Anyone Detail Semi's?

Obsessive1

New member
Curious to see if anyone has detailed any semi trucks? I have an interior to do then at a later date the exterior. He wants the truck washed and waxed and the aluminum tanks polished and whatever else I can polish. There is some stainless also. Tanks look pretty neglected. I was thinking about ordering some Wolfgang polishes for aluminum and using a 4" pad on the PC? Any ideas or advice on products or procedures for this is greatly appreciated. He says he can get me all of them that I want to do.
 
Don't underbid or you will be kicking yourself. I've never done this type of work myself but some of the other members will chime in with their recommendations.
 
Get some Mothers or Megs metal polishes from WalMart or the local auto store. A Mothers powerball and high speed drill would probably work better.
 
Well a lot of ppl might hate what I'm about to say.............................. but..................., I used a S.O.S. pad (steel wool) and I tested this on my own rims first, the results were amazing and NO scratches, then I went over the rims with some aluminum polish and hand buff, If i could post pics I would to show the results but I need 10 posts, haha. This might be good on those tanks, but try it in a inconspicuous spot first, like behind the tank to see the results.
 
Well I told him flat out I didn't know what to charge for the interior. He said how about $150 and we'll go from there. I said that would work for me. I can't wait to get on it in the morning. Basically I am just gonna be cleaning leather all day lol. I am gonna save all the terry towels and show him everything that came off lol.

Steel wool a? Just steel wool and water then polish with Mother's? Like to see some pics of that.
 
I do this practically everday. I work at a semi autobdy shop. I first degrease all the aluminum (behind the tanks and under is a pita). Then I use an acid based product on all rims/tanks as usually there pretty bad looking even after being degreased (can't remember the exact name of it. Just let sit for awhile and scrub, may leave marks or run marks from the acid, but im polishing them out so it doesnt matter. Then I just go at it with the buffer with some 3M compound (usually the heavy compound followed by the light) and then just apply some 3M glaze on them.



Most of the interiors are gross and behind a "fast" bodyshop clean. I do what I can for the time im allowed. I will usually blow out the whole inside with air (you'd be amazed at allt the dirt and stuff you'd find) Usually a lot of the trucks have rubber floors, so some APC and elbow grease will do wonders. Same on the dash, seats, bunk compartments.



Also I will usually power wash the whole frame, motor, 5th wheel mount, etc (as a lot of times were sand blasting the frames to paint anyways)



This is just how we do it at the bodyshop as it works fast and thats what were all about, lol. Im only 20, but this is just the stuff i've found works best.



And Just dont drink any of the mt. dew bottles, they may look like it, but there not, lol.
 
Let me comment on the section that I've made bold. If you're going to pressure wash the 5th wheel, and remove all of that grease, I would make sure I had a tube of fresh grease to reapply. It may not sound like a big deal, but I think it would go a long way with the driver. Just trust me on this one.



wagonproject said:
I do this practically everday. I work at a semi autobdy shop. I first degrease all the aluminum (behind the tanks and under is a pita). Then I use an acid based product on all rims/tanks as usually there pretty bad looking even after being degreased (can't remember the exact name of it. Just let sit for awhile and scrub, may leave marks or run marks from the acid, but im polishing them out so it doesnt matter. Then I just go at it with the buffer with some 3M compound (usually the heavy compound followed by the light) and then just apply some 3M glaze on them.



Most of the interiors are gross and behind a "fast" bodyshop clean. I do what I can for the time im allowed. I will usually blow out the whole inside with air (you'd be amazed at allt the dirt and stuff you'd find) Usually a lot of the trucks have rubber floors, so some APC and elbow grease will do wonders. Same on the dash, seats, bunk compartments.



Also I will usually power wash the whole frame, motor, 5th wheel mount, etc (as a lot of times were sand blasting the frames to paint anyways)



This is just how we do it at the bodyshop as it works fast and thats what were all about, lol. Im only 20, but this is just the stuff i've found works best.



And Just dont drink any of the mt. dew bottles, they may look like it, but there not, lol.
 
EisenHulk said:
Let me comment on the section that I've made bold. If you're going to pressure wash the 5th wheel, and remove all of that grease, I would make sure I had a tube of fresh grease to reapply. It may not sound like a big deal, but I think it would go a long way with the driver. Just trust me on this one.



Yeah, there greased along with a few more spots on the truck. Overhaul the whole truck. , well except for motor/trans.
 
My dad used own a trucking company so I've pretty much done it all.



wagonproject said:
Yeah, there greased along with a few more spots on the truck. Overhaul the whole truck. , well except for motor/trans.
 
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