Would like some buffing tips

A

Audidriver18

New member
Hey guys-

I'm new here to the DC world. I Opened my Detail In Feb. Like 15 miles outside of Seattle. And if there is anything i HATE the most it's buffing! I use a Meg. Foam cutting pad ( the maroon one) Then i go over with the foam polishing pad ( the white one) Then use this great Imperial Paste Wax By Malco. But the whole prosses just takes soo long. What's some of the methods you guys go by? Maybe give me some tips to make my nightmare go by faster?? I'm thinking maybe I spend too long buffing in one spot (I mean I really try to work it in that paint) But I get such a great shine at the end of it all (Customers Love It) So ya just let me know how you guys do it thanks!
 
Audidriver,
Sounds like you're doing things right. I feel the way you do about buffing. Unfortunately, there is no quick way around it. When I started, I would buff each and ever car followed by a polish and a sealant. I soon learned that it was unpracticle and not worth my time to do this each and every time. I decided to include just a polish in a detail and would sell the buffing to the customer as an extra. I always walk around the vehicle with the customer, grease pencil in hand, circling areas and explaining what buffing would do. I never tell them how much buffing will cost until a complete walkaround because, as you may know, buffing can take 20 minutes or it can take 90. I can tell you that buffing is an easy sell after you explain the remarkable difference it will make. I can tell you that I feel much better about buffing when I know I'll be compensated for it. Besides, if they say no on the buffing, you've eliminated a timely step and are making the same money.
 
How can you sell buffing for extra? I thought that was part of a detail when I went to school? Why detail if you hate to polish paint? Buffing is easy, try rotary for 2 hours.........Detailers like you two give everyone of us a bad name, why rip people off and do crapy work? I'd never go from a red pad to a white pad..EVER!
 
Nothin wrong with trying to become more time efficient. And nothing wrong with providing a variety of packages and options to clients. Though, of course I agree in a sense with atlanta.

Personally, I'm excited to do a couple of vehicles for my family for free. Buffing the paint is my favorite part. As for cutting time off, I'm still fairly new at buffing, but as I get more experienced i seem to become more efficient. Having material close at hand, getting a feel for the paint and the buffer, these can all make a difference.
 
This is what seperates the "quantity" detailers from the "quality" detailers.

Both can make money, both fill a need but you can't be both.

Audidriver,

Welcome to DC:) Let me begin by saying that what you need to do is focus on a 2 step process if you do not care to buff. By this I mean use a fast cutting product to cut the paint, but not mar it, then use a one step cleaner/polish/wax product.

As stated by "Atlantaboy" buffing can take hours. I can spend 2 hours on the hood alone on some details and I love each and every minute of it......kinda whack eh?

So you may be a "quantity" detailer and nothing wrong with that but don't ever expect flawless results unless you are willing to put in the time.

Happy Detailing,
Anthony
 
I guess more the reason why i asked is because I had never worked in a detail shop ever. Nor have I had professinal tranning. I kinda started this detailing thing about year and ahalf ago. And got really serious about it. Every thing i know is from learning it on my own. I mean i do hate that it takes so long But at the same time I love how it turns out. I'm not trying to be a quantity over quality detailer Because i definitly want my work to turn out awsome because when people tell there friends i want nothing but goods things said( Can't buy advertising like that ). And also what do you guys like more wool or foam pads havent touched wool pads yet just because i heard bad thing can happen pretty fast ( like burning paint) so got any tips on that?
 
Atlantaboy= I don't know where you got that i do crappy work?? I think my work is very good acually! Why would people like me give detailers a bad name please explain?
 
Audidriver18,

Ignore the harrassment, we all knew what you meant. Yeah buffing can make a day drag on especially when your leading us to believe you have an Audi to pose it :) I'm just starting to play with a PC, hate waffle pads, hate hand applying wax - I'm gunna have an arm like Pop-eye I swear!

Lots of info in the archives and posts. A lot of people don't reply to the same questions esp. when the same ground gets covered so frequently (i.e. 'help, how do I get swirl marks out of black paint?' etc)

You'll have to post some pics of your ride!
 
Audi,

There is alot of debate over what is best, wool or foam? I personally believe there is a right pad/product combo for each situation, whether it be wool or foam.

Wool pads are great for paint leveling and many body shops prefer them over foam for this task. Certain blends, like a nice soft lambs wool, work well for finishing steps.

Of the two, foam will usuaully generate more heat and friction than wool pads due to air flow. Wool pads draw in more air, thus it keeps the surface temp a bit cooler. Foam pads do not allow as much air to pass to the paint. This is why many foam pads have cut out patterns in them.

I keep a variety of pads with me and a detailer should be familiar with each pad type.

Anthony
 
OK. Here's a really stupid question from a rank beginner.

I read with interest the preceding thread and I am totally confused as to what it is all about.

Could someone explain to me the process (i.e. What is buffing????) I have been under the impression that "buffing" is something you do at the very end to add that extra bit of shine.

"Buffing" "Polishing" - I must really be stupid.

Thanks
 
Not a stupid question at all. The truth is that "polish" and "buff" have dual meanings.

The majority see "polish" as applying a product to give the paint lots of color and vibrance, which it can, but to myself and others "polishing" is also considered a cleaning step, usually done with a "buffer", hence the term "buffing".

You can also "buff" wax and polish off the surface, either by hand (which I prefer) or by machine.

Usually the terms "buffing" and "polishing" are defined by the context they are found in. So if I say that I need to buff the car I usually mean it needs to be done with a rotary or with my Cyclo. I generally refer to "polishing" as a mild cleaning to the paint, not some a leveling step, like removing oxidation or scratches, but a burnishing to the paint, again either by machine or hand.

Hope that helps,
Anthony
 
Still waiting for the pics of your ride :)

Some 'detailers' in my turf refer to buffing as giving PDI shine to a finished car. They then tell me that they "charge separately to polish and buff but actually they use a buffer to polish so they don't need to buff the whole car again". See why we have to work so hard to justify ourselves to the public.
 
Audidriver18 don't worry about not liking a step or 2 about detailing... There is always something that we all don't like about detailing.. For me it is carpets that no matter how long you vacuum still seems there is more to vacuum. And other days it is Engines. I look at it this way I love Hiking and sometimes you can hike a difficult mountain and you say to yourself what did I get myself into... But when you make it to the summit it makes it all worth while. Same thing with cars sometimes they can aggrivate and push your limits but seeing the customers face afterwards makes it all worth while. Buffing will come in time just keep working at it and you will develope more speed and become more proficiant with it. I do not charge extra for this unless it will seriously eat up alot of time but this is why i give a estimate on each vehicle. I charge for time but not buffing I generally detail everyday drivers and some can require a 4 step, Some require wet sanding and a 4 step, I do charge accordingly With cars starting at $140 up I generally try to make $20/hr, I agree fully with Anthony sometimes a hood can take a full hour or more. Just don't frustrated and keep thinking to yourself the customer is gona die when they see this paint...

Good luck happy detailing.

Jay
 
I'll try to get some pics of my A4 up soon. Thanks for all the info guys I'm looking foward to being apart of this DC comunity. and looking to you guys for help every once in a while.
 
Hey, Audidriver. I started the same way you did. Learning everything on my own - with some serious helpful advice from folks here at D.C.

I offer a 3 step polishing/buffing process with Malco products. I start with a medium cut foam pad and MAG 1 compound (or True-Grit, if needed.) Then go to a Rapid Cut compound to smooth it out. Then I polish with Glaze II Polish and a fine cut foam pad. I finish with a polymer sealant, buffed at high speed. It adds about 2-3 hours to a detail job. I charge an extra $100-$150 for the service because of the work involved. But a lot of people don't want to pay that.

So I offer the budget route - Malco's Paint Rejuvenator on a medium cut pad as a one step process, followed by Auto Glym Wax Polish. Not a bad shine at all for no extra cost.

I like polishing and seeing a car look better and better with each step. And I am a QUALITY detailer. But I'm not giving it away. My time costs money. Quality includes being efficient. Is the customer going to go out and buy a high speed polisher, all the products, the pads, and spend the time to do what I do? I think not. So they can pay what the 3-step process is worth or get the 1 step process and I spend less of my time on the job.

There is nothing wrong with streamlining your work. Before I started my own business, I worked awhile for a guy who didn't even offer polishing. It was wash, dry, and wax with an orbital. No other paint work. A complete job in 2 hours. Far from what I offer. But he's doing lots of business and making lots of money.

Do a walk around before you start (and after you wash) and you can get an idea of what areas need lots of polishing and what areas need a little polishing. Know when the polish has done its work and move on.

Keep focusing on quality but you can work on efficiency, also. Keep in mind your time isn't free.
 
PBstyle= how do you like malco products? do you know of anything better? just curious The only other product i've worked with is Meg. thanks.
 
Having just broken into the biz myself in January, I haven't got a hell of a lot of experience with a wide assortment of stuff. But I consulted a supplier down here who deals in literally hundreds of brands. He turned me onto the Rejuvenator when I still was using just an orbital. It worked well and I liked it. When I finally made the plunge into the hi-speed rotary world, another supplier who gets a lot of his stuff from the first, and whom I trust, told me about the 3 step process and the products he uses. The first thing I used them on was a black Ford Expedition that was completely speckled with white paint overspray. After claying to remove the paint, (and marring the surface pretty good) I did the 3 step. I'm talking MIRROR here. I'll post pics. It looked awesome. I like the Malco products. They're inexpensive, are available in small bottles that fit in my apron pockets, and so far they do all that they advertise. I'm not against experimenting with other stuff, mind you. I just haven't decided what to try next. I'll figure out where to post pics and then tell you where they are.
 
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