Full Detail - Lexus SC300

[pigeonbus]

Found a steamer for about $100. Euro-Pro "Select" Deluxe Pro Steamer How does that one look...there are pictures of the attachments, one with a similar clip design?

[Anthony Orosco]

Originally posted by pigeonbus
Found a steamer for about $100. Euro-Pro "Select" Deluxe Pro Steamer How does that one look...there are pictures of the attachments, one with a similar clip design?

It seems like a cool little unit...actually I think its looks are pretty darn cool but I don't believe it has the much needed psi that steam cleaning is dependant on.

Also the reviews don't seem to favor the unit in a positive manner. I am sure for general cleaning it will work just fine but may not perform well on the tougher jobs.

Anthony

[1 Clean WS6]

Your attention to detail is an absolute inspiration to us all Anthony.

Simply flat out STUNNING work man!!

[opass]

Originally posted by Anthony Orosco
It seems like a cool little unit...actually I think its looks are pretty darn cool but I don't believe it has the much needed psi that steam cleaning is dependant on.

Also the reviews don't seem to favor the unit in a positive manner. I am sure for general cleaning it will work just fine but may not perform well on the tougher jobs.

Anthony

Well done. Thanks for sharing your secret hot sauce that how to achieve better detailing. Could you provoide the brand and model of your $700 steamer? I am thinking to get one. It will be helpful to narrow down searching in Google.

Does your look like this? http://store.yahoo.com/allergybuyers...eaner.html#buy

[Anthony Orosco]

Originally posted by bboy850
did the clip for the triangle accessory come with the steamer? I got the scunni steamer off the TV, wondering if that would do the job for now

Hey I am sorry I missed this post.

Before I had my current steamer I used a small yellow one, I think it was called the "Steam Buggy".

It was low powered, only had one setting but it helped out in many ways. In other words it was better to have and use it than use my conventional cleaning routine.

What you may want to think about though is if you buy a sub-standard unit now, for say $120, then that's $120 you could of saved for a bit longer, adding some to it, and then buying a really good one for a bit more money

Anthony

[Anthony Orosco]

Originally posted by 1 Clean WS6
Your attention to detail is an absolute inspiration to us all Anthony.

Simply flat out STUNNING work man!!

Mike....dude....friend and fellow wax-man....Thank you very much for your kind words and glad you enjoyed the pictures

Take care,
Anthony

Originally posted by opass
Well done. Thanks for sharing your secret hot sauce that how to achieve better detailing. Could you provoide the brand and model of your $700 steamer? I am thinking to get one. It will be helpful to narrow down searching in Google.

Does your look like this? http://store.yahoo.com/allergybuyers...eaner.html#buy

I will surely provide the name and brand but I can no longer post up any links as to where I bought my steamer or other items.

First, the one you linked to has a great price IF the power is there. Call them and ask them if it has a low/high operation and what the psi is at high pressure. If it has 65 psi or more then it has plenty of power, also look for a nozzle temperature of at least 200 degrees. The tank temperature will be higher but what you want to know is how hot the steam is at the tip.

Do a Goggle search for an "ML7 Steamer" That would be the machine I have and use.

Anthony

[joburnet]

I put in a total of about 13 hours into this beast. I will talk with the doctors tomorrow and see if they were pleased...as the bill was close to $500

whew...I was thinking how am I gonna compete with this. This is a much better detail then the 5 hour detail I charge $195 for.

13 hours is a long time to spend on one car but I was impressed with the results, especially the door jambs, good job.

[Mikeman]

It would take me 40 hours to make that transformation! Even then, I REALLY doubt my results would be as good. What did you use on the engine, and how long did you have to spend on it?

Mikeman out.

[JM19]

I'm always amazed that people could spend so much money on a car and treat it like such a pig sty...shame on them!

Great job, by the way...your results truly are stunning!

[ajbarnes]

Excellent work Anthony!! Overall that was an excellent thorough detail, but the interior.... You are setting new standards of professionalism in our industry!! The fee you charged was well worth it and then some. I guess I can end my procrastination now and go get a steam cleaner!

BTW...removing the seats

[Anthony Orosco]

Originally posted by joburnet
whew...I was thinking how am I gonna compete with this. This is a much better detail then the 5 hour detail I charge $195 for.

13 hours is a long time to spend on one car but I was impressed with the results, especially the door jambs, good job.

Hello,

You bring up a great topic, especially for professionals, and that is: "Just how much should I charge for a full detail?" Yet this also brings up another questions (perhaps more than one) which is: "Just what is a FULL detail?"

I believe if there can be an industry standard of what makes up a "full" detail then I also believe detailers could get paid fairly. To me a full detail includes:

Engine cleaning and dressing (more should be charged if they wish the engine to be highly detailed)
Wheels cleaned and polished
Wheel wells cleaned
Tires cleaned and dressed (spare tire also if exposed)
Paint polished (If road tar, overspray or sap is present in heavy forms then charge should be extra/also charge extra for more than 2 polishing steps)
Paint is sealed (personal preference to charge extra if a sealant is used)
Clean and Dress trim
Any metal work polished (aluminum wheels and such if in bad shape should include an extra charge)
Convertible tops cleaned and re-sealed
Trunk area cleaned (shampoo if needed)
All rubber seals cleaned
Door jambs cleaned
Carpets shampooed/Scotchguarded
Leather cleaned/treated
Vinyl cleaned and treated if needed
Headliner cleaned

Now the above list will always vary somewhat from detailer to detailer, as some may do engines others may not BUT a full detail should mean a FULL detail and not a "wash and wax, vacuum and interior dressing for $75.00" There is no way someone can spend 5 hours on a car, get $75 for it and perform great work PLUS make a living at it. Nor should the customer pay $75 for hack work that was done in an hour and a half

Of course you can only charge what the market in your area will bear but you need to make not only your money back, meaning what it cost you to perform the service, and not just your supplies but think about the gas it takes to get you there, insurance, etc. and then you need to include your profit. I love detailing because I get a great joy out of it BUT "joy" will not pay my bills (I only wish!).

Doing alot of car washing at $30 is OK if you spend about an hour on each car. Doing washing on cars for $40 to $45 is excellant if spending again about an hour on each vehicle (large and/or really filthy vehicles should have an extra charge) So when I detail I want to make no lower than $50 an hour, a 5 hour detail then should be around $250.00. If doing the same detail for $195.00 then you are making around $38 an hour, which is not bad money but will it make you a profit?

Just my $.02.....thoughts anyone?

Anthony

[Anthony Orosco]

Originally posted by Mikeman
It would take me 40 hours to make that transformation! Even then, I REALLY doubt my results would be as good. What did you use on the engine, and how long did you have to spend on it?

Mikeman out.

Thanks Mike,

I used Hi-Temps APC to clean the engine in addition to my steamer. Some rubber pieces needed heavy scrubbing. Cleaning and dressing plus wiping the dressing down took me in total about an hour.

I used "Best Dressed" to dress the engine.

Originally posted by ajbarnes
Excellent work Anthony!! Overall that was an excellent thorough detail, but the interior.... You are setting new standards of professionalism in our industry!! The fee you charged was well worth it and then some. I guess I can end my procrastination now and go get a steam cleaner!

BTW...removing the seats

Well thank you kindly and a right back at ya for some of the great work you have displayed here. Ya you will be amazed at how well a good steamer will help you out in your detailing. There is a learning curve to it so don't get dissappointed if your results aren't that great at first.

Thanks again,
Anthony