Nice and slow car washing or really fast car washing?

B

Bobby G

New member
I have had some requests for printed copies of the ebook, Autopia Car Care Guide to Detailing. I like to know if there is enough interest in printing the book to make it worth the work and cost. I'm estimating it would cost about $20 for a printed and bound copy, including USPS shipping in the USA.
 
I'd like the hard copy version because it would make an excellent gift. Not everyone has made it into the 21st century yet and the concept of e-books looses some. :) I'd like it on my coffee table, personally.
 
I would love to have a hard copy of it, I would pay a little more ($40-$50) for a hard cover and color.



Looking at a computer screen everyday is taking it toll on my eyes. A 19 inch LCD screen would help, but don't have the $$ right now.



It would be great to have your Detailing Guide right under my bed to read every night before I fall asleep. Sure beats the heck out of the government textbook.



Thanks,

Jason
 
I think it would make great presents. A nice quality paper back edition with possibly more pictures of cool cars????



YEAH!
 
David, I think the hard copy makes a lot of sense, and you would probably sell quite a few. I know I would certainly buy it. deserttoy:p
 
I've been detailing my cars for the last 10 years. When I was younger I would spend a lot of time washing the car with a lot of water because the process was fun. These days, my goal is to wash the car in as little time as possible. I actually try to get the body done in under five minutes. I'm not talking about detailing, just maintaining the detailed look with car washes. I don't even do the top down method, I just choose a time when the sun is not shining down on me and I go over the car in one pass and then hose it down. I've perfected my technique so that the soap does not dry by the time I am done.

How much time do you spend on the washing part?
 
Does your time table include drying? If I am doing a conventional wash using the 2BM, it will take me about 1.5 hrs. However, I work from the top down for obvious reasons, and use a different wash media for the lower panels, that have more dirt on them. I also spend a lot of time on the wheels, wells and tires. If you do all this, I am not sure how it can take 5 minutes. If I do an ONR wash, I can reduce the time dramatically.
 
From the minute the soap hits the paint till it is dry, my process is taking 5 minutes. Every 3 or 4 washes, I degrease the tires. Since I have the BMW, the wheels are always waxed to aid in brake dust removal. After the 5 minute wash, I have an old Zymol sponge that I use with the waste water to go over the wheels and then I hose them down and they are clean. I only have to use wheel cleaner on heavy brake dust. For maintenance, soap seems to take light dust off very well.

For drying, I do a final rinse of the car with a solid stream and then I use the Griot's big yellow towel (same thing as PAC's big blue) and dry it. Actually sometimes I even spray the wet car with spray on wax and then dry.

Wheels aside, the car washing is only taking 5 minutes. I don't know why but I just feel guilty spending needless time washing the car.
 
I can wash and dry my car in about 20-30 minutes (no barrel cleaning of wheels, only the outer face). That includes drying of all door shuts and jambs.

Customer cars will take about an hour or more.


When I used to do high volume work I could wash a car in 5 minutes, though I probably looked like I was having a seizure or something. The level of quality obviously was not what I do today however.


Rasky
 
RaskyR1 said:
I can wash and dry my car in about 20-30 minutes (no barrel cleaning of wheels, only the outer face). That includes drying of all door shuts and jambs.

Customer cars will take about an hour or more.


When I used to do high volume work I could wash a car in 5 minutes, though I probably looked like I was having a seizure or something. The level of quality obviously was not what I do today however.


Rasky
Click to expand...

I couldn't wash and dry a car in 5 minutes if my life depended on it.:cornut:
 
On my personal car, I always dry it by taking a spin around the neighborhood. I like watching the water bead/fly off the paint :Car smiley:

When I get back home, its only takes a minute or two to dry. Plus, all the water is blown out of the cracks Da Rules!
 
dpk204 said:
I've been detailing my cars for the last 10 years. When I was younger I would spend a lot of time washing the car with a lot of water because the process was fun. These days, my goal is to wash the car in as little time as possible. I actually try to get the body done in under five minutes. I'm not talking about detailing, just maintaining the detailed look with car washes. I don't even do the top down method, I just choose a time when the sun is not shining down on me and I go over the car in one pass and then hose it down. I've perfected my technique so that the soap does not dry by the time I am done.

How much time do you spend on the washing part?
Click to expand...

Holly cow... 5 min? I would love to see a video of that! What kind of car do you have , may I ask?

My van never really gets dirty enough to wash. I spray and wipe the tops down almost every day and the sides every other day . The wheels I let go for a week or so.

Yes, I am a freak about it but since I have magnetic signs for advertizing it needs to look great all the time.
 
It takes me about 1.5 hours to fully wash, dry and detail exterior (non-stop)...It would take another .5-.75 hours to wipe interior (no vacuuming), dust mats and clean windows etc... I tried to get a helper, but it seems that I end up going over their work again. I even tried DI water but this got a bit too expense. My own personal car takes about 1 hour tops for everything as it is never really messy.
 
I used to spend a lot of time washing the car but then I realized that a wash is just a wash. You can't overwash. I have an 04 325i. Not that big of a car.

I do spend a whole day (with several breaks) doing a full detail though. I only do a full detail once a year and then maintenance throughout. In the summer time, I will wash the car with my method maybe 2-3 times a week.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top