Sounds interesting. Don't know much about them but I did hear that it is a big project in one of the big companies. I think it was BASF but can't remember - it was hearsay anyway. The self-healing paint was a disaster. Is this going to be different? I can't see anything being scratch resistant and economical. You know the old saying - nothing is foolproof to a talented fool! Pby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
How did you apply it. Did you use a piece of card wrapped in cloth to flatten it out?by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Makes sense, Bob. My work is retail about 90% of the time. How much work do you put into the exterior on a Dealer car? I know they get a bit irksome when it comes to charging extra for dirty cars. Basically, there are too many hacks here who don't bother upselling, and do pretty basic work for pretty basic pay. Dealers don't care that much as long as the car is presentable at the mby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Hi guys, Just wondering if anybody charges by the day - rather than by simple detailing packages, etc. I've been doing it for a few months and its been going alright. It depends on the car and condition, but I get a complete interior done and then a single stage RO Machine Polishing of the exterior. I get good feedback because its a high quality service. I am basically selling myby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Water hot or cold, will struggle with an oily mark. Detergent will almost instantly break down oils (depending on how much and how greasy it is). I wouldn't ever be without detergent in my extractor, but sure why don't you test it. Do half a carpet with just hot water extraction, then add the soap and do the other half. Let it dry and see how it looks, smells, etc. Maybe a mat wouldby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gina, do you find any use for those household cleaners that have oxi-action cleaning. Don't know what its called in the US but its called Vanish here.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I missed this post when you posted it.... I think the most difficult challenge for detailers is ensuring a constant stream of customers at the door. For me, this is very hard in off-peak times. During the better weather seasons, I can be booked out 8 weeks in advance. Other times, I am waiting for the phone to ring! But I haven't been marketing to dealers. All my work has been retby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
In both cases, the problem is that the owners scratched the paint trying to remove residue. The first guy most likely applied the NXT too thickly or else there was still a residue on the paint that the sealant reacted with and it crystallised. The struggle with the removal most likely caused the marring. Bill, the Lexus... Lexus owners don't have a chance. The paint is ultra soft thatby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
German cars, never touch the lights with tar remover!!! I guess you should apply that philosophy to every car now! It seems to cause the plastic to either expand or contract where it touches, thereby cracking the plastic. I said glass above, but they are actually made of plastic. Figure of speech. It did cost me a lot to replace but I have no problem with that since it was definitely mby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Gina, those details with the bug problem and the dog problem were excellent.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I found out what it was. Silly me on auto-pilot wiped tar remover across the lens of a bmw. The solvent fractured the glass! For crying out loud! My supplier recognised the issue immediately when I rang him. Seems they make the lens very delicate in case they hit a pedestrian or get in a crash. Its a safety feature. I wouldn't mind but its something I never do. This is a very easy thiby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Guys, not sure if a client is trying to pull a fast one on me, but I have to give him the benefit of the doubt and accept onus for damage to a car headlight lens. I don't know how it could have happened as I have never seen damage like it before. From left to right, there are loads of cracks about two inches long. Its almost like the lens experienced a lot of pressure on it. I was thinkinby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
LOL... yep. Good idea there. Do you take the car away from the wash area to clay it? Was just thinking the newspaper would get pretty soggy if it was my place. I know some people take it in to the dry area and use QD to clay..by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I find most reputable manufacturers have good chemicals. People prefer X over Y but in my experience, you just need to get the hang of each one and understand how to use it best. You also need to identify your "dirt". Is it soil, food, drink spills, oils or tar, etc. Pre-cleaners on heavy dirt for stain removal, followed up with a spray of detergent/shampoo from your extractor (warmby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I use one. Its a great selling point for interior work since it kills bacteria and spores. The steering wheel alone can harbor 7 times more bacteria than a public toilet seat. Its good on stains as well and cleaning leather and plastic surfaces is a breeze. Just spritz some APC or Leather cleaner across the surface and steam lightly before wiping with a towel. Glass comes up invisible as wellby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Good turnaround. That first car was pretty trashed.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Plastic.... 4000 grit then take it in with the polishes on cutting, polishing and finishing pads. I don't think finishing polishes are much good on plastic. I usually use a medium polish on a soft pad.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
They can be clean, but still have permanent stains unless you have Bud's dye system. I charge extra if I think its going to take longer. What else should they expect for presenting a pig-stye to me. Steam is a great help with stains and odour removal....by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
LOL yep, or cream leather and carpets. After a few years of family life, they ain't getting back to new. They take on a nice grey/brown look along with all the stains and scuffs.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Bud & Bill, Thanks for your input here. I like your replies. Many thanks.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
So guys, I'm tired of people telling me about their home-spun tar removal remedies. Some people are telling me that they use WD-40 (naphtha) and others say they use petrol. But you know, I have seen their cars and there seems to be no visible damage to paint, in spite of them using petrol/WD-40, etc. So what is going on? Is it that products like these do the same job, just not as efby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Doesn't cat pee go alkaline when dry and acid when water is added? Can't remember. Anyway, I was going to say check the walls as well. Cats often spray urine when they go. Don't envy you on this one but my 2C is that the underlay should be replaced. The carpet itself is easy enough to treat but underlay absorbs a lot.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
No its not down to smoothness alone. There is definitely something different about new car paint. It must be down to the paint structure as there is a different gloss from it. Trust me, I do sanding, polishing, correcting and coating and I understand what you are talking about. Smoothness does reveal a terrific gloss, no argument there. What does UV light do to paint, exactly? Anybody knoby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
What is the difference between the gloss of a brand new car and the gloss of a car that has been polished and finished to a perfectly smooth and clear surface. Do you know what I mean? There is just that difference that identifies a new car. Is it oils or "plasticizer" or something that gets lost after a few months of driving? Sure the car still look great but you can never getby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Stop the spam please. Quit trying to get your backlinks increased on this site. Go to spamming-idiots.com or get-a-real-job-a$$hole.com Morons.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
I recently invested in a vapour-steam machine and its been a good addition to my artillery. However, just saw that Dalton guy buying into this on DW. Going by the video where they clean a "dirty" car with it (looks pretty clean to me) I don't see the benefit of it. Its a dry ice cleaning machine.... Have my American or Aussie friends here come across these machines before?by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
It doesn't make sense that they keep a second rate product in a huge market like the US and send better goods to the other side of the world. Strange company indeed. Perhaps its VOC issues or something.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
Kinda reminds me of Clint Eastwood in Gran Torino. You never know what the old-timer is packing....by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
That's very interesting about heat with the Glare products. I wonder if I could get Glare to redirect some of the Australian product to me. Last time I was in touch with Glare, they denied that there was a different version so I just dropped the conversation. I'm currently testing a prototype nano-polish like P1 but is actually better in many ways. I am trying to get the designer toby Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts
The only thing that I ever saw on the internet was a product called X-Cote but I don't know if I like the look of it. Its basically clear-coat. Its a whole franchise thing though, so no good to me.by Profile Detailer - Auto Detailing: Secrets of the Experts