Growing opportunity wet sanding?

D

doged

New member
Does anyone see a “growing opportunity� for a wet sanding service? With Orange Peel being prevalent on everything OEM, Maserati to VW, could this service become a very valuable asset.? What are you dealership detailers hearing??? I know, I know, OEM paint is difficult to wet sand!!!
 
I would be careful wet sanding facotry paint just because I am sure it would void the factory paint warranty.
 
Usually the factory warranty is voided if more than a certain amount of clear is gone. They will run a thickness gauge over it, and if it comes out too low, you're SOL. I can definetly see the market in an Autopian sense (I've wetsanded my own car to take out OP before), but I don't think the mass market is going to find the risk worth the reward (most people have no idea what OP is). Also, consider that you might make $2-300 per car, but one bad mistake is going to cost several times that. Unless you can get customers to sign a waiver, that's what I do whenever wetsanding is necessary.
 
themightytimmah said:
Usually the factory warranty is voided if more than a certain amount of clear is gone. They will run a thickness gauge over it, and if it comes out too low, you're SOL. I can definetly see the market in an Autopian sense (I've wetsanded my own car to take out OP before), but I don't think the mass market is going to find the risk worth the reward (most people have no idea what OP is). Also, consider that you might make $2-300 per car, but one bad mistake is going to cost several times that. Unless you can get customers to sign a waiver, that's what I do whenever wetsanding is necessary.
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Fair statements!!! I know of a detailing business who gets $600 per car in my area, takes a day, and he doesn’t do the whole car. Yes, he does great work and is booked up for weeks, not day’s in advance. Buyers may not know the term “orange peel� but they recognize the dimples in the paint. My 13 year-old nephew did when he washed my sisters new Mercedes. My sister called me because she thought he put them there washing the car. Uncle Doged did show him how to wash a car LOL... After that she went ballistic and called the dealer because the paint is not perfect on her new Mercedes. Then she calls me back again screaming in Italian with some English (swear words) thrown in between. Ultimately the orange peel was all my fault and I better fix it. The scarey part is she is not alone!!! LOL.......
 
He is booked for weeks just wetsanding? Is he doing work for body shops or just retail customers who want an orange peel free finish. Where is he located? If you think about it $600 for wetsanding the orange peeled areas is not bad considering what body shops charge for their labor. A top of the line paint job runs what, $5000 at least. I would think most of that labor is wetsanding after the paint is sprayed.
 
brwill2005 said:
Where is he located? If you think about it $600 for wetsanding the orange peeled areas is not bad considering what body shops charge for their labor. A top of the line paint job runs what, $5000 at least. I would think most of that labor is wetsanding after the paint is sprayed.
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90% of the work on a paint job is the prep.

A good painter can lay paint down that needs sanding only to remove dust that may have fallen int the paint.
 
Good preparation is definitely a factor. Show quality paint jobs are usually wetsanded after the paint is sprayed though. I think the reason that most OEM paint jobs are not orange peel free, is because they are not wetsanded after the paint is sprayed. I would think the prep and spraying on an OEM paint job is pretty good.
 
Yes, that is what he does and how much he is paid. I believe he does wet sanding and his other two guy’s do detailing. I believe a few of the big name dealerships send him the work and he greases them, no 1099, retail. He may do some body shop too, I’m not sure. You have to remember that most of this work is done by x-cons or guy’s who are working towards becoming x-cons. This guy does good work and is dependable. That’s like gold in this industry. What I’m looking to do is capitalize on OEM Orange Peel if I can? Is this glass half full or half empty??? California Man, California!!!
 
I'd open a garage tomorrow if I knew I could get enough wet sanding work to make a living. By a living I mean $3000.00 per week for me to keep, which works out to $600.00 per pay. I love to do it, the results are worth the work. I am in NY, 30 minutes from Manahttan so I have a high concentration of cars that need help.
 
again-there is a major difference between a factory paint and a showcar paint job-also keep in mind that a car with factory paint is probably going to be kept by the original owner for 3-5 years-as a general rule IMO these original owners really don't care about OP just whether the car is shiny
 
The detailer I’m referring to has been in business for quite some time so you have to look at it that way. Is this a opportunity? I really couldn’t say one way or another at this time. Are interest rates going to climb back-up and open a new market for used cars like the early 80's. Are people going to start keeping vehicles longer and what if this happens? Is the manufacturing cost effectiveness of paint (cheap) and EPA going to cause car care to become a necessity. I’m keeping my eyes open!!! I’m wondering why “full time detailing business owners� aren’t networking to find the answers on forums like this? Thoughts on this???
 
I think it's important that you educate the client so that they're aware of the ups AND downs of having their paint sanded. After being educated, I wonder how many would choose to have it done?
 
SpoiledMan said:
I think it's important that you educate the client so that they're aware of the ups AND downs of having their paint sanded. After being educated, I wonder how many would choose to have it done?
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It’s a toss up? People are strange that way!!! Look at cosmetic surgery in L.A. It could go either way?
 
the question you have to ask is Would I feel comfortable trying to talk somebody into wetsanding a THIN factory clear coat? If you're an honest person the answer is probably not except for RARE instances. In my case I thought of having my hood wetsanded to get rid of etching but instead opted to compound it and live with the etching instead of possibly experiencing clear coat failure in a couple years.
 
doged said:
The detailer I’m referring to has been in business for quite some time so you have to look at it that way. Is this a opportunity? I really couldn’t say one way or another at this time. Are interest rates going to climb back-up and open a new market for used cars like the early 80's. Are people going to start keeping vehicles longer and what if this happens? Is the manufacturing cost effectiveness of paint (cheap) and EPA going to cause car care to become a necessity. I’m keeping my eyes open!!! I’m wondering why “full time detailing business owners� aren’t networking to find the answers on forums like this? Thoughts on this???
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I think this goes back to your "X-con" observation, very good one I must add. Ill bet very few professional detailers examine the U.S. economic conditions and relate them to their current business or business plan. If interest rates go up, so should the cost of detailing a car. Now there is value to the consumer. Why should everyone make money but you? I think if there was more money to be made in detailing, you would see an entirely different group of people working in it like people with financial or economic backgrounds, I surely would do it.

Examine the cell phone business, no major brains required, minimum start up capital, limited outside sales experience, and small if any retail space. Not so long ago here was mega money to be made with excellent long term residuals to follow. There is a distinct value to owning a cellular telephone and the price of the service is inexpensive enough for everyone. With detailing, the cost is inexpensive enough for the mass market; the value just isn’t there for most consumers. People buy benefits, not features. A guy doesn’t care if you use Zaino, Poorboys, 3M, or XXX. The customer needs to know that when you are done with their car, it will be done correctly and he will gain value for his dollar spent with you. This is why I disagree with "tiered" services at detail garages; they cheapen the original value of the service you are trying to provide. Yes, you need to cater to your market, do what you have to, I agree completely. If you can collect $300-400 per car to detail, I believe that is what it should cost and I am not a professional detailer, and sell a distinct benefit to the consumer that he/she values; the detailing business is on its way to a new level.
 
wannafbody said:
the question you have to ask is Would I feel comfortable trying to talk somebody into wetsanding a THIN factory clear coat? If you're an honest person the answer is probably not except for RARE instances. In my case I thought of having my hood wetsanded to get rid of etching but instead opted to compound it and live with the etching instead of possibly experiencing clear coat failure in a couple years.
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You need to sell it, not down play it. If its good for the car, then do it. Your skills shouldnt be a factor. If you are going to do it, only do it right. If you make a mistake, you have to pay to have the panel(s) painted, period. You start off on the wrong foot with a waiver and talking about the ups and downs. Don't talk anybody into anything, its either something you do well and reccommend for your clients or its sometihing you dont do at all, thats true with any business.



Wet sanding is not for every car. But if you are "the wet sanding man" in your area, "every car" will find you. Hence the weeks worth of work for this gent in CA. He became "the man", he clearly isnt some kid with a can of cleaner wax and an "I Detail Cars" flyer for the cork board at the supermarket. Like anything good, it just has to happen.
 
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