Bad Interior -- Focus Wagon Detail

[imported_theamcguy]

I got one. when I started my toolmaking apprenticeship 3 years a go, I had to start to go to school at night. No problem. this was back when I had my Mustang...bad experiences with that car. It was about 6 weeks into class and I went out to my car, got in and drove away, no problem....yet. When I heard a part of the song that the bass was supoose to hit me like a ton of bricks and it didn't, I knew something was up. I started to fiddle with the knobs on my deck and EQ, nothing made a difference. I was on the expressway at this point and as I swithed lanes to the off ramp I saw that my 15" sub and neon lights were gone. I was pretty pissed, but then I got home. I went inside in a rage and then went back out to get my books and insurance info. As I grabbed my calculator from under the seat I realized that my kicker amp was gone along with my $1000 worth of CD's. Insurance covered most of it and 2 months later I bought my truck. I have another horror story to tell but it'll be in a bit after the legal matters are taken care of. I just wanted to have a sweet ride, that's it all! I worked so hard for it all, that's what upsets me the most to this day.:down

 

[Clean Dean]

As senior in H.S. I broke my a@# for two years to buy a brown 1978 Firebird. The vehicle was showing some signs of rust near the wheel wells, so..... my autoshop teacher decided he would "help" me bondo the rust spots in class. After cutting away much of the metal surounding the rear wheel wheels, he assisted me in placing window type screening in these areas and we applied the most disgusting looking "gorilla hair" and bondo mixture all over the area. Needless to say we never completed the job and I drove the car for about another 6 months with these "growths" around the wheel wells. Luckily I thoroughly enjoyed blowing the cars engine and lived to tell about it.



Then there was my 1964 Buick Skylark convertible.... Oh well another story some other time...

 

[Langley Interior Car Kare]

get these to ward off my valve attackers..

 

[mx5]

Cool Valve Caps!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[jonnyboy]

Hello all,

I have been detailing cars for over 20 years. Mostly for fun or for family and friends. Never for money.

Recently I decided to start a part-time business detailing cars. And it has been going well.

I definately learned a lot about what I had and didn't have......Both in skill and materials

It took me almost 12 hours. Most of my time was spent on the interior. It was trashed. The car only had 40,000 miles on it. The clear coat and paint were in pretty good condition even though it had not been washed since they got the car.

Here is a breakdown of what I used:

Wheels & Wheel Wells

Amazing Roll Off -- tires and wheel wells
Meguiar's Wheel Brightner -- wheels
Meguiar's Hyper Dressing -- tires (light coat)
Griot's Undercarriage Spray -- wheel wells

Wash

Dawn Dishwashing Soap

Engine

Amazing Roll Off
Dressed with 303 Aerospace Protectant

Carpets & Upholstery

Folex -- spot treatment
Woolite 10:1 -- Cleaning
Bissell

Interior and Door Jams

Meguiar's APC+ 4:1
Plastic treated with 303
Odoban (smell on inside of car)
Alcohol & Water 50/50 for windows
Also treated all of the rubber seals with 303

Paint

Meguiars 205 w/Orange CCS pad -- 2 coats
Klasse AIO w/White CCS pad -- 2 coats
Collinite 845 w/Grey CCS pad -- 2 coats

Black Plastic on trunk

I tried everything to bring it back. I ended up having to use Black Wow. I know it won't last for very long, but at least it looks good. (any ideas would be great.) Just so you know I tried "Showroom", Forever Black, Klasse AIO, and 303.





BEFORE PHOTOS:

AFTER PHOTOS

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE..... give me any advice you have on techniques, products, pictures, anything! Thank you for looking! Jonathan

 

[Tuck91]

Nice work

 

[imported_Luster]

That's pretty typical of mini-vans and suv's that I see. People really trash 'em!

It turned out great.:wink: On severely stained fabric seats I use Woolite Heavy Traffic Carpet and Upholstery Foam. It will lift out almost any stain I've ever used it on, including oil, milk, coffee, blood, chocolate, and a plethora of stains from unknown sources (I don't even want to know!)Stop

:wink:

 

[Old Pirate]

Wow another trash vehicle, you should be able to charge accordingly for those.

 

[jonnyboy]

Nice work

Thank you!

That's pretty typical of mini-vans and suv's that I see. People really trash 'em!

It turned out great.:wink: On severely stained fabric seats I use Woolite Heavy Traffic Carpet and Upholstery Foam. It will lift out almost any stain I've ever used it on, including oil, milk, coffee, blood, chocolate, and a plethora of stains from unknown sources (I don't even want to know!)Stop

:wink:

:huh: Does it work as good as Folex? Folex has been super good to me. I have used Woolite 10:1 on leather and Woolite 8:1 on fabric......I wonder if the Heavy Traffic Foam is better...

Wow another trash vehicle, you should be able to charge accordingly for those.

Hopefully I am....??? What is normal? What do you guys recommend?

 

[imported_Flash Gordon]

Hopefully I am....??? What is normal? What do you guys recommend?

You definately have the talent. The only way to make decent money in this biz is to charge by the hour. What that hourly rate will be depends on the area you are in and the supply and demand for ppl of your caliber..... It will definately help get your name out there by posting here :2 cents:


Welcome to Truth In Detaling jonnyboy. Lots of good ppl around here. Hope to see you around :rockon:

Oh yea, very nice job on the Focus :rockon:

 

[jonnyboy]

You definately have the talent. The only way to make decent money in this biz is to charge by the hour. What that hourly rate will be depends on the area you are in and the supply and demand for ppl of your caliber..... It will definately help get your name out there by posting here :2 cents:

I think I will. I have been doing standard pricing, but I tend to be a little OCD and spend too much time on them. I think by the hour will be more beneficial.

Welcome to Truth In Detaling jonnyboy. Lots of good ppl around here. Hope to see you around :rockon:


Oh yea, very nice job on the Focus :rockon:

Thank you! Everyone has been great so far!

 

[bmw5541]

jonnyboy,

That was a great turnaround. I did a car once that was trashed like that on the inside, and it took me almost 5 hours just getting that clean. I wish I could give you soe product advise, but you are already well beyond what I can offer.

Keep posting your work. We love to see what you can do.:thumbup:

 

[jonnyboy]

jonnyboy,

That was a great turnaround. I did a car once that was trashed like that on the inside, and it took me almost 5 hours just getting that clean. I wish I could give you soe product advise, but you are already well beyond what I can offer.

Keep posting your work. We love to see what you can do.:thumbup:

I can always use advice. Large or small. There are so many parts to detailing cars. I love little tricks or different products to try. Thanks for the kudos! Jonathan