may need to calibrate the extrusion rate/steps per mm most like cause over extrusion

There is no access to any firmware settings on a stock Da Vinci 1.0. He would need to install Repetier firmware on it or switch out the controller.

It sounds to me like his bed is probably warped and has a high spot in it like most of the stock 1.0 models had. His best option is to get a piece of tempered glass about a quarter inch thick cut to the same size as the stock glass and put it over the existing bed glass. It will increase the heating time but make it more stable once reached. The main goal is it will make it flat and level. The existing screws are long enough to use the existing hold down clips. He would need to add a Z offset so he would have to use the trick to print from the sdcard and add the offset to his starting gcode. That is really the only fix for a stock 1.0.

Successfully printed a sample and one design.
Now the print head when passing over the first layer is catching on it and turning it into a mess. It is also leaving little tails when it goes from once spot to the next.
Calibrated the bed with the inbuilt calibration and tried the manual method with the sheet of paper too but no luck.
Cleaned the head with a wire brush and cleaned the bed and put some glue on it. The machine is stock with no mods or hacks using standard ABS cartridge.

It has traveled in the car and been moved around a bit if that messes with calibration although i have calibrated it before use.
Cheers