First Paying Detail But Big Problem!

matthiasj

matthiasj

New member
I've been on here researching and researching, and been shooting up the idea of maybe detailing some cars. Well my girlfriend's grandfather came up to me today, and wants me to detail his 62' Vette. This is great news, but i have NO supplies. All i've got is stuff i get from wal-mart and autozone to wash and wax my own car, but i havent bought a PC or any products to actually do a detail. What do i do? The paint is in good shape, only very light scratches and swirls.

I wanna do a good job, and i wanna get a PC anyway. I just would like to make my monty back on a few details. I need products, and MF's, and a PC. Shuold i make the initian investment? Would i be able to get enough cars to pay off the stuff i buy, and make some?


My plan is to

Wash
Clay
Wash
SSR 2.5
SSR 1
EX
Natty's
 
I would definately suggest getting a PC. It makes so much of a difference. The plan and products you have listed will work well. I would seriously suggest doing your car with the PC before you agree to do his. While there is very little learning curve with the PC, it is still there. As for paying off your initial investment, it really just depends how serious you are about detailing for money. If you don't go after it aggressively at all, I doubt you will have many customers.
 
Ok if your buing stuff I would do this
wash
Clay (blackfire from CMA http://www.properautocare.com/blpoiikit.html) good clay plus MF's
Optimum Polish from (SMP this works with the Pad to cut So cutting pad= cutting Polishing pad= polish) Plus it's cheeper..
Ex (this needs to cure for a day so plan on that)
Natty's great wax......

also this is great for travel
SMP Travel Kit those two are great for cleaning and glossed Plus more MF...
Microfiber Starter Pack More Mf the better...
 
well i think you shoudl make the plunge. YOu will probably buy about 400 in supplies maybe so do 4 details and you have made that back.

PC
A couple polishing pads
a finishing pad
cutting pad
ssr2.5
ssr2
ssr1
PwC
Wax.. nattys s100 TS anyting works
Sealent ex exp upp sg fmj whatever works
MF get good quality mf from sponsers
WW MF for drying
Stoners IG
Dressing BnB

Thats just a list to start on. I would absolutly reccomed buying supplies. Do a few details and you will have it payed for. On the Vette issue its probably a SS paint so it will take longer and be harder but i would take the job. I think you might want to practice on a car before that with the pc and supplies to get used to it.

Greg
 
I rembered PAC has a sale on now 12%. Also try to buy in kits.. its cheaper and it will come with towels. YOu will need about 2 towels per step in you regimen but have plenty extras. others sponsers offer discounts as well.

Greg
 
please practice on other vehicles before going to the vette, unless it is a repaint it is single stage paint and who knows whats been done in the past, so paint could be very thin in places and mistake could be done very easy with out even trying. That car is a Owners Dream car, you mess that up, even by mistake, yours or not, could cost you alot of MONEY for repaint.Not saying you can't do it just not a ood idea to make that your first car with new products and machine.Remember one thing always start with least aggressive products and speeds and work up to more aggressive and faster.Do you own vehicle when you get your new products and do the girlfriends/wife and do the vette for free and if you do a good job he might give you name to friends to make money off of, doesn't take much to make you money back.
 
Or you could get a bottle of Meg`s #9, then go to Walmart and get NXT, terry cloth applicators, a $4.89 8 pack of microfiber towels and a bottle of Eagle One Wet Tire Shine. Work by hand and you would be amazed at how good it would look. I guarantee it!
 
It`s true you can`t remove defects with the idea I mentioned but I just said that to bring up the point that in reality 90% of what it takes to really make a car look good (if it is in pretty good shape) can be done with a few products by hand. But lucky6025 has a very good point and one more reason that, at least in this particular situation, working by hand for starters may be very wise indeed. (we were posting at the same time and i had not read his post until I posted)
 
Well if it is a single stage paint what should i do? ALso, the chome on it has putting/rust, is there any way i could get this off and make it look better?
 
You could decide to buy the PC and stuff or just do everything by hand to start with. I've been detailing for 15 years and will be buying a PC in a week or two. I've always done everything by hand. The big reason I'm getting a PC and going in that direction is the results I've seen on this forum and others. I do a great job by hand but some days I think my arms are going to fall off so a PC would be real nice. Whatever you decide make sure you take it slow. I'm not so sure I'd want to be doing that vette as my first paying car. I don't know what your skill level is to start with but think a less expensive or important car would be better suited to start with. It is super easy to mess something up when you are detailing other peoples cars. You have done your research though so I'm sure you will do fine.
 
i have detailed a few cars before, i think i might just hit this one by hand, and practice with my PC, i dont wanna xxxx up that single stage paint.
 
Both Meguiars and Mothers make three-step systems that work well by hand. I'm partial to the Megs, and I know their stuff is non-abrasive. You would be hard pressed to damage the 'vette using these products by hand and either system will make a dramatic improvement in the appearance of the car.

You won't be removing any scratches or swirls with these products, but if you want improvement without risk, this is your best bet.
 
That`s a plan. Understand the steps. Step 1 is a cleaner and a real good one. Step 2 is a polish and also a good one. However, the polish is similar to Meg`s #7, which is a glaze. Step 3 is a carnauba wax. Step 3 creates an excellent look, however, it can be a little difficult to work with and does not have much durability and maintain slickness much at all. If you have those products now then certainly the price is right. I believe what I suggested is solid and would be one step up from the 3 step system. Based on my use of all the products mentioned. And I`ve used the 3 step system. But it would cost a few bucks from where you are now. The 3 step system is a consumer product and the assumption is that someone with no experience were to apply it too their 2005 Jaguar convertible, pricetage $85,000. It would be near impossible to do any harm unless they made mistakes themselves (applying with a scothbrite pad). My concept (based on my experience, and I am no detailer and after 2 years admit still a newbie) is from my observation of the results I`ve acheived with the products mentioned. Mequiar`s Swirl Remover 2.0 (called #9, there is a big 9 on the bottle) is termed by Meguiar`s as a professional product. So, they make that specific that some expertise is assumed. Althought it states best results are accieved with a rotary, hand use is also mentioned. I am going into all this because we can get caught up in it all and ignor the obvious. We work at learning a lot about detailing and forget that some of the product used are really very versatile a can get a great result by hand. But Mequiar`s has to assume responsiblity and at least separate these from people who do not have a clue. You are not such a person. #9 is a cleaner and polish, and from what I have seen, can do some swirl removal by hand. And NXT is awsome and is unmatched in bringing out the pop on older cars. Plus good slickness and moderate durabilty. It has fillers to do the job of step 2. Gotta go! I just put this out here to think outside the box.
 
the initial investment is worth it as soon as you see the difference on your own car. do the vette and tell him you will do it cheaper if he advertises for you; chances are he goes to classic car shows and his car guys will notice the paint, he sends them to you and you make back your initial investment and then some.

ive done this and do atleast a car a week, sometimes a 2-3 a weekend, for being 16 you cant make better money; work the hours you want, doing something you love, driving different cars and get paid well for it.

i charge 40-50 a car for exterior+interior vacuum if its a suv 60-80 depending on what it is. four cars and a suv you make back most of yoru initial investment
 
Thanks for the replys. I've got the 3-step, Gold Class, and #26 Yellow Wax. Could i use these? Should i get some NXT and #9 and apply these by hand? Also, what should i use on the chrome? I read that PB's Metal Polish works good.
 
I am not familiar with the 3-Step but I do not think that it contains a polish aggressive enough that would take care of the swirls. If you dont have time to order go to a local auto body supply shop and pick up some Megs #83 and #80. As Lucky mentioned the paint is all enamel which means two things: it is much easier to hurt and cause marring but it is also easier to remove imperfections from. I would bet that you are safe to use #83 on a polishing pad at speed 5-6 on the PC without any problems. I detailed an 81 Vette yesterday at 1400 with Optimum and my pads didnt pick up all that much paint so in reality it will take some work to ruin the paint, dont be overly nervous about screwing up. Finish up with #7 and a carnauba and you'll be good to go. Hope this helps.
 
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