How much do you pay to have your ride detailed?

[timswi]

Nice thread. Please keep it going.

You'll hurl when you hear what I do.

All my vehicles are always under shelter.

I cannot recall the last time I applied wax to any of them. It is usually dish detergent, a bucket, a brush, sponge and then ---- the pressure washer.

I do have some nice rides, I may have to look into modernizing my technique.

We do have a long gravel driveway. I slow to a crawl coming up it.

Keeping wax on the vehicle actually makes it easier to wash and dry...Dish soap usually removes wax.

 

[94BULLITT]

Keeping wax on the vehicle actually makes it easier to wash and dry...Dish soap usually removes wax.

I think sometimes dish shop is used to intentionally remove wax.

 

[Timber]

Detailed?, it's a truck,it gets detailed when it rains. Oh wait, this is sarcasm, silly me

 

[stevecobb76]

for the love of god, please dont let them run a buffer on your paint unless it REALLY needs it. I have worked for a professional detailer and you have to understand that everytime that you buff, you remove paint or clear coat. buffing is last resort only to bring back a shine. and after you buff it down so far, you can then only have it repainted. it just scares the **** out of me knowing there are kids opening up a detailing service and trying to high speed buff a car just ruining the paint. aghhhhhhhhhhh.... swirl marks, burn marks... aghhhhhhhhhh

I am telling you!!!! buffing is last resort only... most cars can only take 1 or 2 buffings before you have to repaint.
I tell you this from experience. I have had to try to fix other people mistakes that the insurance company sent me. I could tell you some horror storys of what happens when you give a high speed buffer to a kid that does not know what he is doing. there should be a application and license process to buy and or use a buffer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[94BULLITT]

for the love of god, please dont let them run a buffer on your paint unless it REALLY needs it. I have worked for a professional detailer and you have to understand that everytime that you buff, you remove paint or clear coat. buffing is last resort only to bring back a shine. and after you buff it down so far, you can then only have it repainted. it just scares the **** out of me knowing there are kids opening up a detailing service and trying to high speed buff a car just ruining the paint. aghhhhhhhhhhh.... swirl marks, burn marks... aghhhhhhhhhh

I am telling you!!!! buffing is last resort only... most cars can only take 1 or 2 buffings before you have to repaint.
I tell you this from experience. I have had to try to fix other people mistakes that the insurance company sent me. I could tell you some horror storys of what happens when you give a high speed buffer to a kid that does not know what he is doing. there should be a application and license process to buy and or use a buffer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I don't own a buffer. I would want a paint thickness gauge before I buffed someones vehicle. I don't think some people know the difference between a buffer and a polisher.

I have a Porter Cable 7424XP. I try to be very careful throughout the whole cleaning process to not put scratches, or swirl marks in the paint.

 

[timswi]

I think sometimes dish shop is used to intentionally remove wax.

That's true...I just wouldn't use dish soap as a general wash soap.

 

[timswi]

for the love of god, please dont let them run a buffer on your paint unless it REALLY needs it. I have worked for a professional detailer and you have to understand that everytime that you buff, you remove paint or clear coat. buffing is last resort only to bring back a shine. and after you buff it down so far, you can then only have it repainted. it just scares the **** out of me knowing there are kids opening up a detailing service and trying to high speed buff a car just ruining the paint. aghhhhhhhhhhh.... swirl marks, burn marks... aghhhhhhhhhh

I am telling you!!!! buffing is last resort only... most cars can only take 1 or 2 buffings before you have to repaint.
I tell you this from experience. I have had to try to fix other people mistakes that the insurance company sent me. I could tell you some horror storys of what happens when you give a high speed buffer to a kid that does not know what he is doing. there should be a application and license process to buy and or use a buffer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All true..I've buffed probably 100+ cars in my lifetime...If one isn't familiar with the process it can be a disaster..On the other hand, if one knows what they are doing the results are incredible....If one keeps up with the maintenance including wax and glaze once in a while, buffing isn't necessary...Not much work really..A few hours and a couple of beers...I enjoy it every so often.

 

[94BULLITT]

That's true...I just wouldn't use dish soap as a general wash soap.

No it is too harsh.

You can about the same results with a DA as could with a buffer just way slower.

 

[Larro Darro]

When my camo truck and car were still tagged and on the road, I only washed them when I was touching up the paint. My 'new' used 13 Camry in coming in about noon tomorrow. My friend/dealer is paying his daughter $20 to detail it. The dealer in Indiana should have washed it before putting it on the truck for shipment, so she shouldn't have too hard a time of it.

My wife used to pay to have the Alero done, but wasn't keen on the fellow driving her 05 Prius away from the courthouse, so I have done all the washing on it. The same with my 98 Tacoma. It looked new when I got it five or six years ago, but farm happens.

 

[timswi]

No it is too harsh.

You can about the same results with a DA as could with a buffer just way slower.

Not sure Id try buffing with a DA...I have a variable speed Makita that I use...Air powered just is too much aggrevation.