What the... ?

[Schuma Detail]

Alright, I have had my hand at a few jobs on detailing a car - and I have come up against almost the strangest thing, and that would be the fact that for some reason whilst it takes other people about three to four hours to detail a car (inside and out), it takes me about six to eight!

Here is the process I use, FYI:

Exterior
1) Wash down the car with a normal car-wash bucket-o-soap & sponge.
2) Apply Paint Cleaner (Hand)
3) Apply Scratch Removal Product (Hand)
4) Apply Polish (Hand)
5) Apply Wax (Hand)
6) Trim Blacken / Tyre Shine
7) Finish off with Quik Detailer.

Interior
1) Vaccume Interior Carpets / Seats
2) Apply Carpet Cleaner & Scrub
3) Vaccume Excess Dirt
4) Vinal Polish / Protector

Now, I have been trying to use a random-orbit polisher (Black & Decker - type unknown), but I havent had any luck with it. From its results, I have only seen the thing smudge the product around and not rub it it at all. Am I perhaps mis-using the polisher, and also, would you know any reason at all why the heck its taking me so long (I suspect its because im doing most of it by hand).

 

[edschwab1]

I ask myself the samething, about time. I can not answer your question, but give ideas to way it takes so long. Maybe you need to purchase a PC or the Dewalt equivalent. Maybe the vehicle you are working are in rough shape, maybe you need to develop a repeatable process or maybe you should not worry about how long the job takes as long the job is completed to a high standard.

Eric

 

[Schuma Detail]

FYI, I live in Australia - where the PCs arent available.

Anyhow, indeed there might be a few different reasons. One of them might be for the fact that I havent worked on a car any newer than 1991 with only half-clear coated >.< also. I mean, Im sure detailing a newer car could and might actually lower my time dramatically. In the meantime, I'm actually quiet interested in working on increasing the amount of cars I can do in a day (right now its just 1), because Im working on a business to (eventually in years to come) franchise.

Any ideas anyone?

 

[edschwab1]

Try different products
find products which are easy to work with and work faster.
Go to work for a good detailing shop and learn.
Go to a detailing school and learn
Develop a repeatable process and this will help reduce your time
Allot different amounts of time for vehicles based on size and condition
There probably is an equivalent to the PC in Australia. I would google for this.


I am not sure what too tell you besides, to keep your head up and keep working at reducing your time. Practice, Practice

Eric

 

[GregCavi]

I spend about 5-8 hours on full details so its not just you. I just bought a rotary so hopefully that will spend things up a tad. Just try to refine your processes a little bit to save time. One thing I have done is to clay as I am washing the panel. It seems to really save time.

Greg

 

[Focusedonsound]

FYI, I live in Australia - where the PCs arent available.
Any ideas anyone?

1. I beleive that www.lowes.com ships internationally (and I beleive people in austrailia have had success doing so in the past do a search on this site for Australia you would be suprised what you will find)

2. I know that there is a voltage differece so you may have to get some type of inverter you would probably know better than me.

3. It may be easier to purchase a rotary and a test panel to learn on. Its not as difficult as everyone says...its just takes a lot more out of you. You need to Pay that much more attention, while it does have a little bit more of a learning curve ... the end results are that much better!

Good luck!

 

[Schuma Detail]

Alright. Well thankyou everyone. It seems that most probably theres not all that much wrong with my detailing work (I would post some pictures, since I manage to do a fair job IMO), but rather that its a matter of just getting that routine down and out.

Focusedonsound, thats actually an interesting point you make about the rotary. You know, I might just head down to the shop and pick one up for myself - and like everyone says, Practice, Practice, Practice!

Cheers everyone for your help, tis much appreciated. And its good to know that its not so strange that it takes me so long. Here I was thinking I was the only one taking so long! Silly me.

-- Ash

 

[ShineProDetails]

Most of my details take me 4 hours. I have all the right tools, chemicals, lighting and knowledge. I'd say any detailing schools or seminars would me a bonus. I have went to many classes and seminars and learned alot over the years.

 

[fatboyflyer]

Hi-
Another noob here. I am doing my details by hand right now while I try to save up some $$ for equipment. I'm also spending a full day on my details and I still don't think I'm done after 8 hours. I’m hoping that once I get the PC it will cut my time. Also, just plain old experience and practice should cut the time. I’m not going to quit my day job until I can do a detail in 4 hours.

 

[tubafeak]

I can do a mini full detail (not too "detailed", not anal retentive about everything) in 5-6 hrs. For full details of my personal vehicles I usually do the Exterior and Engine in 1 day (about 5 hrs) and then do Interior and Sealant layering the next day (another 4-5 hrs). For customers I'll take about 8-10 hrs for the whole thing. I mostly do cars for people I know and they usually have me do it when they're on vacation. They take a cab to the airport and park their car outside, I go to their house, do my thang and go home. If they're gone a few days I'll go back every day and S&W, layer LSPs, and add dressing (VRT) to the trim. This has worked well for me so far.