First Paint Correction

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.
 
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
 
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.

 
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.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by ryhead [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>I don't know about those tanks though. [/b]</blockquote>
You have to poke around the website a little bit but they have all sorts of shapes and sizes. I can't vouch for the company itself but they sure have a big selection to choose from. At the very least you can get an idea of the different styles available here.

<em class='bbc'>Click on the photo for their page especially for mobile detailers.[/i]

 
About how many towels would you need when using the Quick and Easy solution on a dirty car?



I would suspect it would be a lot. When QDing a less than perfectly clean car(i.e. having just lightly visible dust) I use between 15 and 20 Microfiber towels. I may be paranoid but I am not willing to go over a new section if the towel has accumulated any dirt or grime.



Where does the dirt go when using Q&E? The only places I can think of are the wet applicator/towels or the towel used to dry. In any case re-using the same towel on another panel once there is any dirt on it will inevitably cause swirls/micro-scratches.
 
To all those who are starting mobile detailing businesses-if you are in regions were you routinely end up with heavy grime, salt, etc on cars, then Q&E may not be the best product for you-living in the Dallas area, I tend to forget how bad roads get in some parts of the country, and I would use a hose first on cars encrusted with road salt or heavy mud. However, if you live in a more temperate area of the world, then it will probably work as well for you as it does for me.



In any event, I do regularly detail a full sized bus, and the owner has his own pressure washer-a Honda with a 16 hp V-twin engine and 4000psi, along with his own water ionizer. I take advantage of his equipment when doing his bus because of the sheer size and that with the water ionizer, I can let it air dry without fear of water spots, which saves quite a lot of time. He also always wants his engine cleaned-lots of chrome!
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by RIC [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>About how many towels would you need when using the Quick and Easy solution on a dirty car?

I would suspect it would be a lot. When QDing a less than perfectly clean car(i.e. having just lightly visible dust) I use between 15 and 20 Microfiber towels. I may be paranoid but I am not willing to go over a new section if the towel has accumulated any dirt or grime.

Where does the dirt go when using Q&E? The only places I can think of are the wet applicator/towels or the towel used to dry. In any case re-using the same towel on another panel once there is any dirt on it will inevitably cause swirls/micro-scratches. [/b]</blockquote>
RIC-I have no idea what type of towels you are talking about. I buy bath towel blems from my Meguiars distributer for $25 for 5 pounds of towels. All are thick with a deep nap. Really dirty cars take about 4-5 towels-again, I am folding them into 1/4s, and once it gets noticably dirty, I refold the towel. It is hard to explain the process without actually showing you. I actually get less swirls and streaks using Q&E than I do with normal washing techniques-no danger of water spots, nor premature drying-which when you make your drying pass, tends to leave streaks.


Look, I understand the skepticism here. It is an unconventional product. This thread is about alternatives to power washers, and I am giving a reasonable alternative. If no one wants to use Q&E, fine. I don't sell it, so I make no profits whether any of you try it or not. I am not going to continue to debate the merits of Q&E, it is pointless-without trying it yourself, you will continue to have doubts about the product. So be it. I also acknowledge it is tricky to learn to use quickly and effectively, so if anyone does try it, just be aware that it takes at least a few times using the product to learn the proper technique.
 
Scottwax, can the two-bucket method be used when using Q&E? In other words, can I dip the towel in Q&E, wipe a panel, dry the panel, and rinse the original towel in fresh clean water and then re-dip the towel into the Q&E solution and do another panel?



Also, how mild is it? Would you say it removes wax at a rate that is greater than, less than, or similar to the rate a traditional car wash does?



Thanks.
 
If you are going to get a portable water tank make sure you also get a trailer that can handle the weight when the tank is full. Remember that a gallon of water weighs approx. 8.4 pounds. So a 150 gallons weighs 1260 pounds. Then you have to consider the weight of your pressure washer, gen, vac, etc...

Good luck!!:up

www.waxabout.com
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Intermezzo330I [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Scottwax, can the two-bucket method be used when using Q&E? In other words, can I dip the towel in Q&E, wipe a panel, dry the panel, and rinse the original towel in fresh clean water and then re-dip the towel into the Q&E solution and do another panel?

Also, how mild is it? Would you say it removes wax at a rate that is greater than, less than, or similar to the rate a traditional car wash does?

Thanks. [/b]</blockquote>
I am sure that would work fine. Actually, I use a terry cloth wash pad, dip it in the Q&E mix, wash a section and dry with two towels-one to get the dirt and most of the water off, and the other to finish drying. You want some moisture left on the car for the drying pass to minimize the streaking you can get by rubbing a towel across an already dry surface.

I would say that it removes even less wax than traditional washing methods. I wash a couple of LS 400s exclusively with Q&E and have since they were brand new (one is a 95 and the other is a 96), and wax them 3 times a year. Water continues to bead on the surface (which is why they only get them waxed 3 times a year) even when it is time for a fresh coat of wax. BTW, I wax them with Meguiars #26 liquid.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by JM19 [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>Scott,

Where could I buy a terry cloth wash pad? [/b]</blockquote>
I buy them at Target. Seriously. Cheaper there than automotive parts stores or my Meguiars distributer. I think they run about $2.99 or so.
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by Scottwax [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>

I buy them at Target. Seriously. Cheaper there than automotive parts stores or my Meguiars distributer. I think they run about $2.99 or so. [/b]</blockquote>
Are they usually located in the auto detail supplies section at Target?
 
<blockquote class='ipsBlockquote' >

<em class='bbc'>Originally posted by JM19 [/i]
<strong class='bbc'>

Are they usually located in the auto detail supplies section at Target? [/b]</blockquote>
Yep. Best wash pads I have found. I forget the brand name, but the packaging around them is red.
 
I have a open trailer that I keep garaged. The one thing about this unit pictured above is there is no protection from a rear collision. First thing to go is the gen.
 
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