22 August 2010 -
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articles
When detailing clays first came into the scene they were heralded as the answer to people’s detailing their cars as safely as possible, that is, without damaging their car’s paint work and removing the toughest stains that people used to have to seek the so called professional to deal with. Suddenly, it wasn’t such hard work anymore to remove nasty gunk that stuck to cars, just an application and a mere swipe no elbow grease, no possibility of having to scratch our car’s paint work and your car would have that show room brilliance again.
Clay bars have the combined effect of mild abrasives and powerful powdered detergent to effectively clean any car of almost anything. They have become the thing to have for people who are fussy about their cars. They can remove stains as stubborn as grease and tree sap; even tar that attaches itself onto the exterior. The great bonus is that they work just as well on other materials like glass and plastic removing the need to have different products for different parts of a car’s body. You can cut out most of all the other cleaning products you would need to keep the shine on your car, which means with detailing clays you get the effects that far outdo premium polishes and waxes for cars. The only other product you will need though is a lubricant, Clay bars tend to streak if too little lubricant is used and or stick to the surface. This sticking leaves a film of residue which looks chalky and unattractive on the a surface that should be shinny. If improperly used, clays pick up grease during the cleaning process and you don’t want that as you could easily transfer this grease to the entire car. No matter how good a particular brand of clay is said to be it will not remove oxidized paint nor will it fill in blemishes. The best thing to do for a car that has mild oxidization is to remove the oxidized paint by washing and polishing the car first. Most detailing clay kits have pre-wax cleaners that fill up minor scratches and can be used to pre-wash oxidized paint work
Auto clay bars remove mostly anything but not necessarily everything. There are some types of dusts that don’t come off as easily with clay bar. Moreover they should never be dropped on a dirty floor as that might just render them unusable that’s only because they are sensitive to dirt and because dust will still to your clay that is why most are sold with hardened plastic containers that you should really always use to store your clay bars if you mean to get the mileage you want to from them. There aren’t many cons at using clay bars, that’s why most car detailing shops always use them as the best method of cleaning the car exteriors, it’s a good thing that ordinary person can now buy their own clay an cut costs by detailing their own vehicles.
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2010-08-22 ::
20 August 2010 -
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articles
An Auto Detailing business can be very rewarding. You will have the pride of being your own boss and owning your own business. You don’t have a boss breathing down your neck and no one else can tell you what to do.
Auto Detailing can be hard work but it can also be very lucrative. In addition to the good money that you will earn, it has another side benefit: it keeps you physically in shape.
Many people start by detailing their own cars and then move into it as a career. They soon discover that the equipment that sufficed for occasional detailing jobs might not last long under the stress of full time professional use. You’ll use up supplies and materials at a faster rate, so proper selection is important. Also, since time is money, you will want to use techniques and procedures that enable you to be efficient and do a good job at a great price.
Getting started is fairly easy and does not require large sums of cash. You can start with just a truck or SUV and go to your customers homes and work places and detail at their location. The water supply can be local, but that does limit you. Some auto detailers carry their own water supply. A portable tarp or canopy is a smart idea because detailing in the hot sun is not much fun.
Whether you are operating from a truck or a fixed address, you have to look professional. If you don’t look professional, people will not trust you to do work on their vehicle.
Selling your services is a large part of your job as an owner of an auto detailing business.
You have to consistently sell your service. When you first see a customers vehicle, walk around it with them and point out any problems in the condition of the paint and tell them what you can do for them to correct it. If the paint can use some touch-up or a panel would benefit from a fix-a-dent expert, offer to do that even if it means you have to pay someone else to do the extra work. Also point out stains or other problem areas in the interior and offer to take care of them. Your customers will be amazed by your work and will send repeat business by referring their family and friends.
Make some fliers for posting around your area. You can also pass them out at large events near you.
Consider offering maintenance contracts to increase your income. With a maintenance program you will wash your customers car once a week and wax it twice a month along with other agreed upon tasks for a set price, including a discount. The advantages of doing this are that you will get a nice check up front, you have steady customers, and you will have work even when it rains.
Big money can be earned with high end cars and neighborhoods. If you can, focus on Lexus, Mercedes, BMW etc., you can gain a lot of customers very quickly The exotics are a good market, although their owners can be more picky.
You can also get work from used car dealers. Although they don’t pay as well, they can send you a large volume of work that adds up quickly. They can also keep you busy on rainy days.
Most beginning detailers are familiar with products applied by hand or with an orbital buffer, but as a pro, you will want to buy a quality rotary buffer. Be aware that they are not easy to use but there are free sources available that can teach you how to properly use it. You can also get a lot of practice using junk cars before you attempt to work on a surface that you care about. The advantage will be improved efficiency.
You also need a simple price list for your customers to choose from. Don’t overwhelm them with too many choices as you could scare them away.
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2010-08-20 ::