Trying to create my own Mobile Detailing business...what should I buy?

xfire,



I agree with what Scott has just said. I haven't been Autopian for very long but am already thinking of going mobile - once I've had a bit more practice on some friends cars. I've already done three, and have another 5 lined up, but haven't had one with any substantial defects yet. That's why I'm doing my Mum's Freelander in a couple of weeks time.



As the guys here have said - the products aren't as important as the technique. Sure you need to know a bit about what products to use, but this will come naturally when you research the techniques as those "teaching" you will also be telling you what they used to achieve the results.



I've got the urge to go mobile and the drive and determination to do so, but right now I'm just waiting for a while so I've satisfied myself that I'm good enough to do it as a profession, but also so I've got feedback from friends and family as to whether they think I'm good enough.



They're always going to be biased as well, so what you want to do (this is the way I'm playing it anyway) is to detail they're car. Let them look around it, check out the job you have done and when they've stopped saying "that's wonderful, amazing etc etc etc" ask them, "it may be amazing, but would you pay $x for it?".



That way you'll get a good indication of where you stand. It's human nature that everything is amazing - until you have to pay for it.



So, my advice to you is don't take what the guys have said here as a bashing (afterall they're professionals and do it every day), but go do some research with the SEARCH facility and get reading. That's what I did, and most of my questions were answered for me. It also means that when you do ask a question, it will be a much more informed question.



Good luck!



Ben
 
xfire said:
This was exactly what I was going to do...but I asked questions about products so that I don't have to spend more money just to find the right products. I know swirls, oxidation, and scratches...but not the products to really remove them...what would you recommend?
Click to expand...



Please don't take what I am about to tell you the wrong way. I agree 110% with the others who have responded to your query. You are asking questions that are, for all intents and purposes, quite basic in nature but you have aspirations to go mobile.



While I applaud your ambition, you truthfully need to realize that there is more to it than the eye. Your focus seems more on products to use than honing your skills in order to effectively use said products.



Case in point. How would you tackle the examples that Scottwax showed you and the following?



540gracesdetail178-med.jpg




Like you, I want to own a shop and do mobile, but I also realize that I need to sharpen my skills so that I can get the results that satisfy the customer as well as myself.
 
I'd like to put in my thoughts considering you're my age... In fact, you're older than me.



You're correct, getting by as a young person on an online forum is difficult. People expect you to be metally inferior (I'd say physically too, but we have a few old guys here :p ;) ). How do you get through it? Like I have. You become more knowledgable than other members, and you help them. Overtime, the community will realize you're not the typical MTV brain washed kid, and you get credit for it.



I'm 15, and I have a Lexus. I don' get serious crap from the members here because I laid low for a while before I started asking questions. I read every piece of the E-Book several times, and went to several online forums to learn as much as possible. I've bought my own PC, and all of my own very high end boutique products (some were donated/ traded by other members as well). I've practiced on my car, and and 4 of my family's other 6 cars. I consider myself experienced as far as detailing, but I always find myself saying "There's always room to learn".



If you've truly done the research, you'd know the answer to every question you're asking.
 
PrinzII said:
Please don't take what I am about to tell you the wrong way. I agree 110% with the others who have responded to your query. You are asking questions that are, for all intents and purposes, quite basic in nature but you have aspirations to go mobile.



While I applaud your ambition, you truthfully need to realize that there is more to it than the eye. Your focus seems more on products to use than honing your skills in order to effectively use said products.



Case in point. How would you tackle the examples that Scottwax showed you and the following?



540gracesdetail178-med.jpg




Like you, I want to own a shop and do mobile, but I also realize that I need to sharpen my skills so that I can get the results that satisfy the customer as well as myself.
Click to expand...



Let me take a shot at tackling the above picture:

Problem: oxidized paint

Solution: polishing is needed



1. Wash/Dry surface to remove debris with Car Wash soap

2. Clay bar to remove surface contamination

3. Mask-off surrounding areas

4. Using a PC and a cutting pad, apply a rubbing compound to the paint surface, increasing to a more abbrasive version if oxidation is not being removed after buffing(in this scenario, probably a level 4 polish is max)

5. Use a very fine polish to remove leftover swirls

6. Remove excess residue with a towel

7. Apply a glaze or pre-wax cleaner

7. wax surface



Did I pass the test? Tell me if this is the right process to fix a scenario like the one above?
 
There is no set "cookie cutter" answer or solution. Each paint and car is different. A rubbing compound might not be necessary, but it may.



Always start with the least aggressive method and gauge your work from there.
 
Well, looking at the condition of that paint, it seemed pretty damaged, and so I was assuming that working up to a level 4 polish will do the job.
 
I'd knock the majority of the oxidation out using folded terry cloth towels first. Oxidation like that will clog the pad very quickly. Once I get that first layer off, then I'd switch to machine.
 
Xfire,



I'm going to answer your origional question, as I think you intended it...



The way to correctly run a business is essentially the same way to correctly detail.



You want to streamline the process as much as possible, getting the best results with the minimum effort.



So let's pick a list of products that will work for every situation, and go with it.



Tools:



PC w/ 2 or more of each pad

wet dry vac

car wash buckets/mitts

car drying method (absorber for me)

brushes: 1 interior brush, 1 rim brush 1 engine brush 1 wheel well/tire brush

microfiber towels - lots of em. For glass, interior and exterior



Products:



1 swirl/defect remover: 3M fine cut for me, or menernza (sp)

1 polish: AIO

1 liquid PC wax/sealant: NXT, etc

1 paste wax: #26, American Shine Carnuaba

1 glass cleaner: stoners glass + rainx

1 engine detailer: simple clean, tire shine

1 tire/wheel well cleaner: tire shine

1 interior carpet cleaner: woolite + water

1 interior trim protectant: 303

1 exterior trim protectant: stoner trim restore

(I think that's it.. could be missing something)



Now, I've selected my products for a reason. They all work very well, and are all extremely easy to use. That's very important to me, as i'm working in the interest of time x results. Sure, Klasse SG may be better than NXT, but NXT is the easiest to use product ever, so I know I won't have problems with it. Get it?



g'luck.
 
Blackntan, thanks for finally answering my question...from this list I will adjust to fit my own needs. The list that you provided seems very profitable since some of the products (NXT, for example), are not as costly as other products. Anyone else have suggestions to a list like blackntan's. Thanks
 
No problem Xfire. Let me know what you decide to go with, as I'm fine tuning my list right now too.



I did select some of the products based on cost, but mostly I based the selections on look and ease of use. The last thing I need is to have a marring, smearing, or removal problem when working on a customers car. If it's my car, no biggie, I can redo it later. But if it's a customers, it's all about efficiency and speed. The faster I can do the job correctly, the faster I can move on to the next car...



What I do at home, is I get a LSP, and I purposly try to induce problems on my own car. I apply it too thick, I apply it in direct sun, I leave it on too long, etc. I mean, who knows what obstacles you're going to encounter while on a job, right? Then I try to remove it, and see how it fares. If it works, I add it to my 'work' package. If not, I move it back to my 'personal' section...



Right now, the top 3 performers, in all conditions for a LSP are:



NXT

American Shine Liquid Carnuaba (this stuff is awesome. I can't mess it up, no matter how hard I try...)

Gliptone platnium



The three I avoid at all costs are:



Klasse SG (obvious, common issues)

S100/P21S (in full sun, it streaks like that's it's job...)

Any of the 'insulator' type hard waxes (removal is rough...)



That's not to say I don't like these products, I do own all of them, and use them on my cars and my friends/families cars, but when i'm on the clock, I want something that will perform no matter the circumstances...



g'luck
 
i know how you feel about people always kicking you down because of ur age and ur family's wealthiness



im 18 almost 19 and i have never bought my own car or truck



my parents bought me my first car because they wanted me in a new car that was going to be safe if i were to get into an accident not some cheap beater rust bucket that id die in if i got in a fender bender



all that said i understand where you are coming from with that aspect



i dont understand why people spend so much time flaming people when they could try to lead them in the right direction instead of flaming them



yes i think u can learn more as we all can even the pro's



for the relatively cheap and easy to use stuff if you want to be serious u will definately need



plenty of MF towels dont get cheap step up and get good ones



get a PC to remove swirls it will be easiest



get some good quality pads for it also maybe just start out with



one of each kind as far as cutting ability with intent of buying

more as u figure out your true needs



get some meguirs DACP and some SFP



i like s100 as its easy to apply and to wipe off and it wont stain trim peices so its quick



also get a good set of interior brushes, tire brushes, wheel brushes, wash mitts, glass cleaners, a few spray bottles, and tire and wheel cleaners make sure they arent acidic though and that the wheels u use them on can handle it, im sure theres plenty i left out but just the basics most u prolly already have but those are some basics so hopefully that might help sorry for the long post



hope that might help a little
 
xfire: Definitely have a rubbing compound available for certain things that won't come out of the paint easily. Usually, 3M's light cut compound would do the trick. Also invest in a medium cut for more serious situations.



However, you really have to be careful when using RCs that are medium and heavy cut because the risk of damaging the finish is greater.



mrecktid: That picture is part of the Jetta I detailed for the XTreme Detailing Contest. :D
 
xfire said:
I am 17 and I am sick and tired of working in retail. I am thinking of quiting my job and try to start my own mobile detailing business. The problem is, I don't know what to buy in terms of actual detailing supplies. So, my question is, what products (specific names) should I get if I plan on doing exterior and interior detailing (don't forget little tools). What products would work well on all types of colors, surfaces, etc... I see so many detailers using all types of products, but I simply can't afford all of these. The most that I will "invest" in detailing products would be $500.00. I have read everything on this site, as well as in the Autopia e-book, but I still don't feel comfortable knowing which products to buy.

Despite this problem, I was thinking of buying these things to start:



Exterior:

AIO Glaze

AIO Sealant

Clay Bars

Porter Cable

Pinnacle Souveran wax

Wolfgang Body Bath (I think this is what it is called, it's the Car Wash Soap)

California Water Blade

Lot's O'Microfiber towels

Portable vaccum



Interior:

???...stuff for cleaning carpets

stuff to clean the dash (I hate the greasy look of armor-all for the interior)

leather cleaner/restorer/protectant



Maybe I should just get a car detail kit?????

Thanks a million for your help...FREE ME FROM RETAIL!!!!!
Click to expand...





You say you want to spend $500 maximum? And yet you include Souveran in there? That takes up a good 12% of your budget right there.



As far as interior products, you need WAY more products than just something for carpets, dash cleaning, and leather treatment.



You should also consider multiple products with the same purpose. Some products (LSPs in particular) look better on certain paint types/colors.



Porter-Cable...OK that's a start. Now you need lots of pads of all different densities, and various swirl removal products.



I guess my point is that $500 gets exhausted really fast. Souveran doesn't make a lick of sense to me as a go-to product on every car.
 
Oh and I think a lot of people are flaming you for this thread because we have all seen examples of poorly done cars by people that don't have the appropriate level of knowledge or experience to be detailing other peoples' cars...or at least for profit anyway. It seems that you don't have the above right now, and a budget of $500 is going to cause you to compromise, and use some products when another product (that you couldn't afford to get under you $500 limit) would be much better suited for the job.
 
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