Avg time range for polishing?

[lecchilo]

Originally Posted by toyotaguy

smooth clay is your problem...it takes about 3 times more passes to complete the same section compared to something like sonus grey

on the other hand, with sonus grey, you are going to have to polish it out as it will scuff and mar the paint -its a medium duty clay, not meant for the touch up type jobs

I have compared megs blue (mild) and sonus grey (medium) and there is about 25% more effort/time involved when using the megs over the sonus, but less marring. I normally perform two step details, so I have no problem breaking out the sonus to get through the clay process quicker since I will be compounding anyway removing the scuffing

That's true, but it still would cut about 30-45 mins off my time... I actually usually don't get cars with too much contamination, so 1-2 passes with the smooth surface clay (usually 2 on some front panels only) does the job.

[brwill2005]

For me to wash, polish entire car with rotary (light cut polish), and a white pad and wax/seal it takes me about 3-4 hours for an average sized sedan. If I clay, it would add 30-40 minutes. I time how long I polish on each panel for consistency. Depending on the polish being used, I polish from 1-2 minutes.

[d00t]

I have a 2 step correction on a bmw m3 next weekend.

My process:
wash: spray down with PW, wash, wheels/tires/wells, spray down/degrease engine bay (don't dress)
then clay
wash again, this time dress tires/wheels/wells/engine
polish with menzerna SIP/pfw
polish with menzerna 85rd/white
rinse off to get rid of dust
jetseal109/black
zymol vintage by hand
While zymol is curring, do the entire interior: clean/condition leather, dry vac, spot removal, glass, clean/protect plastics/vinyls

I plan to spend around 15 hours on the car. Does this sound good/about right?

Aaron

[TSC17]

Originally Posted by toyotaguy

Like I said...you are not doing a one step if you are hitting the panel multiple times. At that paint, you might as well just hit the car with a good two step, save some time and achieve more correction and a better shine.

why hit the panel with something like OP three times when OC then OP will give you better results in less time?

First it sounds like you're assuming that each panel is getting hit multiple times, when in actuality maybe only 20% of the surfaces are hit this way. And if you recommend going heavy/light on that particular area for better results in less time, then you would end up with finishes not matching.

Also I think most people's definition of 2-step would be to first hit the entire car with your first step (say SIP), and then go back and refine the entire car with your second step (106FF).

I can see applying a polish in one hour, but that's what it would be accomplishing for me at least...applying the polish...not polishing. I do think we're getting caught up in semantics on several levels and issues in this thread.

I understand that all business models and philosophies are different, but mine is to achieve the highest level of correction in however many steps I'm taking. One step polishing can get about 80% correction on most vehicles unless it's a really hard CC or it's in really bad shape. I don't want to hammer out a job, call it shiny, and send the customer down the road with swirls and scratches. I limit my work and go for the jobs that are requiring as close to full correction as possible, and like many others do on here...I charge by the hour accordingly.

I do appreciate everybody's comments on this subject...definitely a wide variety of styles and philosophies...exactly what I expected.

[Picus]

How much correction you achieve depends on way too many variables to hammer down an exact time/level of correction for one polishing step.

For example, if someone brings you a very lightly swirled new model Porsche it could take as little as 3-4 hours (of polishing) to get 99% correction. Here is a good example: SimpleViewer . On that car I was able to correct 99% of the marring with one pass of SIP on an LC white pad. I did use a pfw on one deeper scratch, and did finish with 8rd (though I didn't need to). The 8rd step took all of 30 minutes.

The other extreme of course is a car that really does need more than one step, but the client only wants one. In those cases you may spend twice the time polishing and only get 50% of the marring.

For me, if the car needs more than one step I will almost never agree to just do one polishing step. When I am done with a car I want the paint to look as perfect as possible, which means if it needs heavy compounding, light compounding, and polishing then that's what it gets.

[snowskate]

Originally Posted by toyotaguy

smooth clay is your problem...it takes about 3 times more passes to complete the same section compared to something like sonus grey

on the other hand, with sonus grey, you are going to have to polish it out as it will scuff and mar the paint -its a medium duty clay, not meant for the touch up type jobs

I have compared megs blue (mild) and sonus grey (medium) and there is about 25% more effort/time involved when using the megs over the sonus, but less marring. I normally perform two step details, so I have no problem breaking out the sonus to get through the clay process quicker since I will be compounding anyway removing the scuffing

I tried the Sonus Grey on a beater car for practice and didn't like the marring that comes along with it. I'll never use it again. I understand that if a car requires heavy claying (grey) that it'll need at least a 2 step polish anyway, but not my taste. I guess I don't see the 'benefits outweighing the risks' on this one.

[TSC17]

Originally Posted by Picus

For me, if the car needs more than one step I will almost never agree to just do one polishing step. When I am done with a car I want the paint to look as perfect as possible, which means if it needs heavy compounding, light compounding, and polishing then that's what it gets.

I'm right there with you...well said

[Scottwax]

Originally Posted by JoshVette

First of all what machines are you using in a one step?

For a one step I would use a PC not a rotary and to wash, clay, 1 step polishing, and full interior would take me about 4-5 hours max.

I don't do one step polishing with the rotary so I don't know. If I have to pull out the rotary then I am doing a full correction and that will really vary, but most take at least 8-10 hours for me to get it where I want it.

Josh

I agree completely. Too hard to get really good correction and finish hologram free with one stepping a car with a rotary.

Those only paying for 1 polishing step aren't typically all that interested in the paint being perfect. They just want more shine and some protection. Like I mentioned in the other thread, a restaurant isn't bringing out a steak to someone paying for a hamburger because they know the steak will be a better meal. Same with detailing. If someone isn't paying for a multi-step correction process, I'm not going to go ahead and do it anyway out of the goodness of my heart.

Nothing wrong with trying to upsell a higher level detail but if the customer insists on a 1 step process, that is what I give them. I will do my best to make sure the car look as absolutely good as it can for what they are paying.

[Scottwax]

Originally Posted by lecchilo

I think the biggest relevant difference here is in claying... I simply cannot understand how someone can clay a Toyota Camry in an hour or less... I just recorded myself claying the trunk on my mother's 2003 Corolla and it took roughly 4-5 minutes to do half the trunk, which is usually one of the least contaminated panels!
-

I clay as I wash with ONR, maybe adds 20 minutes to the time to wash. You must live in an area with heavy industrial fallout or something. Here in the Dallas area, unless someone was parked under pine trees, drove through fresh tar or got paint overspray on their car, claying goes very fast because the contamination is pretty minimal. Usually the worst area is the trunk lid and top of the rear bumper.

You should find as you revisit your customer's cars in a few months that they take less work each successive detail.

[toyotaguy]

Originally Posted by Scottwax

I agree completely. Too hard to get really good correction and finish hologram free with one stepping a car with a rotary.

Those only paying for 1 polishing step aren't typically all that interested in the paint being perfect. They just want more shine and some protection. Like I mentioned in the other thread, a restaurant isn't bringing out a steak to someone paying for a hamburger because they know the steak will be a better meal. Same with detailing. If someone isn't paying for a multi-step correction process, I'm not going to go ahead and do it anyway out of the goodness of my heart.

Nothing wrong with trying to upsell a higher level detail but if the customer insists on a 1 step process, that is what I give them. I will do my best to make sure the car look as absolutely good as it can for what they are paying.

^^^^ agreed!

I would love to give every car 10hrs+ but if there is no dough, then no go!

[TSC17]

I'm not sure that anybody is saying they're going to do the extra steps for free here, but I agree with your point.

[D&D Auto Detail]

Originally Posted by David Fermani

Unless your quick glazing over a finish, I can't see how anyone can properly do a 1-step polish(with any level of correction) in less than 6-8 hours *from start to finish*. For me to properly wash>clay>tape>test panel>polish>wash>solvent wipe down>LSP an entire vehicle, it's an all day (10-12 hrs) process MINIMUM. If someone can do all this (properly) in 1/2 the time, I need to retire while I'm still young OR lower my standards of quality.

I agree 100%! If someone isnt looking to pay for a properly detailed car, then they can go to the other guy. There are plenty of hacks out there. Then they can come back to me when their paint is all screwed up.