Trapp2012

As the OP stating I also am in the market of a new polisher. I have a PC and a rotary I use occasionally. I've run the cyclo machines, yes they are mighty cumfy alike ridding a mid 80s plush couch down the road just don't feel a thing ever. But Rupes machines have caught my eyes lately, think I'm going to hold off til the mkII comes out and buy one of those. Whichever I buy Rupes or Flex machine I know I'll be happy. It's just another expensive hobby, I care for 5 vehicles often and have a system when the time comes. I have a "small" business i run myself a few weeks/weekends a month, usually run about 3-6 cars a month this time a year, slowing more when winter hits and in summer its usually around 10-12 a month, makes enough for me to have spending money and what not. Keep my prices fair so I have return customers and do a more than satisfactory job every time for clients, friends and family. I've liked this hobby alot sometimes to much. Speaking about new polishers a rupes would be really nice for boats.... Did a full correction and such on a 21.5' bayliner capri in june. After countless hours it came out awesome. Total of 38 hours over 3 days for a fullish correction and top coats. Couldn't get to the hull covered by the bunks, so add another 5 hours or so. I don't know how many of you show interest in boats but there is a market for it and you dont have to worry about crazy angles of sheet metal! I'll take pictures of it the next time I wax it, probably next month before it gets winterized.

As super-bowl weekend approaches comes my annual winter detailing (reapplication of sealant, wax once a month in OH winters). This year is by far a colder forecast than years before. I have a pole building of great size and awesome wood heat to use for the event but have no water to wash the truck in (2010 3500 RAM DRW). Trying to plan this accordingly with weather predictions with temps. Saturday probably run to auto wash through 10 bucks in the machine to blow off all major debris; e.g. salt formations. Saturday after returning hopefully bucket wash (Water is up at house 200 yards up drive) as fast as possible while truck is warm after sitting in the barn for a while, my guess for a time frame in sub freezing temps of a 68*F truck would be roughly 1/2 hr. My question is how do you guys/gals manage your time while working in a frigid temp outdoors? I've done it many times and like my process, but wondering how you guys do it without "possibly" hurting/damaging paint?

Alright just to update the thread. Over the past 24 hours I completed another project, well clients SUV. 2008 Chevy Tahoe LTZ in the light Tan metallic-ish color and all tan Interior. Quite the beautiful car in and out, lotsa curves and such in the floor and inside, and my first newer Tahoe I have completed; I have done a Suburban or two before but this took a couple less hours. Steps Completed; interior detail; Shampoo carpets+ a hearty sweeping, leather cleaning and all surface panels inside cleaned well and protected with Total Interior Detail Spray, Dealing of inside windows due to this truck being in storage this winter. Exterior detail; One heck of a decon wash started of with a very light decon mix and it was NOT doing much, Had to mix 1oz Shampoo to what I "think" was 7-8 oz of APC (Definitely not a pH neutral wash). I did try other mixes but this worked the best. Decon wash took about an Hour. Normal wash to follow 2oz Shampoo and rinseless wash to 5 gal water. 30 mins. Dry with GWDT and waterless. Two whole hours spend claying the truck due to hardish tar and other fallout debris, Then I gave it the "Face Melt" treatment; Seal, glaze, AMERICANAAAA!! This thing looked great. SRVT on all trim gaskets and etc. Tire and Wheel dressed with competitor product, did not want to go crazy dressing tires because he was getting new ones tomorrow. All in all the whole project took a total of 12.5 man hours. Which is not all to bad for doing a total interior that has never been shampoo treated before and heavily color stained Tan leather. I wish I would have taken more pictures but I was not able to due to the severe lack of sleep, Completed the Job in about 19 hrs total. First thing the customer said "WOW, this paint feels like a baby's butt" Calls Wife over "My god it does" Then the Wife sat in the drivers seat and about slid off because of the leather treatment being slick still and not cured all the way, its was only 41*F when I did the seats and interior and only 58*F today not enough time to cure lol. ** Do not know if many others are doing this but I have an abundance of the new rinseless wash formula and have been mixing it in with my shampoo and have been having great results with spot free rinse. My only complaint through the whole job was the immense effort in decon of the paint. Hours of washing and scrubbing with everything in the arsenal and then a couple hours of clay work. It had not only tar/asphalt but some rust spec looking things all over. Just after claying the truck I would have felt semi comfortable returning it because of the improvement. Truck was also a tow vehicle behind a Class A coach, which explains a lot or most of the contamination. I will probably get the truck again to do a full correction in the spring after I explained what it was, he was looking things up on the internet getting an education, but that should be a fun one. I don't know how you guys feel about newer GM paint but its one of my favorites to work with, and one of the easiest IMHO. Thanks, Nate hope to be forming a small shop soon near the Youngstown, Oh area this fall/winter, if things go well. Soon to come on the list is 2012 Subaru Outback Slate gray, 2012 F150 Platinum, 2013 Chevy Cruze and 2013 Ford Explorer and a few others. And a Ram 3500 and BMW 335d update.

Alright dug up more pictures of some corrections. The BMW is in Tasmine Green, an astonishing color. In true sunlight it has a deep green metallic feel with a hint of gray or black. In a low light situation it appears to be black, dark gray and I have even had people ask me if the car was purple? Don't know how many BMW follower or owners are on here but Tasmine Green needs to be on your list of next colors to own or even look at a true unique color. I spent a total of 20 hours doing the correction on this car, It was a nightmare on a few sections but I think I got most of it maybe 85-90% the other 10% is a few scratches I just couldn't get out with the PC and I didnt have focus pads or anything comparable at the time. This spring its due again, should be a one pass job with the two step. I did a test patch on the roof a week ago and it was 1 pass with both over the 3 passes I did originally. *two step paint correction system *sealant (auxiliary brand) *Brilliant Glaze *Buttery Wax *Americana *Svrt *The wheel cleaners Probably forgetting something a few things. Those of you working with BMW paint, beware of the front bumper/ lower valence area. Kinda soft on this one in a few areas. the last picture is a bonus I found and thought I'd share just because. Taken in Randolph Catawissa, Pa on the Roaring Creek Main about 1 mile downstream from my cabin was fly fishing last year and could not pass up such a kodak moment. Great background. And I have more pictures for the thread

Eba you will be very satisfied with the interior detailer. I've been using for a while now and I really can't compare it to anything else I have used before. Stuff preforms extremely well and doesn't leave a greasy/oily residue like other stuff. The leather conditioner is also great to use on the dash and doors panels. I've been using Adams products for a few years now but really opened up to them last year ordering everything and strictly using their products other than a few others that have grown on me over the years. And both the rinseless and waterless washes are nice especially in the cold. And be sure not to drink any of the products as good as they smell I don't know if they are alright for consumption.. although the detail spray is extremely tempting lol. Nice looking car by the way!! I did a detail on one in October looked good afterwards.

Same as Mook said. I've only been using adams Paint correcting polish set since it came out, I've used other products for 3-4 years. I've done about 8 corrections so far using the new stuff and have only used the IPA/Water wiped down two times. IMO its not "required" but I do use it on the panels I work extensively. And to the OP, make sure you tape off plastics and work product thoroughly to "flash". Work slow, check your work, and work some more.

Over the weekend some unfortunate things happened and some great things occurred also. Saturday afternoon I went out to the auto-spa to blast the truck off with high-pressure hot water to get the nasty caked on salt and road grime. Against my common practice I did it any way. Usually a two bucket was is proto-call but the lines were frozen and didn't want to ice up the driveway. After the trip to the car wash I went home and saw that I had another build up of light residue on the paint, so the new waterless wash came in handy, mind you the first time I used it. SOOO, I used it as the instructions said, and blamoh marred to hell paint. I guess 5 different towels didn't help, but it worked well. So I was forced into a full correction over the weekend. 2010 Dodge Ram 3500 Laramie This is a half and half of the hood. 3 passes of PC polish and one pass of PF polish. All on Microfiber pads. Left side corrected finished product of door Total process took about 20 hours total, 2 really long day and I didn't want to be forced into it like this but i happened to have a brain lapse at the time and had to do it regardless. In the spring when it warms up I have to go over it again when I get the flex. There is some light marring left but I'm thinking it was a 85-90% correction and a few deeper previous scratches from what not. Another detail I did a while back 1985 G20 van, well I think its an 80's don't remember the year exactly wish I had more pictures on my phone, I'll email the owner. I'll add the other correction I did later when I get home from class today. I have more pictures also of the Dodge,

how do you guys store your babies? (Polishers not your children but close to it lol) Have been putting mine back into the original box since day one of ownership and the box is getting rather worn/tired of my demands of "somewhat-safe" storage. Is anyone using a cheap aluminum case or cheap tool box to store? I travel with my polishers a bit and worry about the inevitable dropping and injuring my life line (college student making extra cash for tuition payments and fuel bills) harbor freight, wally mart, amazon or ebay? *Suggestion to Adams developers and so on making a hard-formed case for the PC and Flex, like a power/cordless drill or nail gun case specifically. I do not like the idea of leaving expensive tools out for an eminent demise... And with pads? Kinda paranoid with my fancy pads. Store them in sealed zip-lock baggies when dry, and if product is on them same bag but cracked... What about the MF towels? storing in zip-locks currently..

SVRT has been my bestfriend since day one (Other than buttery wax). I tried countless other methods of restoring plastics i.e. competitor brands and so on. Honestly the sVRT could be the best product adams has on the market.. everyone has fading and cruddy looking plastics on a vehicle. The SVRT is a life saver.. especially with the rise and up coming late model Suby Outback with all of its molding... One is in the fleet and a few neighbors followed along with me, adding 2 more to the line up.. Only complaint i have of this product, it needs to come in a super duper duper duper duper sized bottle, 128 oz lol.

I've used buttery wax on a friends lawn seeder lol. this was tedious but it looked d!@# fine afterwards

The new shipment of products could not come sooner. Happy wit the shipment time. Also the box was PACKED full to the top lol. the new bottle topper are nice also. I also did a couple passes with the new paint correction polish and finish polish and a pass of Americana over it, man did it look good afterwards. not complete but just wanted to try the new stuff. Thanks Adams team, as always amazing products plan to be using them for many many years to come. Will have a write up on the ram 3500 when it comes home from vacation...... and yes that is spongebob supporting adams!!!! Happy almost 4th of july

Since it is that time of the year how is everyone avoiding pollen contamination? I have been wiping the cars+trucks down every night with the duster or a MF towel with some detail spray. Anyone else have TIPS? thought this would be a problem almost nationwide

Cool will be doing my box now lol. Rain water+diesel stack= black spotted tool box.. nice improvement

The first adams wax i used ever. It is probably one of the best waxes on the market for EASE OF USE. Sunday I recomended it for my buddy to use who hates waxing, everything he has used is a pain in the !@# to work with and he quits after one panel most of the time. But he actually did his whole truck sunday with it. He couldnt belive how easy it was to work with lol. When he comes back from Atlanta i am doing a full/ or partial paint correction on his truck depending on time. But i love this stuff. Pleasant banana like smell.

I hate finger smudges and even worse toe prints on my windshield or even worse the dogs nose smudges on the windows when i forget to open the window for him. I'll have to glaze the windows this weekend!!