Deep Gloss Auto Salon: Average Joe/Jane Detail - The Power of a 1 Step!

Deep Gloss Auto Salon

Deep Gloss Auto Salon

New member
Joined
Jun 16, 2007
Messages
2,038
Reaction score
0
Deep Gloss Auto Salon
Chevrolet Suburban
Average Joe/Jane Detail- The Power of a 1 Step.​

Often times we seem to get caught up in the complexity of our work so much to the extent that it may intimidate a person just getting into the craft. My inspiration to post this job was to help the average Joe and Jane see what can be achieved with minimal cash investment –only one buffer, one color pad and one polish were used for this job… Granted, this was not 100% correction.​

This vehicle is a family hauler daily driver. Rain, sleet, hail, snow, it has seen it all. The owner knows the value in full correction as he has contracted me to maintain his CTS-V for the past 3 years but, considering the duty of this vehicle, full correction is not something that I encouraged.​


One thing I have noticed my customers respect is when I don’t “sell” them on services that are not appropriate for the duty of the vehicle and/or discourage full correction if they do not intend to exert the proper effort to maintain it. By doing so, I have earned the respect and trust of my customers to do the right thing for each vehicle. I am not “tooting my own horn” here but rather, I am sharing my approach that has worked very well for me should you care to adopt such an approach.

My customer purchased this vehicle used and, as you would expect (and will see) it was (key word is “was”) hammered!​

Paint Correction Process:
Power Finish
Cyan Hydro Pad
Meguiars V2 DA​

*lighting used to highlight defects was Fenix TK-11 240 lumen led flashlight)*​

Before
IMG_0431.jpg
​

After
IMG_0432.jpg
​

Before:
IMG_0434.jpg
​

After:
IMG_0435.jpg
​

50/50 shot:
IMG_0437.jpg
​

Video Walk Around After 1st Section completed (click on image to play video):​


​

Dent Before – Not easy to notice so I circled the damaged area – notice the body line is not as pronounced as it should be:
IMG_0446-1.jpg
​

After PDR – MUCH better – now to get rid of that scratch!
IMG_0442.jpg
​

After Shots:
IMG_0451.jpg
​

IMG_0508.jpg
​

IMG_0502.jpg
​

IMG_0484.jpg
​

IMG_0482.jpg
​


Thanks for looking!​
 
Last edited:
Thanks for posting a one step. And show how sometimes how well it can correct.
 
Looking FANTASTIC, even for a one-step! If you would have said it was a 2-step, I would still be impressed!

I agree on not trying to oversell! Right on. I think clients of high end detailing kinda know when they are being "yanked", and if they permit it, tongue in cheek, it is only until they can find somebody else they trust more. Which is why you have been able to attract so much business from their client list ;) Keep it up! Great job as always.
 
Wow, amazing turn-around. The Cyan Hydro-Tech Pad finishes down really well.

What LSP did you use?
 
Nice work! :props:

Power finish has done very well for me on the newer black GM vehicles.
 
Awesome work! Looks like you did a multi-step polish. I'll have to try some power finish...
 
Awesome results. Never thought to try Power Finish with a Cyan pad - I'll have to give it a shot some time.
 
Truly impressive my friend! The fact that you didn't need to break out the Makita is even more impressive considering the exceptional results. With that much real estate to machine polish a one stepper that good is a Godsend for both you and your customer. :props:
 
HighEndDetail said:
Thanks for posting a one step. And show how sometimes how well it can correct.
Click to expand...

As I am sure you well know 1st hand, when you dial in a good polish/pad combo for the paint you happen to be working on it can be very effective!


jlb85 said:
Looking FANTASTIC, even for a one-step! If you would have said it was a 2-step, I would still be impressed!

I agree on not trying to oversell! Right on. I think clients of high end detailing kinda know when they are being "yanked", and if they permit it, tongue in cheek, it is only until they can find somebody else they trust more. Which is why you have been able to attract so much business from their client list ;) Keep it up! Great job as always.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind words Jacob.

I just try to treat my clients like I would a friend.. I want them to spend their money wisely so that they can find value in my services. I am not doing myself or them any favors to "sell" them on full correction only for them to realize it is not reasonable for them to maintain it and never come back.

PS: glad to see you guys have been busy!

Emile said:
Wow, amazing turn-around. The Cyan Hydro-Tech Pad finishes down really well.

What LSP did you use?
Click to expand...

Thanks Emile.. Like I said to Ed, when you dial in the right pad/polish combo to suit the paint it is amazing the results that can be achieved...

The hard GM paint (relatively speaking) plays very well with PF and the cyan pad finishes down good with it as well

detail viking said:
:dblthumb2: You just sold a ton of Power Finish. Great job! :buffing:
Click to expand...

Thanks DV!

evilwrx said:
Beautiful job.:props:
Click to expand...

Thank you!

RaskyR1 said:
Nice work! :props:

Power finish has done very well for me on the newer black GM vehicles.
Click to expand...

Thanks Chad!

I agree with you, GM paint plays really nice with PF!

CEE DOG said:
Nice work and great thread!
Click to expand...


Thanks Corey!
cobalt9123 said:
Awesome work! Looks like you did a multi-step polish. I'll have to try some power finish...
Click to expand...

Thank you, I think you will like PF -it is a very versatile product

[email protected] said:
Awesome results. Never thought to try Power Finish with a Cyan pad - I'll have to give it a shot some time.
Click to expand...

Thanks Matt.. It was the post of another member that got me thinking about the versatility of PF. In the thread that got me thinking a rep from Menzerna came and he worked PF with multiple pads of verying aggresiveness.

My apologies to the author of the thread for not remembering exactly who it was.

RTexasF said:
Truly impressive my friend! The fact that you didn't need to break out the Makita is even more impressive considering the exceptional results. With that much real estate to machine polish a one stepper that good is a Godsend for both you and your customer. :props:
Click to expand...

Thanks for the kind words Bud!

When doing one steps I always reach for my DA because I have to get a respectable amount of correction in order to feel satisfied and to justify my wages. If I were to reach for my rotary I would surely have to do a second step to clean up the paint

You aren't kidding about the mass of sheet metal on this beast...:buffing:
 
Way cool!

From what I've been reading, it seems to me that you need to invest a LOT more money, time, tools, knowledge and effort to get a LITTLE bit better results over what can be done with a single step and mid-range products. For some, that's more than acceptable. (And I understand that 100%) But it's nice to see those who see the value in very good results done inexpensively (both in terms of time and money!)

I'm in that camp. Being new to this, the investment is pretty big. Sure, pads are $12 and a good Menzerna polish might only be $40, but when you have to buy several pads, polishes, shampoos, etc. It can easily cost HUNDREDS just to get into it. I hope to improve my skills AND tools over time; but my 'initial investment' included a lot of 'consumer grade' products like Megs UC and UP.
 
Great job! I'll have to give Power Finish a try.

Sent from my Desire HD using AG Online
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top