Bodyshop guys and bodyshop detailers
- Thread starter SoCalB6
- Start date
I polished an entire airplane out with M86, a Makita, and Meguiar's yellow pads. The paint was single stage, re-paint, and about 6 years old...never been polished. It was pretty hammered.
Here's some pictures, which truly don't do it justice (This was before I got my new camera).
Before:
After:
I promise you, under 1,000 watts of halogen, and direct sunlight when we pulled it out of the hanger, it looked BETTER than that picture shows. I was floored with the results- and hologram free.
Here's some pictures, which truly don't do it justice (This was before I got my new camera).
Before:
After:
I promise you, under 1,000 watts of halogen, and direct sunlight when we pulled it out of the hanger, it looked BETTER than that picture shows. I was floored with the results- and hologram free.
Apollo_Auto
New member
Good luck SoCalB6! Hope everything goes well and I'll be keeping an eye on this post... I'm curious about what awaits you! Muhuhahahaha! :bestwish
imported_Detailing Technology
New member
A day in the life of a body shop clean-up boy:
1. Power-wash "pounds" of dried compound and sanding dust out from door and hood jambs.
2. Wash owners vehicles. Wife included.
3. Drop off customer who just left car at the shop. Come back with lunch.
4. Wash cars with an ultra-high detergent content soap (makes Dawn look gentle)and a hot water power washer with wash mitt for vehicle delivery.
5. Polish with Makita rotary, 3M polishes, and Malco wool pads.
6. Pick up door molding at Lexus, delivery truck will take too long.
Once you are there, see if you can use the down time to hook up with someone in the paint shop and learn how to wet-sand and polish properly.
As long as you are getting paid, make the most of it.
1. Power-wash "pounds" of dried compound and sanding dust out from door and hood jambs.
2. Wash owners vehicles. Wife included.
3. Drop off customer who just left car at the shop. Come back with lunch.
4. Wash cars with an ultra-high detergent content soap (makes Dawn look gentle)and a hot water power washer with wash mitt for vehicle delivery.
5. Polish with Makita rotary, 3M polishes, and Malco wool pads.
6. Pick up door molding at Lexus, delivery truck will take too long.
Once you are there, see if you can use the down time to hook up with someone in the paint shop and learn how to wet-sand and polish properly.
As long as you are getting paid, make the most of it.
imported_wagonproject
New member
jdoria said:
:xyxthumbs:xyxthumbs
so true, lol.
also, wash cars next to someone DA'ing, or blocking a car. :bat
DaGonz
Autopia fire/rescue.
Twelve years ago, I worked part time detailing in a high end body shop for about a year (this shop was the only Rolls Royce authorized auto body shop in New England, most of the cars that came through were Mercedes, BMW's, Land Rovers and such)
This shop had auto body men doing the repairs, two people who just masked the vehicles for painting and three personnel who just did painting in the facilities, three spray/bake booths.
There were of three us working in the detail department. The shop had an interior wash bay. The body shop personnel would do the wet sanding and buffing, we did the final "detailing and polishing" prior to delivery.
I had to bring my own polisher... they supplied everything else. The supplies were from AutoMagic and Meguiar's.
We had to punch in and out to account for the time for every detail we did.. this was figured into the the cost of the job. Some cars required just a wash and light polish... others had compounds caked into the cracks and crevices that required more time. It all depended on the tech who did the body work.
It all averaged out. I got to drive some nice cars to the dealership for delivery (including a Ferrari Daytona!), and the money was decent.. as I already was covered by health insurance at the FD, they paid me more money.
I left when I got a specialty job in the FD that paid me a lot more (my overtime rate).
This shop had auto body men doing the repairs, two people who just masked the vehicles for painting and three personnel who just did painting in the facilities, three spray/bake booths.
There were of three us working in the detail department. The shop had an interior wash bay. The body shop personnel would do the wet sanding and buffing, we did the final "detailing and polishing" prior to delivery.
I had to bring my own polisher... they supplied everything else. The supplies were from AutoMagic and Meguiar's.
We had to punch in and out to account for the time for every detail we did.. this was figured into the the cost of the job. Some cars required just a wash and light polish... others had compounds caked into the cracks and crevices that required more time. It all depended on the tech who did the body work.
It all averaged out. I got to drive some nice cars to the dealership for delivery (including a Ferrari Daytona!), and the money was decent.. as I already was covered by health insurance at the FD, they paid me more money.
I left when I got a specialty job in the FD that paid me a lot more (my overtime rate).
Envious Eric
New member
me too because I thought about it as well while I work on growing this business...maybe even taking side jobs from the shop at a higher rate because the results will be better...kinda like the insurance will pay this much, but if you want to throw another 200+ on the detail, then it will come back near perfected and look MUCH better...
E300Diesel
New member
Lumadar said:
+1 Bump...
This situation is similar to a top-class French chef being asked to work in a roadside food stall. Yes, the volume will be much higher, and it requires a different mindset and tactic.
It all depends how much the customer is paying for the re-spray.
I have done work before for a bodyshop nearby, and the arrangement was:
For an above-average spray job, it included swirl reduction.
For a high-end job spray job, it will include swirl removal.
Their people will do the sanding and 1st round of compounding.
I was responsible for swirl-reduction and swirl removal.
In that environment, you can't have perfection cos all customers want their cars fast.
It all depends how much the customer is paying for the re-spray.
I have done work before for a bodyshop nearby, and the arrangement was:
For an above-average spray job, it included swirl reduction.
For a high-end job spray job, it will include swirl removal.
Their people will do the sanding and 1st round of compounding.
I was responsible for swirl-reduction and swirl removal.
In that environment, you can't have perfection cos all customers want their cars fast.
imported_Detailing Technology
New member
gigondaz said:
Compliments on your turd polishing skills!
imported_Larry A
New member
I worked part time for a high line shop . They worked on classic and sports cars. They were top notch. There paint work was outstanding. They had 1 painter that was a artest. They had 2 guys that did wet sanding and compounding, also paint correction. They used 3m products and 3m pads. After they Finished coumponding and polishing, and the paint was swirl free, the car would go to the detail department, a different guy. There the car would get the engine cleaned ,interior cleaned, and final polishing. The detailer Dave would use Mothers waxes and sealers for his details when he just did details.
jdoria said:
You and wagonproject pretty much just summed up my job to a tee. I just wish everyone around the smaller shop would take detailing as seriously as I do, but I guess they don't see the need in it since most of the vehicles are middle/lower end that come through the shop. After buffing they really expect me to make a car look godd when I get a 1.50 to go down to the self serve carwash, pressure wash the car and then chamois it off. It's stuff I would never do to my personal vehicles but the shop just wants it done quick since polishing/detailing is not included in the insurance time quoted.
Greg Nichols
New member
So how did this go?
solekeeper
New member
SoCalB6 said:
This is one of the most ignorant comments I have ever heard.
:nixweiss
So, I haven't been on here for a while, but I did want to update it so, we don'y have a hanging type of thread thing.
So... How did it go?!
Well, the first day went great. It was pretty straight forward as all I did was detail, detail and detail. I even did some DA sanding, cleaning up what the paint guys didn't quite get out the first time. They didn't even know I could DA sand and neither did I (got a 5 minute crash course from a guy in paint), lol. By the time it was time to lock up, the owner had gone home so I was told to just come back the following day to finalize employment.
Needless to say, the owner was less then willing to accommodate my school schedule. I was even willing to let one class go to continue working. I finished the second day and that was that... I gave him my card and told him that if they are ever badly swamped, maybe I could do some contract work for them. I have done 2 cars so far and that was because I called them.
jdoria: Usually yes, but this was a detailer only position. I believe that's why they were paying what they did. They had shop goons handling all the porter and parts running stuff.
solekeeper: I guess what I said is relevant to my area (should have been clearer, didn't think so but...), or maybe you're a body shop guy and took offense? My apologies if so.
So... How did it go?!
Well, the first day went great. It was pretty straight forward as all I did was detail, detail and detail. I even did some DA sanding, cleaning up what the paint guys didn't quite get out the first time. They didn't even know I could DA sand and neither did I (got a 5 minute crash course from a guy in paint), lol. By the time it was time to lock up, the owner had gone home so I was told to just come back the following day to finalize employment.
Needless to say, the owner was less then willing to accommodate my school schedule. I was even willing to let one class go to continue working. I finished the second day and that was that... I gave him my card and told him that if they are ever badly swamped, maybe I could do some contract work for them. I have done 2 cars so far and that was because I called them.
jdoria: Usually yes, but this was a detailer only position. I believe that's why they were paying what they did. They had shop goons handling all the porter and parts running stuff.
solekeeper: I guess what I said is relevant to my area (should have been clearer, didn't think so but...), or maybe you're a body shop guy and took offense? My apologies if so.