BondoJr Exterior detailing.
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So Jr,
Getting a bit of demand for some exterior details lately, all black cars 5-10 years old and just wondering what you are using product wise.
Most all the stuff I do is on fresh work. So we generally play it on the safe side when it comes to products.
I know you worked in a detail shop for years. and you know what works good yet isn’t too expensive.I have a similar setup to Bondo as far as fresh work.
Such as:
3M Superduty rubbing compound.
3M Perfect it II Rubbing compound.
3M Finesse it.
3M Machine glaze.What do you like to use as far as waxes, swirl removers, pads, clay bars, cleaners?
What do you guys use to remove small imperfections? Such as Abrasives, Trizac, abralon. (colorsanding)What do you apply your products with.
Tips? Tricks? Procedures.
Typical price for an overall?
You know, the works.
Thanks
RichardAlso the rest of you guys can fill in as well.
Remember this is going to be on factory coatings.
And the end result is going to be all that matters. :whistle:You need to use some of the newer 3m products, they work much better than what you are currently using.. The 3000 line works pretty good. Get some 3000 extra cut, 3000 glaze, and then go to ultrafina for dark colors. It is a pricey but when used right works pretty good.. I know their is cheaper stuff on the market, but always find the 3m stuff works pretty good.
[b]RatStang wrote:[/b]
[quote]So Jr,
Getting a bit of demand for some exterior details lately, all black cars 5-10 years old and just wondering what you are using product wise.
Most all the stuff I do is on fresh work. So we generally play it on the safe side when it comes to products.
I know you worked in a detail shop for years. and you know what works good yet isn’t too expensive.I have a similar setup to Bondo as far as fresh work.
Such as:
3M Superduty rubbing compound.[b]use with a wool pad[/b]
3M Perfect it II Rubbing compound.[b]step up to an aggresive black or medium yellow pad[/b]
3M Finesse it.[b]I don’t use it[/b]
3M Machine glaze.[b]use a black 3m pad[/b]What do you like to use as far as waxes, swirl removers, pads, clay bars, cleaners?[b]For wax I use a malco product called Diamond Crystal. It is just a great carnuba wax. I recommend using it like a compound with a medium/light cut pad to help remove swirls. 3m swirl remover is just great. I also like Seal-b from malco, basically the same thing. For the clay bar, well just use it after you wash the car before you dry it off, because it is going to put swirls in your clear. I dip it in soapy water. Cleaners…hmmm…well depends on what you need cleaned. Aluminum wheels, chrome wheels, etc. Just let me know and I will try my best to help you[/b]
What do you guys use to remove small imperfections? Such as Abrasives, Trizac, abralon. (colorsanding)[b]touch up paint[/b]
What do you apply your products with.[b]listed below[/b]
Tips? Tricks? Procedures.[b]The way I think when I take on a black car, start out with the wool pad at 1000 or so rpm and be generous with the compound. Then once your done (10 mins per panel or so) step it out to the medium cut pad and compound, increase the buffing speed and use a little less compound. After that use a medium/light cut pad with carnuba wax to hide/erase swirl marks, use a good speed like 13-1400 rpm. Then step out to the final pad for glazing and basically glaze over the wax you put on, with a high speed but don’t use too much glaze, just a few drops per panel. Then machine or hand wax over the glaze with the same stuff you buffed with earlier. Allow to dry and wipe off with a soft terry cloth or microfiber towel.[/b]
Typical price for an overall?[b]75 for interior, 100 for exterior (more for black of course) I usually spend around 4 hours total to do both, but if the paint needs lots of buffing charge the customer 30 bucks more for your work[/b]
You know, the works.
Thanks
Richard[/quote]I actually enjoy detailing! It really is an art with lots of methods/techniques.
3M is OK, but there are much better products not well known in this field. But better known by professional detailers.
Here’s my go-to setup:
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v345/zsolo/Polishing/P1010102.jpg[/img]I have a few more latest-and-greatest products on the way.
Here’s a great forum: Autopia.org
Meguiars: meguiarsonline.com
There are many tips for ya! Actually, detailing deserves a section all it’s own. It is quite involved with
a slew of products and techniques that can’t be covered well in one thread. However, and in time,
i do plan on doing a thorough write-up for the body shop guys; products and techniques that I find
to be efficient.Im with Han here.. Detailing is a whole nother can of worms.. I make do with my set up, however it would not be ideal for a detailer by any stretch..
Just like paint products, their products are continually changing as well and I just cant keep up..
Plus all of you probably know that 3M is buying up everyone.. well most everyone.. Now the famous Presta I hear is under them along with Marhyde, Marson, Bondo corp etc etc etc etc
Did I mention I hate 3m’s prices 😛
3M owns Meguiars too!
RatStang,
The new Meguairs professional line, namely M105 and M205 are excellent and getting great reviews.
These two products like to be worked at lower speeds around 1000-1300 rpm. It seems slow but
is actually faster for me with better results. You also want a variety of foam pads, Lake Country is
the ticket here. I use 1 wool pad and 3 different foam pads depending on the job. The quality of
the Lake Country pads are very good (3M waffles are not even close).Do spend some time on Autopia.org and check out the “Pro details Before and After,” section.
It’s going to take many months to get accustomed to the lingo and acronyms.Thanks for the info guys.
I looked around for some of the stuff you guys suggested and while looking I found some detailers reviews on some products.
I found a lot of places that offered good deals. but some of them were outrageous on shipping.
(Like for a gallon of Malco wax that cost 29.99 it was 31bucks shipping)
So anyways I looked around and it looked like the Chemical Guys products were the best bang for the buck.
Lot of detailers were saying a lot of their stuff is better than the expensive 3m, Maguires, Presta, and so on stuff.
And they’ve got a huge detailing line. Probably the biggest detail product producer I’ve seen. (Maybe not 3m, I dunno)I talked to them and the guys are really informative, and seems like a bunch of good guys.
I’ve still got to order some pads. I was looking at those Lake Country CSS pads. I actually picked up a couple 4 inch to give it a try.
And I was going to order some of the 3m Waffles. (I’ve been debating on the two, but the 3m stuff is about the same price. 2 for 24 or 12 each for the Lake Country stuff.)So you really like those Lake Country CSS pads?
I think I’ll take your word for it and order a set.Thanks again guys
Richard
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