Thank you for letting me know. Funny the way the markets are. I couldn't get that much without at least doing hand-polishing and waxing for that price. However, I would charge more than double what you do for the machine polishing. But I would spend a bit of time on the machine polishing of a car. Basically, I charge by the day for prepping and machine polishing so it doesn't matteby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bob, your $175 detail. What do you do with the paint? Do you polish & seal by hand or DA, etc? Just curious what you fit in for the price.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Well, in checking competitors within a twenty mile radius of my operation, I witnessed one company who washed a car with a kitchen floor mop - the woolen-string type. I mean that thing has an exposed metal base. One miss and the paint is FUBAR. But in general terms, I consider hackers as untrained people who use dressings without cleaning the surface first. Who wipe carpet and upholstery surfby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Auto Reconditioning Tech sounds good, but I think Bud mentioned before - people don't recognise the new names, even though they make perfect sense to us. Its frustrating to be thought of in the same category as hacks, since that is what the majority of people believe detailers are - especially the detailers with the low prices, bad products and lousy attitudes!by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Interesting but also an interesting second post, Bud. We can get direction from both.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
You can take nothing for granted. Lucky - you might have needed tetanus shots, stitches, even micro-surgery for a bad razor cut. Thanks for the valuable reminder to us all! : )by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Thought Connery was the best.... Mish Munnypenny!by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud, sorry - yes that's what I meant. Hand-sprayed. Like the Aston Martin plant do with the soft Dupont paint. Its all sprayed and finished by technicians. Fairly thickly applied as well since they do a better job of sanding the paint than the production-line operations. I really try to avoid sanding factory finishes. I have a lot of experience with body-shop finishing (lots of people whby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Hey SVR, having problems getting Zero from Glare Europe. Costs a fortune from Glare US! I did get Micro Finish, Spider and Polish so will try those with the Rotary on Monday or Tuesday. Any tips for using them? Pity about Zero. Is it as expensive in Australia? Did I read somewhere that your version is different to the US product?by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Does that apply to hand-painted cars, eg Lamborghini, Ferrari? I mean the part about the UV blockers being near the top of the coat. I get asked about wet-sanding BMW a lot. I don't like to do it, but the cars here in Europe are all coming out of production with bad orange peel. I don't like to wet-sand original paint in case something arises with warranty conditions.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Sounds like you're on to something good. Really glad to hear it. In the meantime I have Zero ordered as it sounds interesting as a pre-cursor to polishing. Can I drop you a PM when I receive it as you have a lot of experience using it? I work mainly on German cars - BMW really - so if it makes the hard paint easier to polish, great! Detailer to the stars? Have you buffed Kylie?by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
SVR.... Master of mystery!! ; ) Pity you are in Australia - I would have tried your new system! I might get a bottle of Zero in the meantime. If you ever feel like sharing your other uses of Zero, send me a message! : )by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
AFAIK they are ex-Glare chemists. I use it - its really good. Especially if you apply with PC and soft pad. But if you're happy with what you have, no worries. : ) How does Zero fit in with your polishing process, SVR. Is it any good on German paint? BMW's are ridiculous with orange peel these days. If you use Zero as a pre-cursor to Menzerna, for example, does it make a huge differby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
SVR, have you tried the Automotive products from From what I hear their chemists have a very good pedigree, coming originally from a company that you like and use a lot.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Quotesvr73QuotebudaBob When was the last Ferarri, Lambroghini, Porche or even Mercedes Benz you saw that needed detailing? Most need nothing more than a good wash, vacuum and coat of wax. Would enjoy doing those exotic cars as my sole business. That is easy money, wax on and wax off, as they say. Regards Bud are you blind There are lots and lots of these cars that are swirled and scby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud, this is for you, maybe for Ketch as well... ; ) ******* An older, white haired man walked into a jewelry store this past Friday evening with a beautiful much younger gal at his side. He told the jeweler he was looking for a special ring for his girlfriend. The jeweler looked through his stock and brought out a $5,000 ring. The old man said, 'No, I'd like to see somethby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I bet he was old when he said that...! just kidding, Bud. Age is just a number and time is just a human construction to allow us to structure our lives. Time doesn't mean a damn thing to any other organism on the planet. Like I said to you before on another forum - live in the now. In a perfect world, I would shorten Jefferson's quote to "We should never judge."by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Yep. That's what I mean. Do you think it might help with the issue - to use non-enzymatic shampoos? It was just a suggestion.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Well, over here there are biological and non-biological detergents. Biological contain enzymes to address organic stains like food, for example. Non-biological is for more general inorganic staining. Are your household detergents in the US not categorized in this way?by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Just about BobM's issue. Perhaps these problematic cars are better suited to use non-biological detergents as the cleaning solution? If it is THAT oily, perhaps a cloth doused with solvent might remove the surface contamination?by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Just had a look at Eurochem's website. They refer to AT-5 as their Acrylic 5 product.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I read the paper released on that test. It is interesting, but I feel biased towards the car-wash manufacturers. The methods used to wash the cars were "old-school" versus modern car washes. As a detailer, I endeavour to educate people about the proper way to wash their cars, using at least two buckets and soft lambswool or similar wash-mitts. Kid-gloves is the approach to have.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Jeesh, Bud!! That is the most immature post I have ever read! Its like saying "come over behind the bike-sheds where my friends smoke during break - and tell us all to stop smoking!! See what happens then if you are man enough!" Bill isn't a pinata - stop baiting him for his opinions. In fact I am more inclined to try his favoured products than yours at this stage. And I have bby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Well, clear-coats are both functional and aesthetic. However a car does look like cr@p when the clear has been scratched and swirled by car-washing, etc. You have to agree with that. They are only sealants, so I don't see how they could void the paint warranty. I don't know about the new spray-on one though. As professional detailers, we have a duty to investigate new advances iby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I tested Aquartz across an old panel. There was definitely good resistance to hazing, scratching, keying and gouging paint. Although they have changed the sealant composition. I haven't used C1 but I have tried out Nanolex. What is the new product? Is it on the market yet? PM me if you prefer to keep it off the forum. I just like to check out the new technologies. I would be surby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Work hard, save hard and invest in yourself. Its impossible to do a professional job out of the back of a car. It gives the wrong image. Why not get an extra part-time job working with a good detailer and learn the trade first? There's a lot more to it than just peeling stickers off and tidying up.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
You could be right! Thanks for explaining your perspective. It makes more sense to me now so I reckon I will try that.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud, a local supplier of Autoglym was suggesting I use their carpet & fabric shampoo to remove Bugs because of the alkalinity. Would you see a problem with that? I was surprised at the recommendation...by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I can see where you are coming from with that, Bud. And to a certain extent I will be doing that - especially with the machine polishing and reconditioning side of things. But its like you said in a previous post somewhere, the average car owner doesn't really want anything more than a basic detail. So I think its better if they have a menu to pick from. If I think they will benefit fromby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Hi guys, Do many of you offer more than four basic detail options to your clients? ie - A full detail, and interior detail, exterior detail and a "light" detail. I know machine polishing, etc are all extra options, but I mean the basic and most popular services. I know when there are too many options, it can be confusing. What works best for you guys? Thanks in advance.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts