One thing missed that could ruin a day long detail job?

[Shade Tree]

Lately, I have found myself busy enough that I'm typically detailing 2 vehicles per day (wash, clay, single stage polish, sealant, leather & interior) and I'm catching myself missing the little things (I never leave the vehicle until everything is perfect though!).

I am one of those detailers where everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, has to be as perfect as possible before I accept the job as finished. With that said, I find that some of the simple little things can "ruin" an otherwise detail job ..........

Such as:

Missing an interior mirror
Wax smudge missed
Fingerprint on anything it shouldn't be
Smudged windows
A missed smudge on the headliner etc ............

Feel free to add anything that you would consider! Feed back please

 

[Impressions]

:iagree: it happens to the best of us.....lookin at the clock, tryin to get done, not always but sometimes

exhaust tips
behind liscense plates

 

[Shade Tree]

:iagree: it happens to the best of us.....lookin at the clock, tryin to get done, not always but sometimes

exhaust tips
behind liscense plates

Exhaust tips ....... been there.

I usually remove the plates for polishing so that one won't catch me. :dblthumb2:

 

[RaskyR1]

Having managed a few shops back in the day some of the other common missed items by employees were:

-Compound/polish in the cracks...especially sling! I absolutely hate this!

-Bugs still on the front of car
-Dirty jambs
-Weather stripping not dressed
-Missed areas in the engine bay (grease)
-Missed areas on Chrome bumpers
-Windows streaky
-Top edge on windows not cleaned
-Vanity mirrors missed
-Ash trays/glove box/center console missed
-Smudges on paint
-Debris/dirt under seats and between seats and center console
-Debris/dirt found in seams of seat cushions.
-Spare tire missed
-Personal belongs not placed back in car (happened way to often)
-Tar left on lowers
-Vents/dash not detailed

all I can think of right now.



Rasky

 

[Shade Tree]

Having managed a few shops back in the day some of the other common missed items by employees were:

-Compound/polish in the cracks...especially sling! I absolutely hate this!

-Bugs still on the front of car
-Dirty jambs
-Weather stripping not dressed
-Missed areas in the engine bay (grease)
-Missed areas on Chrome bumpers
-Windows streaky
-Top edge on windows not cleaned
-Vanity mirrors missed
-Ash trays/glove box/center console missed
-Smudges on paint
-Debris/dirt under seats and between seats and center console
-Debris/dirt found in seams of seat cushions.
-Spare tire missed
-Personal belongs not placed back in car (happened way to often)
-Tar left on lowers
-Vents/dash not detailed

all I can think of right now.



Rasky

I had the same problems when double checking an employee's work ...... didn't take long before they were finding things missed before I did! Lol

Good list, thanks for the addition!

 

[RaskyR1]

I had the same problems when double checking an employee's work ...... didn't take long before they were finding things missed before I did! Lol

Good list, thanks for the addition!

It's always nice having a second set of eyes IMO...much like my full time job actually. All our engineering changes are reviewed by several people before they are released. rops:

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

This is exactly why I created a drill-down list to use before delivering a vehicle back to a customer. Once I think I'm "done" I grab the list, and go around the vehicle checking off each item to verify it's up to my standards. If I find something I missed, I mark it to come back to and fix once I'm finished with the rest of the inspection.

 

[Shade Tree]

It's always nice having a second set of eyes IMO...much like my full time job actually. All our engineering changes are reviewed by several people before they are released. rops:

It's tough to find someone trustworthy enough (or good enough at their job) that you aren't finding yourself second guessing a process or or capabilities of the other.

Quality control is what it's all about!

 

[Y2KSVT]

I've just begun what I would call actual detailing. I've always kept my cars clean, but I've now got 2 cars under my belt, as far as polishing goes. The thing I've noticed myself missing on both cars, whether it be with polishing, sealing/waxing, etc, would be the side mirrors. I mean, they stick out of the car so it should be tough to miss, but I go right under them when I transition from the fender to the door. By the time I'm past the mirror, I tell myself I'll come back and hit it next.

Mark

 

[JonMiles]

The thing that drives me nuts is when the wheels and tires are cleaned and dressed but the wheel wells are grey and unprotected. It sticks out like a sore thumb.

Also, streaks after the interior dressing dries on the dash, one quick wipe takes care of the problem but too many people don't go back to inspect the interior for this problem.

 

[C. Charles Hahn]

It's tough to find someone trustworthy enough (or good enough at their job) that you aren't finding yourself second guessing a process or or capabilities of the other.

Quality control is what it's all about!

Very true point. I have a buddy that I used to have work with me all the time on details and he always did a very good, thorough job. In the past couple years he's gotten extremely lazy and likes to skip steps, cut corners, and leave things unfinished just because he doesn't feel like putting forth the effort to do it right.

I've stopped letting him work with me as a result -- some of his corner-cutting actually made things tougher on me since I'd have a bunch of rework to do fixing his mistakes. I can't be put in the position of playing watchdog to make sure someone else doesn't mess with the proper workflow of a detail I'm doing when it could actually cause damage.

 

[ballfan4141]

I was thinking of this all week and felt a little inferrior to some of you guys, but now I know you guys have the same problems.

do you guys start with the inside of the car or the outside.

 

[AeroCleanse]

Its time to get aeronautical and use a checklist.

 

[Rob T]

Having managed a few shops back in the day some of the other common missed items by employees were:
.....
....
-
-Top edge on windows not cleaned

This is a common one. It's easy to forget to roll down the windows part way in order to clean the glass that normally goes into the door frame when rolled up.

 

[Shade Tree]

Very true point. I have a buddy that I used to have work with me all the time on details and he always did a very good, thorough job. In the past couple years he's gotten extremely lazy and likes to skip steps, cut corners, and leave things unfinished just because he doesn't feel like putting forth the effort to do it right.

I've stopped letting him work with me as a result -- some of his corner-cutting actually made things tougher on me since I'd have a bunch of rework to do fixing his mistakes. I can't be put in the position of playing watchdog to make sure someone else doesn't mess with the proper workflow of a detail I'm doing when it could actually cause damage.

Absolutely agree.

I also have a friend of mine that will give me a hand 1 or 2 days per week. I keep it very basic as far as what I need from him and I haven't had any problems as a result. Besides, he wants to learn so I take that as a decent indicator as to his capabilities.

 

[Shade Tree]

I was thinking of this all week and felt a little inferrior to some of you guys, but now I know you guys have the same problems.

do you guys start with the inside of the car or the outside.

It depends.

First thing is the exterior cleansing ........ I usually like to get the interior finished up first after the wash.

 

[Shade Tree]

This is a common one. It's easy to forget to roll down the windows part way in order to clean the glass that normally goes into the door frame when rolled up.

:iagree: ............ this mainly would involve the framed doors rather than the non post doors for me.