Detailing tips, tricks, pics.

[van5150halen]

I run a small portable detailing business and I was just wondering if anyone had any tips and tricks and maybe some before and after pics.
Stuff like which brands you like the best, Which kind of wax you prefer, Etc..

 

[tomcat27]

some random notes - sorry no pics:

I've had really good results with 3M products on cars, although on boats I use Meguiars products. The Mequiars "pro" products last longer than the standard consumer stuff from them. I use a Portal Cable random orbit polisher and a DeWalt polisher for the heavy duty stuff.

under the hood I like to use a lambswool glove with a good dose of simple green.

A toothbrush will remove wax reside from bodyside molding.

 

[MarkC]

Hello Brandon.

 

[BimmerMan]

Look at autopia dot org.

 

[van5150halen]

Yeah, Meguiars stuff works really well. Also, This may help you:
You know how bugs can get really stuck? Well, The Mr. Clean magic erasers takes anything right off. the only thing is, You have to go back over all of the spots you used it on because it will leave streaks all over. I recommend those over the bug and tar remover you can buy. They work wonders.

 

[02zx9r]

and will have to rewax area where eraser was used

 

[WGermany]

100% Soft Cotton Towels for drying. Real Chamois could remove a little wax I'm told.

 

[KrisZ]

I think the process is much more important than what products to use.

For best results use this process:
I usually do this once a year at least, then just wash the car as normal, but for your detailing business, you will pretty much end up doing this all the time.
1. Wash
2. Clay
4. Polish (if the customer wants it)
3. Wash again
4. Seal (you can stop here)
5. Wax.

Claying is very important, especially on poorly maintained paint (but even on very well maintained paint there are always contaminants, just less of them), as it will get rid of all contaminants stuck to the paint, and therefore prepare the paint for polishing step, if you skip claying, you will be introducing swirl marks when polishing or applying wax or sealer.

Once you get your process to the point where results are excellent, you can start experimenting with different products, especially if you want repeat buisness.

 

[demarpaint]

How about?

Wash
Clay (I thought you had to wash again after claying but was told it was not needed?)
Apply paint cleaner
Polish
Wax

Thanks

 

[KrisZ]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
How about?

Wash
Clay (I thought you had to wash again after claying but was told it was not needed?)
Apply paint cleaner
Polish
Wax

Thanks


I guess you mean the cleaner wax or wax with minor abrasives.

If that's the case than it's totally redundant if you are claying, as clay will remove everything including old wax.

Cleaner waxes can be used if you don't want to clay and paint is in very good condition.

 

[demarpaint]

The product is Meguires "paint cleaner" It is made to clean paint, as part of the 3 product system. Wax is the final coat.

 

[ionbeam22]

One trick is buy your chemicals in bulk. Making a good car wax or car soap is very much a solved problem. You're fooling yourself (and certainly most of your customers) if you think otherwise and fall into the boutique product game.

Companies like CarBrite and Simoniz have the chemicals you need at very reasonable prices.

 

[cp3]

Anyone tried Turtle Wax Ice? Cheap, easy and good. The liquid goes on and off in about a half an hour and lasts for about a month for me. Paste lasts longer but is also more work. The liquid makes black plastic look really good too.

 

[ionbeam22]

Turtle Wax Ice (Liquid) is IMHO the best wax on the market. It's just so much easier to use than any other wax, since you don't have to worry about getting it on rubber trim or in cracks/crevices.

You can do an entire car with TW Ice in about 30 minutes, vs 60+minutes plus for traditional waxes. It's almost as fast as using spray wax/QD.

 

[Saturn_Fan]

Originally Posted By: ionbeam22
Turtle Wax Ice (Liquid) is IMHO the best wax on the market. It's just so much easier to use than any other wax, since you don't have to worry about getting it on rubber trim or in cracks/crevices.

You can do an entire car with TW Ice in about 30 minutes, vs 60+minutes plus for traditional waxes. It's almost as fast as using spray wax/QD.


I just cannot get away from my go-to stuff. clay + colinite 476s + Duragloss bonding agent + Duragloss Polish

That combo lasts better than anything else I have tried and looks stunning on my black car. Very inexpensive to purchase as well.

 

[KrisZ]

One thing that I've learned is that there is no perfect combo or a product. Asking questions like; what is the best shampoo? What wax is the best? etc. is pointless IMO, as you will hear thousands of different opinions.

I frequented Autopia.org quite often before comming up with my own set of tool/products that work well for me.

I tried to understand what different products offer, example; wax vs sealer. Sealers last longer, but arguably don't look as good as waxes. Some products are easier to aplly than others, some last longer, some look better on certain paint colors, etc. there are thousand of variables and personal preferences.

First you have to understand what are your expectations. Are you willing to spend hours applying that caranuba wax? Will you be working in a shaded area or mostly in the sun, as some products are terrible in the sun. Maybe you don't have time and want something that's easy to apply. these are just some of the variables you have to consider.

To summarize, there is no clear answer that one person can give IMO, I could not in good conscience say to anyone "just use this, this and that" and you will be very happy and you will have excellent result.

I would start experimenting, don't buy hundred's worth of product, because you might not like it. Places like Autopia have sponsors that sell products in sample sizes, this could be a good alternative.

 

[qwertydude]

I used to frequent autopia but found too many people simply operated on dogma there, far less empirical testing unlike this site. As far as a magic eraser, you should never let that stuff near car paint, it's a very abrasive melamine foam.

It seems you're not doing show cars, so the uber fanatics that spend about 12 hours detailing a car to a point where if you touch it you ruin it would not be a good way to go. If you're doing mobile detailing then you'll definitely wanna test your products and make sure you can apply and remove them in the sun.

What I found best to work quickly and as a one step would be Meguiars D151, trust me it's a miracle in a bottle for removing fine scratches and swirls. For your more severely affected areas go with M105 and follow with D151. Also for hot weather priming your pads with Turtle Wax Ice has let me polish in even bright Southern California direct sunlight on black cars. The result you'll get in the time you invest with those three products will turn an excellent profit with outstanding results. Show car perfect? No but 99% of the people will be amazed with the results. And people doing show cars would not resort to mobil detailers anyway.

Just consider your market and make sure not to invest too much time with absolute perfection since most people who go to mobile detailing will have cars in [censored] condition and just making it shine will be enough, they're not gonna hover around it with an inspection light jewelry loupe and show car checklist. Offer different levels, simple wash and wax, light polish and wax, or complete detail wash, clay, polish wax, trim, tires.

 

[MKZman]

Claying and paint cleaning can do different thing and both should be in a basic detail. They both can remove wax.

 

[ionbeam22]

Originally Posted By: qwertydude
I used to frequent autopia but found too many people simply operated on dogma there, far less empirical testing unlike this site.


Taken as a whole, Autopia is like a high end audiophile forum. These folks don't want to let science/reality disrupt their boutique product fanboy-ism.

Given how competative the automotive aftermarket is, the idea that some little boutique company has anything on the major players is silly.

Quote:
What I found best to work quickly and as a one step would be Meguiars D151, trust me it's a miracle in a bottle for removing fine scratches and swirls.


As are most agressive one step cleaner waxes. You often get good results from applying a compatible spray wax on top of the cleaner wax, and then doing a final buffing.

Quote:
Offer different levels, simple wash and wax, light polish and wax, or complete detail wash, clay, polish wax, trim, tires.


IMHO he should offer a menu of services, centered around "maintainance" detailing (Wash/Wax and Interior), and "restorative" detailing (Polishing, Headlight restoration etc).

This greatly simplifes your selling and pricing schemes, and makes sure that you charge correctly for more labor intensive services.

 

[TylerL]

If you need to remove wet sanding scratches Meguiar's M105 ultra cut compound is what I use with a Meguiar's SOLO light-cut yellow wool pad on a rotary buffer. It leaves a nice finish that is nearly ready for a last step product.