What do you test new products on?

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mcochris

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How do you test new products and techniques? Some products (e.g. Opti-coat, Cquartz, etc) or techniques (e,g, wet sanding, wool buffing, etc) need to be evaluated/practiced before going on a customer's car. Any suggestions on how to do some testing and get some experience without messing up someone's pride and joy?
 
I always test new products on either my car or my neighbors

I usually am in no mood to "play around" with a "new" product if its a paying job
 
My Dads car. It's almost 10 years old and he gives me free reign to practice whatever I want on it.
 
I use my truck that sits outside 24/7. Black shows everything gets hot in the sun and works great for photos.
 
Painted sheet pans ;)

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20120109-_MG_6297.jpg
 
If it's wax, cleaners, or light polishes I will test them on my car or my wifes car. If it's buffing pads, compounds, or something that could shorten the life of the paint I have a couple hoods from junkyars stored in my garage that I can use.

TroyScherer said:
That is a GREAT idea Chad!!! I may have to steal this.


Did you have them painted at a body shop?
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IIRC Chad's dad works or owns a bodyshop, so I'm guessing he got them painted by a pro there. Could be wrong though.
 
^^^Yep! My old man painted them. I have several of them painted up using two different grades of clear for some variation in hardness. The nice thing about them is that you have secure mounting and they stack nicely and neatly. I got tired of using my own car as a test bed and my paint was getting dangerously thin.


FYI, the idea of the sheet pans came from Kevin Brown (BuffDaddy) and dates back to the days of the Meguiar's NXTi classes. I'm sure Mike P can dig up some pics if he sees this thread! :props:
 
Your motha!!!

I usually try it on a white and black car.
 
I test on my Jeep. Even though it's only two years old, I offroad quite often and it always has fresh scratches and blemishes on the paint. Im not worried about damaging it while buffing as I often drag tree limbs, rocks, and other debris across its various surfaces offroad.
 
My 6 year old Tacoma (black) and the '99 Crown Vic (light gold).
 
Rental cars... Great way to test interior cleaners and stuff, and if you burn the paint a little, just slap some glaze and sealant to cover up. It's the ultimate test for leather cleaners!

Testing or scrap panels is fine, but at some point the clear coat will get too thin to keep compounding and polishing..
 
Flash Gordon said:
I always test new products on either my car or my neighbors

I usually am in no mood to "play around" with a "new" product if its a paying job
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This. And this.

I've also heard of testing polishes on uncoated sheets of aluminum. Aluminum is very soft and responsive to polishing/compounding/sanding....
 
Rental cars... Great way to test interior cleaners and stuff, and if you burn the paint a little, just slap some glaze and sealant to cover up. It's the ultimate test for leather cleaners!


Sounds like a great idea.
 
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