Official Most Hated Step of Detailing

[todd@bsaw]

Glass

x459348759875



Sure, I have methods as well as everyone to get windows streak-free, but that doesn't make it any easier. My steamer has a squeegee attachment which works well for the hard stuff. I have been contemplating hiring someone just to clean windows for $6 per hour.

 

[David Fermani]

Roofs on high top conversion vans. Does anyone do them?

 

[JonP]

What David said, anyplace I cannot reach with a buffer without falling off of the vehicle/ladder. Everything else is pretty much a piece of cake.

 

[mixxer]

drying after wash and blow.

 

[romar]

Doing windows nearly always reduces me to tears! :bawling:

 

[Todd@RUPES]

What a great thread....lol



For me, it is the exhaust pipes hands down! I always do them last since I re-wash the car after I am done with polishing. Since I generally move the car around between polishing/cleaning/washing there is always soot getting blow out the pipes.



So the whole day I am polishing the paint (I can spend as much as 2 hours on the rear bumper) I have to look at the exhaust pipes. They just keep starring at me, desperately needed to be cleaned, laughing because they know I have to wait.



So by the end of the day, after 12-15 hours of polishing and detailing, the last thing I want to do is the pipes. I'm beat, and there they are, still starring at me.

 

[imported_JoshVette]

What a great thread....lol



For me, it is the exhaust pipes hands down! I always do them last since I re-wash the car after I am done with polishing. Since I generally move the car around between polishing/cleaning/washing there is always soot getting blow out the pipes.



So the whole day I am polishing the paint (I can spend as much as 2 hours on the rear bumper) I have to look at the exhaust pipes. They just keep starring at me, desperately needed to be cleaned, laughing because they know I have to wait.



So by the end of the day, after 12-15 hours of polishing and detailing, the last thing I want to do is the pipes. I'm beat, and there they are, still starring at me.

haha:grinno: that's funny.



For me it's the inside of the windshield and the plastic part holding the wiper blades on just below the windshield and below the hood...basically have to open up the hood just to get a good reach on it.:hairpull

 

[kaval]

windows, exhaust pipes, engine bays

 

[stilez]

Undercarriages.

 

[mhadden]

stubborn wheels, engine bays, rockers that have dried worm guts and/or tar...

 

[imported_ajbarnes]

Windows, wheels, windows, trim on the lower body (due to my bad back), and oh yea - windows.

 

[Scottwax]

watching the customer almost crash after they drive off.

I actually had a customer do that. I finished up as she was getting ready to leave work. I walk her out to her car so she can look it over before she heads out, so I was still there when she backed out and sideswiped a post in the parking garage. Left a dent and a huge scrape in the front passenger side fender.



=================



Back on topic...I don't like doing the inside glass or dressing the interior, especially SUVs where you have to open the seats, close them, fold them forward, etc. Seems to take forever.



Complicated wheels are another PITA to do.

 

[imported_smprince1]

Glass interior on the rear windshield of a small coupe.

 

[Scottwax]

drying after wash and blow.

Sounds dirty when you say it like that.

 

[GlossyTundra]

I hate polishing/compounding. I dont mind any other step but that one.

 

[jayjacque]

I actually had a customer do that. I finished up as she was getting ready to leave work. I walk her out to her car so she can look it over before she heads out, so I was still there when she backed out and sideswiped a post in the parking garage. Left a dent and a huge scrape in the front passenger side fender.



=================



Back on topic...I don't like doing the inside glass or dressing the interior, especially SUVs where you have to open the seats, close them, fold them forward, etc. Seems to take forever.



Complicated wheels are another PITA to do.

Off topic also, but reminds me I once sold a car and on the way out of the parking lot the muffler fell off. The guy just kept on driving and I never heard from him again!



On topic I don't detail for a living but I could confess that before autopia I was one of those guys who let the inside of their vehicle turn into a garbage bin. Guess I hate cleaning out interiors. Ironic cuz interior repair is what I do for a living most of the time

 

[imported_hockeyplaya13]

I hate dressing exterior trim. There's so much of it on my truck, and no matter how careful I am I always get it on the paint around the handles. After that is dressing tires. I love the way it looks, but I just don't feel like spending the time.

 

[JBs]

The whole polishing idea pretty much sucks.

 

[getcha]

hate compounding. love polishing. this is gonna be weird but i like dressing wells and sealing wheels

 

[Joseph K]

Wheel wells on cars that have about 1/2" clearance between the tire and body in the fenders... that's why I like my truck . Engines can be pretty bad as well... I actually like to do the door jambs, lol. Another of my top hated 3 would have to be all the seals in general.