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what pad/compound combos are you guys using for 1 step corrections in the sun? what wax are you applying afterwards? i have a car to do Saturday, and they have no garage or shade and they dont want to bring it to my garage for a full 2 step and ceramic
If it were me I would lose those people..
What if it`s really hot, windy and dusty that day?
Do you have a 10 x 20 or bigger pop up tent ?
Are you set up completely for mobile ?
The only product I can remember that is supposed to work outside, is the Poor Boy`s Line that says they work just as good in sun or shade..
Dan F
Best suggestion if it positively HAS to be done outside at the vehicle owner`s place: START EARLY IN THE MORNING!!!
The less sun and heat you have to contend with, the better. Not knowing your physical geographic location (rural or urban) or the the size, type, and color of the vehicle you are working on all contribute to the results you may (or may not) achieve in this mobile detailing endeavor.
Environmental variables you will be dealing with:
1) Sun or clouds and ambient temperature that day (More of the effect it has on you personally!)
2) Humidity
3) Tree leaf/seed, sap, or pollen and lawn debris from lawn cutting in the air
4) Dust in the air from lawn cutting or windy, dry day which will swirl your wax application like NOTHING else
5) Insects to contend with (Northwood`s or swamp mosquitoes will eat you alive)
Vehicle properties:
1) Size of the vehicle (bigger takes longer, obviously or low vehicles like, sports cars, you are on your knees or bent over)
2) Contours and trim (IE, are you taping off plastic trim and rubber seals during the polishing with the one-step product??)
3) Color of the vehicle (Black may become VERY warm)
Owner`s property:
1) Inclined paved driveway (Makes it hard or difficult to use a ladder platform on tall vehicles)
2) Dirt driveway or lawn to do the work on
3) Hard water issues (washing with this in warm weather or sun will be a nightmare! Consider buying 10 gallons of distilled water to use.)
4) "Convenient" water faucet/spigot or electrical outlets (IE, your garden hose or electrical cords may not be long enough to reach them!)
5) Nosy neighbors or kids interrupting your work
6) Having the owner look over your shoulder as you work
7) Stains in the owner`s concrete or paved driveway from cleaning the vehicle or from products you use (or spill!)
OR killing the lawn where you are working on the vehicle.
8) Where to dispose of waste water from vehicle washing or cleaning your equipment. (Don`t dump it on the lawn or flowerbed!)
These are all things you need to consider in doing this detailing job. (Are you SURE you still want to do this job?.. just saying..)
. It`s a big black 2500 HD. I dont wanna take the job, but, being new in the business, I feel I need to so I can get my name out. Hes a well known, well respected chiropractor in the area, so hopefully he can help promote me to all of his friends and clientele . Thats what I`m hoping for anyway
I work mobile and some notables that seem to work OK for me are, 3D HD Speed (AIO), Blackfire One Step (AIO) and Jescar compound and polish. These have all worked well even on black cars in direct sun on 90+ degree days
That being said, when I`m working outside, I am NOT chasing perfection, only improvement, and sell my service as such. I call the service a "gloss enhancement" rather than correction, with 50-75% correction and typically get those results pretty consistently.
In terms of the machine, I use my Rupes 21 pretty much all the time for this level of work (I have other machines for more intricate stuff on the more correction focused jobs) and a light cutting pad. In my case I`m currently using Buff n Shine Uro-Tec Maroon pads 90% of the time. I will vary this occasionally to a uro tec yellow pad or a carpro gloss pad (got them for a steal) when working with softer paints.
I have also (while not common) turned down any polishing work due to a poor environment (pollen, dust etc.)
Depending on what your customer wants and expects, if you cant match your service to it, I would turn the job down in everyone`s best interest. If your customer starts to talk like they know more than you and talk down to you, walk away. Not worth your time.
Good luck!
At the risk of sounding like the ultimate wet blanketI`d give some thought to how Mr. Well Known might respond if things don`t go well. I`m *NOT* disparaging your abilities or making any unflattering assumptions! It just sounds like an incredible challenge, and it`s one that *I* would not be up to. There`s zero way *I* would be able to pull that off to my (and/or maybe the client`s) satisfaction under those conditions, and I`m not lacking in confidence
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