Rain- What can I do?

budman3

budman3

Detail time!
It's supposed to rain the next 10 days here but I have a car lined up for Tuesday. The owners are taking the car on vacation and want it cleaned up before then (leave on Thursday). I have a garage to work in but they don't. I know that I'd be able to do a good interior detail but I think I am limited to the extent of the exterior detail... am I correct?

A while ago I use Megs #26 and it rained a few hours after and my truck streaked big time. I obviously don't want that to happen to a customer's vehicle. So my question would be- Would I be able to polish and seal the paint some how so that there will be protection without streaking from the rain? Or should I just simple reschedule?

I was thinking that my only chance of having this work is to use a paste wax or maybe OCW. Opinions? Since the #26 streaked I'm fearing that other sealants would streak as well- assumption valid?

Maybe I'll get a break in weather for Tuesday and it won't rain.

What would you do???
Products available: EX, EX-P, Both Natty's, UPP, UPPS, OCW, SG, PwC, PwS, Mothers SynWax, S100, P21S, NXT.
 
I have used EX-P and it rained less than 1o hours later. Did not streak at all.
Hopefully though, you will get lucky and have a break.
 
I send cars into the rain (including my own) with Waxes & Sealants. Never had a problem (after the one hour cure time).
b
 
What are the chances of it raining where they are going? What kinda of catastrophe could occur from applying a sealant let it cure for as long (maybe an hour) as possible, then apply NB. Or the most durable wax you have. I'm sure the Cst understands you can't control the environment. What ever you decide I'm sure will be the right thing.
 
Wouldn't ZFX'd Z2 or Z5 be the ticket? I would think the accelerated cure time of a ZFX'd Z2 or Z5 should be to your advantage.
 
RCBuddha said:
Wouldn't ZFX'd Z2 or Z5 be the ticket? I would think the accelerated cure time of a ZFX'd Z2 or Z5 should be to your advantage.
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Would anything be the ticket.
Are you really saying other products won't work?
 
You might to offer up a compromise and detail the interior this week, and exterior when they return.

A quick exterior wash & QD with OCW, S&G, or UPPS should hold them over until they return, and will not take up much of your time.
 
OK thanks for the help guys!! It was supposed to rain today but it didn't... so there's no trusting the weather guy. It's hard to tell from now but I was just curious if I would be safer to use a sealant vs. carnauba with the potential of rain within a few hours. I guess time will tell. I will probably end up doing a full detail as long as it isn't raining and if it is I'll stick to a quick exterior and then the interior.

I would assume that Zaino would be good to use because you don't need a cure time if you mix ZFX and Z2, Z5. I don't have any Zaino right now but that may be worth getting for something like this.
 
A detail is a detail. Rain or Storm I'm detailing... The final step which is the wax or sealant is just the icing on the cake. It really has nothing to do with the process. Detail it. Slap on some wax or sealant get your money and recommend they come back and see you in a couple months for maintenance. Getting money don't require that much thought especially when the rain is coming. If my customers allow me to detail their cars when its raining I offer a few free car washes.

I have never used a product that couldn't go in the rain once i buffed it off...

I think your customers should be applauded because to me that is what detailing is all about. It isn't a car wash, It is an automotive appearance restoration process. If rain messes the car up then you my friend aren't detailing, you are washing cars....
 
budman3 said:
OK thanks for the help guys!! It was supposed to rain today but it didn't... so there's no trusting the weather guy.
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Meteorologist in Latin means liar. Of course I'm just kidding. The threat of rain is often as bad as the actual rain for me. I follow the weather each day that I work and know what the percentages are for each hour. Often I'll show up to an office and someone there will comment "oh it's supposed to rain for the next three days". Forcast could be 3 hours of 30% and nothing above 10% for next 3 days and it won't matter. Once someone hears about a chance of rain around here it seems to be the word of God to many.
 
PEI Detail said:
Would anything be the ticket.
Are you really saying other products won't work?
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NO, what I'm saying is that the accelerated cure time that ZFX provides would be a better choice.

Looks great budman!
 
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