teenager looking for money on the side

BradsDetailing said:
My cars from gotprint, for 250, I believe were under $30. I don't think I would of spent more than that on 250. They were glossy and had a nice standard feel and thickness to them.
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Post some pics. I paid $44 shipped from Youprint. Haven't received them yet.
 
I know how to
wash
wax
tire shine
clean rims
use a Da


I do not know how to
clay-I have seen videos, but I dont want to risk ripping off paint with a clay bar, I understand the lubriant part, just not the tecnique to clay

wetsand, never tried, Just tried dr colorchip
 
I have had a few jobs already

2004ish Ford Escape
2010 mercedes station wagon (dont know the class name)
2009 (I think) Ford Explorer -just a simple wash

All together I got about 80 from these, Keep in mind they were friends and I did it for less becuase I know them
 
There's nothing wrong with helping friends or family, I'm just stating that you should document it so you can have some good before & afters to add to a website for advertising.

Here's a video on clay.
[video=youtube_share;AXopfjk7ZS8"]How to use Paint Clay - YouTube[/video]
 
Flatlander said:
Ok, I have an idea that no one has mentioned. I would just approach these kids and tell them that you LOVE to clean cars and you have lots of tools and waxes to use. Then tell them that you'll clean part of their car for free (the hood, trunk, whatever) and they can decide if they want you to finish the rest (for a fee). Either way, they get a clean, clayed, polished, waxed hood for free. It's a no-brainer and some are bound to bite. Good luck.
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It's not a good marketing tool... Might work for some but you might end up losing money first...

Tried this at an Auto Body Shop Class I took 3 years ago at took at Rio Hondo College.

He had a grey Honda Civic probably like a 99

It had those crappy paint jobs with a bunch of orange peel.

I color sanded half, buffed, polished half, (teacher asked me to show the class as a demonstration)

I did but then told the guy I can show him how to do the other half for free, but if he wants me to do it it by myself it will cost him $50. He said no thank you and just drove off with half the hood orange peel and the other half looking great haha
 
JSou said:
There's nothing wrong with helping friends or family, I'm just stating that you should document it so you can have some good before & afters to add to a website for advertising.

Here's a video on clay.
[video=youtube_share;AXopfjk7ZS8"]How to use Paint Clay - YouTube[/video]
Click to expand...

Document all your great results!
 
If you can use a da, you can clay, just make sure it's lubed up enough and you knead it often
 
Bill1234 said:
Im thinking around the 25 to 35 dollar price point as I currently dont know how dirty it is. I also dont think I will be needed clay , but I dont know as of now.
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Bill1234 said:
I know how to
wash
wax
tire shine
clean rims
use a Da


I do not know how to
clay-I have seen videos, but I dont want to risk ripping off paint with a clay bar, I understand the lubriant part, just not the tecnique to clay

wetsand, never tried, Just tried dr colorchip
Click to expand...

ALL CARS NEED CLAYING! Not to yell, but just to get the point across. :) But seriously, if it's not been clayed, then clay it. You want these people to come back to you because YOU make their cars look AND FEEL better than they do. If they don't know what claying is, then that's why you do it. It'll never hurt the paint, and it'll make all your work better than if you just try to wax it on top of dirty contaminated paint.

Get some ONR and use that for claying. It's the cheapest clay lube you'll ever find. Fill up a 32oz bottle with distilled water then drop 2 capfuls of ONR in it. Nice easy back and forth with the clay, turn it often, start at the roof and work your way down.

Save some smaller pieces for the lower parts of the car. After doing all the top surfaces, glass, hood, doors (above the side moldings) then you start on the lower sections. Doors, (but NOT the very bottom sections down by the rocker panels) then front bumper then rear bumper. Tear off some small pieces of clay for the lower panels, bottoms of the bumpers, rocker panels etc. Do NOT use that clay on the top of your paint again. Those areas are just too dirty and contaminated to risk paint damage from clay with some junk stuck inside it. :nomore:

You'll find that claying is your best friend. It's easy, and as long as you keep it clean, it'll not put anymore swirls in the paint than it started with. The up-side to it is that it'll leave a VERY nice feeling paint that most people with think you did some sort of buffing to achieve. :) Hit it with some DG 951 or Megs D156 and it'll be nice and slick.:props:

Unless you're really comfortable with hi-line cars (and possibly paying to repaint them) I'd maybe not jump on that Mercedes wagon. At least not with trying to buff it. Not saying you can't do a basic wash and spray wax on it, but you better have some GOOD microfiber towels. Having paint that is prone to getting all swirled up can come back to bite you. :rolleyes:
 
Where are you at on this Bill? what did you decide upon?
Nothing comes to a dreamer but a dream. Bust this thing out and post a thread. Let us know how you're progressing.

hernandez.art13 said:
Document all your great results!
Click to expand...

+1.

I never had a portfolio before landing at AGO. Sure wish I had those pics now.
 
JSou said:
Get a few jobs under your belt and document it then use something like SnapPages - Create a Website to create a website with your information and photos. It's free.

Start using facebook as advertisement. Ask friends, family, or fellow AGer's to like it.

For business cards, I'd use YouPrint | The Easy Way to Stand Out You can get 50 cards for $25.

I would check other detailer sites to get some ideas on how to price your work. You have to start somewhere, so don't just copy and paste, price it accordingly.

Best of luck OP.

(I laughed so hard on some of the responses, I almost spit up my drink.)
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AAAHH thanks!!
 
Vegas Transplant said:
Where are you at on this Bill? what did you decide upon?
Nothing comes to a dreamer but a dream. Bust this thing out and post a thread. Let us know how you're progressing.



+1.

I never had a portfolio before landing at AGO. Sure wish I had those pics now.
Click to expand...

Yep same here, and I worked on a lot of cars... For about 2 years... AGO has taught me the business side of Detailing.

That and to use the least aggressive/abrasive for products/materials and techniques lol
 
hernandez.art13 said:
Yep same here, and I worked on a lot of cars... For about 2 years... AGO has taught me the business side of Detailing.

That and to use the least aggressive/abrasive for products/materials and techniques lol
Click to expand...

So you pretty much learned/still learning everything here?
 
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