<HTML>I agree with Gina. An express detail is meant for the carwashing industry mainly but a free standing detail shop doing just express details is unlikely to be profitable. Instead of express details, I offer "maintenance details" -- for those in between completes. My maintenance details consist of: Wash and "HydroShine" (Gloss enhancement wax and dry) Vacuum interby Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>1. During the wash, clay the glass. 2. With the car completely dry, spray the windows with your favorite glass cleaner and immediately wipe with a surgical huck towel. Surgical huck towels are so much better than microfiber towels. Streak free every time. I get mine from WC Detail and they are very cheaply priced. No lint! I used to use microfiber but now only use the huck. All cleby Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Scott, You know how many times I've received calls from people asking for graphics on their cars? Tons. I'll say, "sorry, I really don't do that unless you have a boat and I'll put the name." And they say "I thought you do detailing." Then I say, "I do, what you want is decaling." Many many confused people out here.</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Emily, do exactly as Ron stated and you'll be good as gold!</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Thanks for the info Ron. In the past 10 years of detailing cars and using Magic Dressing (solvent) on tires, I haven't seen one car with damaged or cracked sidewalls. Do you have any pictures showing this on your website? I'm curious to know what it looks like. Worse damage I've seen on tires is a customer's "love for curbs" hehe.</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Tobacco as in smoke/tar film or actual tobacco juice?</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I've been using Auto Magic's Magic Dressing as well on all exterior trim since I've been in business. 3M's Outdoor Vinyl and Rubber Cleaner/Protector is a great upsell in my protection packages. Ron, is the Trim & Molding Dressing solvent based? The new VOC law is confusing me. What exactly is being outlawed? Just mineral spirits based products or all solveby Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Great post Gina! However, I do include the engine detailing in the "full" or "complete detail" definition. Since using SKID in the engine detail, any minor worry I may have had about damage has gone away. In my opinion, it's fine and still being professional to say "We start at..." when speaking with a client on the phone. I do it everytime when theby Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Jeremy, Try a solvent based dressing while their still available, on the exterior trim. The solvent based are more durable and provide a nice sheen to the trim.</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>That's how I got my internship at the dealership body shop. Body shop managers would call the school and ask if any students were interested in working with them for extra hands-on training. I was actually the painter's apprentice and was going to paint cars for a living (did a hell of a job too!) but the body shop atmosphere and my respiratory system didn't get along.by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Rabid peacock who raped a tackle box! Man I love it haha. I see these weirdos around town and they're usually the ones who are all about "rebel, rebel" and drive the ozone depleting, 1985 Chevy Citations. However, and it's sad to say that these wackadoos make great artists and detailing is a scientific art. HOWEVER, detailing is also about image and cleanliness anby Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>You can still apply a polymer sealant to a fresh paint job? Excellent, I didn't know that.</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Hi Anne, where have you been. Haven't heard from you in months. You can wash a newly painted car anytime. While working at the body shop, after paint, we always wet sanded then buffed the fresh paint job -- the washed it again. Swirl marks are very normal after coming from a body shop. ALl they do is bring the gloss back after wet-sanding and usually skip the swirl removal/poliby Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Please please please do not submerge it in a swimming pool to clean. :-) My customer did this to his boat's large window covers and forgot there was chlorine in the pool. His once navy blue canvas is not lighter blue with a pink hue to it, haha.</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Keith, Couple questions first: Does the compounding and polishing produce a glossy clean shine when done? Usually if you're in the sponge layer like Ron stated, the gel's color show a tint of yellow or beige and won't produce a gloss -- but more of a blotch look. If the boat is still chalky then enough oxidized gel wasn't removed. After long research on gelcoatby Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Ron, I agree with you and know a lot of other detailers do as well. That is bad scheduling though. I heard a lot of complaints about that.</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I believe the extra charge has to do with excess bug and tar removal and the time it takes to remove them. I'll never return a car with bugs or tar still on the vehicle. It's like applying a carpet stain repellant without vacuuming.</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>www.wcdetail.com Too nice to use on cars hehe but thats why I bought them. Super soft!</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Anytime. Price range sounds perfect -- mine for a complete detail on a 20 ft. boat is $280.00 ballpark. Goodluck and enjoy!</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Ahh, I see why!</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Joe, For a 20 foot boat on the trailer, you can expect to put in between 6-8 hours, approximately -- just by yourself. This includes interior too: carpet shampooing and extraction...vinyl care, glass, etc. Why don't you like boats?</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Got this off a government website in regards to boat washing & cleaning. What they mean by biodegradable here is "phosphate free" cleaners which are non-toxic and breathable by fish. Washing by Hand Above Water Line: Detergents and cleaning compounds used for washing boats shall be biodegradable and amounts shall be kept to a minimum. The waste water generated by lowby Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Scott, Did you send the frame shot? I didn't get anything in my email.</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Scott, Send the clip when you get a chance. Would love a good laugh! What a bunch of wackadoos in the world. Luckily, I haven't seen anything quite like that!</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Wow, I remember them.</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Thanks for the heads up. I'm sure they're 1000 times better than terry towels people still use on cars. I get my delivery of MF from WC Detail tomorrow. Can't wait.</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I can't wait to get mine. I ordered the complete Cyclo package (all brushes and attachments) from Rob at WC Detail. Good deal -- tired of applying sealants and waxes by hand. Everyoner who has a Cyclo says you can do minor correcting with it too.</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Is that yours?</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Jorge, Check out Mobileworks.com for the answer to this question. 80% of the guys on there are mobile and will tell you what you need to know.</HTML>by Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>As soon as my Cyclo is delivered on Tuesday, I'm sure I'll make a great post raving about it. Since my inventory is near low as well, I'm dumping Auto Magic and going with Detail King, staying with Stoner and Valguard. Don't think pad technology has changed at all since the Edge 2000. Although a new orange pad for the Edge came out -- supposed to be between theby Brian Angelucci - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts