shane@detailedreflections

Update time...well, more of a stay tuned. 
 
I dropped the Lotus off at ACI Dynamix in Seymour, Connecticut today. The materials are ordered. My car was scheduled for April, but I have a client who’s stuck with the Cornonavirus stuff impacting work for him so we swapped appointments moving me up!  
 
In a week or two (probably closer to two), we will go down to see it. We are going to coat it right in their shop so it doesn’t need to be prepped again and while they have the wheels off. The wheels and calipers will be freshly powder coated and painted so it’s an easy prep. 
 
Then it just needs some inside love quick and will be ready for photos.
 
I will post pics as I get teasers from them!
 
 

Update time...well, more of a stay tuned. 
 
I dropped the Lotus off at ACI Dynamix in Seymour, Connecticut today. The materials are ordered. My car was scheduled for April, but I have a client who’s stuck with the Cornonavirus stuff impacting work for him so we swapped appointments moving me up!  
 
In a week or two (probably closer to two), we will go down to see it. We are going to coat it right in their shop so it doesn’t need to be prepped again and while they have the wheels off. The wheels and calipers will be freshly powder coated and painted so it’s an easy prep. 
 
Then it just needs some inside love quick and will be ready for photos.
 
I will post pics as I get teasers from them!
 
 

A one step polish will leave some sealant or wax behind. It really isn’t an ideal product to prep for any kind of a ceramic product. 
 
In a perfect world you want to truly polish the vehicle, remove any residues and then apply your ceramic over the top of that. This will help allow the strongest bond and best finish. 

New vehicles are prone to bonded contamination just like every other vehicle. Also being that it’s paint and sprayed by machine, it doesn’t mean everything is “level.” We tend to take a finishing polish to new vehicles to level out clear coat imperfections. It changes the look. What looks smooth sometimes isn’t until you’ve seen the difference. 
 
Here’s a coupe of graphics showing the different surface imperfections and what they are in your paint. 


 

 

As we’ve been talking about hosting our first clinic, it got me thinking about all aspects of detailing and business ownership. I frequently see people here who are thinking of opening their own business and it inspired me to share some thoughts and lessons from our first official year in business. 
 
First though, a little back history. I believe to understand where you’re going, you need to understand where you’ve been. So to understand Detailed Reflections and our story, the history becomes important. 
 
I have a successful career as a firefighter/paramedic. Detailing for me has never been the way to “pay the bills.” What my career provided for me though was a means to explore something that I’d always wanted to do with minimal risk...owning a business. 
 
Like many, I started detailing my own cars. Once friends found out that I did that, and could do it well they started asking for “help” detailing their cars. In other words, they asked me to detail their cars. As I went along, I learned all the time. Suddenly I found myself finally feeling confident I could do this and charge money for it. Not to mention, I got tired of giving away time frequently. Like many, I have a family and activities I enjoy.
 
Next thing I knew, I was collecting cash for detailing cars here and there. I realized how much time and money I kept reinvesting. New product, tools, etc. At that point the idea was hatched that I would go out on a limb and open my own business.
 
I’ve use the “I” a lot so far, and there’s a reason for that. When I talked to my wife about opening a business, she suggested I partner with the husband of someone she works with. He was working as a detailer at a small shop that did production detailing. Think more car wash than true detailing.
 
I was a little apprehensive about bringing someone else into the mix. Little did I know it would be one of the best things I could do and the strength of a friendship born through a common interest and business venture. After some conversation over dinner, “I” became “we.” He didn’t have the financial means to invest in everything needed to take on business ownership, but he brought an incredible work ethic with him and has grown tremendously in our time working together. I still hold ownership (for now) but he’s every bit of a partner a business owner could ask for. 
 
This was lesson one. Don’t be afraid to take a chance. It might not work, but it just might lead to the best decision you’ve ever made. To watch Marquis grow in his craft has made it worthwhile. His knowledge of the business side is growing and his worth ethic is among the best I’ve seen.
 
Now that we had a legal LLC, it became a game of constantly navigating new tasks. Paying sales tax, tracking EVERY expense, scheduling, acquiring clients, ordering product, shopping for price. The list goes on. 
 
Which brings us to lesson two. Track EVERYTHING. Literally, save every receipt. Track mileage. Be diligent in recording expenses. You want to know where every dollar is going. You’re not spending, you’re investing. Most of the money we take in goes back to the business. Advertising, product, etc. You also want to know if you’re profitable. 
 
Lesson three...it takes time to be profitable. You’re going to make ordering mistakes. You’re going to need to grow your equipment to set yourself apart. You’ll need to try different products to see what you like and what you don’t like. You need to set yourself apart from the competition. 
 
Lesson four...don’t sell on price. You can easily get sucked into a low cost bidding war. Some people will walk because they can “get it cheaper elsewhere.” Let them go. The price customer isn’t likely to become a client, and they usually expect the most for the least. If you don’t value your time, product and knowledge who else will?  That being said, don’t gouge people because you can. It’s poor practice and will bite you. 
 
Lesson five...clients and customers are different people. A customer is a one time transaction. A client is multiple times. They come back. They talk to people. They engage with you. These are who you want to be your clients. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Customers are still good revenue, but don’t provide the continued returns that a client does. 
 
Lesson six...know your costs. This is a cost of operating. And it’s how you establish an hourly rate to estimate pricing. How much is your time worth?  How much do you pay your employees/partners?  How much is your product?  How much does your business need to make to grow?  How much are your expenses (rent/insurance/phone/etc)?  Once that’s done, work it backwards. You should have an hourly rate you try to achieve on every job. 
 
Lesson seven...sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. In the end, make the client happy. There’s jobs we’ve misquoted and done for little to nothing at the end of the day. There’s jobs we’ve made more than we thought. Keep the client happy. It’s how they return.  Don’t sweat the small things. A job that doesn’t make money is simply a mistake. Learn from it. 
 
Lesson eight...be honest with customers and clients. Under promise and over deliver. It’s better to wow a client with more than they expected than to disappoint them by promising something you couldn’t deliver. An unhappy client will tell everyone. 
 
Lesson nine...don’t give clients what they didn’t pay for. Does this mean never throw someone a bone?  Not at all. If someone pays for a one step polish, that’s what you need to give them. You can’t do a two step for the price of one. You’re not doing your business any favors. That being said, if a small spot needs more attention, just do it. The customer will thank you and it’s a few minutes. 
 
Lesson ten...buy smart. Research products. Reach out to vendors to see what they can offer you. Reducing costs is a good way to improve profit margin without increasing costs to clients and customers. You owe it to yourself, your business and your clients. It’s how you offer a fair product at a fair price.
 
Lesson eleven...you’ll make mistakes. Own them. Fix them. Learn from them. Move past them. That’s all there is about that.
 
Lesson twelve...growth takes time. Experiment. It’s not easy to acquire clients as the new guy around. Word of mouth is the best advertising. Incentivize people to send business your way. Try new things. Network. You never know what great connections you’ll make. Talking to people is the best way. 
 
And thirteen...have fun. If you’re not enjoying it, it’s not for you. The friendships you’ll make are invaluable and don’t have a price on them. 
 
And on trying new things, we are working on a clinic!  All of the topics here will be in play. Well, except price. The clinic is free. But the networking, sharing knowledge, etc. All will be on display. 
 
If you’re thinking about owning a business...do it. There’s enough work to go around and it’s rewarding. Even if you weren’t successful, you will have done something few people dare to do!
 
Anyway, just some rambling thoughts from a first year business owner. Hopefully you guys will be putting up with me for a while!

So here it is...after going to ACI and playing with films, this is the plan. 
 
The color is Matte Sunset Shift from Avery Dennison. It’s an orange that shifts to almost a gold at one end, and red at the other depending on viewing angle. This will save the jams and sills from being attention. Since the film is matte, it will bring out the contours of the body quite a bit. 


 
The image is under fluorescent lights. Outside it comes to life. 
 
We are going to do gloss black on the roof, a posts and mirrors. We are also adding the lower accents of what would be the Lotus Black Pack. So the lower splitter, the lower rockers. You can see what the black pack is on this image. 
 

 
The calipers will be done in some color on the film spectrum. They are going to be painted and have black lettering. The wheels will be powder coated gloss black and I’ll have new gloss black lug nuts. 
 
All emblems will be replaced with black ones of the same. The hood emblem and wheel center caps will be black/silver logos.
 
To top it off, it will get a Viny/PPF specific coating from another manufacturer. Two layers on all matte film. A single layer and a gloss layer on the gloss films. And lastly wheels and calipers coated in a single layer (maybe two depending on time). 
 
Just have to wait for the NYC auto show and my car is first scheduled when they come back from that!
 
 

So here it is...after going to ACI and playing with films, this is the plan. 
 
The color is Matte Sunset Shift from Avery Dennison. It’s an orange that shifts to almost a gold at one end, and red at the other depending on viewing angle. This will save the jams and sills from being attention. Since the film is matte, it will bring out the contours of the body quite a bit. 


 
The image is under fluorescent lights. Outside it comes to life. 
 
We are going to do gloss black on the roof, a posts and mirrors. We are also adding the lower accents of what would be the Lotus Black Pack. So the lower splitter, the lower rockers. You can see what the black pack is on this image. 
 

 
The calipers will be done in some color on the film spectrum. They are going to be painted and have black lettering. The wheels will be powder coated gloss black and I’ll have new gloss black lug nuts. 
 
All emblems will be replaced with black ones of the same. The hood emblem and wheel center caps will be black/silver logos.
 
To top it off, it will get a Viny/PPF specific coating from another manufacturer. Two layers on all matte film. A single layer and a gloss layer on the gloss films. And lastly wheels and calipers coated in a single layer (maybe two depending on time). 
 
Just have to wait for the NYC auto show and my car is first scheduled when they come back from that!
 
 

Try revive hand polish. You can machine polish vinyl with a finishing polish. Just be cautious of heat buildup and pressure applied. Without experience, vinyl isn’t the place to learn though. 

You’re welcome @falcaineer  I’ll work on a follow up post this week when I have some time to write. 

I’ll add to what @mc2hill said. The clear coat is thin. And while it’s “difficult” to do damage with a dual action machine, don’t think for a moment that it’s impossible to do. 
 
If you’re chasing bad damage, you can drive yourself crazy. Step back five feet and see if you can see it?  If you can’t, call it good. If you can see it and others can’t, you’re probably good. Lighting makes a huge difference. We can find imperfections all day long in our lit bay with 110,000 Lumens of light all over. Roll it out in the sunlight, and you can’t see most of what we can. Clients see even less. 
 
Keep in mind too, that the more you work the paint now...the less you have to work with in the future. Also once you take off about 1/3 of the clear coat, you impede UV protection which can accelerate clear coat failure. 
 
There’s a reason they make paint thickness gauges. And they’re precisely for situations like this when you’re not sure how far you can take it. It’s a tool most people don’t have in their box (a good one runs about $650-700). If you call around, you may find a shop willing to measure it for you (assuming they even have one) and send you on your way. If you find someone to do this, be kind and offer a few dollars for their time and tool. They most likely wouldn’t take it (I know I wouldn’t), but the gesture goes a long way to the next time you need help.

Sounds like a great plan. Cant wait to see the results! 

So here it is...after going to ACI and playing with films, this is the plan. 
 
The color is Matte Sunset Shift from Avery Dennison. It’s an orange that shifts to almost a gold at one end, and red at the other depending on viewing angle. This will save the jams and sills from being attention. Since the film is matte, it will bring out the contours of the body quite a bit. 


 
The image is under fluorescent lights. Outside it comes to life. 
 
We are going to do gloss black on the roof, a posts and mirrors. We are also adding the lower accents of what would be the Lotus Black Pack. So the lower splitter, the lower rockers. You can see what the black pack is on this image. 
 

 
The calipers will be done in some color on the film spectrum. They are going to be painted and have black lettering. The wheels will be powder coated gloss black and I’ll have new gloss black lug nuts. 
 
All emblems will be replaced with black ones of the same. The hood emblem and wheel center caps will be black/silver logos.
 
To top it off, it will get a Viny/PPF specific coating from another manufacturer. Two layers on all matte film. A single layer and a gloss layer on the gloss films. And lastly wheels and calipers coated in a single layer (maybe two depending on time). 
 
Just have to wait for the NYC auto show and my car is first scheduled when they come back from that!
 
 

So here it is...after going to ACI and playing with films, this is the plan. 
 
The color is Matte Sunset Shift from Avery Dennison. It’s an orange that shifts to almost a gold at one end, and red at the other depending on viewing angle. This will save the jams and sills from being attention. Since the film is matte, it will bring out the contours of the body quite a bit. 


 
The image is under fluorescent lights. Outside it comes to life. 
 
We are going to do gloss black on the roof, a posts and mirrors. We are also adding the lower accents of what would be the Lotus Black Pack. So the lower splitter, the lower rockers. You can see what the black pack is on this image. 
 

 
The calipers will be done in some color on the film spectrum. They are going to be painted and have black lettering. The wheels will be powder coated gloss black and I’ll have new gloss black lug nuts. 
 
All emblems will be replaced with black ones of the same. The hood emblem and wheel center caps will be black/silver logos.
 
To top it off, it will get a Viny/PPF specific coating from another manufacturer. Two layers on all matte film. A single layer and a gloss layer on the gloss films. And lastly wheels and calipers coated in a single layer (maybe two depending on time). 
 
Just have to wait for the NYC auto show and my car is first scheduled when they come back from that!
 
 

Just an update...going down to ACI tomorrow to check out some films. I have a few ideas rolling in my head. I just need to see what they look like on the car and what I can see myself living with. 
 
Ordering the black badging and emblems this coming week. The appointment is technically the end of April, but they may get me in earlier so I want to have things ready to go. 
 
By the time the wheels are powdercoated, calipers painted and car wrapped it’s a big project. Then when we get it back it needs a coat or two of ceramic on it to really top it off. 
 
I’ll post progress pics as I get them when it happens and I’ll document the ceramic process for the forums!  Possibly shoot a nice video reveal when it’s done...

Just an update...going down to ACI tomorrow to check out some films. I have a few ideas rolling in my head. I just need to see what they look like on the car and what I can see myself living with. 
 
Ordering the black badging and emblems this coming week. The appointment is technically the end of April, but they may get me in earlier so I want to have things ready to go. 
 
By the time the wheels are powdercoated, calipers painted and car wrapped it’s a big project. Then when we get it back it needs a coat or two of ceramic on it to really top it off. 
 
I’ll post progress pics as I get them when it happens and I’ll document the ceramic process for the forums!  Possibly shoot a nice video reveal when it’s done...

Honestly, you’re not going to take care of those by hand. You’ll never generate the speed you need to polish that out effectively. 
 
The general rule is that if you can catch a nail on the scratch, it needs a body shop to fix it. You might reduce it with polishing. 
 
If you can’t invest in the equipment, reach out to a detailer in your area and see what they can or will do for you. 
 

Sounds like a multi part metal flake. Some paints use a base color. Then clear coat. Then metal flake (or metallic). Then more clear coat. 
 
You might have found a layer of metal flake. We did a custom painted Indian motorcycles. 
 
Ask me how I found out about that???  Went through and created what looked like an oil spot in the paint. Ended up getting it resprayed by the artist on my dime. 
 
You live and learn. 

We have experience with the Dr. Color Chip system. Their paint match is spot on. We usually order a squirt and squeegee kit for clients, but we don’t apply it that way. 
 
We use this:
 
Gold Label Detailing Fine Line Fluid Writer Paint Applicator Pen | Precision Touch Up Paint | Perfect for Rock Chips and Scratch Repair | .5mm Tip Brass Construction https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N95TXM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.7fvEbYQTZWCR
 
A drop of paint and we literally fill the scratch in. Put a layer at a time. Let it cure. Another layer. And so on until it’s built up about higher than the surface of the paint. Let it cure until nice and hard and then polish it down. It’s not always perfect, but it’s an improvement and doesn’t make a mess. A heat gun helps those thin layers cure, but don’t burn the paint since they get hot. 
 
If you have questions, let me know. 

Thanks guys. Brought back an old post!  So much I could add after another year or two of growth too!
 
I’m constantly learning so much. 

We have experience with the Dr. Color Chip system. Their paint match is spot on. We usually order a squirt and squeegee kit for clients, but we don’t apply it that way. 
 
We use this:
 
Gold Label Detailing Fine Line Fluid Writer Paint Applicator Pen | Precision Touch Up Paint | Perfect for Rock Chips and Scratch Repair | .5mm Tip Brass Construction https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07N95TXM8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_.7fvEbYQTZWCR
 
A drop of paint and we literally fill the scratch in. Put a layer at a time. Let it cure. Another layer. And so on until it’s built up about higher than the surface of the paint. Let it cure until nice and hard and then polish it down. It’s not always perfect, but it’s an improvement and doesn’t make a mess. A heat gun helps those thin layers cure, but don’t burn the paint since they get hot. 
 
If you have questions, let me know. 

I’ll add to what @mc2hill said. The clear coat is thin. And while it’s “difficult” to do damage with a dual action machine, don’t think for a moment that it’s impossible to do. 
 
If you’re chasing bad damage, you can drive yourself crazy. Step back five feet and see if you can see it?  If you can’t, call it good. If you can see it and others can’t, you’re probably good. Lighting makes a huge difference. We can find imperfections all day long in our lit bay with 110,000 Lumens of light all over. Roll it out in the sunlight, and you can’t see most of what we can. Clients see even less. 
 
Keep in mind too, that the more you work the paint now...the less you have to work with in the future. Also once you take off about 1/3 of the clear coat, you impede UV protection which can accelerate clear coat failure. 
 
There’s a reason they make paint thickness gauges. And they’re precisely for situations like this when you’re not sure how far you can take it. It’s a tool most people don’t have in their box (a good one runs about $650-700). If you call around, you may find a shop willing to measure it for you (assuming they even have one) and send you on your way. If you find someone to do this, be kind and offer a few dollars for their time and tool. They most likely wouldn’t take it (I know I wouldn’t), but the gesture goes a long way to the next time you need help.

We sure do.  Yeah, sounds like it's some sort of snafu w/metallic, though I'm thinking it might just be the half assed job factory did spraying the hidden part of the bag where I tested--it really does have some nasty imperfections in the clear but to be fair I hadn't noticed in previous 10 years so I suppose I can't complain.  At least the black on the replacement parts I'll be installing (Harley "vivid black") doesn't have any metallic whatsoever, so hopefully I'll be okay if I can avoid swirls... Thanks for the input brother, much appreciated

Thanks guys. Brought back an old post!  So much I could add after another year or two of growth too!
 
I’m constantly learning so much. 

As we’ve been talking about hosting our first clinic, it got me thinking about all aspects of detailing and business ownership. I frequently see people here who are thinking of opening their own business and it inspired me to share some thoughts and lessons from our first official year in business. 
 
First though, a little back history. I believe to understand where you’re going, you need to understand where you’ve been. So to understand Detailed Reflections and our story, the history becomes important. 
 
I have a successful career as a firefighter/paramedic. Detailing for me has never been the way to “pay the bills.” What my career provided for me though was a means to explore something that I’d always wanted to do with minimal risk...owning a business. 
 
Like many, I started detailing my own cars. Once friends found out that I did that, and could do it well they started asking for “help” detailing their cars. In other words, they asked me to detail their cars. As I went along, I learned all the time. Suddenly I found myself finally feeling confident I could do this and charge money for it. Not to mention, I got tired of giving away time frequently. Like many, I have a family and activities I enjoy.
 
Next thing I knew, I was collecting cash for detailing cars here and there. I realized how much time and money I kept reinvesting. New product, tools, etc. At that point the idea was hatched that I would go out on a limb and open my own business.
 
I’ve use the “I” a lot so far, and there’s a reason for that. When I talked to my wife about opening a business, she suggested I partner with the husband of someone she works with. He was working as a detailer at a small shop that did production detailing. Think more car wash than true detailing.
 
I was a little apprehensive about bringing someone else into the mix. Little did I know it would be one of the best things I could do and the strength of a friendship born through a common interest and business venture. After some conversation over dinner, “I” became “we.” He didn’t have the financial means to invest in everything needed to take on business ownership, but he brought an incredible work ethic with him and has grown tremendously in our time working together. I still hold ownership (for now) but he’s every bit of a partner a business owner could ask for. 
 
This was lesson one. Don’t be afraid to take a chance. It might not work, but it just might lead to the best decision you’ve ever made. To watch Marquis grow in his craft has made it worthwhile. His knowledge of the business side is growing and his worth ethic is among the best I’ve seen.
 
Now that we had a legal LLC, it became a game of constantly navigating new tasks. Paying sales tax, tracking EVERY expense, scheduling, acquiring clients, ordering product, shopping for price. The list goes on. 
 
Which brings us to lesson two. Track EVERYTHING. Literally, save every receipt. Track mileage. Be diligent in recording expenses. You want to know where every dollar is going. You’re not spending, you’re investing. Most of the money we take in goes back to the business. Advertising, product, etc. You also want to know if you’re profitable. 
 
Lesson three...it takes time to be profitable. You’re going to make ordering mistakes. You’re going to need to grow your equipment to set yourself apart. You’ll need to try different products to see what you like and what you don’t like. You need to set yourself apart from the competition. 
 
Lesson four...don’t sell on price. You can easily get sucked into a low cost bidding war. Some people will walk because they can “get it cheaper elsewhere.” Let them go. The price customer isn’t likely to become a client, and they usually expect the most for the least. If you don’t value your time, product and knowledge who else will?  That being said, don’t gouge people because you can. It’s poor practice and will bite you. 
 
Lesson five...clients and customers are different people. A customer is a one time transaction. A client is multiple times. They come back. They talk to people. They engage with you. These are who you want to be your clients. It’s a mutually beneficial relationship. Customers are still good revenue, but don’t provide the continued returns that a client does. 
 
Lesson six...know your costs. This is a cost of operating. And it’s how you establish an hourly rate to estimate pricing. How much is your time worth?  How much do you pay your employees/partners?  How much is your product?  How much does your business need to make to grow?  How much are your expenses (rent/insurance/phone/etc)?  Once that’s done, work it backwards. You should have an hourly rate you try to achieve on every job. 
 
Lesson seven...sometimes you win. Sometimes you lose. In the end, make the client happy. There’s jobs we’ve misquoted and done for little to nothing at the end of the day. There’s jobs we’ve made more than we thought. Keep the client happy. It’s how they return.  Don’t sweat the small things. A job that doesn’t make money is simply a mistake. Learn from it. 
 
Lesson eight...be honest with customers and clients. Under promise and over deliver. It’s better to wow a client with more than they expected than to disappoint them by promising something you couldn’t deliver. An unhappy client will tell everyone. 
 
Lesson nine...don’t give clients what they didn’t pay for. Does this mean never throw someone a bone?  Not at all. If someone pays for a one step polish, that’s what you need to give them. You can’t do a two step for the price of one. You’re not doing your business any favors. That being said, if a small spot needs more attention, just do it. The customer will thank you and it’s a few minutes. 
 
Lesson ten...buy smart. Research products. Reach out to vendors to see what they can offer you. Reducing costs is a good way to improve profit margin without increasing costs to clients and customers. You owe it to yourself, your business and your clients. It’s how you offer a fair product at a fair price.
 
Lesson eleven...you’ll make mistakes. Own them. Fix them. Learn from them. Move past them. That’s all there is about that.
 
Lesson twelve...growth takes time. Experiment. It’s not easy to acquire clients as the new guy around. Word of mouth is the best advertising. Incentivize people to send business your way. Try new things. Network. You never know what great connections you’ll make. Talking to people is the best way. 
 
And thirteen...have fun. If you’re not enjoying it, it’s not for you. The friendships you’ll make are invaluable and don’t have a price on them. 
 
And on trying new things, we are working on a clinic!  All of the topics here will be in play. Well, except price. The clinic is free. But the networking, sharing knowledge, etc. All will be on display. 
 
If you’re thinking about owning a business...do it. There’s enough work to go around and it’s rewarding. Even if you weren’t successful, you will have done something few people dare to do!
 
Anyway, just some rambling thoughts from a first year business owner. Hopefully you guys will be putting up with me for a while!

We are a CP installer. Were the scratches there before they coated it?  If so, they may have been too deep to polish out safely. You may be chasing a problem where the solution is a body shop. 
 

What CP coating level did you get?  The top layers can usually polish off. The base layer is harder to work with. This is true of many professional grade coatings. It’s what can make some of the unforgiving to work with and why they require professional application.