I often get asked by shop owners and techs new to wet sanding how to price and quote..heres the scoop.. If you know how to buff, you can wet sand. A PANEL is about a 4 square foot area. Some hoods, roofs, and trunks are 4 panels, especially B body mopars and bigger cars. The rule of thumb price in 2008 is $60 per panel. That means you should be quoting a range for starters no less than 1500-1800 dollars for a complete. A complete wet sand will take 40-50 hours to complete plus the detail afterwards which is quoted separately. This means the average guy will pull about 50 an hour if you stay in the zone. NEVER buff tired or impaired, you'll be sorry, no matter how hard some klondike is breathin down your neck to get it done fast. Add 20% for black or dark blue that looks black, there are extra steps involved as any journeyman knows - anyone can make a car look better, but to make a car right, especially black cars, is a whole different animal. :waxing: As always, destroy the customer's pride pointing out burns, scuffs, chips, wasted pinstripe, or anything else you are gonna get blamed for BEFORE you touch the car, and never never never quote an absolute price over the phone. If a guy has to know right now the exact price to the penny, he cant afford it, and you dont need the "practice".
Wet Sanding Prices - Howto sellit
- Thread starter Whitey
- Start date
Superior Shine
New member
40 to 50 hours? On a show car I am guessing.
It is possible but I can do the average daily drive, clear coated with few paint defects in about 12-15 hours for about $1000.
It is possible but I can do the average daily drive, clear coated with few paint defects in about 12-15 hours for about $1000.
imported_Detailing Technology
New member
If it takes you 40-50 hours to wet sand a car, that is extremely excessive. I'd actually call it a loss unless you can get someone to pay your hourly for all of those hours.
I can Mirka Bulldog or wet sand by hand a 9 panel car (coupe) in 6 hours + the detail. (12-15hrs) I calculate the rate at $70/hr. + the detail. Wet sanding doesn't increase my polishing time, it actually reduces it. It acts as a guide coat and keeps me from focusing on trouble spots. In December I did a red Ferrari F50 which was just repainted, I charged $2000. I went to the shop and did the car in pieces the day after it came out of the booth. That took me two 10 hour days. But is was a special case, it required special attention with the insane angles and curves.
Detailing Technology Wet Sand Calculation:
7hr * $70per = $490 (I charge 1hr for clean-up of the wet sanding residue)
Exterior only detail - $450+/-
TOTAL: $940.00 +/- for a coupe. Figure a sedan $1000-1200 pending size.
If there are only 1 or 2 panels that need sanding, I charge $100 per panel flat + the detail.
I can Mirka Bulldog or wet sand by hand a 9 panel car (coupe) in 6 hours + the detail. (12-15hrs) I calculate the rate at $70/hr. + the detail. Wet sanding doesn't increase my polishing time, it actually reduces it. It acts as a guide coat and keeps me from focusing on trouble spots. In December I did a red Ferrari F50 which was just repainted, I charged $2000. I went to the shop and did the car in pieces the day after it came out of the booth. That took me two 10 hour days. But is was a special case, it required special attention with the insane angles and curves.
Detailing Technology Wet Sand Calculation:
7hr * $70per = $490 (I charge 1hr for clean-up of the wet sanding residue)
Exterior only detail - $450+/-
TOTAL: $940.00 +/- for a coupe. Figure a sedan $1000-1200 pending size.
If there are only 1 or 2 panels that need sanding, I charge $100 per panel flat + the detail.
imported_Detailing Technology
New member
MrNorwall said:
I sometimes use a D/A which is similar to the motion to the PC. The PC just has to large of a "throw". You will make a mess with the PC, the sanding marks will be harder to remove evenly and completely.
imported_DieselMDX
New member
jsatek said:
great post