Being prepared...

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dsms

New member
I am hoping to start my part time detailing buisness in April and I have just a few concerns. Right now I am stocked up on pretty much everything I need to do a complete int/ext detail but there are some things I am considering, First off I do not own a compound polish, I have SIP and 106ff but I am afraid that I might come across a clients paint that needs more that the standard SIP/106 treatment. I feel that its probably neccesary to a have a compound polish in my supply cabinet in addition to SIP and 106, and if so which one, I was thinking maybe 3M extra cut or Megs possibly or anything that will help with oxidized or heavily swirled paint. Also my only vaccum is a metro vac n blo, so far I think it works fine but I have vaccumed just a few cars with it and the carpets really were not very bad. I thought about buying a 6.5hp wet/dry but im not sure if its worth it being as I already own a brand new vac n blo and later down the road(after I hopefully make some $$ I will invest in a compact hot water extractor. A pressure washer has been on my mind for a while and I cant decide if it is a useful tool that I should invest in, how important is a prssure washer when it comes to a professional detail to you guys and is it really worth the money? Also I am concerned about different paint types and single stage paint jobs. I really dont know much about how to care for different types of finishes. What type of products should I use and avoid when it comes to soft paint or single stage paint and how can I easily tell if the paint is "soft" or single stage? Lastly what do I do about clear bras? If a car has a clear bra on it do I just tape off where it ends and polish the paint as I normally would and leave the bra alone? I think about starting up this little buisness and I wonder what kind of jobs I might encounter where I might feel "unprepared". I just want to go into this thing knowing that I am well prepared and confident that I can accomplish pretty much any task within reason. For example I found that a badly soiled leather seat needs more that Z9 to remove the stains so I should look for a stronger cleaner, so obvioulsy some things are just trail and error but I dont want to be doing trial and error when I am in the middle of detailing a paying customers vehicle. I want to be as prepared as possible before I begin detailing for paying clients . From now until mid April is going to be practice, I have a few more cars lined up that im going to be working on for free, this will be my test bed. I appreciate any input/advice you guys have and any tips would be greatly appreciated also. Thanks
 
SIP and a lc wool pad/orange pad = a compound and will remove some defects rather quickly...an addition would be something like hitemp extreme cut, or menzerna power gloss (dusts a lot though)



HOT WATER EXTRACTOR - a must have...i have one but the heater went out on it and its night and day without it...a vacuum just doesnt do as good a job as a HWE



soft paint = use of a mild polish instead of a compound is all...every finish will dictate a different product, but the process is typically the same



Get a good APC - i use megs APC+ and with different ratios, you can do a lot of different parts of a car...



is ONR an option for you? the only reason I would need a pressure washer is for mud, but I dont encounter a lot of cars needing it...actually none!



honestly a really good process is the following: obviously the finish dictates what the process is, but that is my go to process in times of need...all three work in the sun

HTEC/lc wool or orange pad - rotary

megs 83/yellow polishing pad or lc orange pad - rotary/pc

poliseal/polishing pad/lc blue pad -pc

poliseal topped and wiped off with optimum car wax



but whatever path you take, good luck...practice practice practice before you go public, dont become another hack!!!
 
I 2nd the Optimum Poliseal is that you can correct light swirls or scratches. Plus polish the paint and leave a protected surface afterwards. The protection I believe will last 2-3 months. I always like the Poliseal , Optiseal combo! Goodluck. Optimum No Rinse is also a must have saves you alot of water and you get great results with it. Give it a try and I can guarantee you that you won't go back to conventional washing methods.
 
Be sure to take "before and after" pictures of your work. Time how long you take for a particular process. Multiply the time you take X $$-per-hour then add your expenses (license, insurance, cost-of-products, equipment depreciation, gas, advertising/marketing, etc.) to the total. Next add profit (you'll use the "profit" to reinvest and expand your business). Now you have your price for that particular process. You will get faster with more experience which will put more money in your pocket for the same job. Do not under-price your services but don't price yourself out of the market either.

Just remember that detailing for dollars (even part-time is first and foremost a business and should be treated as such. Too many good detailers fall by the wayside because they were so focused on product and process that they didn't do enough homework on the "business" side of the business. Just my 2 cents.
 
dsms said:
From now until mid April is going to be practice, I have a few more cars lined up that im going to be working on for free, this will be my test bed. I appreciate any input/advice you guys have and any tips would be greatly appreciated also. Thanks
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I'm kind of in the same position you are in right now. I'm evaluating whether I want to do this as a business and have been obtaining various supplies/products. I have several cars lined up other than my own. Most of them are family or close friends. If you truly want to evaluate your skills and get constructive feedback, do not do your practice cars for free. Charge them something, even if it is just the cost of the product your use on the car. I say this because people getting something for free with be less likely to point out the negative stuff about a job being done. You charge them and they will open their mouth and tell you what they didn't like, things you missed, what needs improved, etc. You need to hear this type of feedback now instead of later with a true paying customer.
 
toyotaguy said:
SIP and a lc wool pad/orange pad = a compound and will remove some defects rather quickly...an addition would be something like hitemp extreme cut, or menzerna power gloss (dusts a lot though)



HOT WATER EXTRACTOR - a must have...i have one but the heater went out on it and its night and day without it...a vacuum just doesnt do as good a job as a HWE



soft paint = use of a mild polish instead of a compound is all...every finish will dictate a different product, but the process is typically the same



Get a good APC - i use megs APC+ and with different ratios, you can do a lot of different parts of a car...



is ONR an option for you? the only reason I would need a pressure washer is for mud, but I dont encounter a lot of cars needing it...actually none!



honestly a really good process is the following: obviously the finish dictates what the process is, but that is my go to process in times of need...all three work in the sun

HTEC/lc wool or orange pad - rotary

megs 83/yellow polishing pad or lc orange pad - rotary/pc

poliseal/polishing pad/lc blue pad -pc

poliseal topped and wiped off with optimum car wax



but whatever path you take, good luck...practice practice practice before you go public, dont become another hack!!!
Click to expand...



I will look into a HWE in a few months but right now its to much of an expense. For compund and paint correction I dont own a rotary or a pc, I have a Flex but I think its a machine that can do both some rotary and pc work in one. But as of now I cant use wool pads on it but soon the edge adapter will be out for the flex so I will be sure to buy some wool pads and use SIP for heavy correction. I was thinking of getting Megs APC because I see how many people use it, I just got a gallon of 303 cleaner which I use on the carpets and such but I will keep megs APC in mind. I also have ONR which I used a few times and I like it, I just like the idea of having a pressure washer to take care of very dirty cars and quick cleaning of dirty wheels and wheel wells etc but I think its something I can hold off on for a bit. Also would using SIP on an lc orange or green be a little harsh for soft paint? Thanks for you advice btw.
 
Later this week I think im going to buy gallon sizes of Megs APC, hyperdressing and glass cleaner. They seem like 3 solid products that I would use quite a bit and its nice they come in gallon sizes.
 
i have all three of those...hyper is a decent product, but I am going to try out some others to compare...i get streaking, but others swear by it...



APC+...Auto Detailing Supplies - its not the green one, its the orange one

glass cleaner is a really good one....I bought a gallon...I am thinking about selling some 20:1 ratios to my clients as I will NEVER use it all up...



megs safe degreaser is another good cleaner product...i use it on dirty wheels with a boars hair brush, then ONR the wheels....works like a charm...I think some use APC+ as well...



anyway, the flex sounds like a solid machine...look into the lake country purple foam wool pads...they are amazing wool pads and work well with SIP from what I hear...
 
Wow that site has awesome prices. I was going to buy from AG but I will buy from them now. Megs APC plus looks good and the safe degreaser you reccomended also. I had some bad caked on brake dust that I had a tough time getting of wheels even with P21s gel wheel cleaner, since the safe degreaser is cheaper to buy maybe I will try it first on really dirty wheels to hopefully get off stuborn brake dust off. I have heard that a gallon of the glass cleaner is much more than needed so I think I will start with the 32oz. BTW the LC 6.5inch purple wool pad looks like a good adition to my foam pads for light coumpunding with SIP. Thanks for your help.
 
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