landshark

I have a customer who's car had been opticoated.  He stated he isn't happy with the result (may be due to poorly applied?), and saw a lot of swirl marks on his car.  He wants me to correct them.  

First, is it easy to remove the coating using machine polish?  

I was thinking to use the Paint Correction with Orange pad as a quick one step polish for him.  But on a second thought, I'm guessing a single pass one step probably isn't enough for both removing the coating & swirl correction.

The car in question is a Subraru Royal Blue BRZ.  

Thanks in advance guys!  

Same here. Rinseless is my only savior in the middle of winter.

Fully protected by Adam's.  

p.s. LPS applied last August and still holding strong!

Subscribe!  I'm very interesting about the coating product too as I've been asked a few time from others if I would offer this.  Even tho me and my customers are still very impressed with the LPS + Buttery Wax result.

Awesome!  I'm another happy RaceDeck customer too, mine is on the very last photo on the last page (page 31 I think).  

A very good idea!

I've started (late summer) to detail for others on the weekend.  And have been doing pretty good since then.  Have a customer's car to work on every weekend for the past 2 months now.  Today will be my last car to work on for this year.  (currently awaiting for my customer to arrive)

I too started out doing my family (me & my wife's) ride, then extended to relatives.  Posted some photos on my FB, and started had some friends asked me to detail theirs.  The first couple detailing job of my friends' rides are free because I was just enjoying to do so.  But after them, and more photos posted, I started have more friends asking.  That was when I started to charge people money.  'Cos I was thinking, not just for the materials, but I'll need something to make up for my time too.  You know, time is money.  And now, from words of mouth and friends posting their detailed ride photo on their page, I started to detail for strangers, people that I don't know in person (friends' friend, their co-worker, etc.).  And just started to have a dedicated FB page for my weekend detailing business.  

So, social media is a big help nowadays, especially for small business!  Create an social media account and post tons of photos and videos.  People especially love Before & After and it really helps to "show off" your work/skill.   

Another tips is hanging out with some local car people is another good way to get new customers.  Plus those are the people that's most likely to spend a few hundreds bucks to beautify their ride.  Frequently attend your local car meet/show, car & coffee, etc. is another good way to attract new customers too.  Print some business car, direct them to a place (FB page, web site, etc.) to show off your work, and just stick them on your windshield.  I personally don't like to stick a business card on other people's ride as I hate others do that to me.  But if I saw a nice car or I know that owner is my target customer (nice ride = more likely to spend $$ on their ride), I might chase him down the park lot and introduce myself and my service.  

Also, I guess for detailing, you gotta make sure you love doing this, not just for the money part!  I think it's very important as this job is a very detail orientated work.  IMO you just can't do a good job if you are not into it!

One more thing, set a price point and stick to it!  You time is money.  Set an hourly rate to yourself so you will know how much to charge (roughly) for any particular job.

A good thing about my current weekend side business, my wife has stopped complaining when she see a big box of Adam's shows up at the door.  (you guys shouldn't put that big thick Adam's taping on the box for discrete purpose!  LOL )

One down side of starting my weekend detailing business is my own car haven't been washed for a month now!!  

BTW, I'm always wondering, I spent 5-6 hours for a full exterior job included wheels, engine, wash, clay, seal (machine), and wax (machine), add another hour for interior, am I being too slow or spending too much time?  

Did a full paint restoration on this 1999 Miata a month ago.  As you can see on the before photo, I have no idea how long it haven't been washed.  And don't know how many years ago are those road salt deposit from!  

On the 50/50 shot, the Before side is already washed & clayed.  But it still looks like trash.  The owner almost throw the towel and have her repainted.  The After side was after 3 passes of Correction Polish/orange pad, and 1 pass of Finishing Polish/white pad.

(sorry for my short post.  I'm not a very good story teller.  I'll let the picture speaks for themselves. )

It was your great video to have me started in detailing, and became a loyal Adam's only user.

Welcome back and I'll be looking forward to the new exciting products!!!

Yeah, I have the same problem with low profile tires.  I talked to myself Adam's probably didn't have those low profile tires sport cars in mind when he was developing.  LOL.  I get used to it and just wipe off the overspray with a towel.  

Excellent write up & what a great ride there!  Good color combo choice too.  

And yes, the Porsche paint is soooo soft that you actually will create swirl marks by just looking at it, especially the non metallic black.  

Yeah, the Deep Wheel Cleaner was the first one I tried.  

Still waiting on the Waterless labels from Adam's.....  

I'm speaking when applying Sealant/Wax, not polishing. For polishing, yes, after the Initizal X application, I only do 3-4 peas size dots per panel.

Yes I meant when applying the product onto the pad. Is a X enough for like a door panel?

I've been doing a "cross" of sealant/wax using a DA to apply said the size of a door panel, 2 "cross" for the hood for example.  And I've been thinking am I using enough or too much of the product?  I remember I saw Adam's video and seems like he using quite a bit onto the pad/applicator.  And once applied with a DA, seems like they "disappeared" pretty quickly.  Versus when applied by hand, you could do a cross pattern (horizontal & vertical) several times.

Thanks.

How did you make them? I know some just transfer the labels.

I just reuse an empty bottle label, cut it in size, and stick it onto the Kwazar.

I picked up this a month ago and very please with it especially for the price.  

http://www.kmart.com/craftsman-adjustable-mechanics-seat/p-005W054035110001P?sid=KDx01192011x000001&kpid=005W054035110001&kispla=005W054035110001P&mktRedirect=y

I believe Sears & everywhere else is selling them for $30 or more.

Since Adam's custom/blank bottle label isn't available yet due to their concentration of moving/new warehouse/shipping/etc. issue.  I've decided to make my ow.  Of course I would prefer a "real" Adam's label instead of my ghetto knockoff.  But I guess these would do in the meantime.  

And I just emailed Adam's to see if they could send me a Waterless Wash label so I could put it on my pump pressure sprayer that I use for waterless wash.  I mixed the waterless wash using the Rinseless Wash, that's why I don't have an empty Waterless Wash bottle to reuse the label.  

Ok, I finally did a 2nd passes yesterday.  Needless to say, now I'm satisfied.  

You just need the proper setup. Quick disconnects, cord reels, and shut off valves make the process so much easier. Simply pull out the pressure washer, pop in your hose, turn the valve and plug in the electrical and you are good to. Takes 5 mins tops depending on where you store yoir pressure washer I guess. Don't give up yet, a foam cannon has a ton of benefits, most of which os that it is really fun every time

looks like you have a gladiator table in your garage? I got one also got a lot of there stuff cleans the garage up real nice..

Thanks guys.  I think I'll just return it to Amazon.  Might get another one to try.  But honestly, getting the power washer out, set it up, and put it back added close to 20mins to my regular washing time.  Not sure if it's really worth it.....  

Can you post a picture of your particular foam cannon?

Do you have the pickup straw attached the cannon?

 

Yes I did. 

And there's no water leakage from the power washer's gun to the Foam Canon neither.  I tried to adjust the top notch, but the hex screw that screw the value in seems very loose, so I tighten it all the way.  But still there's hardly any foam coming out after I tighten the to hex screw.  Tried to loosen it a bit, still the same....  

I'll try to use warm water next time and see it if helps.  But doubt it....

I recently bought a CC Foam Canon replacing my little Foam Gun hoping to get those snow like foam on the car in pre-wash.  However, it just didn't happen.  The foam that comes out is pretty much the same as the Foam Gun.  I filled it up with water + 2-3oz of Adam's car wash.  

The power washing is the AR Blue Clean AR383 (which supposed to have the highest rating on Amazon), and it's powerful enough for me to wash my deck or concrete floor.

Am I missing something??  How fast does it suppose to suck up the car wash fluid from the container?  Cos it doesn't seem like it's using much from the container....

I'm really frustrated now..... 

Thanks in advance for the help guys!  

You clay the clear bra too?

Yes.  But only my wife's car has clear bra, my truck doesn't.