What is your total # of working hours???

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rjgervacio

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Hello Autogeeks,

I just want to share my experience today as I have started my journey in Auto Detailing. I bought my preliminary essential kit today at my local Pep Boys. I got Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo & Conditioner, Mothers Foaming All Wheel & Tire Cleaner, Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay Kit, tire brush & absorbing mf towel. I also got two buckets for free with this purchase! Anyway, I just finished washing tonight using the techniques taught here in Autogeek, and boy it does make a difference! I'll try to do the claying tomorrow if the weather is nice.

Anyway, I just wanted to have an idea how long you guys take to work on each step of the complete detailing process? Washing alone, I have already spent 2.5 hours.:buffing:
 
rjgervacio said:
Hello Autogeeks,

I just want to share my experience today as I have started my journey in Auto Detailing. I bought my preliminary essential kit today at my local Pep Boys. I got Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo & Conditioner, Mothers Foaming All Wheel & Tire Cleaner, Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay Kit, tire brush & absorbing mf towel. I also got two buckets for free with this purchase! Anyway, I just finished washing tonight using the techniques taught here in Autogeek, and boy it does make a difference! I'll try to do the claying tomorrow if the weather is nice.

Anyway, I just wanted to have an idea how long you guys take to work on each step of the complete detailing process? Washing alone, I have already spent 2.5 hours.:buffing:
Click to expand...

Depends on the car, from 1 hr for a wash and vac to 3 hrs just to vacuum lol same goes for claying can be a 30 minute job or several hours if your trying to remove overspray or rail dust
 
I've been practicing alot. Got washes down to as little as 25 minutes without inducing scratches or swirles (small trucks, sedans), but I washed my brothers Suzuki hatchback last week and took 2.5 hours to do a wash and tires (hadn't been washed in 7 months to a year!!!!)

Windows always seem to take forever, escpecially when they have hard waterspots that have set for months. Never use cheep microfibers on windows either.

The longest vacuume job I did was a total of about 3.5 hours on a Chevy Traverse (given this was my first paid detail, and the Traverse is like a Tank!). But it doesn't help when you used a 1.5 hp wal*mart shop vac either.:nomore:Getting a 5 hp Vacmaster soon, hopefully!Im the MAN
 
It can take time depending on surfaces being cleaned.

Getting the paint clean on a vehicle in pretty good condition can go pretty fast but it is the details (is that why they call it detailing?) such as door/trunk jambs, doing wheels/wells without just using a strong cleaner and just rinse, chrome and trim, cleaning glass, etc. can really slow things down.
 
Your question has allot of variables and is really dependent on the actual condition of the car. The steps and times below are ballpark and can and will vary considerably from job to job..

Washing - Power washer and hand wash - 1 hour

Clay - 1 hour

Interior - 1 hour

Paint correction - Meguiar's D151 1 step - 2 - 3 hours

Wax - 1 hour

Glass & Trim - 1 - 2 hours
 
BobbyG said:
Your question has allot of variables and is really dependent on the actual condition of the car. The steps and times below are ballpark and can and will vary considerably from job to job..
Click to expand...

@ OP: I don't know your age, but it seems the older I get
my actual condition has changed, and, therefore, it seems it takes me longer to get the missus wide awake and ready to do her chores, including the vehicles. LOL :laughing:

Anyway: each vehicle' detail will have its own timetable---with practice, the total time allotted per vehicle should surely be reduced.
 
I absolutely agree on the different variables involved that need to be considered. I just wanted to get a rough estimate in general. I guess what I'm trying to find out here is if my time of 2.5 hrs is acceptable. lol.
 
The replies to your original question have been spot on by the other members so far. This question is like asking how long does it take to clean a house. Well it depends on how big it is or how dirty it is. As you repeat any given task you will improve and refine your technique. As you go you will experience what works and what's a waste of your time. Keep reading the forums and learning but most of all hands on experience is your best teacher. :dblthumb2:
 
rjgervacio said:
Hello Autogeeks,

I just want to share my experience today as I have started my journey in Auto Detailing. I bought my preliminary essential kit today at my local Pep Boys. I got Meguiars Gold Class Shampoo & Conditioner, Mothers Foaming All Wheel & Tire Cleaner, Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay Kit, tire brush & absorbing mf towel. I also got two buckets for free with this purchase! Anyway, I just finished washing tonight using the techniques taught here in Autogeek, and boy it does make a difference! I'll try to do the claying tomorrow if the weather is nice.



Anyway, I just wanted to have an idea how long you guys take to work on each step of the complete detailing process? Washing alone, I have already spent 2.5 hours.:buffing:
Click to expand...
Everyone is right man it pretty much is all dependent on the car and how perfect u want the car to be. I spent 8hrs on correction alone on one car. On the same token ive finished entire cars in 4hrs.

But 2.5hrs to wash it isnt really bad man specially considering its prob never been washed properly.
 
Any of you ever have a customer look at you like your crazy (or retarded) when they see your still washing @ the 2 hour mark?

I try to explain that without a good foundation (proper wash) the rest is meaningless

:rant:

Continue on...
 
Flash Gordon said:
Any of you ever have a customer look at you like your crazy (or retarded) when they see your still washing @ the 2 hour mark?

I try to explain that without a good foundation (proper wash) the rest is meaningless

:rant:

Continue on...
Click to expand...


LMAO. I could imagine! I mean when I washing my car and had my iPod on, I was like in the zone or something. Little did I know, it was already dark and 2.5 hrs had already pass.
 
I performed the following this weekend on a 4 door Blk M45 that was in B+ condition:

Wash
Blow dry and spot wipe with micro fiber towel
Cleaner Wax
Polish / Very Minor Corrections with M105&M205....and then 3M UltraFina SE
Re-wash after polish
Blow dry and spot wipe with micro fiber towel & inspect with Halogen Light
Wax – 2 coats
Inspection with Halogen light for left over wax and test against the sun on all panels
Windows and Interior (I suck at windows)

Total: 6hrs
 
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