Detailing (possibly future employer's) car this upcoming week and need some input.

S

ScrampaTeg03

New member
I am going to be detailing a possible future employer's car this week and need some advice. He told me the last detailer they had was very nice but he did an awful job with the cars. He also said that he would first have me detail his car (Audi A4) and if all turns out well he would hire me as the shop's detailer. What I need to know is do you have any suggestions for this color paint that would add some extra pizzaz to ensure I get the position? Here's the color of the car http://www.raycoeuro.com/html/00AudiA4Beige.html (not his car). One last question, he has flat black colored wheels on the car, how should I go about cleaning them? I'm thinking I'll play it safe and just go over them with a sponge and soapy water since they don't show dirt in the first place. Thanks!



-Brian



BTW: I'm going to wash with dawn, claybar, smr, need something here (hand glaze?), then wax.
 
hey, I grew up in Dublin (DCHS '97, yay)...anyways, I can never get lighter colored cars to really REALLY shine like black/blue/red cars given the same treatment. Darn properties of light :).

good luck and hope you get the position!
 
Hey,



Ive got a Audi A6 2000 that is that colour.



Use what ever you normally do for your surface pre ie

( Meg or 3m) then once the clear coat is perfect use some sepc on a polishing pad on the pc then layer some s100.



Try to get atlest 2 coats. The finish will shine!!!:xyxthumbs



If I can help let me know.



Tony.
 
Scramp,



A word of caution here. Do not do to this guys car what you will not also be willing to do to all the other cars also. I say this because you may do a bang up job on this guys car to ensure you get the job and then if you start getting swamped you cut corners and it then becomes a "quantity over quality" issue.



So my word of advice would be to seek to achieve the best results with the least amount of time and steps. Far too many detailers (pro's) place to much emphasis on how much reflection they can achieve when in fact the average Joe or Josephine just wants a clean car. They want wheels that are bright and shiny and wheel wells that are clean. They want windows that sparkle and their vents dusted out. They like it when their floor mats are clean.



So.....what steps?



Well you can wash the car, and remember that almost half of the "detail" is done during the washing stage. This is where you remove the bugs, tar and road grime. Scrub the wheels, tires and wheel wells and remove any wax build up in emblems and molding. After rinsing off the soap from the car you can then clay it while it is still wet. After claying give a final rinse down.



Drive the car to your detail area and dry it. If you use a spray type tire dressing then this is a good time to apply it and also spray the wheel wells. Wipe out the wheels and if these "flat black" wheels are the ones I am thinking of you can apply either a paint polish to them or a dressing.



For the paint finish (assuming there is no need for a rotary) take one panel and apply your SMR and then wax it. Take it out in the sun and see how it looks. If it looks great then just continue around the whole car.



Only if it needs something more should you include an extra step or a more aggressive step. Less is more.



Hope you get the job, by the way what type of work place is this?



Anthony
 
i done a couple of cars, silver, gold, yellow, etc. where it is hard to get a shine on, if you want to know what products I use PM me, I also have pictures of the cars I have done. :xyxthumbs



Happy Detailing!
 
I've got a decent shine out of a light colored car, and alot more reflection than I thought I could achieve with this particular color.



I started with washing it, then clayed it...rewashed it. Then started with 3M FI-II to remove some scratches, and swirl marks. Moved on to #7, finsished off with some S100. Came out much better than I had expected...here are a couple pics to give you an idea of what kind of shine and reflection I got out of it.



22511554.jpg




22511559.jpg




Are you just detailing the exterior, or doing the interior and engine also?
 
Anthony Orosco said:
Scramp,



A word of caution here. Do not do to this guys car what you will not also be willing to do to all the other cars also. I say this because you may do a bang up job on this guys car to ensure you get the job and then if you start getting swamped you cut corners and it then becomes a "quantity over quality" issue.



So my word of advice would be to seek to achieve the best results with the least amount of time and steps. Far too many detailers (pro's) place to much emphasis on how much reflection they can achieve when in fact the average Joe or Josephine just wants a clean car. They want wheels that are bright and shiny and wheel wells that are clean. They want windows that sparkle and their vents dusted out. They like it when their floor mats are clean.



So.....what steps?



Well you can wash the car, and remember that almost half of the "detail" is done during the washing stage. This is where you remove the bugs, tar and road grime. Scrub the wheels, tires and wheel wells and remove any wax build up in emblems and molding. After rinsing off the soap from the car you can then clay it while it is still wet. After claying give a final rinse down.



Drive the car to your detail area and dry it. If you use a spray type tire dressing then this is a good time to apply it and also spray the wheel wells. Wipe out the wheels and if these "flat black" wheels are the ones I am thinking of you can apply either a paint polish to them or a dressing.



For the paint finish (assuming there is no need for a rotary) take one panel and apply your SMR and then wax it. Take it out in the sun and see how it looks. If it looks great then just continue around the whole car.



Only if it needs something more should you include an extra step or a more aggressive step. Less is more.



Hope you get the job, by the way what type of work place is this?



Anthony
Click to expand...



I agree completely.



Sure, make it a good job, but dont treat it any differently to any other car you would detail.



Most amount of trips over the bodywork with the machine should be 3.



Any less is a bonus.



Some you can get away with one of AIO and one of wax/sealant.

Mines usually



1)DACP

2)Glaze or AIO and

3)Wax/Sealant.



Depends on the car ;)

Any more than 3 and yer starting to run into alot of time spent with diminishing results.



I dont clay unless they specifically want that, will pay for it or know the difference!



As for the inside .. unless is gross, just make sure you make it smell nice and you pay attention to the little things (stick quadrant, vents, back of the rear view mirror (driver cant see how mucky it is, but the rest of the world can ;) ) , ashtray and all the little storage compartments.
 
Anthony Orosco said:
Scramp,



A word of caution here. Do not do to this guys car what you will not also be willing to do to all the other cars also. I say this because you may do a bang up job on this guys car to ensure you get the job and then if you start getting swamped you cut corners and it then becomes a "quantity over quality" issue.



So my word of advice would be to seek to achieve the best results with the least amount of time and steps. Far too many detailers (pro's) place to much emphasis on how much reflection they can achieve when in fact the average Joe or Josephine just wants a clean car. They want wheels that are bright and shiny and wheel wells that are clean. They want windows that sparkle and their vents dusted out. They like it when their floor mats are clean.



So.....what steps?



Well you can wash the car, and remember that almost half of the "detail" is done during the washing stage. This is where you remove the bugs, tar and road grime. Scrub the wheels, tires and wheel wells and remove any wax build up in emblems and molding. After rinsing off the soap from the car you can then clay it while it is still wet. After claying give a final rinse down.



Drive the car to your detail area and dry it. If you use a spray type tire dressing then this is a good time to apply it and also spray the wheel wells. Wipe out the wheels and if these "flat black" wheels are the ones I am thinking of you can apply either a paint polish to them or a dressing.



For the paint finish (assuming there is no need for a rotary) take one panel and apply your SMR and then wax it. Take it out in the sun and see how it looks. If it looks great then just continue around the whole car.



Only if it needs something more should you include an extra step or a more aggressive step. Less is more.



Hope you get the job, by the way what type of work place is this?



Anthony
Click to expand...



Thanks to everyone for the useful advice! Now to answer your question; it's a Performance Shop, a Racing Team (the guy's car I'm detailing races in the Sebring Endurance race), a body shop, and a parts supplier. I have been doing inventory over there the past 2 days and asked him if he needed a detailer.
 
Anthony Orosco said:
A word of caution here. Do not do to this guys car what you will not also be willing to do to all the other cars also.
Click to expand...



Anthony, that's the most sage piece of advice I had seen to date here. I don't know how many times I have done work for people that they never notice. I am going to memorize your post and use it every time I have a detail (I am a weekend warrior, not full time.) Thanks.
 
hey my bad, i think the Pics of the Porsche are in the gallery somewhere under Porsche and Range,



the way I did the porsches was like this:



dawn wash

clay

dawn wash



klasse AIO works with the PC but I prefer Machine Glaze by Car Polishes Inc.



pinnacle bodywork shampoo



klasse sealant or preferably Final Polish by Car Polishes Inc



and finally: A coat of American Shine Carnauba.... This combination is perfect...... :xyxthumbs Sorry about not posting the materials earlier:xyxthumbs
 
Those are extremely wise words Anthony and you hit it right on the head. Most people can't decipher the difference between whether or not you used a claybar or used $100 wax. They notice if their carpets are clean, their tires shine, their interior smells nice and pleasant. This is one thing I've learned, exterior is paramount in our eyes, but to the average consumer- the interior is what makes it worth it.
 
Smoker, 2Wheels and Greg....



Thank you for your kind words. You all hit it straight on the head also in that it is the simple things that so many folks, both pro and weekend warriors, overlook which are so vital to setting the car off. I always make sure that the seat belts are untangled and straight. The nap of the carpet is all going the same way and door jams clean and shiny. People remember that.



Brian....



Sounds like you really scored there with that job, best of luck to you. I care for a race car drivers cars also.



Thank you again,

Anthony
 
Just thought I should let you all know that I got the job! I've been so busy detailing, I detailed a Road Race Porsche 944 and a black Mangusta Qval Targa today! Thanks for all the tips!!!! God I love my new job, lol!



-Brian
 
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