Bud and others : Regarding the use of turpentine or tar remover, Honda advises, " Check the body for road tar, tree sap, etc. Remove these stains with tar remover or turpentine. Rinse it off immediately so it does not harm the finish. Remember to re-wax these areas, even if the rest of the car does not need waxing." The key words here are " RINSE IT OFF IMMEDIATELY "by Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gentlemen- Just when you think you've seen everything, nature brings out the heavy artillery. This a new one for me. I'm wondering if steam cleaning or hot water would work. I bet some sort of enzyme or something that eats organic matter would work. I'd try a degreaser on a small area and see what happens. Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
kerr : Cleaner waxes normally don't produce swirl marks. Such marks are more likely to be caused by trapped dirt under a wiping rag or applicator or a rag of the wrong material. Some cleaner waxes are abrasive or harsh enough to dull the clearcoat by roughening it a little. Most of today's clearcoat-safe waxes are mild and repeated use is unlikely to thin the clearcoat signifiby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Frank: OOPS! Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Mike- If you've heard this sales advice before, I apologize. When you sell, you should try to communicate three things to the customer: "features", "functions", "benefits". Your 'feature' is quality. Its 'function' is to make the car sell quicker and for more than a poorly-detailed car. The 'benefit' to a dealer is theby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Brian Angelucci is the guy you need to talk to. I don't do boats but I can tell you that vinyl can take abuse. With that in mind, you may want to try Meguiar's Heavy-duty Vinyl Cleaner. I use it to remove wax from vinyl trim. On interiors, I've found it effective but it can bleach out some of the color. Simple Green and a brush can work but I've found that it leaves tby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
New Again- Pat Goss, of PBS T.V.'s Motor Week was the first source to alert me that halogen bulbs lose a significant amount of brightness in the first 30K or so miles. I believe I read the same thing in Erie Insurance Group's magazine, " In Sync ". AAA's magazine may have also said it. Doug " Don't tell people what to do. Tell them what needs to be doby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Sam and others- Halogen headlight bulbs dim over time. If you recondition the headlights and the bulbs are over 35,000 miles old, you might be able to sell a new set of bulbs at a profit and deliver even more improvement in headlight performance. ( Obviously, this up-sell is not suited to everyone ). Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
MikeN- Apparently no one here has experiance in losing customers or they'd have been able to advise you. For what it is worth, then, here are my thoughts: You might be able to avoid head-to-head price competition by offering a package to dealers. Such a package could include having a roll-back truck pick up and deliver a dealer's cars, several at a time, with guaranteed one-dayby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Welcome to the forum. Other than to say that growing businesses must focus on the basics even as they innovate, I'll leave this one to the guys who have "walked the walk". Doug " You trust your mother but you cut the cards."by Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud : Applying wax can take a modicum of skill. First, you must make sure the finish is very clean and not in need of any bug and tar removal, claying or polishing. Then you must apply the product so as to keep it out of cracks and crevices and off of flat paint, vinyl and rubber. You must use proper material to apply and wipe it. You must know how to remove wax that gets onto vinyl and rby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud- I was trying to say that I now understand your position to be that you deliver the cars dry and that they dry naturally by sitting until delivered. I further take it that dryers are necessary on rare occasions when cars are picked up early. The big question I had was whether the dryers did any harm and the answer appears to be "No". Therefore, if I wish to use my systby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud- RJ does not appear to have any experiance detailing his own vehicles. He asked about having a sealant applied by someone else. That is why I recommended a pro detailer. He can still buy the product from you if he wishes and have it professionally applied. By that I mean applied to the paint and not the vinyl, rubber etc. Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
RJ- If you use the search feature here you can read all about paint sealants without our having to repeat this stuff. Briefly stated, if you want to waste your money, buy some miracle product that is claimed to last 5 years. If you want durable protection at a reasonable price, go to a good detailer once the paint cures and have him apply a durable sealant. Get it reapplied at least every sby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Chris- Welcome aboard. Martin Hernandez is a forum member who specializes in mobile washing. Use the search function to check out his past posts. You can visit the mobileworks site for general info. There is a difference between mobile washing and mobile detailing. If your contact only washed cars for a week and made $1000 before costs, by my calculations, lesseee---at $35 a car, he hby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gentlemen : www.AutoGeek.net/detail features a downloadable detailing manual too. Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud- I based my question on item #15 in your post earlier, in which you said the interior is not completely dry so you instuct the customer to leave the windows and trunk cracked open. I see now that you meant this is done on the rare occasions when a car is delivered early. I take it the dryer does no harm but represents unnecessary work within your system. Thanks for clarifying that. Dby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud and New Again- I see it as the customer's responsibility to let his rotors and wheels cool before putting his car in a carwash tunnel. It might be nice for these operations to educate the customers but how can they be expected to let each car sit before washing it ? I personally use a combination approach ; the car sits and then the wheels are misted with water to gradually cool tby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud- I read your headlight procedure. I recommend starting with 600 grit. A body shop man showed me how he can hand sand and then quickly compound a headlight. He uses 3M Super Duty compound ( really aggressive stuff ) on a Meguiar's finishing pad. He rotary buffs until the compound breaks down and the headlight looks good. Then he uses plastic polish or paint polish followed by waxby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud- Why do you not use dryers to make the interior completely dry when the customer picks up the car ? Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
RJ- Consumer Reports tested DuPont Teflon Ultra Wax CWX1030 as part of their July 06 wax test. It scored 5th out of 17 liquid waxes, overall score : Very Good, excellent for gloss/cleaning/scratching and hazing and only "fair" in durability and compatability with plastic. Ease of use was rated "very good". I have misgivings about this test but quote it for what it isby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
RJ- Your Email is hidden so scroll down to the thread " Free Detailer's Handbook or try www.griotsgarage.com ( phone them if you can't find the link ). Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
RJ- I may be able to pop you an email with the link to Griot's free download of their Detailing Handbook. As to your question about getting the best shine. My Zaino experiment is incomplete and I've never tried Klasse or AutoGlym. I've gotten a great shine from using Malm's polish followed by their liquid wax www.malms.com. Meguiar's NXT equalled that shine in onby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
RJ- Ketch may be the best person to answer this one. His site is www.autoint.com . As for what to do to protect the paint : 1) You can use a glaze that lets the paint breathe until it is cured. 2) After the paint cures, frequent washing is the most important thing to do. 3) There is serious question as to whether Teflon improves a sealant or wax. If you are referring to a sealant conby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Scott- Perhaps you can identify a trigger that will cause a customer to want his car detailed. Examples, " Impress your date by picking her up in a spotless car that even smells extra nice." " Get a reconditioning detail to make your car worth hundreds more dollars." " People will think it's a show car." " Enjoy the feeling of driving a new car withby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Joshua : Okay, I'm convinced of your abilities and energy after reading your link info buttttt...Linking your site to that offensive Myspace page with obscene rap lyrics played over... Think about what image that projects. More important, give some thought to what kind of culture will bring you success and what kind leads to overspending, overindugence and failure. I suggest you read Tby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Philip : Very classy site. Liked the big type, which is visible to old folks. One possible add-on would be a list of tips for car owners regarding such matters as Buying A Car Cover, Removing Snow And Ice Safely, periodically beating out and brushing the floor mats, using a detail spray to remove bird droppings right away, avoiding parking where there is a pole you could forget about and bacby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
New Again- Sent the email. Note that my method for headlights is adapted from one posted here years ago. It works for me but I cannot take credit for inventing it. Dougby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud- I agree with you that the best way to make money is to stick with a set of services you can do often. Getting set up for a job you'll only do occasionally can be a waste of time. I realize the procedure you described is for real. I was simply expressing my doubts about sanding glass and the results one might get. ( One former glass worker told me that this procedure can workby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud- I only said I will run a test to see if an orbital can remove scratches and swirls. I didn't say you are wrong. You seem to dismiss the glass polishes I mentioned without even curiosity as to whether they work so I noted that they are not sold by you. I've attended two seminars by product manufacturers and own four videos, have watched three borrowed videos, own about fourby Doug Delmont - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts