Re: Victim of my own success
The last Cayenne in beautiful Lapis Blue I Detailed had over 120 microns total thickness, and had probably never been Detailed..
It was scratched all over and the clearbra was really scratched..
The paint is medium to hard like all German Paint (except for BMW JetBLack), and I used Sonax Perfect Finish ( Cut = 4 of 6, Gloss = 6)
with Lake Country Hydro-Shred Foam Cyan 5" pads on a Makita, coming up from 600rpm to around 1,000rpm..
I would rather ramp up slowly to get the correction rather than hammer the paint with the most aggressive compounds, as a lot of people do today... And because I use less aggressive compounds I hardly ever have to go back and remove anything from the paint to get perfect clarity...
I am not in a hurry to do these, my Clients know that perfection takes longer and are willing to wait for it...
I don`t know if CarPro Essence has a cut number like all the others do or a visual gauge that shows where the cut is on a scale like Menzerna does..
If it seems like it does good correction work then it might work out for you..
This paint should reward you with absolute beautiful clarity and gloss like all Porsche paint does...
You may have to work hard and lean on your machine to give you the correction you are going for..
The extended Leather was really a hard leather that was very durable and held onto dirt quite well.. Had to use a lot of Zaino Leather Cleaner and Steam through a towel carefully, to get it all out in places... It turned out beautiful and was much softer and beautiful Dove Gray when done..
Good Luck, Amigo !
Dan F
Re: Victim of my own success
Another guy (local track photographer with an eye for details) has seen my handy work time and time again at the track, has also asked me to detail his family`s collection of cars (black Ram SRT10, green Challenger SRT, black CTS-V, black Merc AMG, and a chameleon Plasti dipped SAABARU). He`s making an offer I shouldn`t refuse on cars I absolutely love to work on but he`s looking for "perfection". I tried referring him to professional`s but he`s already tried two different alleged professional detailers out on his black AMG Merc and it`s still swirled up (looks like they just glazed it and it wore off a few weeks later).
I wish I had the time but I already work a full-time job and spend a couple of hours every night managing investments and royalties so I really don`t need the additional income (I know poor me). The thing is I`m passionate about detailing and there`s just something I love about it (I guess I`ve never been the artistic type and detailing appeals to that need).
I know production detailing is really hard on the body over time (occasional paint correction here and there is no big deal but production level is another world).
If you were in my shoes (34, out of shape, financially comfortable, and married with kids) would you consider moving to production detailing if detailing was your passion?
I already know I would open a shop in an affluent neighborhood and only do high-end cars.
Maybe it`s just a midlife crisis and I don`t know what to do and want change... LOL
Re: Victim of my own success
I`ve always wanted to do this combo on a car to try out- essence on a medium cut pad and DoDo Hybrid Nano (dodo claims it has great filling ability in the booklet that came with it)
to your paint question, I have no idea
for me, Essence is not something that I try to make cut a whole lot. I tried it with a rupes mf cut disc and didn`t like the finish (also didn`t feel the cut was that great either) compared to using it as a 2nd step for final polish or to remove compounding haze. im not sure how far essence can be taken cut wise but im sure others could get more cut with a rotary/ markII
Recently I used it as a final finishing polish/primer (with carpro gloss pad) after a 2 step and the gloss was out of this world
also..maybe you should find time to knock out one of those cars at a time and then see if its something you really want to do all the time. that money wouldn`t hurt to add to your `enthusiast` budget...(I`m in a similar boat as you minus two years and a wife/kids)...I enjoy the flexibility of being able to turn down the vehicles that I really don`t want to work on. I have no goals on a shop, but I think you detail out of the parking garage, right? I could see a shop being good for you but really only you can decide if you want to go into that type of capital investment.
Good luck on the Cayenne,,,i`m sure it will turn out great
Re: Victim of my own success
Be careful that you don`t allow the mid life crisis thing affect your long range plan for you and your family..
Besides, it`s only temporary and then it`s gone... :)
I am glad that you are attracting a "following" and you don`t even detail for a living - very impressive -
Since we both know that this craft takes around 20 hours to do one completely and about as perfectly as it can get, do you see how you can fit this into your schedule and still have time for family and everything else ?
How many 20 hour stints can you handle in a month ? A year ? Yeah, it can get complicated and I certainly found myself trying to juggle a lot of things - wife, her 3 kids, 2 beautiful German Shepherds, a huge house, 4-5 vehicles of our own, and then always another German car in the garage to take 20 hours out of the current situation...
Detailing is in itself very artistic, in its own space, so you are actually fulfilling that part of your life as well !
I always try to imagine how the Client will look at the vehicle when he sees it next, and make for certain, all the "sight lines" the body lines, the curves, all the places where the light really reflects are absolutely perfect before they see it and certainly, there can`t be even any dust on it when they do come to the big
"Reveal"...
I imagine all the work the designers did for that car in a big clay model at first, - these are artists, no ?
And my job is to bring all that work to the best possible level it can ever be - inside and out..
Then, as I have already mentioned before, you set up your "Studio" so the first look they get is absolutely focused on nothing else but their "new again to them" vehicle under lights, nothing else to distract from that moment...
But I digress... :)
I had that affluent neighborhood connection as well ! Everyone drove by the house in their Lambo`s Ferrari`s, Aston`s, Bentley`s, Mercedes`, BMW`s, Porsche, Audi, etc... and saw me and my brighter than noon lighting in the garage at night, and often just stopped by and wanted to see what I was doing..
I could have easily worked out of that Client base alone and never looked further..
Worked all year -around after the word got out but again, there was always, always, another vehicle to do... Do you want to get to that ?
It will be physically demanding but you will get really strong and in shape - especially upper body -wise.
The $$$ part can be all over the scale depending on your Client base, as we all know, so you have to see what the Client base will want to pay on average and after paying for extra insurance, business license, state taxes quarterly that are collected and paid back to the state, etc., and see if there are good breaks on your tax return for owning a business, etc., and all that stuff...
Takes a lot of hours spread out over the year or all at once before tax time rolls around... Does that fit into your plan too ??
It takes a lot of vehicles to pay for all the overhead and the new expenses that will come into play when you start burning way more electrical, water, heating, cooling, etc., than you are used to; will this be ok ?
I think at the best, I was Detailing around 65-70+ vehicles a year, and I work alone, so if you had good help - as good as you - that number could double if you guys wanted it and had the Clientele..
So, unless you are averaging around $1,000 a job, there might not be enough income from this alone to cover part of what you may leave on the table to follow your dream, etc... How does that fit into your financial planning for the rest of your life? And there is no 401k from detailing either, unless you set one up yourself and start contributing to it...
Perhaps looking back at what I just typed, it may be better to just do this when you have time, and I promise you, they will wait for you because they have seen your work, which speaks volumes...
And then, it will be more fun and challenging knowing you have lots of time, and dont have to worry about making enough to pay the bills and just get by and all that stuff that sometimes happens... :)
Dan F
Re: Victim of my own success
Back to your question(s), the Porsche paint will correct and shine like mad with Menzerna 2500, Orange pad. Only once did I need something stronger, due to bad car wash tunnel scratches in the lower panels.
Follow with any mild finishing polish for extra pop, but the 2500 will finish down fine, especially if the owner isn`t an Autopian type.
Porsche is renown for dozens of shades of blue. They all swirl easily for whatever reason.
Re: Victim of my own success
If you have HD Speed, give it a try. I like Speed a lot. After doing two step correction with Menzerna compound and polish. I have made the decision that my daily drivers are getting HD Speed or just HD polish. If you have a rotary, try Speed with a cutting pad. I got amazing cut and finish with Speed on a LC CCS orange pad. I have zero experience with Porsche paint.
My problem with doing $250-500 details is that I would spend 20 plus hours and it would not be profitable. If you are like me you will probably take more time in detailing your family member`s Porsche than you initially think.
Surprised my neighbor this spring by detailing his Dodge truck. I probably had 12 hours in that detail. He doesn`t drive it now because he doesn`t want to get my detail job dirty:) You won`t want to stop at "good enough". I looked at his paint and wanted it perfect. You will have to stop yourself from going to the level of your SRT Jeep.
Re: Victim of my own success
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stokdgs
Since we both know that this craft takes around 20 hours to do one completely and about as perfectly as it can get, do you see how you can fit this into your schedule and still have time for family and everything else ?
My work is flexible allowing me to take unpaid days off as I want as long as none of my projects fall behind. I`ll have to take the occasional conference call from my cell and answer an email or two but nothing super demanding. The detailing season isn`t very long so I think it`d be a nice way to get extra time out of the office and possibly make more money. Sitting on my butt in an office all just doesn`t seem right... I think I could ease into it with a couple cars a month, take it slow and doing it right. My wife is a stay at home mom and probably wouldn`t mind helping me out while the kids are out at school.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stokdgs
I always try to imagine how the Client will look at the vehicle when he sees it next, and make for certain, all the "sight lines" the body lines, the curves, all the places where the light really reflects are absolutely perfect before they see it and certainly, there can`t be even any dust on it when they do come to the big
"Reveal"...
I couldn`t agree more! I kind of do that to myself when I work on mine. I focus on each section until it`s perfect then I stand back and watch the sunlight dance on the body of the car and I walk around taking it all in. I feel`s like a primordial love for a horse. Cars are our modern horse and carriage, after.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stokdgs
I imagine all the work the designers did for that car in a big clay model at first, - these are artists, no ?
And my job is to bring all that work to the best possible level it can ever be - inside and out..
Yes and that`s why I relish polishing over every contour and get lost think about all the engineering and design behind the whats and whys of that specific make/model, it`s intriguing. I go to the annual International Car show to check out all the new the new consumer cars coming to market. It`s a blast, you get to sit in about 80% of the cars from just about every major manufacturer.
Inside, eh? I`m going to need an extractor if I`m going to take this seriously. No point in kidding myself.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stokdgs
Then, as I have already mentioned before, you set up your "Studio" so the first look they get is absolutely focused on nothing else but their "new again to them" vehicle under lights, nothing else to distract from that moment...
But I digress... :)
Now that`s something I haven`t thought about.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stokdgs
Worked all year -around after the word got out but again, there was always, always, another vehicle to do... Do you want to get to that ?
No. Thats why I think I need to be more dynamic and treat it as an alternate form of revenue (a change of pace from the office during the short summers). I think I`d have to network and find a suitable space to work out of on a day to day basis rather than renting long term. I seen one detailer set up in a 24hr private parking lot underground downtown. He had lots of a lighting and it was very clean (painted his space and was very organized). I could also work something out with another local detailer to share a space for a few days a month (give him some paid down time).
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stokdgs
The $$$ part can be all over the scale depending on your Client base, as we all know, so you have to see what the Client base will want to pay on average and after paying for extra insurance, business license, state taxes quarterly that are collected and paid back to the state, etc., and see if there are good breaks on your tax return for owning a business, etc., and all that stuff...
Takes a lot of hours spread out over the year or all at once before tax time rolls around... Does that fit into your plan too ??
Anything under 20k is tax-free and technically I don`t have to register a business if it`s just a personal service like a babysitter, car wash, etc. Insurance would be a contract/inspection form as proof of the state it arrived in, and that I accept to pay for any damages caused while under my possession (other that automobile accidents as that`s covered by the car owners insurance in Quebec by law). No one reads the small print in Montreal I`m like the only one so that should be easy.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stokdgs
It takes a lot of vehicles to pay for all the overhead and the new expenses that will come into play when you start burning way more electrical, water, heating, cooling, etc., than you are used to; will this be ok ?
Fortunately, utilities are very affordable where I am. We have a surplus of hydro electricity leading to low rates, and water is free. Heating and cooling is typically electrical so it`d be just one bill to split with the owner for the days of my consumption. Owning a full blown detailing shop is out of the question but renting someone else isn`t.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stokdgs
I think at the best isn`t as Detailing around 65-70+ vehicles a year, and I work alone, so if you had good help - as good as you - that number could double if you guys wanted it and had the Clientele..
Volume won`t be the goal, perfection will be. I hope I could get my wife into it more.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stokdgs
So, unless you are averaging around $1,000 a job, there might not be enough income from this alone to cover part of what you may leave on the table to follow your dream, etc... How does that fit into your financial planning for the rest of your life? And there is no 401k from detailing either, unless you set one up yourself and start contributing to it...
That`s the game I`m already playing. Just recently starting paying into the government pension plan but it will be peanuts. Honestly, this is what worries me late at night, especially as my mom is 1 year from retirement and she`s totally unprepared.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Stokdgs
Perhaps looking back at what I just typed, it may be better to just do this when you have time, and I promise you, they will wait for you because they have seen your work, which speaks volumes...
I`m honored! Your honesty and sincerity always shine trough in your words. Thanks for the thought provoking post. Much deeper than I ever thought a detailing forum could be!
Re: Victim of my own success
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Swanicyouth
Dunno if your like me, but I`m pretty passionate about detailing for like 3hrs - then I wanna sit and take I break.
Naw I`m the type to push on until 2am when I started at 10 because everything just feels right. Don`t get me wrong I couldn`t do that multiple days in a row, but I got the drive to finish what i start (my wife kind hates that sometimes).
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Swanicyouth
Some of these dudes are running like 16 hrs a day. I think detailing is the kind of business where a lot of people need it fast and want it now - either right before a car show or because it`s their transportation.
That`s something I haven`t thought about but it`s true in the car seen. I think I should stick to passionate mature long time owners (demographic). I guess it really depends what they`re looking for.
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Swanicyouth
If your thinking about switching careers; you have to consider health insurance, 401k, paid time off; etc... Also, depending on where you are the business may slump in the winter and if the economy goes bad.
Canada has free healthcare so I`m set there. 401K well I haven`t thunk the long term game plan yet, I usually take it 5-10 years at a time. Winter slump is extreme here. I don` see any exotics or any two door sports cars for 6-7 months of the year. [/QUOTE]
Thanks Swanicyouth
Re: Victim of my own success
Quote:
Originally Posted by
WaxAddict
Back to your question(s), the Porsche paint will correct and shine like mad with Menzerna 2500, Orange pad. Only once did I need something stronger, due to bad car wash tunnel scratches in the lower panels.
Follow with any mild finishing polish for extra pop, but the 2500 will finish down fine, especially if the owner isn`t an Autopian type.
Porsche is renown for dozens of shades of blue. They all swirl easily for whatever reason.
Perfect I like Menzerna!
Thanks so much Poorboy.
...One step at a time :)
Re: Victim of my own success
Detailing someone`s vehicle is akin to re-doing their mulch beds or even painting their house. Anyone feel like doing that for free or below what you would make at your day job?
Re: Victim of my own success
4u2nvinmtl- I get asked to detail vehicles all the time. Well....I *used* to before they finally got the message. My side of the converstations usually went something like:
"Sorry, I won`t spend the time on anything other than my own vehicles and I begrudge the time that they take, I`d rather do other things. No, I won`t do anybody else`s vehicle in this lifetime, that`s not how I`m gonna spend my time. No no no, it`s not the money; I sure wouldn`t do it for...[pause]... I dunno, but I won`t even discuss doing it for $5K, maybe not for twice that. Anyhow, this isn`t rocket science, just DIY."
I felt I was being a nice guy by not just saying "detail your own [darn] car." ;) JBM got it exactly right- you wouldn`t stop by somebody`s nice property and ask them to do your landscaping or painting.
I do actually feel a bit bad about not (re)doing my pal Bob`s Jag MKII, but a) I can simply never get those hours back and at presnet I`m gonna spend them doing other stuff, b) warned him about his clearcoat thickness and told him not to [do certain things] lest he mar it, and c) simply don`t care all that much about other people`s vehicles, not even his. I only give his Jag a moment`s thought because he`s physically unable to do it himself and he *is* somebody whom I esteem.
Re: Victim of my own success
4u2nvinmtl -- JBM --
Ref - "" Detailing someone`s vehicle is akin to re-doing their mulch beds or even painting their house. Anyone feel like doing that for free or below what you would make at your day job?""
Certainly, we all would love to make what we are worth all the time... And we need to strive to do this for our future and the future of our families...
But with Detailing, there IS a certain amount of Love for the Craft that goes along with this for some of us...
We love it to the extent that we hate to see something - that one last little thing go undone, and we (I) will do it even though no one may notice - but we will... :)
And then for me anyway, I have this artistic part I believe, that extends to the yard, the trees, bushes, everything - (especially Detailing), where I have to see it all looking very natural and full, not regimented, and it all has to have balance..
The Detailing side - well it`s a way smaller footprint, I have noon-day-lights in the garage, ( 16 - 4-ft, 2-tube T8 64watt Daylight Deluxe fixtures) so I can see everything and again, it all has to look the same everywhere - it has to match - and pretty much all the time, I will do a little extra for it if it doesn`t quite match like I want it to...
I absolutely Love to see the vehicle looking its absolute best when it`s in the Studio, awaiting the Clients arrival, and then their first impressions when they see it all beautiful, perfectly lit up in noon-day-lighting, so there is no missing anything...
What I am getting at with all this is the fact that how much Love you put into this is an incalculable factor that has to be balanced with the workload so it does not get out of control... :) You are giving them something that they are not paying for because there is no price for this, no ? :)
Well, that is how I do it anyway, for your reference... :)
Dan F
Re: Victim of my own success
Quote:
Originally Posted by
4u2nvinmtl
Perfect I like Menzerna!
Thanks so much Poorboy.
...One step at a time :)
You`re welcome! But I`m just WaxAddict, not Poorboy. My avatar just shows I`m a big fan of PB products.