How many hours does it take you to detail?

I did my Dakota R/T yesterday and it took 5 1/2 hours non-stop to wash, partial clay, apply PS21, a coat of carnuba, and do the wheels, tires, and windows. Just vacuumed out the inside. And of course, it rained on me coming in to work today. :furious:
 
I did my Dakota R/T yesterday and it took 5 1/2 hours non-stop to wash, partial clay, apply PS21, a coat of carnuba, and do the wheels, tires, and windows. Just vacuumed out the inside. And of course, it rained on me coming in to work today. :furious:
 
I would say it takes me about an average of 4 hours to detail my 05 Tacoma by hand. ( without doing the engine bay) It also takes me about 9 hours to do a full blown,"big daddy" detail. (wash,clay,wash,polish,seal,nuba,interior,tires & mud guards,wheel wells,vinyl/plastic trim,engine bay.) Then there's the winterizing "big daddy" Zaino detail. A 2 day process. Z7,clay,Z7,Z6,Z5 x3,Z2 Pro x3 (all with Z6 inbetween coats)Z8,Z16 on tires,mud guards & trim,V.R.T. on interior,Z12/AIO on interior/exterior glass,303 carpet cleaner (if needed) in cabin,engine bay etc............ For me, it's really not about speed when it comes to detailing. It's about the process & results. I truely enjoy doing it. It's relaxing for me. I've been a detailing enthusiast for 20+ years detailing my vehicles,friends & families vehicles. I'm certain my speed of attack would increase if I decided to "go Pro" & do it for a living. For now, time really isn't a factor.
 
Depends on the car , but the usual is 8 hours for full detail , the 3 steps of polishing ( cut,polish and finish ) to 21 hours for a Chrysler Grand Voyager , heavy swirled :wall
 
It so depends on the size, condition and even shape of the vehicle. Full interior detail 3- 4.5 hours. Full polish with some wetsanding and paint touch-up 6- 12 hours.
 
Yesterday: 99 Ford F-350 PowerStroke diesel, light swirls



Wash/polish/wax=6hrs



Today: My 04 Monte LS, moderate swirls



Wash/polish/wax/windows/tire dressing/trim dressing=7.5hrs.

I polished it long and hard to make sure the swirls were gone. This time also includes a couple breaks here and there to get something to drink/clean the pad.



Now that it's no longer swirled, hopefully I can keep it that way and instead of having to use the Hi Temp medium cut, I can just use Vanilla Moose w/polishing pad followed up by SynWax w/finishing pad, that process should only take 3hrs or so, w/wash/tire dressing.
 
Like others have said, it depends on the work needed to be done. I do this for a hobby and the sheer joy of having a beautifully finished Silver V when I'm done, so I don't even try to work at the speed of the pros, who can diagnose, determine a plan of attack, execute and evaluate in a fraction of the time it takes me and who have to live within time constraints of efficient business practice and customer needs. I took 3 hours yesterday just to wash/dry and do a spitshine wax along with an interior vacuum and wipedown. BTW, if you haven't tried a spit shine with Natty's and chilled S&G, you might want to give a shot sometime. Super easy application of the second coat of Natty's over the S&G spritz...gave it another light spritz for removal....I think it was the thinnest layers of Natty's I've ever done and absolutely zero dust when removed with a light spritz of the S&G. Definately easier that spit shining with chilled distilled water. My daughter's Bug took me probably 25 hours as it was my very first effort with a PC, SSR's and the German clearcoat on the car. There are crevices in that car that are all capable of holding a ton of dirt, pine needles, tree sap, leaf bits and the like. The only easy part was the engine bay....these new Bugs have wonderfully enclosed engine sections..great to detail but add another 15 minutes labor charge taking off and then replacing. Detailing your child's car which you are still paying for is a real mixed bag...after a day spent in that cramped interior trying to clean God knows what, there can be a real desire to throttle your child!
 
This weekend, friends 2005 Deep Blue Metallic Honda Accord LX...

Initial problem was trying to find where to wash the car... lives in townhomes with common hose/spicket....Start time 9am.

Wash/dry car and rims....Problems with tire/rim cleaner (sprayer would not spray, ended up spilling and losing most of my cleaner.....ended up slopping it on by hand (literally)... bad process, but ended up working just ok) Rims looked like they had not been cleaned since the car drove off the lot....



Complete clay



Taped off



2 stage polish with SSR2 followed by SSR1 (had to make a short run home to get another pad, one that I started with became/was caked and just making a mess!! Lesson learned: clean pads after every detail, took some advise from my father that turned out to not be good advise. :)



Seal with Four Star UPP.



Remove tape, and clean up where polish had gotten on rubber moldings even though it was taped up, and get it out of the nooks and crannies, those spots where it just goes even if you do everything in your power to prevent it from going.



Buff off 4*



Exterior windows cleaning, plus Rain-X the windshield.



Wipedown interior with 303 (told her that I was just doing an exterior, but decided to do that anyway)



Rewipe down of rims after the feasco in step 1.



Dress the tires.



DONE...

Clean up and pack up my stuff...

Stop time 5pm



Results: She can do her make-up in the reflection.

Future expectations that it will be taken of... Very little
 
For me...it really depends on the weather. I'm a little slower when it's hot outside and I am sweating like a pig. I usually do everything in a garage, but constantly having to wipe my brow and chug water slows me down a bunch. My average is 6-7 hours (depending on the color and the condition of the paint).
 
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This is a lot car and was about 12 hours in and out. Exterior is 3M fine cut x2, MG, FPII all with 50/50% alcohol wipe, gotta make sure 'what you see is what you get' and then Z2 as i am trying to use up stock. I might do another Z2 then p21s.
 
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