Complete detail options poll

Is timely paint correction really important?

  • Total voters
    36
  • Poll closed .
cwcad

cwcad

New Normal
Having returned from a long construction season from Alaska recently my truck is in bad need of a winterization detail. It has been many months since I did any kind of paint correction. My black truck is full of many self induced swirls.

I also have taken on the commitment of diet and excercise with my wife since returning home. Being so out of shape has slowed my detailing sessions to an all time low(once a day). In fact I had a fellow
DC'er wash the truck do an engine detail plus an interior job thrown in since I have been so caught up(lazy) in family business since returning.

My question is how important is detailing a vehicle in a one shot basis? Is an all in one day type of session better than an extended detail session over days....possibly weeks. Am intersted in your opinion.
 
Since I detail only my own cars & do it for the escape & relaxation, I prefer to take it a bit at a time & not push myself to complete it all in one day.

Congratulations on your new commitments & enjoy this time with your family :)
 
I have done my car over a few days, the only thing that I am worried about is possibly picking up contaminents between my steps.

I personally am not in a hurry, I do it for pleasure. so doing it over a day or 3 is not an issue to me.

I'm sure that others have their own prefference.

"J"
 
I try to get a polish and sealant done in one day..that way I have no worries of any dameage done to unprotected paint...now for wheels and interior I do it when time allows..

But as I said before..I try to polish out the paint in the morning...and get a sealant on by afternoon...and another when time allows...

Al
 
If time allows for me I get her done all at once.....however the inside of my cars are never really that bad so the outside is what I put the effort into.....Then twice to three times a year the insides are stripped down and redone....So I guess my details personal cars only are done on a time needed bases....that's because I have family things and customer cars to do
 
When doing my own vehicle I try to get it all done in one day(10-12 hours), but I do take several breaks. When doing other's vehicles I usally don't take breaks(4-6 hours) which causes me not to be able to enjoy the work as much. I enjoy detailing, but I really love being able to relax and take my time.
 
I usually take my time and do what I can do when I have the time to do it. I have done a complete detail in a day's time before, but I would much rather slow down and enjoy the work.

When I stop enjoying it will probably be when I stop doing it.
 
Although I voted for "one day", I too am unable to do a complete detail in one day. However, I voted "one day" based on your addition of the words "possibly weeks".

I see that I'm the only one who's voted "one day", thus far.

Charles
 
It is hard to find the time theswe days to even get out and do a sipmle wash and wax, so when I do a full deail I make sure I can get it done all at once otherwise its going to be another few weeks before I can get out and work on her again.
Heck since school started I have waxed one car and that was my dads, my baby hasnt had a nice freash coat of wax sinse sept. 4 (tear) its still beading well but i just dont have the etime anymore, so for that reason I try to get it all done a once knowing that I wont have time later
 
Thanks for all the replies so far. :)

I actually am feeling much better because of the replies. I was thinking my self such a slacker for not getting a detail done in a relatively short time.
 
When you are doing for yourself, there really doesn't seem to be any real need to rush.
When You are doing it for someone else, that can change.

On my own vehicles a typical detail might take several days depending on my personal schedule. Being retired doesn't necessarily mean being sedentary. :)
As mentioned, polishing and getting an LSP on to assure some paint protection is pretty important to me. If I am not going to drive the vehicle for a day or so, then it wouldn't be that big of a deal. It would just be in the garage and not exposed to the elements. That doesn't often happen.

When I do a full detail, I seem to pretty much do the outside polish and LSP one day, and another application of LSP the second day. The second day I would also do the windows and interior including carpets, mats and trunk. It is not uncommon for me to wait for another day to do the engine compartment, wheel wells, wheels, and tires.
Since it is strictly a hobby for me, I don't put any time restraints on myself to take away from the enjoyment.

I learned a long time ago that taking the time to enjoy something is much more pleasureable for everyone concerned. :)

Just a quick comment. If I had all the sheet metal to do that you have on your truck and your wife's car, I would probably be all week. :D

Charles
 
When I'm detailing my own car as others have said I like to take my time and do it 150% right. This significantly extends the time needed for a detail. I rarely do a full detail on my car all at once. Usually one day I'll wash, clay, polish, & wax; then another day I'll do a complete detail of the interior; and then another day do a complete deatil of the engine bay and the wheel wells.
 
I too detail for the escape and the time spent bonding with my baby. I love to take my time and really enjoy the process especially polishing. I love watching the PC glide back and forth and seeing the sparkles coming to life and then buffing off the polish and just smiling and staring at the swirl free finish. :) I also love touching my car after a full detail. I just cannot stop rubbing my fingers all over and feeling that cool smooth as glass paint! Ay it's intoxicating! :)

That said, I would like to learn how to cut my time down when I do other people's cars. I take too long still on them and alot of the time they can give me a day on the weekend, but then they need their car back.
 
I detail just to enjoy the outdoors and do some thinking. I haven't had the opportunity to detail my cars because of weather and church obligations but I ususally spend a whole day on my car from 8 am to 9pm sometimes later depending on the temperature outside. Like Jen I love to rub on my car after I'm done.

Hey Jen maybe we can meet up and rub on our cars together.......
 
MagicCity33 said:
I detail just to enjoy the outdoors and do some thinking. I haven't had the opportunity to detail my cars because of weather and church obligations but I ususally spend a whole day on my car from 8 am to 9pm sometimes later depending on the temperature outside. Like Jen I love to rub on my car after I'm done.

Hey Jen maybe we can meet up and rub on our cars together.......
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;)
 
After spending the majority of my days detailing others vehicles, the last thing I really want to do on a day off is mine. Besides, that's what kids are for. I've trained mine (11,12,14) how to wash a vehicle. Thus I can attend to more pressing matters -- like putting my feet up, and relaxing with a good Patigas or Hoyo de Monterey and accept their results will be better than any tunnel wash.
 
dr_detail said:
After spending the majority of my days detailing others vehicles, the last thing I really want to do on a day off is mine. Besides, that's what kids are for. I've trained mine (11,12,14) how to wash a vehicle. Thus I can attend to more pressing matters -- like putting my feet up, and relaxing with a good Patigas or Hoyo de Monterey and accept their results will be better than any tunnel wash.
Click to expand...
Haha! That's great. Personally, I really like to enjoy a good cigar while I am detailing. It can be a little tricky especially during the wet phases of the detail but overall I feel it enhances the experience for me. I can't wait to have kids now though!!
 
Good thread.

I can get it done in one day. BUT...there is the darn "but" again.
Being that I detail customers' cars all day, every day, I tend to stray away from mine on any day I get off. I know....not good.

I usually do the outside first, since I have to have a clean truck. That way, if I do not get to the inside, it is not that big of a deal.
Something always comes up when I try to do my own vehicle......
 
I would say that I take a lot more time with my vehicle than with other vehicles. That doesn't always mean that I'm paying more attention to one vehicle or another though. Like others have said, I'm on no time constraints with my vehicle and like to take my time if I can.
 
I have all the time in the world if it takes 3 days to detail my car Im not worried about it what I worry about is doing it right. Nothing worse that a rush job then seeing more swirls then when I started..
 
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