Can you guys give me some tips to cut down on the time it takes to detail my car?
I have a buffer...and the last time I used it...also my first...it took me 9hrs. to do my whole car and I had to skip out on the Show Car Glaze
Heres what I have to do tomorrow:
Wash with Dawn to get wax off...if theres any lol
Claybar(this is gonna take a while...tree sap on the roof)
Swirl Remover(gonna take a while too...crazy swirls )
Show Car Glaze
NXT Tech Wax
so any tips would be greatly appreciated
TIA
__________________
-Anthony- PSN/Xbox Live GT: Evoking1230
2005 EVO VIII-SOLD/R.I.P.
2000 Honda Prelude SH - Gone But Not Forgotten
The first time I ever touched my PC, it took me 3 days of working 10 hours each day to remove my swirls. Of course working on setting 3-4 didn't help in taking out the swirls quickly enough, but I wanted to get a good feel for the PC and how the variations in pads, products, and technqiues affect the result.
To detail faster, without affect the quality of your work, can only be achieved through practice, perseverance, and preparation. As you detail your car more and more, you'll know what works and what doesn't so that each time you detail it'll become easier and faster. Detailing takes physical endurance because you're on your feet the entire time working on the car. The more energized and motivated you are, the less fatigue you'll feel so you'll keep up the stamina. Finally, the better prepared you are, the easier the job will be. You won't have to improvise or fish around for stuff because you know where everything is. For instance having extra towels on hand will save you a lot of headache when you accidentally drop all the ones you're using onto the ground.
However, the most important part of detailing faster IMO is really practice. Practicing perfect makes perfect...not practice makes perfect. If you practice bad habits, you're going to consistently create bad results. Just keep practicing to perfect your technqiue and the speed will come.
^^^that didnt help at all
I know Ill get better the more I use it
I did find out all ready that it requires a higher speed to get the swirls out...~4-4.5
what I want to know is whats the best way to apply the products?
I put some on the pad and rubbing it in with the buffer without it being turned on...thats the hard parts like doors and front/rear quarter panels and bumpers
with the flat parts i would put some on the hood and just use the pad to work it in instead of putting it on the pad and working it in
good idea or bad idea?
__________________
-Anthony- PSN/Xbox Live GT: Evoking1230
2005 EVO VIII-SOLD/R.I.P.
2000 Honda Prelude SH - Gone But Not Forgotten
^^^that didnt help at all
I know Ill get better the more I use it
I did find out all ready that it requires a higher speed to get the swirls out...~4-4.5
what I want to know is whats the best way to apply the products?
I put some on the pad and rubbing it in with the buffer without it being turned on...thats the hard parts like doors and front/rear quarter panels and bumpers
with the flat parts i would put some on the hood and just use the pad to work it in instead of putting it on the pad and working it in
good idea or bad idea?
You could go either way, but the idea of spreading it around first is more important IMO so that you don't get any product splatter. CMA instructs you to apply the product directly onto the surface of the paint, whereas many other detailers will tell you to put it on the pad and then spread it on the surface. I personally like to put some on the pad, and then blot it over the area I'm going to be working on, and then spread it around.
Also, I have a feeling that if people are applying the product directly to the surface, there's a greater tendency to use too much. It's more of a mental thing I suppose, but do whatever works best for you.
well I only apply to the product directly to the surface only on the hood
the rest of the car...especially the doors and panels I place it on the pad and work it in to prevent splatter
Im getting used to it
just a matter of time before Im a prO!?!
well if it doesnt rain tomorrow I can do this
__________________
-Anthony- PSN/Xbox Live GT: Evoking1230
2005 EVO VIII-SOLD/R.I.P.
2000 Honda Prelude SH - Gone But Not Forgotten
I can't even imagine detailing for money. The stamina needed to do a complete interior/exterior job in 4-5 hours including claying, polishing, shampoo carpets/interior completely, seal, etc is just . At least with my car I don't have to clay since it's garaged and the swirls, if any, are light. Imagine cars that haven't been washed in several months, outdoor kept, never polished, etc...
I just did the wash/claybar on my car ... first time I've used clay ever and I'll be working Megs #9 with my orbital buffer (not a pc) later on today.
I already took pics of the filthy mess it was before I started ... Now she's clean ( exempt any dust that may have settled with the moisture overnight .. )
Want to make it easier and faster?
Make sure that **** is CLEAN before you start. Do it indoors, dust will accumulate as you work on the car and you'll find yoruself dusting it off before starting on every panel.
Work one panel at a time, and stick to it. Make sure its complete before moving on. Trust me, otherwise you'll be like .. "did I do this before?? .." and you'll do area's twice.
Keep moving, if you push yourself to do it fast (and be picky / meticulous) it'll get done faster. Apply one section, let it sit while you aply to another (half the hood for example) then buff them in the same order with the PC.
If you apply by hand , it could go quicker than it would if you were to do it by machine. Somebody was talking about a person a while back who did an entire car by HAND front to back and was faster than the PC.
Just get a steady motion ... you can't do less work to get the same result, just work faster. simple enuff.
grrr damn ****in weather
first they said its gonna be nice and sunny
umm well it looks like armagedon is here!
when the hell am I gonna do this car?
maybe Ill just claybar it and put some cleaner wax on it until I can do the whole process
my main concern is to get the tree sap off
__________________
-Anthony- PSN/Xbox Live GT: Evoking1230
2005 EVO VIII-SOLD/R.I.P.
2000 Honda Prelude SH - Gone But Not Forgotten
I washed & waxed my car... I had some mothers cleaner wax in a can (paste wax) its waaay better than meguiars step3 in the bottle ..
time to invest in some NXT .
PS - My buffer sucked ass for using #9 ... I'm going to get a porter cable when I have money again after my swap (waxed my car and my engine went that day .. booya - keep eyes on general forum, I'll soon have a journal up in there.)
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. At least with my car I don't have to clay since it's garaged and the swirls, if any, are light. Imagine cars that haven't been washed in several months, outdoor kept, never polished, etc...
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