For those detailing in Garage...

RaydiantDetail

RaydiantDetail

New member
For those of you who detail professionally/ part time out of your home garage do you have some sort of air filtration system to help reduce or eliminate dust.

I ask because I mostly detail from my garage but find in my area in GA that even with the garage door down over night I end up getting a layer of dust on the car. This is generally more of a pain when I am applying a coating as I of course want the surface to be as dust free as possible and then I either have to rinseless wash or wash the car again. This is especially bad when pollen season hits.

Other than air filtration system my only other option I can think of is a car cover or cover the car in plastic overnight.

Has anyone found or use a good air filtration system in their garages?
 
I don’t think any type of filtration will keep 100% of dust off of your projects. I lived in ATL for many years and the pollen can be horrible and it gets everywhere quickly. You are probably fighting a losing battle trying to keep dust/pollen off vehicles overnight. I would just continue to wipedown the vehicle prior to coating, it not that time consuming. I used a car cover in my garage for my Z, but I would still find dust on my car. It’s everywhere.
 
rlmccarty2000 said:
I don’t think any type of filtration will keep 100% of dust off of your projects. I lived in ATL for many years and the pollen can be horrible and it gets everywhere quickly. You are probably fighting a losing battle trying to keep dust/pollen off vehicles overnight. I would just continue to wipedown the vehicle prior to coating, it not that time consuming. I used a car cover in my garage for my Z, but I would still find dust on my car. It’s everywhere.
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That is what I figured but thought I would ask. It`s not much of a question of the time as it is that I have spent so much time correcting a vehicle to potentially induce scratches etc is what I was trying to reduce. Its crazy how much crap I find on the car the next day even with the garage door and windows closed. Pollen season is the worst.
 
The big question is how well is your garage insulated and sealed up ?
Do you have that set of long, rigid, plastic pieces that go outside on the edges where the door meets the door frame, to slow down the amount of air getting in through those open areas?
Is there a rubber seal on the bottom of the garage door to seal it when it is down?
Is your garage ceiling drywalled ?
Walls insulated and drywalled?
The more air "leaks" you eliminate in your garage, the cleaner it will stay..
Dan F
 
Mine is nicely finished including the floor and ceiling, the doors are sealed decently, etc. etc. Pretty much overkilled it for a "home detailing garage" and I`ve worked at keeping it clean in the 18 years since then. For the first few years I ran a number of Air Cleaning Devices but finally decided they were just a waste of electricity and maintenance effort. The dust/etc. are maybe a little worse without those, but not enough for me to go back to them.

BUT...I can certainly understand somebody wanting/needing to do something serious about this. Sigh, bet it`d cost some pretty serious $ though.

I gotta say that with all the considerations I factored in during the construction, and all the effort I put into keeping it clean, it`s a lot dirtier than I`d like. So when I`m mid-detail and think it`s appropriate, I`ll at least lay some (paint-safe) towels down over whatever I`m working on before quitting for the day.

In a Perfect World I could keep my shop just as spotless and dust-free as I`d like, but I know when to say "when".
 
showbbq said:
Maybe get a car bubble
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Sadly no space for a car bubble. My garage is 20 x 20 but the ceiling is only about 8ft. My next home I hope to have more space because I would love a car bubble.

jatleson said:
Having something over bare cement (paint, epoxy) can help with dusting. Pollen is another animal.
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That is something I have been meaning to do in the near future. The current epoxy floor which I think the previous owners used the DIY rustoleum type kit is pretty much gone but remnants still remain in lower traffic areas.

Stokdgs said:
The big question is how well is your garage insulated and sealed up ?
Do you have that set of long, rigid, plastic pieces that go outside on the edges where the door meets the door frame, to slow down the amount of air getting in through those open areas?
Is there a rubber seal on the bottom of the garage door to seal it when it is down?
Is your garage ceiling drywalled ?
Walls insulated and drywalled?
The more air "leaks" you eliminate in your garage, the cleaner it will stay..
Dan F
Click to expand...

Garage ceiling and walls are dry walled. Not sure they are insulated. My plan was always to tear down all the dry wall and do insulation and then re-drywall etc. However recently changes in finances have made me put those plans on hold. Lots of money being diverted to our other business and children lol. You bring up some great points though. I do probably need to go around and do some cheap fixes where there are cracks and holes in the walls in many areas. The previous owners really beat the garage up.

Accumulator said:
Mine is nicely finished including the floor and ceiling, the doors are sealed decently, etc. etc. Pretty much overkilled it for a "home detailing garage" and I`ve worked at keeping it clean in the 18 years since then. For the first few years I ran a number of Air Cleaning Devices but finally decided they were just a waste of electricity and maintenance effort. The dust/etc. are maybe a little worse without those, but not enough for me to go back to them.

BUT...I can certainly understand somebody wanting/needing to do something serious about this. Sigh, bet it`d cost some pretty serious $ though.

I gotta say that with all the considerations I factored in during the construction, and all the effort I put into keeping it clean, it`s a lot dirtier than I`d like. So when I`m mid-detail and think it`s appropriate, I`ll at least lay some (paint-safe) towels down over whatever I`m working on before quitting for the day.

In a Perfect World I could keep my shop just as spotless and dust-free as I`d like, but I know when to say "when".
Click to expand...

Well good feedback on the air cleaning devices. I have researched and read about folks using the ones they use in woodshops to help filter the air and thought they may be a good option but I would have to run 2 of them to really make a different and I guess yes the electricity costs may not be worth it or id factor into my detailing expenses when doing corrections/ coating jobs.

Honestly my garage is nowhere near the level I want it at. Walls and ceiling are in horrible shape. Holes and peeling plaster on the ceiling that I need to scrape off and re-mud etc. Sadly these days I dont have the time and the skill it would require to do a great/quick job or maybe that is not a possibility anyway. Don`t have the money to hire someone to do it. lol looks like ill keep doing what I am doing and deal with it.
 
RaydiantDetail- Yeah, that sounds like my previous shop...cool old Historic building but there was no way to ever have it be a truly perfect Detailing environment. Oh well, we do the best we can and you just have to pick your battles.
 
You could try green garage door hinges, I think blow through at those doors is the biggest contributor to dust in any garage. I am going to try them before next winter just to help with sealing up for heat retention.

Green Hinge System - Spring Loaded Garage Door Hinges To Seal Side Gaps While Saving Money and Energy

GH%20Home%20Page%20Picture.jpg


WOW THATS A LOT BIGGER THEN I THOUGH IT WAS, LINKED PIC FROM THERE WEB PAGE
 
So, I blow out my garage regularly with an electric leaf blower.

When I go full bore on a detail I used to wash after the polishing stage, and at that point I blew out the garage again. That was the M105 dust fest detail days.

Now I don`t find the 2nd wash necessary and a wipe down with an IPA mix sets up the car for success.

If you are using Menzerna polishes which I love I would re wash only because they are oily.
 
Accumulator said:
RaydiantDetail- Yeah, that sounds like my previous shop...cool old Historic building but there was no way to ever have it be a truly perfect Detailing environment. Oh well, we do the best we can and you just have to pick your battles.
Click to expand...

i have been looking at potential permanent shop spaces in the Atlanta area. I found one i really like which is pretty much move in ready and the rent and location is not bad. My goal was in the next few years once the other business takes off that I would love to switch to doing this full time. Detailing, Paint Correction, Coatings, PPF/ Vinyl Wraps, Dent removal, Aftermarket car parts (Exhausts/ Wheels) etc. Its always been a goal but of course everything has to line up for me to leave my full time gig.
 
trashmanssd said:
You could try green garage door hinges, I think blow through at those doors is the biggest contributor to dust in any garage. I am going to try them before next winter just to help with sealing up for heat retention.

Green Hinge System - Spring Loaded Garage Door Hinges To Seal Side Gaps While Saving Money and Energy

GH%20Home%20Page%20Picture.jpg


WOW THATS A LOT BIGGER THEN I THOUGH IT WAS, LINKED PIC FROM THERE WEB PAGE
Click to expand...

This looks interesting!

Oh yeah forgot to mention the other day my wife accidentally ran in to the garage door and dented it which means I need to now replace the garage door ugh. Luckily it was slow so no damage to her or the family and the car. Of course that is not helping with the dusting situation as there is more of a gap now as she hit it pretty much right below the two sections meet.
 
JSFM35X said:
So, I blow out my garage regularly with an electric leaf blower.

When I go full bore on a detail I used to wash after the polishing stage, and at that point I blew out the garage again. That was the M105 dust fest detail days.

Now I don`t find the 2nd wash necessary and a wipe down with an IPA mix sets up the car for success.

If you are using Menzerna polishes which I love I would re wash only because they are oily.
Click to expand...

hey JSFM35X. I use mostly Boss, Sonax, and Scholl polishes. I will usually do the wipedowns/washes after heavy compounding if there is a lot of dust. Its more the issue arises after the compounding/ polishing and lets say the car is sitting over night prior to coating application the next day. Usually there is dust and other stuff sitting on the car when I come out to the garage in the morning that I pretty much have to do a rinseless/ waterless wash to remove. Again. its not a huge head ache but again touching the car in that way after I have spent hours upon hours to do correction work to potentially mar the paint in anyway even using the safest wash techniques is my concern.
 
RaydiantDetail said:
..lets say the car is sitting over night prior to coating application the next day. Usually there is dust and other stuff sitting on the car when I come out to the garage in the morning that I pretty much have to do a rinseless/ waterless wash to remove. Again. its not a huge head ache but ...
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What about putting towels/etc. over it? I have a bunch of `em all over the horizontal surfaces of the `93 Audi right now as I`m (really) taking my time reLSPing it. Started doing that back at the previous shop where there was no way to get/keep the (nice looking) exposed rafters clean.

Rather than blow out the garage with air, which in my case might (presumably) stir up something, I wash or at least rinse the floor pretty often in some parts of the shop.

When looking for a dedicated Detailing building, I`d give some thought to floor drains, which aren`t all that common these days what with environmental concerns (I had to have mine plumbed into an oil separator at both the old shop and the current one here at the house). Surprised me that I had to have it done at the old one, which had been a Ford dealership, but the building code had changed.
 
Accumulator said:
What about putting towels/etc. over it? I have a bunch of `em all over the horizontal surfaces of the `93 Audi right now as I`m (really) taking my time reLSPing it. Started doing that back at the previous shop where there was no way to get/keep the (nice looking) exposed rafters clean.

Rather than blow out the garage with air, which in my case might (presumably) stir up something, I wash or at least rinse the floor pretty often in some parts of the shop.

When looking for a dedicated Detailing building, I`d give some thought to floor drains, which aren`t all that common these days what with environmental concerns (I had to have mine plumbed into an oil separator at both the old shop and the current one here at the house). Surprised me that I had to have it done at the old one, which had been a Ford dealership, but the building code had changed.
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Yup covering with towels is a good idea. I do have some PFMs and other large towels I could use. Now that you mention this I remember Mike Phillips also mentioning something similar using flannel bed sheets!

That is a good point about the drainage. I have only been researching online right now. I am really just in the preliminary stages of my idea to open up a dedicated shop. One can dream and should always plan though.
 
Is your garage air conditioned? If so is it the same system that air conditions the house? If so, maybe change the filters a little more often. I have a "fold up" type garage door and I`ve have noticed that there are numerous air gaps between each panel and around the edges of the door. I think someone else mentioned a good rubber seal at the bottom of the door would also help. I deal with the same problem as you, because I leave the truck in the garage overnight so the product/s bond before topping them the next day. I try to sweep the garage before I use it every time but ----- maybe most of the time--LOL. I like the idea of a flannel sheet over the surface of the vehicle. I think any "air tight" garage would be cost prohibitive for most of us--maybe Ron Pratt or Jay Leno has one?????
Jay
 
trashmanssd said:
You could try green garage door hinges, I think blow through at those doors is the biggest contributor to dust in any garage. I am going to try them before next winter just to help with sealing up for heat retention.

Green Hinge System - Spring Loaded Garage Door Hinges To Seal Side Gaps While Saving Money and Energy

GH%20Home%20Page%20Picture.jpg


WOW THATS A LOT BIGGER THEN I THOUGH IT WAS, LINKED PIC FROM THERE WEB PAGE
Click to expand...

Trashmanssd --
Another good thing to do to any garage door is to insulate it.. The best way is to buy all new insulated panels, but if not possible, then they sell kits with heavy dense foam that will really help keep it cooler when needed and warmer when needed..
I have had a couple of garage doors that were insulated and I could never go back now.. :)
Dan F
 
Stokdgs said:
Trashmanssd --
Another good thing to do to any garage door is to insulate it.. The best way is to buy all new insulated panels, but if not possible, then they sell kits with heavy dense foam that will really help keep it cooler when needed and warmer when needed..
I have had a couple of garage doors that were insulated and I could never go back now.. :)
Dan F
Click to expand...

From my auto painter days, the floor will ALWAYS be dusty when priming or painting..
So, I always swept it out first, then allowed for the dust to settle, then washed it all out...And kept the floor damp to keep any dust from blowing up into the paintwork...

Look at the floor of your garage and think about perhaps washing it down before you do the work in there, or at least hosing it down, so you remove a lot of dust out and it will have to be cleaner as long as you don`t walk through a bunch of dirt and track it all in again..

I know, I know... had to stick to these rules to be able to keep up with paint jobs, and it has always stuck with me... :)
Dan F
 
RaydiantDetail said:
i have been looking at potential permanent shop spaces in the Atlanta area. I found one i really like which is pretty much move in ready and the rent and location is not bad. My goal was in the next few years once the other business takes off that I would love to switch to doing this full time. Detailing, Paint Correction, Coatings, PPF/ Vinyl Wraps, Dent removal, Aftermarket car parts (Exhausts/ Wheels) etc. Its always been a goal but of course everything has to line up for me to leave my full time gig.
Click to expand...

RaydiantDetail --
Love that you want to do this full time !
Just be sure that you will be ok with a vehicle/s always in the garage, waiting for you to work on them.. All year long...
Once the train starts, it is very hard to stop.. :)

Be sure that you love this business because it may not reward you what you were making at your other full time job, and there are no health benefits, 401k plan with matching by the employer, dental, vision, etc.... Hence, the advice about loving the work.. :)

Absolutely have to find the most wealthy people who will be older but very financially secure, and do not mind spending a lot on their "investments" ...

See if you can find the absolute best independent foreign or German car repair shop in Atlanta, that has all those high end clients already and sell yourself and absolutely perfect work to them, and they will sell it to their Clients for you... It`s like magic ! :)

I did this by driving my perfectly Detailed Black Grand Cherokee to their shop.. When they asked me how good a Detailer I was, (they already had one) I took them outside and let them see my work..
They looked it all over - outside, inside, the engine, engine compartment, the back, they looked it all over very carefully.. Sold!!!! :)
Never seen so many German cars in my Life !!!! :) And I had already Detailed a couple hundred of them from my neighborhood.. :)
Good luck with this !
Dan F
 
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