When do you detail in the heat?

[DetailFran]

I'm a newbie and most product, website, etc. instructions talk about using products on cool cars in the shade. When do you--especially those of you in really hot areas--do your detailing in the summer? Early morning? Early evening? Don't worry about the temperature and just go for it?

If you don't have a carport or garage for shade, do you just try to wax later in the day when there is less sun? My best areas for shade in my driveway are under lots of trees so I'd be fighting sap and acorns while I was waxing.

[kellyinkc]

Thats what I do. Right now in KC it's 94 47% humidity, 71 degree dewpoint. Heat index of 101. Finding the polish flash cures on the paint at this temp. And it is hard on mio!

[SL1CK]

Before I use to park my car in the garage, I use to wait til sunset, when there was a good amount of shade outside. The bad thing is that I would start around 7 and then end at 10:30. Not enough time...

[DetailFran]

I've had the problem with starting later of not only running out of time but also out of light. The driveway lights aren't sufficient for checking for streaking, etc.

[F-150]

I live in Arizona. I don't have a canopy but I do have a large garage and a large driveway with decent lighting. But the way I deal with the heat is I either wake up early in the morning, about 4:30-5 am. when there's light, or at night when the sun starts to go down to where I still have light but the vehicle's not in direct sunlight. Considering I can't wash my truck inside the garage during the mornings and evenings cuz the spaces are occupied, I normally wash my truck early in the morning outside, get as far as I can in my process till the sun starts comming up, then park it in the garage and continue or move my truck to the front of my house (the front faces West) and use the shade from my house for a little longer. But when I have to work at night, the lighting is good enough to see what you're working on at all angles, but for defects in the paint it helps to also have a magnifier or a dual xenon light that Brinkmann makes that a lot of other people have on this forum. So you can see if there's swirls, water spots, etchings, etc. And if you've removed them all. But another thing is if you have a problem with water spotting ( like having to quickly dry off your car), you may want to invest in a water filter. I'm going to purchase the SPOT FREE water filter system soon.
Sorry if what I was describing was confusing btw, I'll clarify if you dk.
Also if you want better lighting you can purchase regular work lights at Lowes or Home Depot. (it's just that they attract bugs and you don't want to put them too close to what you're working on cuz they get hot) But if you're willing, you can purchase high quality white lights. Which are smaller, provide a bright white light, and light up a larger area. But they are around $150 for just the light and an extra 50 for a stand. But I use them for other things as well (photo/video) so that might be a little extreme to get these for just detailing.

[Cadude]

I don't have a garage so I get started each weekend morning as soon as it gets light enough outside to see. The humidity is pretty high that early but I can deal with that. I need to get done before about 10:00 because by then the temperature is in the 90s and most days the sun is really beating down hard.

[Black Bart]

You guy's make me realize how good I have it.
I just polished my pickup today outside temp is in the 90's
With AC running and ceiling fan blowing on me I have to keep moving to keep from getting too cool it was 65 degrees in the garage.

[TKDDAD]

Originally posted by Black Bart
You guy's make me realize how good I have it.
I just polished my pickup today outside temp is in the 90's
With AC running and ceiling fan blowing on me I have to keep moving to keep from getting too cool it was 65 degrees in the garage.

You air condition your garage ???.....wow, must be nice...I'd never leave !!...here in Western NY, it's 90 and muggy...I do use my NON air conditioned two car garage and just deal with the sweat dripping down my back....headband keeps it from dripping on the car...let's face it, when it's December and it's 20 degrees outside, I can't do much detailing so I enjoy the summer as much as I can....cuz I DON'T HEAT MY GARAGE EITHER !

[Black Bart]

Originally posted by TKDDAD
You air condition your garage ???.....wow, must be nice...I'd never leave !!...here in Western NY, it's 90 and muggy...I do use my NON air conditioned two car garage and just deal with the sweat dripping down my back....headband keeps it from dripping on the car...let's face it, when it's December and it's 20 degrees outside, I can't do much detailing so I enjoy the summer as much as I can....cuz I DON'T HEAT MY GARAGE EITHER !

I have an overhead gas furnace for cold weather but I do all of my own work. Never went to a garage for anything yet.
I have a lot invested in tools but they have paid for them selves over the years. Problem now is I'm getting to old and don't feel like doing the work. I fear that in the next few years I will start hiring the bigger jobs done.

[possessed]

I usually do my car late in the evening. I do sometimes wash my car inside the garage. Works well, the water dries pretty quickly.

[MotorcycleDetailing]

Lolz so can someone please convert the farenhight into degrees celcous (yes I can't spell but its close enough) the winter temps here in AU are 25 oC to 29 oC and 35 oC to 40 oC in my area....

[Top Down]

Lolz so can someone please convert the farenhight into degrees celcous (yes I can't spell but its close enough) the winter temps here in AU are 25 oC to 29 oC and 35 oC to 40 oC in my area....

77oF - 84oF
95oF - 104oF
Wow, winter is 77 degrees? I have to move out of New England...

[SiriusRIMZ]

I did a detail yesterday (104F heat Index 111F). I dont have a problem with the heat as long as I hyrdrate myself. I use something called a camel back to drink water.

I highly reccomend gettin one if you always working during the heat... I also charge $10-20 extra depending on the car because of me working in excessive heat.

[F-150]

lol yeah I need to get a camelback.