Avg time range for polishing?

[MichaelM]

Unless your quick glazing over a finish, I can't see how anyone can properly do a 1-step polish(with any level of correction) in less than 6-8 hours *from start to finish*. For me to properly wash>clay>tape>test panel>polish>wash>solvent wipe down>LSP an entire vehicle, it's an all day (10-12 hrs) process MINIMUM. If someone can do all this (properly) in 1/2 the time, I need to retire while I'm still young OR lower my standards of quality.

By myself, from the first spray of the hose to having a prepped and dry vehicle, say Toyota Camry for example, takes about an hour to an hour and a half.



My prep consists of

-Wheels, tires, wheel wells

-Door jambs

-remove tar, road grime & bugs

-wash and rinse

-clay

-rinse and blow dry



1-step polishing with a DA machine (Makita BO6040) generally takes about 1 hour on that size car.

-I change pads every 3-4 panels, clean them all at the end of the job.

-wipe off polish residue at each pad change

-one final wipe down is done to ensure all polish residue is removed before LSP



Application of wax, cleaning of windows, removal of wax, dressing of tires and trim and wipe out of the jambs a final time takes about another hour as well.



Overall it would take me about three to four hours start to finish for a basic one-step polish job on a mid-size vehicle.



I would price something like that out to around $150 or so and would probably take out the rotary to spot buff the rougher spots before the DA work. That only adds about 10-20 mins to the whole job though.



I don't think the quality of my work is below anyone else's out there with equal steps completed. I just have my process streamlined, a shop set-up for the work and I work at a decent pace. I know I wouldn't be able to stay in business if it took my twice that long to get that job done. I can't charge twice what I do for a 1-step exterior.

 

[bwalker25]

All I've worked on are Ford/Mercury cars. I have never done anything else so my times are based on those types of paints. If I take my time with the car, I can 1 step a Ford Taurus and shampoo the interior top to bottom in 7.5 hours and thats with lunch and all.



I just go at a fast pace, and I dont **** around. I have a system that keeps me on track.

 

[imported_Ivan Rajic]

By myself, from the first spray of the hose to having a prepped and dry vehicle, say Toyota Camry for example, takes about an hour to an hour and a half.



My prep consists of

-Wheels, tires, wheel wells

-Door jambs

-remove tar, road grime & bugs

-wash and rinse

-clay

-rinse and blow dry



1-step polishing with a DA machine (Makita BO6040) generally takes about 1 hour on that size car.

-I change pads every 3-4 panels, clean them all at the end of the job.

-wipe off polish residue at each pad change

-one final wipe down is done to ensure all polish residue is removed before LSP



Application of wax, cleaning of windows, removal of wax, dressing of tires and trim and wipe out of the jambs a final time takes about another hour as well.



Overall it would take me about three to four hours start to finish for a basic one-step polish job on a mid-size vehicle.



I would price something like that out to around $150 or so and would probably take out the rotary to spot buff the rougher spots before the DA work. That only adds about 10-20 mins to the whole job though.



I don't think the quality of my work is below anyone else's out there with equal steps completed. I just have my process streamlined, a shop set-up for the work and I work at a decent pace. I know I wouldn't be able to stay in business if it took my twice that long to get that job done. I can't charge twice what I do for a 1-step exterior.

What polishes/pads do you use for the 1-step in that one hour? With the rotary, which breaks down polishes faster than a DA and/or orbital, it takes me about 3-4 minutes to break down a polish on about 1/4 of the hood... on an avg 4 door sedan there are about 20 or so of those sizes over the entire car (counting 4 1/4s on hood, 4 on roof, 2 on trunk, 2 for front qpanels 1.5-2 on each door and 1.5-2 on rear qpanels ~18-20) multiply that by 3 minutes you get an hour... I guess what I'm trying to get at is that there's no way it can be done in the same time with a DA as with a rotary... oh and 3-4 minutes is for a more aggressive polish, with a finishing/medium it would be more like 4-5 minutes per such section...



I think the biggest relevant difference here is in claying... I simply cannot understand how someone can clay a Toyota Camry in an hour or less... I just recorded myself claying the trunk on my mother's 2003 Corolla and it took roughly 4-5 minutes to do half the trunk, which is usually one of the least contaminated panels! ... this was with 3-4 passes with Meg's Smooth surface clay kit... I'll post a link to the video when it's up on youtube... it took me a total of 2:00 to clay the entire car...



Not to put anyone's work down, but I think, in reality, if you were to compare a full video of a 4 and 8 hour 1-step detail you'd see a lot of difference and more done in the 8 hours...



Lastly, what exactly is the process for each of the following... (mine is in ())

-Wheels, tires, wheel wells (spray wheel wells, wheels and tires 20x4=80 secs, clean wells 15x40=60secs, clean wheels 10x4=40secs, clean tires 10x4=40 secs, ~4 minutes)

-Door jambs (usually only drying is necessary so this goes under dry below)

-remove tar, road grime & bugs (0-10) minutes

-wash and rinse (20 minutes)

-clay (fastest I've ever done an entire car is 45 mins... if someone can do this regularly in 30 minutes PLEASE post a video and what you use since that'll be a miracle to me.. avg is 1hr)

-rinse and blow dry (10)



So for me, the above takes at the very least 1:35-45 on something like a Camry...

 

[Envious Eric]

smooth clay is your problem...it takes about 3 times more passes to complete the same section compared to something like sonus grey



on the other hand, with sonus grey, you are going to have to polish it out as it will scuff and mar the paint -its a medium duty clay, not meant for the touch up type jobs



I have compared megs blue (mild) and sonus grey (medium) and there is about 25% more effort/time involved when using the megs over the sonus, but less marring. I normally perform two step details, so I have no problem breaking out the sonus to get through the clay process quicker since I will be compounding anyway removing the scuffing

 

[imported_Ivan Rajic]

smooth clay is your problem...it takes about 3 times more passes to complete the same section compared to something like sonus grey



on the other hand, with sonus grey, you are going to have to polish it out as it will scuff and mar the paint -its a medium duty clay, not meant for the touch up type jobs



I have compared megs blue (mild) and sonus grey (medium) and there is about 25% more effort/time involved when using the megs over the sonus, but less marring. I normally perform two step details, so I have no problem breaking out the sonus to get through the clay process quicker since I will be compounding anyway removing the scuffing

That's true, but it still would cut about 30-45 mins off my time... I actually usually don't get cars with too much contamination, so 1-2 passes with the smooth surface clay (usually 2 on some front panels only) does the job.

 

[brwill2005]

For me to wash, polish entire car with rotary (light cut polish), and a white pad and wax/seal it takes me about 3-4 hours for an average sized sedan. If I clay, it would add 30-40 minutes. I time how long I polish on each panel for consistency. Depending on the polish being used, I polish from 1-2 minutes.

 

[imported_d00t]

I have a 2 step correction on a bmw m3 next weekend.



My process:

wash: spray down with PW, wash, wheels/tires/wells, spray down/degrease engine bay (don't dress)

then clay

wash again, this time dress tires/wheels/wells/engine

polish with menzerna SIP/pfw

polish with menzerna 85rd/white

rinse off to get rid of dust

jetseal109/black

zymol vintage by hand

While zymol is curring, do the entire interior: clean/condition leather, dry vac, spot removal, glass, clean/protect plastics/vinyls



I plan to spend around 15 hours on the car. Does this sound good/about right?



Aaron

 

[TSC17]

Like I said...you are not doing a one step if you are hitting the panel multiple times. At that paint, you might as well just hit the car with a good two step, save some time and achieve more correction and a better shine.



why hit the panel with something like OP three times when OC then OP will give you better results in less time?

First it sounds like you're assuming that each panel is getting hit multiple times, when in actuality maybe only 20% of the surfaces are hit this way. And if you recommend going heavy/light on that particular area for better results in less time, then you would end up with finishes not matching.



Also I think most people's definition of 2-step would be to first hit the entire car with your first step (say SIP), and then go back and refine the entire car with your second step (106FF).



I can see applying a polish in one hour, but that's what it would be accomplishing for me at least...applying the polish...not polishing. I do think we're getting caught up in semantics on several levels and issues in this thread.



I understand that all business models and philosophies are different, but mine is to achieve the highest level of correction in however many steps I'm taking. One step polishing can get about 80% correction on most vehicles unless it's a really hard CC or it's in really bad shape. I don't want to hammer out a job, call it shiny, and send the customer down the road with swirls and scratches. I limit my work and go for the jobs that are requiring as close to full correction as possible, and like many others do on here...I charge by the hour accordingly.



I do appreciate everybody's comments on this subject...definitely a wide variety of styles and philosophies...exactly what I expected.

 

[imported_Picus]

How much correction you achieve depends on way too many variables to hammer down an exact time/level of correction for one polishing step.



For example, if someone brings you a very lightly swirled new model Porsche it could take as little as 3-4 hours (of polishing) to get 99% correction. Here is a good example: SimpleViewer . On that car I was able to correct 99% of the marring with one pass of SIP on an LC white pad. I did use a pfw on one deeper scratch, and did finish with 8rd (though I didn't need to). The 8rd step took all of 30 minutes.



The other extreme of course is a car that really does need more than one step, but the client only wants one. In those cases you may spend twice the time polishing and only get 50% of the marring.



For me, if the car needs more than one step I will almost never agree to just do one polishing step. When I am done with a car I want the paint to look as perfect as possible, which means if it needs heavy compounding, light compounding, and polishing then that's what it gets.

 

[snowskate]

smooth clay is your problem...it takes about 3 times more passes to complete the same section compared to something like sonus grey



on the other hand, with sonus grey, you are going to have to polish it out as it will scuff and mar the paint -its a medium duty clay, not meant for the touch up type jobs



I have compared megs blue (mild) and sonus grey (medium) and there is about 25% more effort/time involved when using the megs over the sonus, but less marring. I normally perform two step details, so I have no problem breaking out the sonus to get through the clay process quicker since I will be compounding anyway removing the scuffing

I tried the Sonus Grey on a beater car for practice and didn't like the marring that comes along with it. I'll never use it again. I understand that if a car requires heavy claying (grey) that it'll need at least a 2 step polish anyway, but not my taste. I guess I don't see the 'benefits outweighing the risks' on this one.

 

[TSC17]

For me, if the car needs more than one step I will almost never agree to just do one polishing step. When I am done with a car I want the paint to look as perfect as possible, which means if it needs heavy compounding, light compounding, and polishing then that's what it gets.

I'm right there with you...well said

 

[Scottwax]

First of all what machines are you using in a one step?



For a one step I would use a PC not a rotary and to wash, clay, 1 step polishing, and full interior would take me about 4-5 hours max.



I don't do one step polishing with the rotary so I don't know. If I have to pull out the rotary then I am doing a full correction and that will really vary, but most take at least 8-10 hours for me to get it where I want it.



Josh

I agree completely. Too hard to get really good correction and finish hologram free with one stepping a car with a rotary.



Those only paying for 1 polishing step aren't typically all that interested in the paint being perfect. They just want more shine and some protection. Like I mentioned in the other thread, a restaurant isn't bringing out a steak to someone paying for a hamburger because they know the steak will be a better meal. Same with detailing. If someone isn't paying for a multi-step correction process, I'm not going to go ahead and do it anyway out of the goodness of my heart.



Nothing wrong with trying to upsell a higher level detail but if the customer insists on a 1 step process, that is what I give them. I will do my best to make sure the car look as absolutely good as it can for what they are paying.

 

[Scottwax]

I think the biggest relevant difference here is in claying... I simply cannot understand how someone can clay a Toyota Camry in an hour or less... I just recorded myself claying the trunk on my mother's 2003 Corolla and it took roughly 4-5 minutes to do half the trunk, which is usually one of the least contaminated panels!

-

I clay as I wash with ONR, maybe adds 20 minutes to the time to wash. You must live in an area with heavy industrial fallout or something. Here in the Dallas area, unless someone was parked under pine trees, drove through fresh tar or got paint overspray on their car, claying goes very fast because the contamination is pretty minimal. Usually the worst area is the trunk lid and top of the rear bumper.



You should find as you revisit your customer's cars in a few months that they take less work each successive detail.

 

[Envious Eric]

I agree completely. Too hard to get really good correction and finish hologram free with one stepping a car with a rotary.



Those only paying for 1 polishing step aren't typically all that interested in the paint being perfect. They just want more shine and some protection. Like I mentioned in the other thread, a restaurant isn't bringing out a steak to someone paying for a hamburger because they know the steak will be a better meal. Same with detailing. If someone isn't paying for a multi-step correction process, I'm not going to go ahead and do it anyway out of the goodness of my heart.



Nothing wrong with trying to upsell a higher level detail but if the customer insists on a 1 step process, that is what I give them. I will do my best to make sure the car look as absolutely good as it can for what they are paying.

^^^^ agreed! :xyxthumbs



I would love to give every car 10hrs+ but if there is no dough, then no go!

 

[TSC17]

I'm not sure that anybody is saying they're going to do the extra steps for free here, but I agree with your point.

 

[imported_DetailDan]

Unless your quick glazing over a finish, I can't see how anyone can properly do a 1-step polish(with any level of correction) in less than 6-8 hours *from start to finish*. For me to properly wash>clay>tape>test panel>polish>wash>solvent wipe down>LSP an entire vehicle, it's an all day (10-12 hrs) process MINIMUM. If someone can do all this (properly) in 1/2 the time, I need to retire while I'm still young OR lower my standards of quality.

I agree 100%! If someone isnt looking to pay for a properly detailed car, then they can go to the other guy. There are plenty of hacks out there. Then they can come back to me when their paint is all screwed up.

 

[imported_Picus]

I still think we're all talking about different things. One stepping a car that needs more than one step will lead to one of two results; either the car will still have marring or it will have holograms. I am pretty sure we all get that. One stepping a car that only needs one step can lead to a swirl and hologram free finish.

 

[Envious Eric]

i think I was just thrown off by the numbers...and then I got kinda carried away in the technicalities of it all...



the way I was looking at it was on an hourly basis....



i have my pricing structure setup at $60/hr



according to some others on here, a one step taking 6+ hours should yield about $360-$400 dollars...there is no way people are going to pay that for only 50% clearer paint. cant go from M105 to lsp, maybe 83, but the marring should be cleaned up, which leads to a 2step detail



I can see using ultrafina, or 80, or OP, as a one step, then waxing (as some figure a one step to be) but if you have to really work it in and spend 5 minutes per section, you had better be billing by the hour because at a set rate, I find that you might be way under your hourly rate.



outside only, IMO, with a one step + clay should take about 2-3 hours or so...not counting interior quick cleanups.

 

[imported_d00t]

Wow.. $60/hr? I wish I can charge that! That means for my M3 detail I should be charging $900.. Goodness!



I guess it all depends on location and how you market. More power to you!

 

[David Fermani]

according to some others on here, a one step taking 6+ hours should yield about $360-$400 dollars...there is no way people are going to pay that for only 50% clearer paint. cant go from M105 to lsp, maybe 83, but the marring should be cleaned up, which leads to a 2step detail



I can see using ultrafina, or 80, or OP, as a one step, then waxing (as some figure a one step to be) but if you have to really work it in and spend 5 minutes per section, you had better be billing by the hour because at a set rate, I find that you might be way under your hourly rate.



outside only, IMO, with a one step + clay should take about 2-3 hours or so...not counting interior quick cleanups.

Alot of my business is 1 step polishes (protection service) on brand new vehicles where paint is mostly defect free. I don't believe in LSPing a vehicle without enhancing the gloss 1st. You can guarantee that if one of my clients brings me a near "perfect" vehicle and I spend an entire day going through every inch of it, the appearance is greatly improved. Just because there isn't any "defects" per se, I still polish the paint for 5-8 hours alone. Just imagine how much extra time is spent when there's correction involved....