No one forgets their first... Black Audi

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Iamonaboat

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So a friend asked me to detail his '11 Brilliant black Audi A4, and I said sure shouldn't be a problem. However, after poking around online, I quickly realized that I had my work cut out for me. They weren't lying. Trying to correct this paint, was extremely frustrating and time consuming, and still didn't really deliver the results that I wanted. However, the owner of the car was very pleased with the results, and I suppose they turned out "alright" compared to what I've seen on here.

Process and products:
PC 7424XP
CCS Orange pads
WG Uber Compound
WG Total Swirl Remover
Son1c #93 ProtoWax
Tuff Shine Tire cleaner
Sonax Wheel Cleaner
Tuff Chine Clearcoat
Various Brushes and AG MF towels.
Of course the vehicle was prepped by soaking in Pinnacle wash (Can't remember which one), two bucket with grit guard wash, dried with Cobra Guzzler, and Nanoskin'd with ONR was lubricant.

All in all, it took me about 14 hours to get the work done on this car, and I charged the owner $300 because I feel it didn't come out as good as it could have. I believe this was a fair deal to him, and kind of a crappy deal to me for the amount of work done on the vehicle.
One question I have is surrounding the Porter Cable.. I've read multiple times that this machine isn't the most powerful machine out there. Had I used a say a GG or Flex, would I have had better and faster results? I often found myself having to go over a panel twice to really get the correction that I wanted. Here are the pictures. Please let me know what you think, and thank you for looking.
After Washing

Getting all taped up


It was like this pretty much all over the vehicle. Doing a test spot on rear quarter panel.

First pass - Not bad

Second one turned out better. I knew it would be a long night.

Hood

Again - Not bad outcome


Passenger front to rear door


Nasty Tires - Only have a before pic as I up against the clock.

Some pics after washing after the compounding



I think this is the coolest picture I took

And after Polishing and waxing




Some rock chips in the hood

Had planned on using DodoJuice Blue Velvet Pro, but just received some of our very own Son1c's #93 Protowax in this month's detail box, so I decided to give a fellow forum member some love


After dropping it off at my friend's house

 
"No one forgets their first"...

^^^Great thread-starter title!!^^^ :props:

Bob
 
flex or rupes would have been faster and easier.. I used my PC to death and having switched to Rupes.. ahhh no more pain and numbness! I'd use your wage on this and buy one. Keep up the good work!
 
HD.Detailing said:
flex or rupes would have been faster and easier.. I used my PC to death and having switched to Rupes.. ahhh no more pain and numbness! I'd use your wage on this and buy one. Keep up the good work!
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Thank you very much! I've briefly looked into the Flex and Rupes but there are just so many models to choose from, I'm not sure which one I should pick up. I originally went with the PC because I'm really just starting out, and read multiple places that it's the safest machine for beginners. After that job though, I really think it's time for an upgrade.
 
Iamonaboat said:
Thank you very much! I've briefly looked into the Flex and Rupes but there are just so many models to choose from, I'm not sure which one I should pick up. I originally went with the PC because I'm really just starting out, and read multiple places that it's the safest machine for beginners. After that job though, I really think it's time for an upgrade.
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Rupes 21 with the 5 inch BP and you will be golden
 
That Audi looks great from my perspective you put some life back into he/she while leaving enough skin(clear coat) for you to work with next time, and as long as the customer was satisfied that should matter most cause they will tell everyone, and sooner or later you will get customers
 
jamesboyy said:
That Audi looks great from my perspective you put some life back into he/she while leaving enough skin(clear coat) for you to work with next time, and as long as the customer was satisfied that should matter most cause they will tell everyone, and sooner or later you will get customers
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QFT. It's easy to get caught up in chasing every defect in the paint, but, there needs to be boundaries in paint correction. If your customers are happy with the end results then that means your value to them is spot on.

Nice work! :props:
 
jamesboyy said:
That Audi looks great from my perspective you put some life back into he/she while leaving enough skin(clear coat) for you to work with next time, and as long as the customer was satisfied that should matter most cause they will tell everyone, and sooner or later you will get customers
Click to expand...

He was very pleased with the results. So pleased that he told his buddy who also owns and Audi, and he wants to hire me as well. Of course when I asked what color it is, he said black. At first I wanted to tell him :nomore:, but then I threw out the price of $500, and he didn't bat an eye. But before I do that, I'm definitely going to be picking up either a Flex or Rupes.
 
Iamonaboat said:
He was very pleased with the results. So pleased that he told his buddy who also owns and Audi, and he wants to hire me as well. Of course when I asked what color it is, he said black. At first I wanted to tell him :nomore:, but then I threw out the price of $500, and he didn't bat an eye. But before I do that, I'm definitely going to be picking up either a Flex or Rupes.
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I am happy to hear the great news, and buying either a rupes or flex will be money well spend keep the great work, and good luck
 
Nice job! Flex definitely would have sped things up...
 
On a somewhat related note.. My dad wants me to detail his black Sl 500 AMG.. From what I understand those have a ceramic clear that is very hard. Am I wasting my time trying to get correction with my PC and just wait till I get a flex or Rupes?
 
Hey man, great job... way to battle through.

Look, there's gonna be a lot of 'this machine... will speed things up...that machine will speed things up'... and this is true to an extent.

However, there are going to be paint systems that are going to require you doing two passes (not section passes... but passes, as you did on this detail) and maybe even more... depending on your combos and intended outcome. This Audi is a prime example and even with a Rupes or Flex... it wouldn't have been that much faster IMHO (and I own a Rupes 21.) I'll get flack for that but it's alright.

I would invest in some 5.1" HD lambswool pads and M100 if you don't have $400 to drop on a new machine. (For cutting through hard clear... or trashed paint.)

In the end, great job and keep heart.

-Gabe
 
Dellinger said:
Hey man, great job... way to battle through.

Look, there's gonna be a lot of 'this machine... will speed things up...that machine will speed things up'... and this is true to an extent.


-Gabe
Click to expand...

Yeah.. I just read through all 34 pages of the Flex 3401 Vs Rupes here on the forum.. I'm still pretty much torn as when I begun. I haven't heard of those pads before, but I'll give them a look. Thank you for the tip!
 
M100 and 105 are not the same, i know 105 is a PITA to work with at times, not sure of the 100. if you're going to get one machine, get the Flex, nothing more irritating than a Rupes cutting out on curved panels. You also have the option of going all the way down to a 4" pad with the Flex, Rupes is a 5" unless you get a second unit like the 75E. I think that paint was hammered and you did a fantastic job!
 
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