The Little Things What sets us apart as "Detailers"

[allenk4]

A collection of small projects on various vehicles that I think are good examples of what a "Detailer" does that Car Washes don't

Find one small project on each car that you can point to with Pride and the Customer will say, "I can't believe you fixed that"


Hand Polished Door Sill

If you point it out before you get started and after completion, the Owner will notice it everytime

Find a hidden area and clean it VERY well

The owner of this vehicle mentioned that there was a smell that the "Other Detailer" couldn't get out

Well I found it

I noticed your hose had been run over, so I went ahead and replaced the fitting

Cost me $2.00

Removal of Scratches on Hard Interior Plastics

Takes 5 minutes

This is one you need to point out to the Customer Before & After

Discolored/Stained cubby from the center console

Cleaning didn't get it...so I re-dyed it

Polishing Interior Plastics

Solution Finish to Recondition Plastics instead of a Temporary Dressing

Make sure the Customer knows the difference, whether you are up charging them or not

 

[fly07sti]

Great work Kyle.

 

[larry33]

What did you do for: 1)Removal of Scratches on Hard Interior Plastics, and 2)Polishing Interior Plastics?

Thanks

 

[van185]

Great job. It's the little things sometimes that get noticed the most.

 

[Tato]

What did you do for: 1)Removal of Scratches on Hard Interior Plastics,

Thanks

Hahaha :iagree:, in advance - awesome detailing work!, but the above question I'm also interested if you can share some tips.

Kind Regards.

 

[allenk4]

Removing scratches from hard pebble grained plastic requires the gentle application of heat, followed quickly by a firm plastic putty knife

You can use a heat gun or even a long lighter


The interior surfaces can be easy or tricky

Many of the pieces can be removed, like the wood grained piece, others like the screen have to be polished in situ

Wood grain was clear coated, used my old PC, 3" Megs DAMF Cutting Pad and D300, speed 5. No finish polish was required

The screen was also done with the PC, Menz SI1500, 4" Lake Country White CCS, speed 4

When taping off interior trim for polishing make sure you clean off any dressing on surrounding area, so the tape will stick. If you are going to tape over any controls, make sure you "burn the tape" to make it less sticky. Tape slightly on to the surface you are polishing, you do not want to get polish into the space surrounding the piece as it is difficult to remove completely

 

[rickylexus250]

Nice tips, sometimes I bypass these faults because a owner isn't aware of them, plus the tip on interior plastics I will try on my car (I am going out to buy a heat gun now).

 

[Tato]

Thank you very much for reply, however I'm not sure how this could work. I mean, after reading your answer, nothing changed... I'm brazilian and sometimes few more words are needed for my understanding.

Can you please describe a 'step-by-step' how to heat plastic and use a knife?

If you can share, of course! I'm really interested and any help will be highly appreciated.

Kind Regards.

 

[DetailedByPrecision]

Thanks for sharing your work and tips.

 

[dcjredline]

Tato, you take a heat gun or even a hair dryer and CARRFULLY heat the scratched area (you'll see it get a little shiny that's when u know to stop) then just push that area with something, knife, ball, lighter but, anything that closely matches the grain or pattern will help

Sent from my XT1030 using AG Online

 

[allenk4]

Tato, you take a heat gun or even a hair dryer and CARRFULLY heat the scratched area (you'll see it get a little shiny that's when u know to stop) then just push that area with something, knife, ball, lighter but, anything that closely matches the grain or pattern will help

Sent from my XT1030 using AG Online

Same basic technique I use...except I use a cigarette lighter

No, I do not smoke...although you can't walk one block in LA without smelling Weed

 

[dcjredline]

Be careful with open flames is all.

Sent from my XT1030 using AG Online

 

[allenk4]

Please tag something on to the thread that might go unnoticed by others, but you are personally proud of

 

[Heisenberg]

Visor mirrors are a big one for me. I check those, door jambs, gas cap areas, and spare tire holding areas a lot of the time when I want to see what the last detailer did or didn't do.

Where was that area you cleaned to get rid of the smell? Seems like it's behind a seat or something - how did they miss that?

 

[allenk4]

Visor mirrors are a big one for me. I check those, door jambs, gas cap areas, and spare tire holding areas a lot of the time when I want to see what the last detailer did or didn't do.

Where was that area you cleaned to get rid of the smell? Seems like it's behind a seat or something - how did they miss that?

Take some pictures next time you do a spare tire holding area....you are on a short list of Detailers that address this area


The carpet stain is behind the passenger seat of a Lamborghini Gallardo LP 550-4
The seats go all the away back to the firewall so it is an area you wouldn't see unless you moved the seats up

 

[Tato]

Now I got it, thanks a bunch!

 

[Joe@Superior Shine]

Awesome!! You have the RIGHT mindset for business. We are mobile and always make it a point to leave the area we detail in cleaner than we found it. We sweep, pick up trash, bring in newspapers, etc.....

 

[Rod73]

I've learned something cool

Removing scratches from hard pebble grained plastic requires the gentle application of heat, followed quickly by a firm plastic putty knife

You can use a heat gun or even a long lighter


The interior surfaces can be easy or tricky

Many of the pieces can be removed, like the wood grained piece, others like the screen have to be polished in situ

Wood grain was clear coated, used my old PC, 3" Megs DAMF Cutting Pad and D300, speed 5. No finish polish was required

The screen was also done with the PC, Menz SI1500, 4" Lake Country White CCS, speed 4

When taping off interior trim for polishing make sure you clean off any dressing on surrounding area, so the tape will stick. If you are going to tape over any controls, make sure you "burn the tape" to make it less sticky. Tape slightly on to the surface you are polishing, you do not want to get polish into the space surrounding the piece as it is difficult to remove completely

 

[Moldavite]

indeed!!! thanks for sharing

 

[DetailKitty]

These are great ideas.
Thank you for the writeup :xyxthumbs: