chops1sc

On my old truck I used the parts store roll and it is soooo much much harder than the pre-cut. I had some bad cuts and the passenger side started lifting when the window would come down. If you were able to do those stripes you could most definitely do the pre-cut tint.
 
Here is a link to the eBay store I used. http://stores.ebay.com/precisionwindowfilms/
 
I should say they don't pre-shrink the tint though. My side windows didn't need it but I am sure the back glass will. I don't think it will be a problem, but I have never done that. If you mess up a piece they will replace it at a discounted price.

This is more for the driveway detailers than the professional money-makers on the forum (but you can chime in if you like).
 
What time of day do you prefer to wash your vehicle?
What order of operations do you use?
 
Mine is rarely the same each time, lol!
I like washing in the evening (after 6:30 during summer) since I get shade from my shop. However, if I get up early enough on the weekend I can do a full wash/dry before the sun becomes a factor. Having said that here is my order of operations.
 
Tires
Wheels
Wheel wells
Rinse (pressure washer)
Foam cannon
2 bucket wash
Rinse (pressure washer)
Sheeting rinse (kinked hose)
Leaf blower dry
Waffle weave the leftovers
Wipe windows if needed
Towel dry the tires
Tire dressing
Final inspection
 
The interior all depends on my mood and when I started the wash. If I washed in the evening and I don't have to work the next morning, I will do the interior in the morning. If I wash in the morning, I will go ahead and do the interior after washing.
 
How about y'all?

My heart sank when I read your message earlier this afternoon my friend. I remember the feeling like it was yesterday, even though it was over 6 years ago now. It will not be without its challenges, but it will also have rewards tied to the smallest accomplishments. A diagnosis like this will put a lot of things into a sharp perspective for sure.

As I said earlier, the best thing is that you have the diagnosis. Sometimes thats the biggest fight - and without it access to services and therapy aren't there. I don't know the specifics on the support systems in your area and they are vastly different state by state and county by county, but get registered with your local advocacy group and seek out places to get support. Things like ABA therapy are very important and the sooner you get him started the better.

You know I'm here if you need to talk. Theres certainly not much I can say that will take the sting out of it, but if you need someone whos been there to bounce questions off of or just vent to I got you covered.

This is a little tip I came up with (until someone else claims it, lol) for cleaning and dressing the whole sidewall of your tires without having to roll up a few feet to clean and then back again to dress.
 
I had some 2X4s laying around the shop, so I cut a 45 degree angle on one end and place one in front of each tire.
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
The plank is set in about 1-2" from the top of the sidewall. Then I drive up onto them. I usually get a little bit of a rolling start.
You wont believe how hard it can be to just roll up them LOL! Oh, and don't forget to set your parking brake...
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
Here you can see how they are set back from the sidewall.
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
Now, I can clean & dress all the way under the tire!

This is a little tip I came up with (until someone else claims it, lol) for cleaning and dressing the whole sidewall of your tires without having to roll up a few feet to clean and then back again to dress.
 
I had some 2X4s laying around the shop, so I cut a 45 degree angle on one end and place one in front of each tire.
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
The plank is set in about 1-2" from the top of the sidewall. Then I drive up onto them. I usually get a little bit of a rolling start.
You wont believe how hard it can be to just roll up them LOL! Oh, and don't forget to set your parking brake...
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
Here you can see how they are set back from the sidewall.
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
Now, I can clean & dress all the way under the tire!

I attended the Good Guys Eastcoast Nationals over the weekend with my 2007 Mustang GT and wanted to show you how beautiful Patriot Wax made the car look. Although my car is pretty much a garage queen, I spent the better half of a couple days detailing top to bottom for this show.Full blown detil including all 4 wheels coming off the car, underside completly detailed, interior, engine bay, trunk area, all gone over using Adams products. Interior was done with Adams Interior cleaner and then completed with Interior detailer, wheel wells completley cleaned and finished off with Adams Undercarriage Spray, tires done with Adams Tire Shine, rims were coated with Quick Sealant then some Brilliant Glaze was applied and then topped with Buttery Wax. All glass in and out, headlamps and taillamps, were coated with Brilliant Glaze. The paint was done with a 1 step paint correction using a Flex, all Adams pads and chemicals,a coat of Brilliant Glaze and then completed with a fresh coat of Patriot Wax. Wow is about the best way to explain it !! So many complements on the paint and how clean the car was. Most could not believe it was factory paint on a 2007 Mustang !! If you have not bought any of this wax and you need a great Fathers day gift idea, this is it !! Amazing results with all of the Adams products I used and a couple of trophys just to show off the results. There was nothing "deflating "about this Patriot win !!

Mine are still on and haven't changed color.  I actually had to remove one that was falling off an reapply some double sided foam tape.  It was a pita.  I used to not like the door moldings, but after seeing how they prevent the idiot next to you from leaving a door ding, I find them beneficial.  And no I don't try and park close, but those clowns always seem to find me.

This is a little tip I came up with (until someone else claims it, lol) for cleaning and dressing the whole sidewall of your tires without having to roll up a few feet to clean and then back again to dress.
 
I had some 2X4s laying around the shop, so I cut a 45 degree angle on one end and place one in front of each tire.
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
The plank is set in about 1-2" from the top of the sidewall. Then I drive up onto them. I usually get a little bit of a rolling start.
You wont believe how hard it can be to just roll up them LOL! Oh, and don't forget to set your parking brake...
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
Here you can see how they are set back from the sidewall.
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
Now, I can clean & dress all the way under the tire!

Pulled the trigger today...
 





 
I also took the vent shades off.
 

Pulled the trigger today...
 





 
I also took the vent shades off.
 

This is a little tip I came up with (until someone else claims it, lol) for cleaning and dressing the whole sidewall of your tires without having to roll up a few feet to clean and then back again to dress.
 
I had some 2X4s laying around the shop, so I cut a 45 degree angle on one end and place one in front of each tire.
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
The plank is set in about 1-2" from the top of the sidewall. Then I drive up onto them. I usually get a little bit of a rolling start.
You wont believe how hard it can be to just roll up them LOL! Oh, and don't forget to set your parking brake...
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
Here you can see how they are set back from the sidewall.
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
Now, I can clean & dress all the way under the tire!

This is a little tip I came up with (until someone else claims it, lol) for cleaning and dressing the whole sidewall of your tires without having to roll up a few feet to clean and then back again to dress.
 
I had some 2X4s laying around the shop, so I cut a 45 degree angle on one end and place one in front of each tire.
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
The plank is set in about 1-2" from the top of the sidewall. Then I drive up onto them. I usually get a little bit of a rolling start.
You wont believe how hard it can be to just roll up them LOL! Oh, and don't forget to set your parking brake...
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
Here you can see how they are set back from the sidewall.
 
Untitled by Chris Dunlap, on Flickr
 
Now, I can clean & dress all the way under the tire!

You are still a young Jedi, the dark side (OCD) will have you claying that tool box very soon!! Lol. 
This place will have you doing something's you've never thought of were possible with automotive detail supplies!

Yeah that's kinda what I meant. I'm not going to clay my toolbox, lol!

After posting pics of my detailing cart in this thread; http://www.adamsforums.com/topic/28391-setting-up-the-ideal-home-detailing-garage/ I decided to make a thread of its own.
 
Here is a list of the things I used to make the cart:
 
One 45 In. x 24 In. Polypropylene Industrial Service Cart from Harbor Freight ($135)
Two 5 gallon buckets from Ace Hardware ($3 each)
Two Gamma bucket lids from Lowe's ($8 each)
Two Grit Guard inserts ($9 each)
 
Tools:
Jigsaw
RotoZip
Tape measure (I used a tailor's type)
Marker
 

 
I first needed to know how big to make the holes. I measured the circumference of the bucket right under the lowest lip.
 

 
My measurement was 35.375". I divided that by pi to get the diameter of my holes, 11.26" (I just went with 11.25"). Then I found the center of my hole making sure I left 1" from the sides of the cart.
 


 
I can't show a pic of the next step since it involves cutting the hole, but I used the Jigsaw to cut what I could. The hole was too close to the sides for the saw to go all the way around so I had to finish with the RotoZip. You could come another inch from the sides if needed. I didn't realize the saw wouldn't make it all the way around until it was too late lol.
 

 
I had to trim a little more to get the buckets to fit. I wanted them to be a snug fit so you can see how much I have to push them down here:
 


 
That's pretty much it! There's plenty of room under the cart for other buckets and stools:
 

 
If anyone needs more info I will be happy to oblige!

I debadge EVERYTHING... until I start seeing endorsement checks from the manufactures I don't see the point.
Plus, they look cleaner and are far easier to detail. Everyone knows what a Silverado looks like, so badging just adds clutter IMHO
 
Heres my writeup from when I debadged my 2012 Silverado:  http://www.adamsforums.com/topic/18286-how-to-debadge-a-vehicle/

I buy 90% and dilute 50%.  You do the math...

Unless it has a filter, any leaf blower could introduce dust/dirt to the party regardless of where it is used. I guess it all comes down to how clean the environment is where the drying is done. The ground is wet when I dry so I get very little debris stirred up.

Here is my work in progress. I currently live in my grandparents' former home and my grandfather had this shop built.
 

 
It is about 32+ years old and the roof leaks in a few spots, but It is full of shelving space.... whch is full of junk, LOL!
 


 
I am slowly but surely cleaning things up and arranging things better. Here is the first set of shelves that I have cleaned and "organized".
 

 
Still a lot to do. When I first moved here 13 years ago I drove the Camaro you see in the shop. It was white and I washed it 3 times a week at least, LOL. I kept the shop clean back then because I parked it in there. Insurance made me put a gate up in the drive to the back so i stopped parking in there and it slowly started piling up.
 
Anyway, this is a cart I got from Harbor Freight. I modified it to hold my 2 bucket wash system and my other most-used products.
 



 
Sorry if this seems like a thread-jacking, but I figured this was a good place instead of starting a new thread.

Here is my work in progress. I currently live in my grandparents' former home and my grandfather had this shop built.
 

 
It is about 32+ years old and the roof leaks in a few spots, but It is full of shelving space.... whch is full of junk, LOL!
 


 
I am slowly but surely cleaning things up and arranging things better. Here is the first set of shelves that I have cleaned and "organized".
 

 
Still a lot to do. When I first moved here 13 years ago I drove the Camaro you see in the shop. It was white and I washed it 3 times a week at least, LOL. I kept the shop clean back then because I parked it in there. Insurance made me put a gate up in the drive to the back so i stopped parking in there and it slowly started piling up.
 
Anyway, this is a cart I got from Harbor Freight. I modified it to hold my 2 bucket wash system and my other most-used products.
 



 
Sorry if this seems like a thread-jacking, but I figured this was a good place instead of starting a new thread.

OMG the bugs that get on my truck (white) while I am washing it drives me CRAZY! I have learned there is nothing I can do about them so I just blow them away if I see one close, LOL!