Pros - Prices to charge for wetsanding?

S

stilez

New member
So I will be doing an extremely modified Integra relatively soon and it has a 9 month old paint job. The body shop left some sanding tracer marks and heavy orange peel in some areas.





I have wetsanded many times before and am comfortable with it. I have already told the client the risks with wetsanding as well as it reduces the life of the paint job. He is all for it as its very new and well taken care of. He has Klasse on it now, so it's one of those "take it to the next level" jobs.





Anyways, right now, I am getting between $30-40 an hour on standard details. What do you think a good price per hour would be for a wetsanding job?



Thanks in advance.
 
**Disclaimer*** No pro here.





Do you have to do the entire car or just certain "bad" areas?



I quoted a guy $450 to wetsand and buff a civic today. He said he had a guy who would do it for $180. LOL. I told him that he should go to him. :D



The way I see is that ALL detailing at this level is "skilled labor" chrage what you are worth. Can't wait to see pics. ;)
 
If he understands the dangers and your experience, I'd try to get him to sign a waiver, and then charge $45 an hour or so (on the high end of what you turn doing details, and no risk involved w/ the waiver).



If not.... I'd charge him through the nose, to justify the risk.
 
I'd charge $50-60 an hour for wetsanding, cut and buff. It is some seriously skilled work and should be charged for accordingly.
 
Charge what it takes to do a great job. Wetsanding is very specialized and shouldn't be rushed.
 
Scottwax said:
I'd charge $50-60 an hour for wetsanding, cut and buff. It is some seriously skilled work and should be charged for accordingly.
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Spot on. I'd go for the disclaimer too. It sounds like you're only hitting a few spots. One of my neighbors works in a body shop and has been teaching me over the past year or so. I'm comfortable with it on my equipment, but I'm not sure if I'd be willing to risk it with a customer, especially one that I didn't know very well.



Are you using this stuff?



http://www.sisweb.com/micromesh/



Micro-Mesh Regular (silicone carbide grit with standard backing) - The standard grade of Micro-Mesh used for the majority of operations on plastics, paints, wood and most metals and polymers. It is used to produce a uniformly smooth surface and bring the surface to a high gloss finish. Available in grades 1500 to 12000 (30 to 2 microns).



It's a very good product (and a bit safer too).



On 3M paper, I like using a damp Poorboys PVA as a backing plate. It works very well, and helps keep the pressure light and uniform.



Good luck and post up some pics when you're done!
 
Although I've never done this for a customer, $50-$60 an hour does sound right on for this type of work. Especially in the are in which you live.
 
Thanks everyone. I really appreciate the input.





The owner wants the whole vehicle to look the same smoothness of surface wise. Its a good chance it will be the whole car. It'll be a long day, but also a well paying one. I'll keep people updated.
 
GSRstilez said:
Anyways, right now, I am getting between $30-40 an hour on standard details. What do you think a good price per hour would be for a wetsanding job?
Click to expand...





At $30-40 an hour, sounds like you will have to charge somewhere between $240 and $320 for an eight hour day.
 
Sean



I would charge the guy around $400.00



Remember Wool is your friend. Foam will generate too much heat. I would only use foam for the final polish. I think you said that you have some Optimum. It works great with a wool-finishing pad. It will really reduce your compounding swirls. Then after wool go straight to a finishing pad



Good luck.
 
Around here shops seem to be charging $300+ to wet sand a car. I heard that one shop was to busy and didn't really want the job so they quoted $750 for a SUV. The guy asked when he could start it. :eek: I had to buff someone wet sanding job not to long ago. :angry What a mess.



James
 
GSRstilez said:
So I will be doing an extremely modified Integra relatively soon and it has a 9 month old paint job. The body shop left some sanding tracer marks and heavy orange peel in some areas.





I have wetsanded many times before and am comfortable with it. I have already told the client the risks with wetsanding as well as it reduces the life of the paint job. He is all for it as its very new and well taken care of. He has Klasse on it now, so it's one of those "take it to the next level" jobs.





Anyways, right now, I am getting between $30-40 an hour on standard details. What do you think a good price per hour would be for a wetsanding job?



Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...



Definitely have him sign a waiver up front. You have no idea of the quality of the paint, or the paint job. Also take readings from all areas with your electronic thickness guage before you begin to work. I charge no less than $50 an hour for wetsanding and have never had any complaints about the price. If someone doesn't want to pay it - send them to the body shop and see how much they will charge.
 
Scott is correct in that you have no idea what may have been done to the car prior to you.



Most, if not all, car manufacturers discourage any type of wetsanding because the clears are so thin and seem to be getting thinner. The UV protection lives in the first micro thin layer so be careful.



Now if it is a repaint then you are a bit safer. If my client is having something repainted I'll always tell the paint guys tomake sure they put on a good amount of clear and I'll take care of the rest :)



Anthony
 
i do a lot of wetsanding, what i found to do is charge by the panel. i charge 85 a panel now that includes finishing it out with a detail! exterior.
 
bufferbarry said:
i do a lot of wetsanding, what i found to do is charge by the panel. i charge 85 a panel now that includes finishing it out with a detail! exterior.
Click to expand...



+1, that's how most body shops I've worked at charge, per panel at $60-$120 each.
 
G35stilez said:
So I will be doing an extremely modified Integra relatively soon and it has a 9 month old paint job. The body shop left some sanding tracer marks and heavy orange peel in some areas.





I have wetsanded many times before and am comfortable with it. I have already told the client the risks with wetsanding as well as it reduces the life of the paint job. He is all for it as its very new and well taken care of. He has Klasse on it now, so it's one of those "take it to the next level" jobs.





Anyways, right now, I am getting between $30-40 an hour on standard details. What do you think a good price per hour would be for a wetsanding job?



Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...





Charge per panel.

$90 per panel

2 dr car = 9 panels. Give the bumpers for free.



$810.00
 
I have to point out that giving Mr. Stilez advice on this job probably isn't required considering 1)he posted this thread 3.5 years ago 2)he likely doesn't need pricing advice anymore and 3)he is semi-retired from detailing.
 
I wet sanded a 1' long scratch on a Black 08 Charger. Then buffed the shine back. Took about an hour from start to finish. That's unloading equipment, do the job and load equipment back in my truck. I'm mobile,my price was $87.50.
 
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