PurpleTowel
New member
- Jul 12, 2015
- 231
- 0
So I have been detailing cars—my own cars—most of my adult life. Trial and error throughout the years has taught me a ton, and this forum has been a huge help, too. By day, I sit behind a computer and lead a team of very talented creatives at a marketing agency, but for the last year or so, I have been contemplating starting a side gig on the weekend detailing cars. I enjoy it, and if I can make a bit of extra cash on the side, that helps in so many ways.
So this past weekend, I had my first opportunity to do a paid detailing gig. The car that was dropped off early Saturday was a 2004 (first generation) Cadillac CTS-V 6-speed in black. The car isn't a DD and it only has 17,000 miles on the clock, so it wasn't a total basket case to begin with. Lots of swirls in the paint, plenty of oxidation in the clear and more than a few scratches throughout the car, just from being around kids and parking lots.
Total time spent was just a tick under 12.5 hours. It was a full wash outside, paint decontamination, wheels and barrels cleaned and waxed, paint correction, polish and wax/sealant. Windows were decontaminated and polished, engine was detailed, carpets scrubbed and the exhaust tips were polished. I probably don't work nearly as fast as most of you guys, so I'm not really working at peak efficiency. My rental house garage and facilities are sub-par by my standards, being cramped, dark and with terrible airflow, but I make due.
I'm happy that it went so well. The owner was blown away, telling me the car never looked this good when it was rolled off the showroom floor. The results couldn't have been better, though I was shocked at how hard the Cadillac clearcoat is. Even with a maroon Meguiar's pad and M105, it still refused to cut some of the heavier scratches. I've never worked on a car with paint this hard.
Still, thrilled with the final product. Happy that the first one is out of the way. Now, to find more jobs.
Before:
So this past weekend, I had my first opportunity to do a paid detailing gig. The car that was dropped off early Saturday was a 2004 (first generation) Cadillac CTS-V 6-speed in black. The car isn't a DD and it only has 17,000 miles on the clock, so it wasn't a total basket case to begin with. Lots of swirls in the paint, plenty of oxidation in the clear and more than a few scratches throughout the car, just from being around kids and parking lots.
Total time spent was just a tick under 12.5 hours. It was a full wash outside, paint decontamination, wheels and barrels cleaned and waxed, paint correction, polish and wax/sealant. Windows were decontaminated and polished, engine was detailed, carpets scrubbed and the exhaust tips were polished. I probably don't work nearly as fast as most of you guys, so I'm not really working at peak efficiency. My rental house garage and facilities are sub-par by my standards, being cramped, dark and with terrible airflow, but I make due.
I'm happy that it went so well. The owner was blown away, telling me the car never looked this good when it was rolled off the showroom floor. The results couldn't have been better, though I was shocked at how hard the Cadillac clearcoat is. Even with a maroon Meguiar's pad and M105, it still refused to cut some of the heavier scratches. I've never worked on a car with paint this hard.
Still, thrilled with the final product. Happy that the first one is out of the way. Now, to find more jobs.
Before:
