Hey all you mobile detailing owners.... - Page 2

Guess My Name · 11-28-01, 07:40

You could do this with any soap I bet. Except they would leave residue if not rinsed well enough. It seems this stuff is designed not leave residue. Seems to be a wetter QD.

I do see the high chance of not completely rinsing the dirt picked up from the wash mitt since there is not an abundance of water to rinse it in. Then this would swirl up the finish.

Also I think Scott said something that made me think - For RV's during California drought. I am not knocking the porduct but it does go against conventional wisdom for cleaning and trying to maintain a swirlfree finish.

For the mobile detailer w/o access to a hose I bet this helps great but I would still try to use traditional wash methods first.

Scottwax · 11-28-01, 07:48

Quote:

Originally posted by TheKingOfDETAIL

Scott, what type of towels do you use? Terry cloth? And do you usually notice any type of dirt build-up on them after you've gone over a few panels?

I fold the towels into 1/4s, and refold them when they get dirty. Yes, there is dirt on the towels when you are wiping-then you make another pass for drying. Like I said, it takes some practice to get really proficient.

Every Little Detail:

First of all, I use 1 gallon of water, not 2 quarts. Works better that way. I use two towels to start with. One to wipe most of the Q&E/water mix off, then another to dry. I refold the towels every few panels to get a clean side, and it usually takes 3 towels to do an average sized car. I always leave a slight bit of moisture on the paint for the drying pass to eliminate streaks. I certainly understand your skepticism-I was leary of what might happen the first time I used it. In fact, the first time, I was not that impressed, because I had streaks all over the car-but after using it a few more times, I got the hang of it.

Q&E works fine on wheels and tires-I have several different brushes to get deep into the wheels and the wheel wells. I do carry extra water for really dirty rims-after I clean the wheel, but before I dry, I rinse the wheel off with the extra water. On bird droppings or any extra grime, I slosh the Q&E on with a wash pad and let it sit for about 30 seconds, and the bird crap just washes right off. If anyone wants their undercarraige cleaned, I do have to use a hose. Down here in Texas, they just really don't get all that dirty-no salt on the roads here.

Not all of the 1000 cars I do each year are details. I have 10-12 cars I wash every single week (same customers), and the other 8-10 cars a week are a mix of interior or exterior only details or complete details. Details usually take me about 3-5 hours, depending on the vehicle, whether or not it actually needs to be clayed (some of my regulars get their cars waxed every few weeks!), and more important, how dirty the interior is. I also do a lot of high end vehicles and yes, many of them are black as well. I've posted several pics in the members pics section.

Scottwax · 11-28-01, 07:55

Quote:

Originally posted by Guess My Name
You could do this with any soap I bet. Except they would leave residue if not rinsed well enough. It seems this stuff is designed not leave residue. Seems to be a wetter QD.

It cleans much better than a QD.

Quote:

I do see the high chance of not completely rinsing the dirt picked up from the wash mitt since there is not an abundance of water to rinse it in. Then this would swirl up the finish.

That was what I thought initially-but when you put the wash pad in the Q&E mix, it comes out clean. Somehow it suspends the dirt in the water. I've used it on numerous black cars without leaving scratches.

Quote:

For the mobile detailer w/o access to a hose I bet this helps great but I would still try to use traditional wash methods first.

That is how I started out-either cleaning the cars at the persons home or taking it to a self-serve car wash. I find using Q&E quicker, cheaper and cleans car just as well, without leaving a bunch of water in parking lots or accidently spraying someone else's car.

Airball50 · 11-28-01, 08:16

Obviously, Scottewax, it has worked very well for you and we all appreciate the input. I think I might get some and maybe try it out on one panel or something like that....might be a pricey experiment but well worth it if it pays off. At the risk of having the Autopians kick me off the forum, I must admit that my current situation forces me to take my truck to the car wash (gasp!!) and then bring it home to detail myself. Until I can afford a house (...long time), I will not have suitable car wash area, so maybe this will help. Thanks again for all your comments.

Josiah · 11-28-01, 08:32

Here, the water laws are really strict (retain all water), so this might be a great solution to using less water... I admit, I am VERY weary of trying it though. I think I am going to take the plunge, and see how it works for me. Cars get really dirty here in the winter (Colorado), so it might not be a complete solution.

graeme, get creative. I am starting a mobile biz as soon as I can get the stuff together (winter isn't the strongest time of year, but I'm not one to wait). For water storage, I've though of those 55-gallon oil drums. A friend uses them to wash his motorcycles when he goes riding: Get them for $10 from local shops that might have them, drill a hole in them the size of a hose nozzle, and screw the nozzle in there. The pressure that gravity produces may be enough to get you started. There are also many other tanks that you can use, relying on gravity. Don't take my word on it, as I have not tried gravity... I still have yet to see how well that works.

Good luck! Let me know how it all turns out for you and want you find, and I'll do the same.
Josiah

ryhead · 11-28-01, 08:38

I own/operate a mobile wash and detail company, so my style differs from some of you. I bought a 3/4ton van, instead of a pickup w/ trailer, loaded it w/ a 275gal tank,generator vac,buffer,and a pressure washer 2700psi. I can go anywhere to wash,wax, or detail a vehicle. Never had any problems with water in the parking lot, there are sewers every 20yds around here. Having a power washer helps do some of the work for you (wheels, tire's,wells,undercarraige) and helps move a volume of vehicles. I got my psi washer fairly priced at $525 at costco. You can pay that off with 3 details.

Josiah · 11-28-01, 08:43

ryhead makes a good point - it depends on your style, where you live, what kind of cars you will be detailing... Here in Colorado, a pressure washer is more necessary than some states. I'm sure I'll have to get one very soon after I start the biz.

The Quick and Easy Wash might be a very valuable tool to test, get proficient with, and see if it works for you as a mobile detailer. After all, that's part of our job description, isn't it? To test new products that help us do the job quicker and more efficiently.

ryhead, where are you located?

Best of luck,
Josiah

ryhead · 11-28-01, 08:55

I live in st. louis MO. Does anyone sell products that coincide with the business. I do, check it out, maybe I can give some ideas on how to get into it. www.lanescarproducts.com

Guess My Name · 11-28-01, 10:02

I have seen guys with old bread trucks or chip trucks with detailing stuff in the back. A trailer lets you park it and use your vehicle for normal use as well. Remember the tax write off for business use of your car as well if you plan on reporting the income which on advice from my counselor I strongly suggest you do.

As for gravity, the pressure you get is proportional to the elevation of the water level. I forget but it is around 1 psi per foot of water or something and no I am not busting out my engineering books to look it up either. It would allow you to fill a bucket but it would have to be pretty high to rinse the top of a car.

55 gallon drums have two bungs in them that are threaded and companies make spigots for them to dispense the contents.

I would suggest looking into exterminator tanks mounted in trucks. They are plastic and would last longer.

ryhead · 11-28-01, 10:17

I didn't look through any books, but I do use the gravity system and I get a few less psi than a pressurized system, but it still blasts pretty good from 250+ gallons down to the last drop. The pressure washer creates the pressure once fed by gravity. The advantage to having a van, in my opinion, is that you will utilize less space, less wieght and fuel, and you can also house your equipment and products inside the van. I only use my van for business, and it is done up nicely with viynl logo's and new paint. I have seen those guys with the box and chip trucks also.

Ryan

Short Cut · 11-28-01, 11:00

Here is link to supplier of a full line of gas and electric pressure washers and another link for a supplier of water storage tanks.

ryhead · 11-28-01, 11:24

The link to the psi washers is good to go. I don't know about those tanks though. The tank I have is more of a square, with a steel cage around it for mounting, and fits into the side doors no problem. It's made by Schutz. I don't know if they have a website or not. I got my tank, 275 gallons, for under $400 and it lasts all day.