Tools / Product Cost Almost = Cost of Job

KJW Detailing

KJW Detailing

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I have a client requesting their horse trailer to be detailed. The trailer is 17' and its entirely brushed aluminum, diamond plate, and fiberglass roof. I quoted the job at 800$. I would have qouted 1k but I'm close with the family and they've given me a lot of business. Anyway, in order to do this job properly, I have to buy a rotary (flex), several wool metal polishing pads, metal polishing kit, etc.

Is it worth making such a large purchase for a single job? Obviously, I'm trying to think positive, towards the jobs to come in the future.
 
I use my DA to polish diamond plated and aluminum with no problems and is the fiber glass paint with clear?
 
It's always good to have the tools, because it is almost guaranteed you will use them again. My dad use to be a carpenter and when he needed a speciality tool he would buy it, and for sure would use them again and again. Just my 2 cents.
 
If its a one time deal it would be a tough call to spend all the money just for that project, however if you can set it up where maybe you can do it every couple of months and can use the tools for other jobs IMO I think it's worth it + he's a family friend and he's giving you other business. Sometimes you have to take one to receive better
 
Think of it as an investment - so you're close with the family, awesome.

Do your best work, obtain the necessary equipment, and the word will spread to others with similar requests.. ergo, investment should pay back over time..
 
I hate buying tools that I think I will use once, however I have so many that I use more than once, if you can afford it do, would not really hurt
 

Coming from a flex owner.

I would suggest getting a Makita or Dewalt rotary and save the money. Although a flex is nice these 2 are work horses and will get the job done.

 
Well, look at it this way... How much of that equipment can be used on future jobs? Sure, you have to buy a Flex, but you don't have to buy a new Flex for every job. You can use that equipment for other jobs for, hopefully, years to come. I'm grossly exaggerating the numbers here, but say you use $100 in materials for this job and invest $700 in equipment. At the end of the job, you essentially still have $700, but instead of it being cash in your pocket its tied up in capital. Don't sweat it.
 
A rotary is a great tool to have but you can save a lot of money getting a Dewalt or Mikita. The later goes down to 600 rpm while the Dewalt is a min of 1000 rom. Both are about half that of a Flex.

I can't justify the PE14-2 because my 3401 gets most of the polishing time these days.

YMMV
 
Damn! In the time it took me to write one post, five others replied! Either I type slowly or this community is awesome. Or both...
 
I was thinking this same thing but I made my money back in a week. So if you pick up another job you're set.
 
I understand the Flex is probably the superior machine, but you can get a DWP849X for $100 less and use that in the meantime, and wait for more rotary-required jobs to come in to invest in the better machine down the road. Granted, a second job of that nature would cover the costs regardless, but it is $100 in your pocket.
 
Even a properly polished and protected metal trailer will eventually succumb to oxidation. The difference on the second go around, it may be less work because the condition is improved upon its initial detail. The owner is also heavily involved in the horse scene an travels regularly to shows/competitions. The trailer actually stays at a friends home, whom is also involved and owns two trailers. Obviously, the biggest investment is the flex, but this would open up the opportunity to polish boats, rv's, etc.
 
You might not make any money, but, you are getting a "free" polisher. And it will last your whole career. It will surely get used again and make money on that one.

Although i second the dewalt or makita advice. My Dewalt is a quality product at a discount.
 
It's also a write off, so I'll make a bit of that back come tax season.
 
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