, product samples, and other BigFoot Academy exclusives.

This class will sell out! Don’t miss your opportunity to learn at the premier training facility in the United States; The RUPES BigFoot Detailing Academy.

Lead instructor: Jason Rose | Global Director of Training, RUPES

Each class at the RUPES BigFoot Academy is custom-tailored to the student’s goals. We open the class with a discussion of current skills, pain points, and goals. Below is the basic class outline, but these subjects can be changed, rearranged, expanded, or limited based on class input and feedback. All topics are a combination of both classroom theory and hands-on time. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that each student leaves the class having gained valuable technical skills that they can put to use in their business.

• Diagnosing defects and defining paint characteristics
• The “go vs. no-go” paint assessment process
• Machine sanding including texture leveling and texture matching
• Sanding for efficiency in the paint correction process
• Comparison of tool movements, selecting tools based on variables
• Technique adjustments for situational performance gains with all tool movements
• Polishing pad selection and maximizing pads for results
• Edgework tools and using compact tools with maximum efficiency
• Polishing science and the dynamics of how paint responds to abrasion
• Express paint correction, 1-step procedures, maximizing profit by delivering customer-pleasing results

*Note – classes at the BigFoot Detailing Academy are technically focused and do not include business management, marketing, or operational coaching. 100% of the training is spent on the technical applications of sanding and polishing procedures.

Boats and RVs are often coated with a layer of gel coat to protect them from hazardous elements over the years. While gel coat is extremely durable, it is still susceptible to damage, oxidation, and defects that degrade the look of your boat or RV. Compared to traditional paint or clear coat, gel coat requires different technique, tools, and products to properly correct imperfections. But rather than leaving you to figure out the ins and outs of correcting gel coat on your own, RUPES and Autogeek have teamed up to teach an entire class that will teach you everything you need to become a master at correcting the gel coat on any boat or RV!

Through the course of this two-day class, you will learn:

• The differences between gel coat and paint.
• How to sand gel coat to remove damage, oxidation, and defects.
• How to use rotary, gear-driven, and random orbital polishers to restore gloss to your gel coat.

The main topics that will be covered throughout this class are:

• Understanding gel coat
• Sanding gel coat (When to use Film vs Foam)
• Foundational polishing techniques
• The difference between D-A and rotary polishing pads and compounds
• Edgework polishing strategies for maximum efficiency
• Technique adjustments to enhance performance
• Preparing the surface for protection products

Automotive paint correction is a skill that is difficult to master due to the huge amount of variables that change from one car to the next. There is no “tried and true” paint correction process that will work for every car, paint job, or customer. If you are going to become a paint correction master, you need to know what all of these variables are and be able to come up with a customized process to address each car according to those variables. That would require A LOT of trial and error to master on your own. SO DON’T! Let Autogeek and RUPES teach you everything they know about paint correction, so you can use their knowledge and skill to master your craft!

From machine sanding severe defects to high-level polishing with all BigFoot machines, this class covers a wide range of paint correction topics and hands-on applications. This class is ideal for technicians or enthusiasts who have some polishing experience and are ready to advance their game to the next level.

This two-day class covers a variety of different topics:

• Machine Sanding to remove defects
• Refinement sanding to prepare paint for high-level polishing
• Preventing dieback during intense paint correction
• Selecting the right machine movement for the process
• Random Orbital, Gear Driven, and Rotary Polishing techniques
• Edgework
• Paint variables
• Technique adjustment impacts
• Troubleshooting common paint enhancement problems