What did you do today, in regards to detailing?

[Tasmania]

1990 Fox body

2 step correction...kinda under the gun time wise he has a car show on Friday.
I got it all washed/decon/clayed....masked off and 1/2 done with first cut.
Griots FCC & microfiber pads

Car is in ok condition...stones chips....trim is a mess...doing the best I can

Few pics

Vanilla Ice ice baby 5.0 roof turned back so my hair can blow

 

[Bosko]

Vanilla Ice ice baby 5.0 roof turned back so my hair can blow

 

[DFB]

Yes we think a like! I'm getting a feeling that the others are over taking them is sales and product range. To be honest this company most likely just sell the detailing products
but are not into detailing/car cleaning etc,etc IMO

Don't get me wrong, I still buy a lot from them and have supported them from the very beginning.

I think the competition has exploded over the last decade, and unfortunately for them, they don't sell any of the "it" brands like TRC, Koch, P&S ect, so customers shop elsewhere. I don't think the brands and products they sell are bad, just that things have moved on and they haven't really evolved to cater to new brands.

 

[Tasmania]

Don't get me wrong, I still buy a lot from them and have supported them from the very beginning.

I think the competition has exploded over the last decade, and unfortunately for them, they don't sell any of the "it" brands like TRC, Koch, P&S ect, so customers shop elsewhere. I don't think the brands and products they sell are bad, just that things have moved on and they haven't really evolved to cater to new brands.

I agree 100%

 

[Lance Mark]

I closed my 2nd detailing job today. Being dropped off tomorrow. It's a 2021 HD Trike. My jam. It's been a while since I've had to sell my services, nearly 25 years in fact when I painted professionally.

First thing I did was anchor him. What do you know about detailing and how much were you hoping to spend?

He knows very little and his budget was $150.

I am not a hard sell. I'm an honest sell. So I gave it my best shot.

I will properly wash it, and hand apply a couple coats of wax for $150. I have a feeling you were hoping for more though.....

(This is my favorite part. I get to tell him the story.)

....or I will wash it properly with a high quality wash made to leave nothing but clear coat. But I won't stop there. I'll go after embedded iron particulates and make sure any organic matter is removed as well. At this point, it will get clay barred by hand to remove particulates left after cleaning and decontamination. Once the surface is ready, I'll carefully remove just enough clear coat to level the surface in all but the most severe instances, and even there it will look way better. All of this will be done by machine using high quality abrasives. Once it's done, i will prime, coat, and top the surface with a coating I have imported directly from Germany. $600 (i really wanted the job and was willing to give him a great price)

....or we could get it cleaned and put nice wax on it. It won't be as protected, and i haven't seen a gloss more reflective than my topper, but....

I'll go with the $600 option, Lance. Do I pay you up front?

Nope, you happily hand me the cash when you see the difference when you pick it up. You made the right choice.

I'm a newb, but I'm detailing...for money....this rocks!!! I don't think ive ever made money doing something I've enjoyed so much. I have a feeling guys are getting a bit more than $600 to coat a Harley. I'm going to log my time and try and get a dial on how well i do for future jobs.

 

[2black1s]

*** Continuation of Posts 9135, 9139 & 9149 ***

One Happy Customer...

View attachment 75667

 

[The Guz]

After removing the Gyeon Q2 Wax (sat on the EN for about 1hr 30 mins, in the sun) I applied that 2nd coat of Feynlab Black Velvet Tire Coating, finished off the bottle infact. I then finished off my can of Sonax Rim Shield, applied VERY liberally to finish off the can.

Now it sits in the beautiful Oct 1st sun @65 degrees, waiting to go to C&C tomorrow (where it's not in the show this time around) but more importantly its been further protected for the 1500-2000 mile trip to "God's Country" aka SE Tennessee, foothills of the Smokey Mountains ️

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One of the worst things I did was using Gyeon wax over a coating. Masked the hydrophobic’s and the coating never came back. It’s exactly how Sandro showed it in his video.

 

[DFB]

I closed my 2nd detailing job today. Being dropped off tomorrow. It's a 2021 HD Trike. My jam. It's been a while since I've had to sell my services, nearly 25 years in fact when I painted professionally.

I'm a newb, but I'm detailing...for money....this rocks!!! I don't think ive ever made money doing something I've enjoyed so much. I have a feeling guys are getting a bit more than $600 to coat a Harley. I'm going to log my time and try and get a dial on how well i do for future jobs.

This post was an interesting read for me.

When I was in my teens, I was mad keen on gardening, fueled by my grandmother who was a nurseryman during her working years. I eventually decided I wanted to pursue it as a career and followed in my grandmother's footsteps, where I have been a nurseryman ever since, about 17 years. What was my hobby, became my job. While I do still enjoy certain aspects of my profession, the passion for it has evaporated into indifference.

During the long days spent in the rain, the heat, the cold, I'm constantly thinking about if I should take the plunge and start detailing for money, or more to the point, make it my job. My argument against pursuing detailing as a job has been to protect my passion, not let it turn into what has become of my gardening/horticulture passion. I live for the one day a week I get to lose myself in detailing and in the process forgetting my issues, I don't want to ruin that feeling, ruin that special role detailing plays in my life.

............."I don't think I've ever made money doing something I've enjoyed so much........."

But then I read this line and think of what a change in career might do for my outlook on work, and life in general.

 

[Klasse Act]

I got in a touch-free wash at an antiquated carwash but it got the bugs off and looked better. I used Adam's Bug Wash and CG's Diablo wheel cleaner mixed with Bilt-Hamber Surfex on the rims.

A full post and pics up coming from my 2022 Tail of the Dragon trip in a few days...stay "tuned"

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[Lance Mark]

This post was an interesting read for me.

When I was in my teens, I was mad keen on gardening, fueled by my grandmother who was a nurseryman during her working years. I eventually decided I wanted to pursue it as a career and followed in my grandmother's footsteps, where I have been a nurseryman ever since, about 17 years. What was my hobby, became my job. While I do still enjoy certain aspects of my profession, the passion for it has evaporated into indifference.

During the long days spent in the rain, the heat, the cold, I'm constantly thinking about if I should take the plunge and start detailing for money, or more to the point, make it my job. My argument against pursuing detailing as a job has been to protect my passion, not let it turn into what has become of my gardening/horticulture passion. I live for the one day a week I get to lose myself in detailing and in the process forgetting my issues, I don't want to ruin that feeling, ruin that special role detailing plays in my life.

............."I don't think I've ever made money doing something I've enjoyed so much........."

But then I read this line and think of what a change in career might do for my outlook on work, and life in general.

i'm not considering a career change, and in fact was reluctant to take this job on so soon after I got the last one done, but you make hay when the sun shines, and the sun was shining ...my goal is just a job a month to start

i'll tell you this though, If my currently opportunity went away, I'd pick up the wheel and seriously consider making it a full time gig, i'd start with a trailer and be mobile and work from home garage at first....wife could be my sugar momma if I needed her to be, start up money and a lil runway time wouldn't be a problem, I've already got some of the legal stuff started, llc, DBA, Tax id number....and i'm going to look into insurance in case i fall asleep at the wheel and accidentally grind off a hood ornament

 

[chilly]

This post was an interesting read for me.

When I was in my teens, I was mad keen on gardening, fueled by my grandmother who was a nurseryman during her working years. I eventually decided I wanted to pursue it as a career and followed in my grandmother's footsteps, where I have been a nurseryman ever since, about 17 years. What was my hobby, became my job. While I do still enjoy certain aspects of my profession, the passion for it has evaporated into indifference.

During the long days spent in the rain, the heat, the cold, I'm constantly thinking about if I should take the plunge and start detailing for money, or more to the point, make it my job. My argument against pursuing detailing as a job has been to protect my passion, not let it turn into what has become of my gardening/horticulture passion. I live for the one day a week I get to lose myself in detailing and in the process forgetting my issues, I don't want to ruin that feeling, ruin that special role detailing plays in my life.

............."I don't think I've ever made money doing something I've enjoyed so much........."

But then I read this line and think of what a change in career might do for my outlook on work, and life in general.

I can't speak for you but I loved being a bicycle mechanic, until I opened my own shop and added the "gotta deal with the public" aspect to the equation, then it quickly went from being something I simply loved to do to a flat out chore

People tend to ruin things...

 

[2black1s]

I got in a touch-free wash at an antiquated carwash but it got the bugs off and looked better. I used Adam's Bug Wash and CG's Diablo wheel cleaner mixed with Bilt-Hamber Surfex on the rims.

A full post and pics up coming from my 2022 Tail of the Dragon trip in a few days...stay "tuned"

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That car looks amazing!!!

 

[BrrrBrrr is verified member.]

I got in a touch-free wash at an antiquated carwash but it got the bugs off and looked better. I used Adam's Bug Wash and CG's Diablo wheel cleaner mixed with Bilt-Hamber Surfex on the rims.

A full post and pics up coming from my 2022 Tail of the Dragon trip in a few days...stay "tuned"

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

If you have time, may I suggest another route to enjoy while you’re down there? Dragons Tail is hwy 129, if you stay on hwy 129 and come out to hwy 74 on the NC side, turn right on 74 and follow that to Cleveland TN. It’s not as thrilling as 129, but you will follow a river that widens up, and that was the host of the 1996 Olympics for the water rafting. It’s extremely beautiful down there and there are some spots you can pull off and walk a trail or two.

Either way, hope you enjoy your time! Be safe!


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[BrrrBrrr is verified member.]

I took delivery of a ‘22 F250 in early September and just now got around to getting it cleaned up, besides the initial spray off I did from the dealer.
It’s not as immaculate as most of you make your vehicles, but I only had 4 hours of free time to work yesterday, so I did Sonax on the rims, Amazing Roll off on the tires, CG Honey dew for pre wash, Reset for the hand wash, then 3D Poly for the wax. I ran out of daylight while applying the Poly, but I got it done.

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[Lance Mark]

I took delivery of a ‘22 F250 in early September and just now got around to getting it cleaned up, besides the initial spray off I did from the dealer.
It’s not as immaculate as most of you make your vehicles, but I only had 4 hours of free time to work yesterday, so I did Sonax on the rims, Amazing Roll off on the tires, CG Honey dew for pre wash, Reset for the hand wash, then 3D Poly for the wax. I ran out of daylight while applying the Poly, but I got it done.

looks pretty slick to me, great job

I bought a new tour pack for my motorcycle and had it for only a month or so before I corrected and sealed my bike...despite it being pretty perfect, I decided to two step polish the clear coat...i was really happy, the difference was slight, but it really jeweled the surface....if I bought a new vehicle, I'd seriously consider at least a light polish before coating it

but you can't argue with the way your ride looks, sir, great job, i'd be super proud to be riding down the street in a ride that looks like that good

 

[DFB]

I can't speak for you but I loved being a bicycle mechanic, until I opened my own shop and added the "gotta deal with the public" aspect to the equation, then it quickly went from being something I simply loved to do to a flat out chore

People tend to ruin things...

Just a little more background -

I work 4 days a week in a retail garden center (nursery). The work I do with the actual product (plant's, trees ect) I enjoy thoroughly. I would be quite happy to work behind the scenes out back, in the process avoiding the general public. While I have a couple of regular customers who are a pleasure to deal with, most are like running your fingernails down a blackboard. I'm there for the product, customers are a necessary evil to keep me in a job. I also hate "the customer is always right" expectations that most people expect in retail, and the entitlement that brings. In my opinion, the customer is rarely right, I'm the expert, that's why they come through the doors or hire me to do their garden, they want advice or expertise. I don't expect or entertain a debate! That will sound arrogant, but you get pretty battle hardened after a long time dealing with customers. Being a small, family run business, every single employee needs to be a jack of all trades, so I can't escape from it.

The other 3 days of the week I work for myself gardening and lawn mowing. I choose when I start and finish work, I decide who I work for and I don't really have to deal with customers, save for saying hello when I arrive.

As I mentioned, I don't want to ruin what has been my savior for so long now. On the other hand, perhaps the change in scenery would make my life more enjoyable, more meaningful?

 

[Bosko]

2018 Kia Sportage

Wash/decon/clay/fusso soft 99(original) wax

Didnt need a polish yet, getting it ready for Winter

 

[bill walsh]

nice job also like the color to

 

[Uncbrs]

Finally broke out the PolishAngel Master Compound. I was also trying Griot's Correcting and Fast Correcting Creams as well as playing with Menzerna 400. We really just trying to find the right combo on the BMW paint and the PA Master Compound was definitely my favorite. Minor complaint would be the orange dusting but you can work it forever and the wipe-off is oddly satisfying. I was also swapping around with pads and found the LC Heavy Polishing Blue and Griot's Orange to be the best fit. Lots of playing here across product lines but happy with final result and definitely won't hesitate to order more PA Master Compound again.

All of the post playing products I used are from M&K out in the UK... a sealant + wax.

My motivating factor to do all this was buying new tires that looked so bad being fresh from the factory that I decided to just strip it all (CarPro Descale) and give it a good few days of PTO love.

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[Big DaveBig Dave is verified member.]

Still lots of rain around, and the roadworks still aren't finished. So I just did some interior work, while watching the V8s race around Mt Panorama, Bathurst. Go Holden! I have both driven and walked the track.

Used TWHS Inside Job on the doors, dash and console.

And to finish off, I polished my knob, I have a special cloth just for when the urge takes me, I keep it in the centre console.

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