<HTML>Rob, You have to start sometime, so go with one of the suggested buffers and start with used body panels. Do you know anybody in the body shop business? If you do, they can let you work on some of their old panels. This is also a pretty good spot to get some added coaching. It ain't rocket science, but with some coaching you too can learn. Please don't plan on watching sby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Hey Keith not being nozi, what did you get for the detail on the "18 Wheeler" ? Appears to be a Pristeen Job................ Brandy ! P.S. when you do a full detail on a "Big Rig" do you paint the frame, or just power wash? Here in my neck of the woods, they want the painting treatment, looks better anyway, and they never question the added price!</HTML>by Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Willie "G" how have you been ? I totally agree with your post. I give all of my moldings a good coat of protectant before sealing and then again after the sealant has dried and removed. I learned this from someone,here on Forum. It always works! I noticed that you are using Diamond Plus, on your dealer Vehicles! What are you using on your high end customers vehicles ?...by Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>strip all old sealant/wax,then polish and wax if you want to. I use Bud abrahams "One Step" which has a cleaner and sealant in as it says "ONE STEP"......................................... Brandy !</HTML>by Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>RobXtrem, Go to Autoint.com ,as Ron Ketchum has a very good check off list for you to down load and your employees to use. I modified it to use on heavy truck detailing, and Aluminum Polishing....I hope this is of help........................ Brandy!</HTML>by Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Brian, very good idea about the vocational school thing. The instructor at the Kentucky Technical and Vocational School here in Ashland, is a personal friend of mine. I'm going over to see him tomorrow,and maybe he might have some kids who want to, and will work. It will be interesting to say the least. I'm quickly beginning to see why Ketch,Buda,and a host of others got oby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Scotty, why do all of the low lifes seem to drift toward this type of work. The ones who have not hocked their personal tools will be drifter mechanics,in the auto servicing industry......... Brandy ! I sure as hell can't answer this question. I had a kid come thru the other day... His head was bald with exception to a strip of hair about 3" wide down middle of his headby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Tony, no hard feelings either :-). Bud sells his "One Step" to do both, level and seal. By hand it's a cleaner polish/sealant. With a buffer it will cut like 1800-2000 grit compound polish,plus has the added feature of the Diamond Plus Sealant. Matter of fact when ever I clean up my own vehicles, I use the "One Step" exclusively,as there is always going to bby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Anthony; Bud's "ONE Step" is a 2000 Grit cutter w/Diamond Plus Sealant into!. I remove spider webbing, and minor scratches with this product,and when done, it also has a coat of Diamond Plus Sealant on as well! P.S. I use fine cutting pad,and finish with polishing pads using the "One Step" . I'm not knocking the Optium Product at all. I'm sayingby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>How much, for How Much ??? I bought out a local detailer that went belly up about 7 months ago he had several bottles of the Optium. I tried some on a neighbors car and personally didn't find it any better than Detail Plus's "ONE STEP". I don't know if the Optium comes in 1 gallon Jugs or not ,as what I have was in 1pt bottles. I do know that Bud's oneby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Great Idea Joe! We have been so busy,that I would have never thought about something like that. I'm going to pass it around the guys,and when I can replace the 2 that quit, I'll offer it to the replacments coming in. Most folks never think or deal with the "What If's" until its Too late.. Brandy !</HTML>by Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Try looking at the 7428, it's a 7" varible speed unit w/soft start,a d has the "D" handle that makes it very confortable, especially when you have been buffing all day long. If Porter-Cable had offered this unit, I probably would have gotten it, enlieu of the Makita with a similar set up. I still love my Makita, and use it when ever I'm in need of an electriby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Lee Ann, Ron is right! Leave it a lone, as the pros know what to do. If you keep Monkieing around, your gonna make a Blind Man Lame! So do nothing ,but take it to the pros. If they are truly a professional shop leave it to them.................................For What Ever its Worth............... Brandy !</HTML>by Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>No Lip Service from me Ron, as I'm busy as hell, and can't take the time out for a trip of that magnitude. I had 2 guys to quit,thus leaving me with 1 good kid, and one in the works,who is going to be a dandy. We had just gotten caught up leaving 2 complete Tankers,and 1 coal bucket to do, then here came some more! I'm glad I have this problem,and not the other end ofby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Renny, your right,and I agree it's all about education! We had a cusomer come in to pick up their rig who also owns a Benz,and was complaining about spider webbing that they had just noticed,since they last washed their car,or had it washed. No Us :-) ! Anyway one of my guys got out the 7424 and with some Micro fine, started going back and forth buffing his little heart out!by Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>If the burn site is some where out of the line of fire, so to speak, you may want to try 2000 grit wet/dry and color sand. If it's a hood area or some where that will be easily seen, go to a good Hi end body shop, as they usually will have one of the newer paint thickness guages, and do as Steve suggested. Probably, there were many,many mistakes made by color sanding/compoundingby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Steve, I forgot to mention, find your self a good electric die grinder.I mean something like a souped up version of a Dremmel Tool,that machine shops use, and that will work for you when doing small jobs. I think Sioux makes one, as I saw one in a machine in Huntington,Wva the other day. Machinist told me it had been in the shop awhile, and is used everyday, without problems. He saidby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>A.D., are the rims in question Plastic coated or clear coated? If they are, you can work them as you would painted surfaces with imperfections. That is, start off with the least aggresive compound,working heavier,until "U" can achieve the results you are looking for. Then give them a good coat of sealant. If they are bear or non protected/virgin aluminum, thats a whole diffby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Trust me Steve I didn't either, but when I took on my 1st one, that was about all I had with exception of My pneumatic, and Electric Buffer/Polishers. Steve, try airmarktools.net , then if that doesn't work go airmarktools.net/services/index.html I'm not the type to go off and experiment with this , that, and the other. I never have been. I know there are a lot of othby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>The Flitz Ball is a fine little tool for the Home Hobbiest. You can use it professionally ,but you had better get several,as depending upon what the surface is they don't last to long. Dummie me, I thought I could get a bunch of these early on, and do "Big Rigs" Ha,Ha,Ha... Wrong! Ron Ketchum put me on some folks, and I made a trip across Ohio, to a Truck Detailer,thaby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Uhhhhh let me see, Hmmmmmmm, You found him to be full of @!#$!..Brandy! Buy from Ketch Auto Int, or Bud Abraham DetailPlus! They are both very old and Long in the Tooth,won't blow smoke up your ass, but could get anoid,and tell you to shove something up there!!!!...........Brandy ! RANGER'S Kick Ass...........HUHraah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</HTML>by Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Gary, Renny Doyle can sell you some good compounds to remove oxidation. Go to his web site or better yet call him. The supplier that I use,I have to purchase in large quanitys, this wouldn't be of any help. If your near Ashland,Ky stop by the shop, and I'll give you enough for your job!..Brandy !</HTML>by Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Jason, Renny is right about which one, is a preference. We use strictly air driven buffers/polishers for 99% of our Big Truck work. I revert back to the air driven "RO" to put the product on, then remove it with the "D" handle Makita, on cars and suv's and small trucks. I like the soft start of the makita and varable speed controls close to the thumb whereby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Joe, try the"D" handle(9227c) Makita,as I don't think that you'll go wrong on this unit. Soft start,which minimizes product sling,and I don't seem to be as worn out at the end of the day using mine............... Brandy!</HTML>by Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Scott, maybe she just needed a slug of h20 to take her "Goin Thru the Change of Life Pills" ?, or maybe she had a full bottle of Viagra and deep down wanted a date?. You said that her son's name is "Jason" who wants to live alone in the Deep Woods???. Scott, did your Jason wear a Hockey Goalies Mask???..... Sounds like you had a family of nuts to me!!!! I&by Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>I wuz wondering what you folks are using now? Is there any thing new and wonderious,thats worth a look see? I'm getting close to a restock, and just getting a heads up on anything new out there. I know sometime back we talked about the Edge Pads, but nothing else since then...... Brandy !</HTML>by Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Scotty, thats what I've called it all my life, when you say something to someone wearing a BaseBall Cap,and they give you a Nod by lifting their head backwards, enlieu of a hand wave, or a smile and hello, or plan old pointing the old "Hole Finger toward the Heavens"..... Brandy !</HTML>by Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Scotty, this is exactly what is wrong today. There is very little parent/child interaction. They either don't know, or live with their parents,and grandparents,other family members raising them, or the poor children have been farmed out to Foster Homes. We now have to put up with more and more crap, of trial and error in getting good dependable employees to work for us.Most peoby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Ron, I sent the info to your lycos email address,I guess this was right,if not email me and I'll resend...................... Brandy !</HTML>by Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
<HTML>Ron, there is a fellow who lives in your neck of the woods,who was the main developer of the metals coating protectant, for Ashland-Valvoline. This material later developed into the materials that the Automotive and Trucking Industry uses. Zbart and all the rest. He may or may not be of interest for you to talk to. He retired from Marathon-Ashland as I did in 2000,and is working withby Eric Brandenburg - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts