sorting things out

[gotwax1234]

ok....bout to start a car detailing business here for a couple extra bucks....just wanna clarify stuff first before i start.

step 1: wash car....kinda self-explanatory
step 2: clean paint--use deep crystal paint cleaner or quick clay? or both? if both, which 1 first?
step 2: what kind of polish should i use? i was thinking deep crystal, but is there something better or somethin i could use instead?
step 3: nxt tech wax

ill also clean wheel wells etc.....what should i use for that? i was just thinking any tire cleaner would work since those cut down on the grime. one more thing: which step is supposed to remove the swirl marks? the product description for the dc cleaner says that step will, but when i used it on my moms car it didnt do it quite well.....any suggestions? if u can think of anything that i didnt mention, please add! thanks!

p.s. whats a good price to charge and a good way to market? i was thinking around 80-90 bucks for the car....inside and all. a little more for suvs/trucks or somethign with a roof rack.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: sorting things out

Originally posted by gotwax1234
ok....bout to start a car detailing business here for a couple extra bucks....just wanna clarify stuff first before i start.

step 1: wash car....kinda self-explanatory
step 2: clean paint--use deep crystal paint cleaner or quick clay? or both? if both, which 1 first?
step 2: what kind of polish should i use? i was thinking deep crystal, but is there something better or somethin i could use instead?
step 3: nxt tech wax

This sounds correct. After washing the car, always clay first and then use the paint cleaner.

ill also clean wheel wells etc.....what should i use for that? i was just thinking any tire cleaner would work since those cut down on the grime. one more thing: which step is supposed to remove the swirl marks? the product description for the dc cleaner says that step will, but when i used it on my moms car it didnt do it quite well.....any suggestions? if u can think of anything that i didnt mention, please add! thanks!

Swirls should be removed during the paint cleaning step. Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner is a chemical only paint cleaner and for removing swirls out of catalyzed clear coats you usually need someting with a little more umph... Like ScratchX by hand, or M80 Speed Glaze when applied using a dual action polisher like our G100.

p.s. whats a good price to charge and a good way to market? i was thinking around 80-90 bucks for the car....inside and all. a little more for suvs/trucks or somethign with a roof rack.

I don't want to steer you in any particular direction, the above process for the paint sounds great for any car, but you're talking about hand applying three chemicals, plus the claying step and the washing step. Now include after each step, drying the car, wiping off the clay/Quik Detailer residue, the paint cleaner, the polish, and the wax, that's a lot of well spent time and energy on your own car, but for $80.00 or $90.00 bucks, plus doing the wheels and tires and the inside?

Would you come to my house and detail my cars!

Seriously, you might want to consider using ColorX and one-step it after the claying step. That or educate your customer on why they will get the best results if you do a multiple-step system and bring your price up to $150.00 or more.

Another idea is to invest in a dual action polisher like our G100 and after claying, either machine apply our ColorX, or Two-Step it with M80 Speed Glaze followed by NXT Tech Wax, this will dramatically speed up the process, save you some energy and produce professional results your customers will be happy to pay for. After one or two details you'll have recouped all your investment.

When starting out with a detailing business, educate your customer as to what they are going to get out of your work and start with higer prices; it's easier to drop your price than it is to raise your price.

[gotwax1234]

ok so...

wash; clay; colorx; nxt tech wax plus all tires and wheel wells, interior etc.

charge 100 bucks per car (add 10 for suvs/trucks and roof-racks)

hows that sound?

and as for the speed-glaze, would that still work by hand only or would i need a d.a.p.....could u use standard rotary with that? what would ya change with that, if anything?

[JeffM]

A good way to get started is to do family and friends vehicles, then hope you get some referrals...