Detailing cars?

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:04 pm

No offense taken longarm but its spelled Meguiars, not Maguires. Meguairs is not crap, and I have to order most of the stuff on their website, the local autoparts store does not carry it.

My jeep looks just as good as yours, minus the tires. :wink:

Very old pic

Cant wait till summer to take more recent pics.

Edit: I can see water spots on the top of your roof in that 2nd pic.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Tue Apr 04, 2006 9:09 pm

Also, I have those same lights and chop saw.

longarm · **Posted:** Mon Apr 10, 2006 4:16 am

Jeepjeepster, I never claimed to be a spelling major. I called it crap compaired to the stuff that I usually use. Thats because it is. Your KJ might look nice, but I took those pics last July. It STILL looks that good after a wash and I havn't applied any wax since due to work over the winter. I will be stripping it and reapplying for the summer. I usually do this twice a year. If you want to learn more about detailing, check out www.autopia.org or www.bettercarcare.com. You will be amazed. I used to think that Meguiars was the best too. They do make some good stuff though, I just don'e care for their waxes. I have stuff that will blow them away in the durability department while giving a superior shine. BTW, what water spot are you talking about? I did not see one. I'm not trying to be a $&, I'm just merly trying to give my opinion. I used to think the same as you about Meguires, that was until I discovered the better stuff. The downside is that the good stuff is ALOT more expensive.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Mon Apr 10, 2006 8:21 pm

longarm wrote:

Jeepjeepster, I never claimed to be a spelling major. I called it crap compaired to the stuff that I usually use. Thats because it is. Your KJ might look nice, but I took those pics last July. It STILL looks that good after a wash and I havn't applied any wax since due to work over the winter. I will be stripping it and reapplying for the summer. I usually do this twice a year. If you want to learn more about detailing, check out www.autopia.org or www.bettercarcare.com. You will be amazed. I used to think that Meguiars was the best too. They do make some good stuff though, I just don'e care for their waxes. I have stuff that will blow them away in the durability department while giving a superior shine. BTW, what water spot are you talking about? I did not see one. I'm not trying to be a $&, I'm just merly trying to give my opinion. I used to think the same as you about Meguires, that was until I discovered the better stuff. The downside is that the good stuff is ALOT more expensive.

Lol, I really dont care, I was just saying. I usually take offense when people talk about my stuff, but I truly dont care. What wax do you use ? I have noticed that I must keep up with Quick detailer or quik wax. Even with 3 step it doesnt bead any longer than 6 months.

longarm · **Posted:** Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:31 am

This last time on my KJ here is what I did. (It was a new KJ)

wash w/ Meguires NXT wash.
Clay with a Sonus Block Detailing Clay using Pinnacle Clay Lubricant
Klassie All In One
Klassie Sealant Glaze x3
Pinnacle Liqued Soverign x2

I used my Porter Cable DAP to apply and remove all products using Sonus pads and bonnets.

Another great product is Menzerna. I have used thee product with amazing results as well. I'll tell you though, Pinnacle Liqued Soverign is the BEST! Slick as snot and looks best on darker colored vehicles. Would make your blue KJ look like it's dripping wet. Check out the websites I mentioned above, you will love them and your wallet will hate you. However, your vehicle will thank you.

streetKJ · **Posted:** Tue Jul 18, 2006 11:02 pm

Thats what I wanted to ask Jeepjeepster. Do you claybar the vehicles you wash?

Claybar is a very important step for serious detailers. You have to wash the car thoroughly, then spray detailer and claybar a small area over and over until every last speck of dirt, tree sap, mud, crust, grime, and oil is gone. The most important areas to claybar are the roof, the lower part of the doors and behind the fenders where dirt is usually splashed, and the front end near the grille. Once this is done, the car must be washed once again, dried, applied with sealant, and finally waxed and buffed. It really helps to have an orbital with different bonnets for each chemical you plan to use. If done right, your paint will look like a popsicle melting in the hot sun. A microfiber towel thrown on the hood will slide off extremely smoothly.

For someone who claybars, uses Scotchgard for the interior and uses top quality waxes ($50 for a can of pure Carnauba wax), a fee of $200 is justifiable.

Jeepjeepster · **Posted:** Sat Jul 22, 2006 8:54 pm

Heck no, I only claybar my Jeep twice a year. I do it every fall and spring and would need much more than $75 to do most of the cars Ive done. This is just alittle thing I do on the side for some money when I need it.

Rayze78 · **Joined:** Wed Sep 12, 2007 8:41 pm **Posts:** 36

I think you are under-charging, to be honest. It sounds like the products that you use are good products, probably better than what the average consumer would use on their own vehicle. (People love cheap stuff). I would tell your customers that you use quality products, and not Dollar store junk. Everyone has their own opinions on what products are the best, but the bottom line is, is that if your customers are happy with how their cars look, thats all that matters.

Rush345 · **Posted:** Thu Sep 20, 2007 9:40 pm

You do nice work so check out what ever the compition is charging go for what the market will bare. I worked with a house painter years ago and he said if he got any more then 10% of his quotes he was charging too little. I wouldn't go that drastic but you do nice work don't give it away. :twisted:

Donnie · **Posted:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:04 am

Getting $270 for a complete compound, polish, wax and interior today

.

raceinfan · **Posted:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:40 pm

Donnie wrote:

Getting $270 for a complete compound, polish, wax and interior today

.

dude nice

HoosierJeeper · **Joined:** Sun Feb 15, 2009 8:23 am **Posts:** 1218

Jeepjeepster wrote:

Heres pics of the ones Ive done.

How do they look? $225 total.

The Trail Blazer brings back unhappy memories of my old 02 Bravada.....nice jobs on all!!!!

hrogi · **Posted:** Thu May 21, 2009 6:19 pm

Wash dry vacumm $60
Wash, wax vacum $120
Clay was wax vacumm $250
Interior cleaning shampooing $85 2 door $125 for 4 Door inc wash
Full strip and rewax $300
Full strip, wax, wash, interior shampooing $375 2 door 415 for 4 door
SUV charge $25 to $100 more for each service. optional

You need to make $40 an hour.
Give discount for repeat clients and travle to work places.

If you have a truck you can set it up to have a 75 gallon water tank,
power wacher, vacum and generater. this way you are mobel....

Just my thoughts on this...

Detailing cars?

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