Too Much Time Spent

I see nobody mentioned the additional 12 hrs of curing time for paint sealants.
 
thebamboo23 said:
Hernandez you gotta step away with the old habits.. That sounds reasonable for a not so well detail job at a body

On a 1 step, sedan, semi trashed.. Achieving 80% correction.. 6-7.5 hours
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That's what I am starting to learn on here. "Actual detail work"

But at the same time. I charge $200 for all 4 steps no interior. And the cars i'm working on are beat up daily drivers. So if I do the job in 4 hours that's $50 an hour.

I am doing 50% off for first time customers haha

That's why I like the auto scrub, same results faster. I prefer to color sand with the DA not by hand.
 
The best advice I cannot give is listen to your clients. I always ask them to point out there concerns, and then cater to those concerns. The average automobile driver will not really know the difference between a car, that was only washed and clay barred, and one that was polished to perfection.

As of lately, most of my customers are more than pleased with just a thorough wash, clay, and wax. This allows me more time to focus on the interior, which is where most are truely concerned.

If they have scratches, and are concerned, I will address that also.

I've learned that detailing is generally short lived, unless they are repeat customers. Usually they are dirty within a month or so. People have a difficult time seeing the value in a proper detail, until they see how much longer it stays clean. That is my main selling point, longevity.

The average " simple" detail takes about 5 hours on average for me also.
I know I rambled a bit, but that's my 2 cents.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using AG Online
 
statusdetailing said:
There are numerous factors that affect how long a vehicle will take.

The two big ones are the size of vehicle and quality of your clientele.

Don't underestimate how long a jeep or a suburban will take compared to a Kia Rio. Charge more for big vehicles and a little extra time is no big deal. For example, on interiors: I charge $90+ for small cars but $150+ for tank size suburbans.

Your clientele is also a HUGE factor. If your prices are fairly low (and they will be naturally as you are getting started) and you're marketing heavily on craigslist and to dealers. You'll be getting some extremely difficult, candy corn and melted gummy worm cars.

Everybody starts here, with these super hard junkyard cars. There is no way around it. It's grueling, hard work but you will learn a ton.


Also, don't underestimate how long even a good one step polish will take. Beware, a full, true paint correction can take 2 days +. Don't listen to guys that say otherwise. Charge accordingly.

The answer to your question: I spend about 3-6 hours on the average, full detail, without polishing. So no, 5-6 hours is not too long.

I can hear your desperation even in your short post. I could be wrong, but I'd bet that you are getting burned out from not charging enough. If you aren't charging enough, 5 to 6 hours is a long hard day. If you are charging $30+ per hour, it doesn't seem so hard any more haha.
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This is a great post!! :props:

Jeremy is right, it can be long and hard if your doing this alone. If you doing things for a customer then you have to ask yourself, and I doing a show car paint correction for a daily driver? If so is the customer going to appreciate the hard work and going to keep the paint looking flawless or are they going to get it all dirty and come time for it to be wash run it through the $5 swirl and scratch machine?

If they are paying for the works then give it to them.

http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum.../23142-difference-between-swirl-squirrel.html
 
I use to wonder the same thing and think to myself jeez why is this taking so long. Then I started to do research on how other detailers do things and got little tips along the way.

Equipment can be a big part of it. If you dont have the right brushes for a tire or the right applicator sponge for the trim dressing or whatever it can all take minutes or chunks of time from a job. Even little things like doing too many passes when polishing can be a huge time waster. Also look into things like a Speedy prep towel or a foam cannon and that will greately reduce your time spent on vehicles as well.

At the end of the day and your done with the vehicle sit down and think to yourself "what can I do next time that can help me speed things up". I.E not polishing over a area twice just to chase down deeper RIDS or scrub down a tire more times than necessary when its probably already clean.

I am always evaluating myself and my process' for better improvement and its helped me tons. Ive gone down from doing a wash, clay, 1 step polish and seal job + interior with leather cleaning and extraction down to 8 hours from my initial 10-12 hours.
 
ken tuep said:
The best advice I cannot give is listen to your clients. I always ask them to point out there concerns, and then cater to those concerns. The average automobile driver will not really know the difference between a car, that was only washed and clay barred, and one that was polished to perfection.

As of lately, most of my customers are more than pleased with just a thorough wash, clay, and wax. This allows me more time to focus on the interior, which is where most are truely concerned.

If they have scratches, and are concerned, I will address that also.

I've learned that detailing is generally short lived, unless they are repeat customers. Usually they are dirty within a month or so. People have a difficult time seeing the value in a proper detail, until they see how much longer it stays clean. That is my main selling point, longevity.

The average " simple" detail takes about 5 hours on average for me also.
I know I rambled a bit, but that's my 2 cents.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777 using AG Online
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I enjoyed it!

Yeah i have come to sadly learn that in the detail world. Customers care about the interior more than exterior.
Was thinking about cutting the middle man. Buy a car and restore it. Then flip it. But that's probably a whole nother thread in the future. I dont want to get the guy mad and start a new thread muahaha.
 
Ryry11 said:
I'm still amazed I hear that you guys can get a full polish job done in one day. I want to know what I'm doing wrong! I understand these are usually customers cars, but do you take longer on your personal cars?

I tend to be a perfectionist for the most part, not a pro by any means whatsoever,but not a newbie either, just a weekend warrior that enjoys the hobby of keeping the families rides in great shape. How do you go about an average mid size car and doing a full polish job in under 8 hours? I mean when you on average do 3-4 section passes per section, then throw in decon and putting on an lsp, how?!

I'm amazed at most of the work I see on here, and just want to know any tips/tricks that could speed up the process. I feel I'm taking too long on every car I do. While they turn out great, I'm limited to time and weather as I don't have an enclosed area most of the time to work.
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I too hold myself up to a standard that is very high when it comes to work in general. When doing this for a living for the average daily driver car owners, you tend to lose your arse in the beginning until you figure out that you as the detailer are the one with the trained eye to see the stuff that you're seeing along the way through a job.

You inspect the car, then you engage in polishing the car to your standards. Some time down the line of doing this you realize that your first correction step (done with good technique and the right product for that car) will far exceed the expectations of most customers. Once you come to that realization, you can then begin to make bank as a production detailer and still produce nicer work than most of your local competition.

A process of constant improvement combined with many corrections under your belt changes things and allows you to obsess more on the income and pleasing the customer's eye and thinking less about what you think looks great to you. You eventually find out that there is a difference in the mindsets between a hobbyist and a business man.

Go at a business with the mindset of a hobbyist as a lot of us do in the beginning, and you find that you can't pay the bills and have a little left to build a savings account, it's always a struggle. This tends to beat one into a state of reasonableness, then you learn you need to change your mindset as a detailer and do what you have to do to slightly exceed the expectation of your customers. All customers are different so it takes a while to get to know what will please what customers.

Get in this mindset and you'll begin to shave a lot of wasted time off of your jobs. It's kind of like laying down a blanket insurance policy of 5 million dollars in liability and $300,000. in garage keepers to detail $10,000. - $50,000. cars. Eventually you get sick of paying unnecessarily high premiums and go out and get insured for exactly what it is that you're doing. It's all in the mindset and in the end (having changed your mindset) you save a ton of money.
 
RhetoricMixes said:
I use to wonder the same thing and think to myself jeez why is this taking so long. Then I started to do research on how other detailers do things and got little tips along the way.

Equipment can be a big part of it. If you dont have the right brushes for a tire or the right applicator sponge for the trim dressing or whatever it can all take minutes or chunks of time from a job. Even little things like doing too many passes when polishing can be a huge time waster. Also look into things like a Speedy prep towel or a foam cannon and that will greately reduce your time spent on vehicles as well.

At the end of the day and your done with the vehicle sit down and think to yourself "what can I do next time that can help me speed things up". I.E not polishing over a area twice just to chase down deeper RIDS or scrub down a tire more times than necessary when its probably already clean.

I am always evaluating myself and my process' for better improvement and its helped me tons. Ive gone down from doing a wash, clay, 1 step polish and seal job + interior with leather cleaning and extraction down to 8 hours from my initial 10-12 hours.
Click to expand...


+1 better equipment can also make detailing more enjoyable. I freaking love using my foam cannon.
 
Get in this mindset and you'll begin to shave a lot of wasted time off of your jobs. It's kind of like laying down a blanket insurance policy of 5 million dollars in liability and $300,000. in garage keepers to detail $10,000. - $50,000. cars. Eventually you get sick of paying unnecessarily high premiums and go out and get insured for exactly what it is that you're doing. It's all in the mindset and in the end (having changed your mindset) you save a ton of money.
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This is an excellent example!
 
statusdetailing said:
+1 better equipment can also make detailing more enjoyable. I freaking love using my foam cannon.
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Im not gonna lie. Sometimes i feel like i want to make up an excuse just to use it :dblthumb2:! But really besides the fun part it really does help cut down the grime, bugs and tar big time before a mitt is even on the car
 
To repeat what others have said,...EQUIPMENT. I started w/ a Little Green Steam Machine by Bissell. Emptied it at least 4x every job. Upgraded to a extractor and cut my time in half.

Also,....REPETITION. I cut my teeth on absolute crap cars that looked extremely good when I was finished. Those same cars that took 6-8 hrs. now take half that. You learn the ins n outs the more you do.

An hour to clay a car? ugh. No way. Get faster or get a new job. You're competing w/ detailers who are faster and cheaper. Remember, most clients are value shoppers so efficiency is paramount, i.e. if you're faster you can charge less, equating to more clients.

Perfect your craft.
 
Thanks all for the insight thus far. Keep the comments rolling.
 
If you have the right polishes and Pads working together the polish time is short. My time is usually spent on the inside of car. Getting in all the nooks and crannies.....
 
thebamboo23 said:
Hernandez you gotta step away with the old habits.. That sounds reasonable for a not so well detail job at a body

On a 1 step, sedan, semi trashed.. Achieving 80% correction.. 6-7.5 hours
Click to expand...

Can you describe the process? So I can continue learning.

Yeah that way of thinking is for body shops, which is where I learned but mow stepping away...
 
tuscarora dave said:
I too hold myself up to a standard that is very high when it comes to work in general. When doing this for a living for the average daily driver car owners, you tend to lose your arse in the beginning until you figure out that you as the detailer are the one with the trained eye to see the stuff that you're seeing along the way through a job.

You inspect the car, then you engage in polishing the car to your standards. Some time down the line of doing this you realize that your first correction step (done with good technique and the right product for that car) will far exceed the expectations of most customers. Once you come to that realization, you can then begin to make bank as a production detailer and still produce nicer work than most of your local competition.

A process of constant improvement combined with many corrections under your belt changes things and allows you to obsess more on the income and pleasing the customer's eye and thinking less about what you think looks great to you. You eventually find out that there is a difference in the mindsets between a hobbyist and a business man.

Go at a business with the mindset of a hobbyist as a lot of us do in the beginning, and you find that you can't pay the bills and have a little left to build a savings account, it's always a struggle. This tends to beat one into a state of reasonableness, then you learn you need to change your mindset as a detailer and do what you have to do to slightly exceed the expectation of your customers. All customers are different so it takes a while to get to know what will please what customers.

Get in this mindset and you'll begin to shave a lot of wasted time off of your jobs. It's kind of like laying down a blanket insurance policy of 5 million dollars in liability and $300,000. in garage keepers to detail $10,000. - $50,000. cars. Eventually you get sick of paying unnecessarily high premiums and go out and get insured for exactly what it is that you're doing. It's all in the mindset and in the end (having changed your mindset) you save a ton of money.
Click to expand...

TD,

When it comes to facing reality, you always have the best posts. Great info as always! :props:
 
Slick773 said:
I steam clean inside & 2 step polish and wax on exterior....
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Alright - my take........ I can spend up to three days by myself on a detail believe it or not! To steam the entirety of the interior I take about 6 hours alone. To three step the exterior I take about 6 hours! A 12 hour day goes into the interior and exterior at a somewhat basic level for us. With that said - we can get two crewmembers DETAILING a ride in about 5 to 6 hours...... if it needs a 3 step on the exterior it takes 2 to 3 members 9 hours plus (18 to 27 man hours!) A detail to most is not a detail to those that produce top notch quality - even on these forums. I have learned this from time put into details according to those on these forums - either they are HIGHLY understating their times, or they are not producing a true detail IMO of course. To provide a true detail in and out minus paint correction, one is looking at approx. 20 + man hours
 
I don't understand why paint correction for you Pro Detailers takes so much longer? Not saying that you guys are wrong. All I am trying to figure out is. What am I missing?
 
hernandez.art13 said:
I don't understand why paint correction for you Pro Detailers takes so much longer? Not saying that you guys are wrong. All I am trying to figure out is. What am I missing?
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Are you talking about a paint correction or a PAINT CORRECTION? LOL - there is a difference man. To break every 1 ft by 1 ft panel down and correct each of those panels takes ALOT of time! One can correct one panel and say, " Ok, I have the method down - Im gonna 4 step this entire vehicle!" That's not a true correction IMO.... that WILL leave imperfections in certain areas. This is what takes so long - working panel by panel and perfecting as you go - not thinking that what works for this panel will work for the entirety of the paint/clear!
 
B&B Tennessee said:
Are you talking about a paint correction or a PAINT CORRECTION? LOL - there is a difference man. To break every 1 ft by 1 ft panel down and correct each of those panels take ALOT of time! One can correct one panel and say, " Ok, I have the method down - Im gonna 4 step this entire vehicle!" That's not a true correction IMO.... that WILL leave imperfections in certain areas. This is what takes so long - working panel by panel and perfecting as you go - not thinking that what works for this panel will work for the entirety of the paint/clear!
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Oh... Did not know that. I do more paint correction for the customer to look at it and say wow looks good. I think your what you do is TRULY CORRECTED Even to the trained eye. Now I got yeah.

Hmm... Now to learn the proper techniques and steps. Lol
 
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