By the way some personal thoughts. What has happened to this sight? A year ago there would have been fifty responses to a thread and fifty more started in a matter of a couple days. Granted, it gets a little repetitive but there is such a wealth of information on here.by Bigkahuna66 - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Well thanks for you input Bud. I was able to get upfront first hand look at the damage today. There are half a dozen spots on one panel. I suggested the Gatorback stuff and even called the company. Neil at Gatorback told me I could do one panel but thought it might not blend in with other two. He suggested coverage on all three to make them look uniform. 3 cans for about $100. Expensive I thoughby Bigkahuna66 - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Hi all!.....I had a customer come in the other day that tried to remove tree sap from his 08 Avalanche tonneau cover. He used some sort of solvent and a brush. The spots left behind show no evidence of tree sap but have left him with light colored spots. I'm not too familiar with these plastic type covers and and looking for advice. Not interested in painting or the Gator Skin at this point.by Bigkahuna66 - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
box elder bugs! use elbow grease. good luckby Bigkahuna66 - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Ditto</HTML>by Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I used to charge extra for claying when a customer wants a wax. Now, it's not an option. I clay before I put any compounds or waxes on. The customer is better satisfied with the results and the paint feels smoother. When you wheel out a car, it only takes one piece of grit to get under that bonnet to screw up hours of work! Most cars it takes about 20 minutes for me, but I hby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>1. When you apply the wax, you should notice the wax drying after a few minutes. It will become chalky looking. I believe the word is haze. If you see that, you have plenty. 2. A polish is used to remove scratches and brighten the paint. If you can't see the scratches, why worry? I would suggest using a cleaner wax though if this is all your doing. Maguirs is good choicby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I'd like to see pictures of this $12,000 motor. Must be impressive.</HTML>by Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Everyone, Sunday I bought an handheld halogen work light. 500 watt from Menards. I looked for the xenon lights but all I found was the replacement bulbs. Anyway. I tried the halogen with the flourescent and did notice quite a few differences in the paint. Of course I was able to hold the light just feet away from the paint unlike the flourescent that I have mounted in the bayby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Tim, Top of the Line also sells some sweet blowers. www.topoftheline.com/portable-wet-dry-vacuums.html</HTML>by Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Joe, thanks for the pics and information. I'm not familiar with xenon lighting but am going to check them out. It looks like with your portable lighting you have to move the light around the car to see the defects? Do you think it would be possible to mount the lights on the ceiling and get the same effect? Or best to keep it portable?....I'm thinking of what I do when Iby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I've spent a quite a few bucks on lighting my shop with flourescent lighting. I've installed in a one bay, 4 high output 8' lamps on ceiling, 4 high output 4' lamps on each side approximately 7' high and angled at the car bay. I am still not able to see the corrections I need to make in the paint. ie. , swirls. I feel foolish having to back out the car inby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I'm looking at this thread thinking what is wrong here. It seems that someone responded the the very first post ever made on this sight. hahaha. Check out the dates of the threads.</HTML>by Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Thank you all for your input</HTML>by Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I'm going to be hitting up the local funeral homes here in my town for detailing business. I wonder if anyone has detailed the limos and hearses used. And can give some insight as to what to expect? Thanks</HTML>by Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>hahaha, What sun? There's hardly any sun in the winter around here. I'm sure he's not talking 32deg. Maybe 0 deg. Big difference. You must have a garage with heat. Even then it's not the best inviroment. Business is slow because people are paying for Christmas. The roads are always wet from a flurry or two and won't dry in ten minutes afterwards. Theby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Have you tried soap and water?</HTML>by Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Hello again everyone. I certainly appreciate all the good comments. You've made me feel better about my choice. Thanks to all that responded.</HTML>by Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I've been struggling with this every since I started detailing as a business. I hope I can get some advice from people of the trade. The problem is, the name of my business. Big Kahuna's Detail. I'm thinking it doesn't sound professional enough and doesn't convey the message I want it to. When I tell people the name, it always brings a smile to their facby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Jorge, I recently did a black trailer. It had some oxidation on the top front that I couldn't do anything about. That part was painted fiberglass. The rest was aluminum, painted I believe. I wheeled it out with a compound and then swirl remover. The black looked great! I will caution you though. ... if the trailer has rivets holding the aluminum on, they will turn your padby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I used alcohol and the scratches are gone. That was a big problem I was concerned about was covering. If I wanted to cover them I sure wouldn't have gone to the trouble of wheeling it with 4 different products. Thanks</HTML>by Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>My hat is off to you Keith. I never knew there was a microglaze. That was exactly the thing I was looking for. I stopped at my local Car Quest store today and they happened to have a bottle at their warehouse. They shipped it in within a few hours. The brand name on this is 3M. I was very anxious to try it on black. The formula is very thin. I put too much on the pad at firstby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Thanks everyone for the replies. I think I will try the micro glaze that Keith mentioned because these are very fine scratches, not swirls that the foam pad left behind after using the swirl remover and the machine glaze. I'll try getting some pics to show everyone what I'm trying to describe here. I only see these in black or very dark colors in FULL sunlight.</HTML&gby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Hi Anthony, I apprecaite the reply. Of course I don't use a wool pad all the time, only on extreme cases. I always start with the least abrasive pads/compounds and work to the heavier stuff if needed. I can get most paint right to the edge of perfection, but some, (black) when in the sun still show tiny, tiny scratches. This is what I'm looking to eliminate. Will microby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Are you selling your business door to door?</HTML>by Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Up until recently I've been very pleased with the results I'm getting from my wheeling techniques. But now I'm looking for perfection and just can't seem to get there. Maybe if I describe my wheeling techniques someone can tell me why I am still getting light spider web scratches in the finish when I'm done. Granted, the car must be in full sunlight to seeby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Well.... thanks again to everyone for their input. I will take all the advice to heart. It seems the Odor Terminator is a pretty good product. Guess I will be the judge of that. I know the baking soda will work somewhat....I wish I had thought of that when I had the car. I'm not convinced the ammonia won't work yet. I've used it in homes to deodorize urine spotsby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Well, as expected I received a lot of good info. I know I need an Ozone machine, but can't afford it right now. As for the headliner, yes, I used a hot water extractor. And yes, I was lucky. The customer took full responsibility for what I did and was fully aware of the possible consequences. I have question for Anthony Orosco; You stated you use a steamer with Odor Terminaby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Hi Guys, I wonder if anyone has any information on this subject. Recently I did the interior of a 00 Toyota Camry. The customer said the car belonged to his mother. The mother was a very heavy smoker and the car reaked of smoke and those little cherry bomb scents that people hang on their rear view mirrors. I told him I'd give it my best shot with the tools I had since I donby Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Steel wool.... S.O.S. pad. Elbow grease</HTML>by Jerry Slater - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts