O.C.Detailing (Lynchburg, VA.) - Black 2008 Mercedes Benz S550

SRHTX said:
Nice correction Adam!! :props:
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heh Thanks Stephen. I've been pretty slack about posting EVERYTHING we've been doing lately. Just haven't really had time. And my camera died, so I'm using my iPhone again. LAWL
 
The Benz looks AWESOME! I never heard of the Surbuf product! Is it new and who makes it! I thought Menzerna was the go to correction product. Is there something new that's just as good?
 
Showroom Shine said:
The Benz looks AWESOME! I never heard of the Surbuf product! Is it new and who makes it! I thought Menzerna was the go to correction product. Is there something new that's just as good?
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First of all, thank you.

Secondly, Surbuf R Series 5.5 Inch Buffing Pads 2 Pack, surbuf pads, microfingers pads, polishing pads and Meguiars Mirror Glaze #105 Ultra-Cut Compound 32 oz. New D.A. Version I HIGHLY recommend those two products for any serious correction work. I haven't had a chance to use any of the Menzerna compounds or polishes (except 85u) but I can't imagine anything being better than that.

I watched (with my own two eyes) these pads correct better than a rotary with wool on a seriously messed up Mercedes (not this one). For the price of the Surbuf pads, they simply can not be beat. The entire time I was working on this car I was just amazed at how well these pads were taking the defects out of such a hard clear. However, I will warn you that you will get a lot of marring and haziness that is easily taken out with m205 on white or even Ultrafina or 85u on white.

I'll put it to you this way, we shredded four pads in the span of six or seven cars and when we got this car we knew we would need more. We waited for an order from AG to get to our UPS store to do any serious correction work.
 
^^^Exactly what Jonathan just posted. I don't think I can imagine how hard it would be to correct most of the cars I get with foam anymore. It'd take WAY too long and the hazing and marring left by Surbuf pads seems to just go away immediately when using M205 or Ultrafina on White. ;)

Nice sig Jonathan. lol
 
And as far as using the Surbuf pads. Whole different story from foam. Adam came up with it and it took me a while, and I mean a while, to catch on.

1. Smaller Sections. 10x10 max
2. Lighter Pressure. Let the fingers and the product do the work.
3. Move Quickly. 105 dusts enough as it is but with these pads dusting is a little ridiculous. Spread the product on a low speed, quickly. Take your machine (Wooo Griot's) up to full power and move a little quicker than with foam. Remember, let the product and pad do the work. 105 works best when it is wet (duh) and these pads like to dry it out quicker than usual.

Once you get over the learning curve, these pads will blow your mind. It took me a week or two of corrections to figure out what Adam was talking about and man, it is so worth it.


Adam: Figured you would like that. That way you get a little more advertisement and I can kind of make a name for myself.
 
jmp09fg2 said:
Adam: Figured you would like that. That way you get a little more advertisement and I can kind of make a name for myself.
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Your work speaks for itself man. You work your a-double snake off and take my fluctuating emotions in stride all while doing quality correction and detailing work. ;) You don't need me to make a name for yourself. You're doing fine all on your own. Now hurry up and finish that deck...I have 5 washes and a set of headlight to do tomorrow. HAHA
 
O.C.Detailing said:
Your work speaks for itself man. You work your a-double snake off and take my fluctuating emotions in stride all while doing quality correction and detailing work. ;) You don't need me to make a name for yourself. You're doing fine all on your own. Now hurry up and finish that deck...I have 5 washes and a set of headlight to do tomorrow. HAHA
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Why thank you good sir. I just do what needs to get done and sit back and watch the one man comedy act.

I am done with the deck.....for this week. Rained off and on yesterday so I wasn't able to do much work. Have to go back next week to finish the other deck(s). Yay for being half way!

I'll be in and out tomorrow though. Oil change in the morning, one serious lawn (new client, big money) and a quickie to make a yard look good for an open house. Then there is the g/f family coming in.... I'll try to stop by and help out. My car needs a good wash tooo!!!!
 
Don't worry about tomorrow, you do your thing. I can handle 2 rain-check washes and 3 paid washes and a set of headlights. We'll pick up after you get your other stuff straight. It's no biggie.

OH, and you're welcome. ;)
 
(Surfer style voice) Awesome brah. I'll still stop by if I have a chance.
 
O.C.Detailing said:
I charged him $350 and he tipped $10... :
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Hold up a tick... You spent 32 man hours on that car and charged $350? So you made a little more than $10 an hour? That's insane! How can you stay in business. I don't mean to be rude at all. You did great work on that car, but how can you afford to pay the bills at that rate? I mean, I bet the guy that owns that car didn't get it by making $10 an hour.

Again I'm not trying to be rude, I'm just surprised is all.
 
Jumpingbean said:
Hold up a tick... You spent 32 man hours on that car and charged $350? So you made a little more than $10 an hour? That's insane! How can you stay in business. I don't mean to be rude at all. You did great work on that car, but how can you afford to pay the bills at that rate? I mean, I bet the guy that owns that car didn't get it by making $10 an hour.

Again I'm not trying to be rude, I'm just surprised is all.
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It's like this. I only pay $250/mo. to rent my garage space. I pay Jonathan ROUGHLY per hour to help me and Lynchburg, VA. isn't a big city by any stretch. It didn't HAVE to take me that long, but I like to take my time. My prices have been going up a little at a time, but being as this town isn't a "big business" town, I have to keep my prices within reason for my location until my name gets out there. I'm definitely not hurting financially though. FOR NOW, I want to make a minimum of $200 per vehicle on details. Eventually, I want to make more, but my proverbial "snowball" has just started and needs to roll a little further before it becomes big. Most rich people in this area didn't get rich paying someone $350 to "detail" their car, or at least that's what they'll tell you. I know I could make a LOT more money in a larger city, but for here, I'm not doing too badly. I usually have money in my pocket and in the bank and have enough to pay Jonathan, my garage rent and give my wife money for the bills AND buy stuff from AG and my local supplier. I wouldn't say I'm doing horrible, but yes, I could be doing better.

Eventually, I'll charge by the hour for paint correction, when I feel like I'm well-known enough. And no offense taken. I know I don't charge enough for the work I do.
 
I agree with what Adam states. If I would have charged $350, then, everyone would run away not matter how go I detail vehicles. I'm doing good to get $250.00. Please remember, the Deep South Texas (Rio Grande Valley) area have the top two of the poorest counties in the US. In my town, Harlingen, TX, all the city people do it BIT**, moan, groan and complain. HOPEFULY, we will be getting a Bass Pro Shop built in this town. If that does happen, then, things might kinda start to change. I doubt ut though.

I have two things planning to happen. One should happen at months end. The other will happen in a few months, but, in a different part of the Valley. Oh yeah, all we have down here is drug cartel this and drug cartel that just across the river in Mexico. fun......

O.C.Detailing said:
It's like this. I only pay $250/mo. to rent my garage space. I pay Jonathan ROUGHLY per hour to help me and Lynchburg, VA. isn't a big city by any stretch. It didn't HAVE to take me that long, but I like to take my time. My prices have been going up a little at a time, but being as this town isn't a "big business" town, I have to keep my prices within reason for my location until my name gets out there. I'm definitely not hurting financially though. FOR NOW, I want to make a minimum of $200 per vehicle on details. Eventually, I want to make more, but my proverbial "snowball" has just started and needs to roll a little further before it becomes big. Most rich people in this area didn't get rich paying someone $350 to "detail" their car, or at least that's what they'll tell you. I know I could make a LOT more money in a larger city, but for here, I'm not doing too badly. I usually have money in my pocket and in the bank and have enough to pay Jonathan, my garage rent and give my wife money for the bills AND buy stuff from AG and my local supplier. I wouldn't say I'm doing horrible, but yes, I could be doing better.

Eventually, I'll charge by the hour for paint correction, when I feel like I'm well-known enough. And no offense taken. I know I don't charge enough for the work I do.
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O.C.Detailing said:
I charged him $350 and he tipped $10... :
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That sounds about right... I've done a lot of work like this, maybe less time, but for the $300.00 to $350.00 range...



Jumpingbean said:
I bet the guy that owns that car didn't get it by making $10 an hour.
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There's all kinds of reasons for what kind of dollar amount you can get for your work, geographical/economic reasons for one thing...

I did a lot of detail work in Oregon, Washington and Southern California and a lot of for the group of people you could call "Car Guys", the type of people that own something cool, or what I just categorize as "Special Interest", and here's the deal,

They don't know how to do show car quality paint polishing on their own
They don't understand the how much work and knowledge is required to do the job right


So it's hard to get up to the $500.00 and $600.00 range to just polish the paint on a car, nothing else, no interior, no engine, etc.


You can do it, but you have to have a good reputation and work that backs up your name and some level of sales ability so that you can sell yourself to your potential customers.

It's also important to know cars and which people are qualified customers for work like Adam did in this detail job and which cars and customers should get a one-step procedure. You don't want to be putting show car finishes on most daily drivers because the owners won't appreciate it and they also won't know how to take care of it.

Once you get the paint to a high level of perfection, now any scratch at all will stand out like a sore thumb.


Nice work Adam and Jonathan


:dblthumb2:
 
:iagree: :whs: :goodpost: :applause: :autowash:

Mike.Phillips@Autogeek said:
That sounds about right... I've done a lot of work like this, maybe less time, but for the $300.00 to $350.00 range...

There's all kinds of reasons for what kind of dollar amount you can get for your work, geographical/economic reasons for one thing...

I did a lot of detail work in Oregon, Washington and Southern California and a lot of for the group of people you could call "Car Guys", the type of people that own something cool, or what I just categorize as "Special Interest", and here's the deal,

They don't know how to do show car quality paint polishing on their own
They don't understand the how much work and knowledge is required to do the job right

So it's hard to get up to the $500.00 and $600.00 range to just polish the paint on a car, nothing else, no interior, no engine, etc.

You can do it, but you have to have a good reputation and work that backs up your name and some level of sales ability so that you can sell yourself to your potential customers.

It's also important to know cars and which people are qualified customers for work like Adam did in this detail job and which cars and customers should get a one-step procedure. You don't want to be putting show car finishes on most daily drivers because the owners won't appreciate it and they also won't know how to take care of it.

Once you get the paint to a high level of perfection, now any scratch at all will stand out like a sore thumb.

Nice work Adam and Jonathan


:dblthumb2:
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Lol thanks all. I was by no means bashing the question. He makes a very valid point that I thought would need some further clarification so that it's understood why I work inexpensively. If I were in Raleigh or DC, then my prices would double, but let's be honest, I couldn't find a garage with a lift, wash bay, electricity and water all provided for $250.00/mo. Ya know?
 
Congrats. That car looks awesome. For the price you charge it might be worth for some DC area people to just drive to you.
 
Heh Ive already had one AG member decide to go with my services over another AG member and I must admit, it was the single largest tip I'd ever received from one car. I didn't have time to get any pictures of the car, but it was a metallic silver 2009 335i. BEAUTIFUL car!! Apparently the customer was extremely satisfied. ;)

So if anyone near Lynchburg wants to hire me for service, I'd be happy to oblige. :)
 
How many Surbuf pads were used on this? Also, do you prefer them? I'm thinking about ordering 1 or 2 just to try them out. And given your fantastic job, I just might.
 
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