How Much do you charge to wetsand a vehicle?

[C. Charles Hahn]

My head hurts. :huh:

Honestly i did not know about Paul Dalton Miracle Detail from UK but you are wrong it did not shock me like i said before i know a dude who i have been receving tips and help from Cali his name is Mike Tawekjian go to youtube and look for "Pro Mobile Auto Detail" i been knowing about the whole digital microscope also optical to view the paint better, as well as there are products that are worth over $5,000 like the wax that Paul mention that i think if i remember right is worth around $10K and etc...

Whether the products are "worth" that much depends on your viewpoint. There are a lot of us out there getting results as good or better using products that cost a fraction of that amount. Just because something is expensive doesn't always mean it's the best. When it comes to a wax that costs $5-10,000, you're merely buying exclusivity, not quality. There are LSPs that cost $20 which can produce as good or better results and often are much easier to use. IF the niche you serve are people willing to pay exorbitant prices for detailing services on the basis that you're offering exclusivity, that's fine. However for 95% or more of professionals, that market isn't a realistic one to target nor is it very often profitable to the point that it can sustain a business.

@SHINY... i think there is a misunderstanding i am sorry for my "communication skill" but maturity??? you dont know me i dont know you so we can be judging people like you know them for years lolz i am not here in this forum to argue with anybody i am here to learn more get better at what i enjoy seeing and doing which is Auto Detailing

It doesn't take long to figure out what makes someone tick when reading their posts to a forum like this. I'm glad you're here to learn, but I haven't seen you doing a whole lot of listening when experienced, established, well respected members of the forum are relating information to you.

every auto detailer out there works differently some are slow some are fast some work with different methods others like to copy and follow other people methods but the PRO QUALITY IS ONE!! which we can all say so far it would be at Paul Level this guy pulls out the engine to detail them lolz crazy!!! Paul even mention of paint correcting a bentley clearly took him 2 days

Would you care to expand on this a bit, and try to make it understandable (use proper grammar -- capitalization/punctuation, complete sentences, spell out all the words, and leave out "lolz" since it serves no purpose)? What do you mean "but the PRO QUALITY IS ONE!!"?

i still dont understand why you guys continue to talk about Wet sanding ONLY and taking more than 3 days lol as far as i know Paint correction could take more or less time to come to a Pro quality it all depends on car size, how bad is the paint, how fast or slow are you, how many hours you put in the car in one day unless you dont sleep and work 24 hrs and cont until you finish the car lolz but anyways @ Gear i am glad you share this with me thank you!!

I don't get what's so confusing to you in terms of why we're talking about wet sanding in this thread. The thread is about wet sanding.

 

[Go getta]

Wow!!! Are y'all freaking serious? Granted I am new to this site and my thoughts may not mean s#!t to some, but honestly, all of this arguing is not a good look for the forum, period... Happy Holidays to all...

Say what you need to say... Hear what you need to hear... And keep it moving!!!

 

[mrclean81]

Wow!!! Are y'all freaking serious? Granted I am new to this site and my thoughts may not mean s#!t to some, but honestly, all of this arguing is not a good look for the forum, period... Happy Holidays to all...

Say what you need to say... Hear what you need to hear... And keep it moving!!!

Arguments are rare here but they do occur from time to time. This really is a very friendly and close knit forum. On occasion a topic like this will pop up and just refuse to die. Some things just strike a chord with folks, myself included.

 

[Go getta]

Yea, that's understandable, however, some of these comments seem to be plain offensive and demeaning, not constructive at all. What ever, they're not directed toward me so I'm cool.

 

[Concours.John]

Mike Phillips has a good group of videos on this.

 

[Spawne32]

hate to dig up an old thread, but do you guys know anyone that does this professionally in south jersey, i have a semi xxxx paint job im trying to save before i invest another 1500-2 grand in getting this redone...

the doors speak all

 

[pizzano]

Listen.......wet sanding is a breeze ! First off make sure you get the right tools to work with. I use a rubber sanding block that is very flexible, for OEM paint never use anything less than 1500 grit paper. you will need either a spray bottle,or a bottle with a flip cap.I prefer a bottle with a flip cap dispenser . mix a small portion of dish soap in the water. the slicker the surface the faster the cut.

I don't know why it takes true detailer to wet sand a car for 3 days, but I can usually do one complete in 2-3 hours for the sanding part.

tips: always open the hood and the trunk and prop it open with a empty can, bucket whatever you have. stay off the edges, and stay 2" off the windshield wiper nozzles as your buffer cannot get that close, unless you remove them.

sand in a back n forth motion, with a 50% overlap with each stroke. let the sandpaper do all the work.
Make sure you keep your hand flat on the paper, otherwise it will cause finger marks in your stroke.

sand the surface where the paint is "dull" looking with no gloss showing through. If you have glossy areas , the paint will not polish out correctly.
after you get all of the area sanded. I like to go back with some 2000 grit paper and in a circular motion with plenty of water re sand what you already sanded. This extra step is the "money" we you polish out the paint.
This extra step allows you just to lay the buffer up on the paint and it will gloss up quickly.

If you do not sand the surface where it feels slick under the paper, it will not be easy to polish out and then you might burn through if you have to re sand. take your time and go slow.

Polishing. Use a yellow foam pad on a speed buffer with the RPM set at 1200.
spread your compound (1000 grit ) on the surface,mist with some water and begin polishing the paint. Do small areas at a time. ie. divide the hood into (4) sections

do one panel at a time, match each panel to the next panel.

Now for what you charge depends on your level of experience. My shop rate is $65.00 per hour. To wet sand and polish a car which takes me about 3-5 hours depending on the car I get $400.00

The secret here is the sanding not the polishing. If you take your time in sanding the paint it takes no time to polish the paint

2-3 hours to sand , 2 hours to polish

Good Luck

I must be doing something wrong, 2-3 hours for wet sanding a vehicle, had to do a double take, prop up the hood with a bucket (ya I can see the customer now that dropped off his F430), How about masking off so you do not edge out.

Seriously I think this is the description of maybe model car wet sanding, geesh!! 3-5 days for sure is the minimal, all depending on the condition of the paint, and if you want repeat customers.

The description in the qoute above is definetly a Production Detailer typing and not a Show Car detailer, hey thats ok , but dont insult the rest of us who actually take pride in there work, and strive for perfrection daily.

Geez Im still cringing 2-3 hours for wetsanding a vehicle:rofl

 

[RaskyR1]

Wow! Old thread! My head hurts after reading some of the poor information on here.

Lots of variables when it comes to
Wet sanding a car. Cut and buff will usually take me anywhere from 25-60hrs to do a full car. Panel size, shape, amount of orange peel, shrink areas, runs, areas that need to be polished by hand, paint hardness, trim on or off the car, customer expectations...these are just some of the things that factor into the amount of time needed.

There is a big difference between a hack body shop cut, compound, and
glaze job and a
Professional wet sand job.

Rasky


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Superdutytd]

Wow! Old thread! My head hurts after reading some of the poor information on here.

Lots of variables when it comes to
Wet sanding a car. Cut and buff will usually take me anywhere from 25-60hrs to do a full car. Panel size, shape, amount of orange peel, shrink areas, runs, areas that need to be polished by hand, paint hardness, trim on or off the car, customer expectations...these are just some of the things that factor into the amount of time needed.

There is a big difference between a hack body shop cut, compound, and
glaze job and a
Professional wet sand job.

Rasky


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree. Washing and prepping a car for wetsanding and then doing the multiple sanding passes and then the normal 3 steps of polishing after wetsanding. I mean you're looking at a minimum of 24 hours. Most people asking for orange peel removal are also going to be asking for extensive cleaning beyond that also like wheel removal, undercarriage scrubbing/polishing, at least in my experiences.

 

[Paintxpert]

I had to get in on this thread.... very entertaining. Wet sanding is not for the light at heart. Lots of great advice here. Some good, some questionable. Roughly speaking most wet sand jobs can exceed 40 hours. Depends on the paint type and the depth of the peel. Sanding stock paint can be risky. Usually stear away from risk that exceeds the gain in the long run. Which means there is not much money to make if you break clear coat on an expensive car. After 42 years in the business I get some pretty crazy requests. As you evolve, you will learn how to protect yourself from a liability. I do very little sanding unless I am paid my rate of 75 per hour. Hope this helps. Be well!

 

[Paintxpert]

I would focus on correcting scratched or dull paint. There is a lot of need for that in general. Folks are "ripping" the finish off their vehicles at the local car washes. Just about every car out there can use "paint correction" do to neglect. Good luck with all your endeavors, pick your jobs carefully and keep your risks minimal. Especially while you are learning. Be sure you know your paint types and the difference between single stage and base coat clear coat. Shine Since 1969!

 

[Paintxpert]

Here is a car I sanded. It took nearly 40 hours and I still have some minor details to do.

 

[The Driver]

I would only wetsand freshly or custom painted cars. There is to much of a risk wetsanding a OEM paint job

Exactly, I would charge a minumum of 1500 - 2000 for full fresh shave per say. 50$ x 40 Hours = 2000$ an that's a small car. SUV, it's not worth it. OEM's I turn down, UV protectant floats at the top, shave that off your in trouble... maybe not now but a year max in the sun an watch what happens.

I urge people read up on clears before going with the most abrasive solution. Gassing a basic term that should help people understand how clears cure and what settles were. Once you know that you'll have a better understanding of why not to sand oem clears.

 

[MooreImpressive]

that's 2 thread in a row that are several years old that paintxpert has bumped. weird. no problem, they are interesting reads, just weird.

 

[Ccrew]

that's 2 thread in a row that are several years old that paintxpert has bumped. weird. no problem, they are interesting reads, just weird.

I started reading this one from the beginning, it sure was entertaining!

 

[allenk4]

I see what your doing now.

I would almost bet you and dollarstoredetailer are the same.

I vote ban for both.

Banning Anyone for Anything should be reserved for thin skinned Forums like AutoGeek

I enjoy Autopia specifically because you can have a disagreement without intervention


If you do not like what someone is saying, you have an opportunity to disagree with them on the facts, call them a Joker, or not read their posts whichever you choose

 

[Oldfordisbetter]

Banning Anyone for Anything should be reserved for thin skinned Forums like AutoGeek

I enjoy Autopia specifically because you can have a disagreement without intervention


If you do not like what someone is saying, you have an opportunity to disagree with them on the facts, call them a Joker, or not read their posts whichever you choose

Kyle, you used to be on auto geek a lot. What did you do that caused you to get banned? If you dont mind me asking

 

[allenk4]

Kyle, you used to be on auto geek a lot. What did you do that caused you to get banned? If you dont mind me asking

Could have been a few things depending on who you ask

Maybe what I thought was reasoned debate with Thomas Dekany regarding Opti-Coat 2.0 claims by the manufacturer

Maybe pointing out Overpriced Wheel Covers ($59) and Isopropyl Alcohol

Great New Product From Auto Geek...not real sure about this price though - Auto Geek Online Auto Detailing Forum


They do not give you a specific a reason why

I realize that they are both PBMG entities, but Autopia suits me better

 

[allenk4]

In general, I thought I brought a good perspective and contributed good threads and questions based on personal experience

Auto Geek Online Auto Detailing Forum - Search Results

 

[jrock645]

Banning Anyone for Anything should be reserved for thin skinned Forums like AutoGeek

I enjoy Autopia specifically because you can have a disagreement without intervention


If you do not like what someone is saying, you have an opportunity to disagree with them on the facts, call them a Joker, or not read their posts whichever you choose

I agree. I can't stand forums where you get banned simply for standing up for yourself after someone treats you as being invalid simply because they don't agree with you. It's bs.