Mobile Auto Detailing... your thoughts?

[Azxster]

I would like a part-time job. My hours are evening and weekend. Tough eh? So I have decided maybe it is best for me to be self-employed. What do you guys think of a quality mobile auto detailing?

It would be nice to have additional income so that I can go to school with less stress.

[aingaran]

If you're planning to start a business of auto detailing.. And you're any good & are affordable.. Let me knwo.. I need to get my car done :D

[Tik]

Hye Azxster, i am thinking of doing the same! If you are looking for a partner, may be we can do something! let me know.

[Canucklehead]

Hey if you guys do this, I can hook you up with some detailing equipment and cleaning products.

PM when you get this going.

Things to consider:
- who is responsible for the run-off into the sewer
- liability in case you blow somebody's trim off

[SodiumSulfate]

Hey if you guys do this, I can hook you up with some detailing equipment and cleaning products.

PM when you get this going.

Things to consider:
- who is responsible for the run-off into the sewer
- liability in case you blow somebody's trim off

I'm not so much interested in opening up a detailing business, but moreso in learning how to do it myself (I need a hobby lol).

What do you mean detailing equipment and what kind of cleaning products?

Regarding sewer run off...are car cleaning supplies really that dangerous?

[Canucklehead]

Detailing equipment:
- spray extractor
- vapour cleaner
- pressure washer

Cleaning Products:
- special cleaners that remove bug, tar, grease, oil, road grime, dirt, battery gunk, etc
- cleaning towels made of polypropylene with raw melted polypropylene drizzled on top...gives "steel wool" like cleaning ability without the risk of scratches
- professional glass cleaner (like Windex but stronger)
- Low-lint scrim-reinforced towels (no streaking)
- latex gloves

In some parts of the country (i.e. Calgary), it is illegal to wash your car on your driveway if the run-off goes in the city sewer system. It's not the car care products that are hazardous, it's the stuff on your car like brake dust, oil, grease that you REMOVE when washing your car. Professional car washes and lube places have waste-water recovery sytems that prevent the crap from going into the sewers.

[Rehan]

In some parts of the country (i.e. Calgary), it is illegal to wash your car on your driveway if the run-off goes in the city sewer system. Toronto, too.

http://72.14.207.104/search?q=cache:Z8yUgSU8ZM0J:tobserver.thecentre.ce ntennialcollege.ca/read_article.asp%3Farticle_id%3D837 says:
"The City of Toronto's sewer-use bylaw prohibits the direct or indirect discharge of contaminants into sewers, including run-off from vehicles being washed in driveways. An individual faces a fine up to $10,000 for a first offence and up to $20,000 for subsequent offences."

[Evil Techie]

I would like a part-time job. My hours are evening and weekend. Tough eh? So I have decided maybe it is best for me to be self-employed. What do you guys think of a quality mobile auto detailing?

It would be nice to have additional income so that I can go to school with less stress.


how professional are you?
what sort of products do you use?

[Tik]

I am not professional but good at it. Did some reasearch on the procedure/process and have done few cars inculding my and the results were very good.

If anyone is interested, i would not mind helping you guys... i will only charge the for the products and i use Meguiars brand. Let me tell you the first time i did my car this year, i was impressed.

[Narci]

There's at least one person who does this professinally with a big black pickup towing a nice new trailer for this compressors and such. He visits alot of the shows to offer his services.

[Azxster]

Why the need for a compressor?

[Narci]

Why the need for a compressor?

High pressure washer/air.

[Justin]

Air is used to blow the dust out of vents, cracks, etc.

[Evil Techie]

I am not professional but good at it. Did some reasearch on the procedure/process and have done few cars inculding my and the results were very good.

If anyone is interested, i would not mind helping you guys... i will only charge the for the products and i use Meguiars brand. Let me tell you the first time i did my car this year, i was impressed.

could u let me know briefly ur procedures so we know what sort of calibre u are in

then maybe we can give u an idea what u should be charging

compressed air isnt all that necessary
it is great for getting the water off the car to speed up drying time

but a good vacuum/blower like Metro can do that too with a vacuum function good for interior work
so all in one to save space

most professional detailers use Zaino from what i know
Meguiars does almost as good of a job though and is much cheaper

[Tik]

Here are the steps;

1. Hand wash and dry
2. Clay the whole car
3. Hand wash again
4. Scratch remover (swirlmarks)
5. seal with wax

[Sanhedralite]

Canucklehead always has awesome advice. Take it! :)

[overboost]

Try starting off with some neighbors or people on car forums. Build your clientele slowly and your results will advertise your skills. If it is sub-par, then you need to brush up your skills before investing in a 'mobile' business.

Don't take it the wrong way, but the steps you've listed below are very basic. Reading up on detailing and doing a couple cars is a far step from being a professional and making a mobile business.

Being a good detailer requires experience in diagnosing paint condition and what products and tools to use on the paint. Doing a Meguiar's 3-step is cake...any Joe can do that by hand. Now, if customers come to you with problems like "I got these circular holograms from the last detailer, can you remove them" or "I got this etching on my paint due to bird poop that I let sit for a week, can you get rid of it" will you be able to fix the problem? Detailing is a process and knowing which products and tools to use in each situation. Just using a "swirl remover" will not solve the problem and give your car a mirror shine.

You should also have tools such as a dual action polisher (porter cable -- not no cheapo craftsman or canadian tire junk), as well as a highspeed rotary (something like a dewalt dw849 or a makita). Doing things by hand takes too long. Plus, you CANNOT take out swirls by hand.

Most professional detailers DO NOT use Zaino btw. Zaino is a product that is mainly used by enthusiasts. Zaino does not have enough of a spectrum of products to be used in a body shop or detailing environment. Most detailers will use 3M and Meguiars. Enthusiasts use Zaino, 3M, Meguiars, PoorBoy's, P21S, Pinnacle, etc...

I started off a long time ago doing a few cars, then word gets around and you build up a good core of clients. If you do excellent work, the clients will keep coming back year after year for you to work on their cars. Like I suggested before, go on some local car forums and post some before and after pictures of your work for people to evaluate your skills.


Here are the steps;

1. Hand wash and dry
2. Clay the whole car
3. Hand wash again
4. Scratch remover (swirlmarks)
5. seal with wax

[Canucklehead]

Find out who reputable car detailers are and get your car detailed, watch them in action, talk to the customers etc.

Links:
Autopia (http://autopia.org/forum/index.php?/)
Detail City (http://www.detailcity.com/)
mobileworks (http://www.mobileworks.com/)
carwashguys (http://www.carwashguys.com/index2.html)
automotive forums (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/f1070/)

From the Meguiars Australia (http://www.meguiars.com.au/Get_Schooled3.htm) website...."What causes swirl marks?

Swirl marks are actually microscopic scratches in the finish. Swirls are often caused by the use of a buffer with the wrong type of polishing pad and/or wax or polish. Automatic car washes can also cause swirls, especially on late model vehicles with clear coat paints. Another way to cause swirl marks is hand application, or removal of products using a harsh material. Pads and cloths that with micro abrasives (from falling on the ground or improper storage) are also a cause of swirls marks. To avoid swirls, thoroughly wash all dirt particles from your finish before applying polish or wax. Always use a 100% terry cloth towel because its nap draws any contaminants on the surface into the towel instead of allowing them to scratch the sensitive paint. "

[krazykanuck]

I've found that doing a couple of cars at first is the key...then move onto doing car shows and etc...that was what I've done. I do it freely though for fun (I once spent 6hrs detailing a car bumper-to-bumper just to get it nice and clean).

I've always used to use Meguiar's..I was friends with a Montreal wholesaler, so I got good prices. But he's since gone out of business. i've thought about opening my own business for weekend work and special events..we'll see...

[Azxster]

I'm going to start with friends/families and rely on word of mouth.

Even a PC DAP will not cut it for a professional as time = money, rotary is much faster however it takes skills to use one.

[Evil Techie]

iunno, but i read on clublexus that there are still quite a few detailers in the states that use zaino, and lexus owners like to bring their cars to those detailers

but of course most detailers have more than just 1 brand of products

yeah if u dont have the skills to use a rotary buffer without burning the paint, at least get a PC DAP so things can get done much faster

[picus]

Like all professions you can't generalize and say "no pro detailer use Zaino" or "all pro detailers use Meguiars Pro Line" etc... like any business there are different markets to be served. Bulk and Express Detail shops as well as detailing shops run out of body shops will often (almost always) use bulk products, which means CG or Megs Pro Line, Malco etc... however Mobile Detailing in and of itself is more of a personalized service, so many mobile detailers will use "boutique" style products for a couple reasons. First, the market you serve might demand it. Second, boutique products often achieve better results. Third, it effectively differentiates you from bulk/express shops. Fourth, it's a status thing.

I've been mobile detailing for close to 10 years now and I carry probably 75% "boutique" or "enthusiast" products. Zaino, Werkstatt, Poorboys, Pinnacle, Clearkote, etc, etc... Since my business is generally considered "high end" detailing, having those products serves both the purpose of allowing me to tailor my detailing regime to the car in question *and* in my opinion allows me to achieve better results than limiting myself to one line of products. In the end it all comes down to the demographic you're serving.

The best advice I was ever given regarding my business was to set up a business plan. Decide early on the clientelle you want and do what it takes to get and keep those customers. If you want quick express work then buying less expensive products in bulk is the way to go. If you want to deliver more of a personalized detailing service then smaller quantities of enthusiast level products might be more in line. Regarding advertising; if you're going for the express/bulk stuff take out a Yellow Pages ad. Advertise in grocery stores, coffee shops, banks. Put one of those "your business card here to win $100 free detail" things in a laundry mat, etc... if you want the more high end stuff typically your best bet is word of mouth.

Cheers,

Kevin
http://gtaindetail.com

[StarvinStudent]

I've been considering the very same thing here in Calgary. But I'm far from a professional, so I didn't go through with it.

[Evil Techie]

woot picus is here

this is UberNoob from Clublexus btw

anyways
some cities have by-laws against washing cars and letting the soapy water run down into the sewage
so look into the by-laws and use bio-degradable products if needed

[picus]

woot picus is here

this is UberNoob from Clublexus btw

anyways
some cities have by-laws against washing cars and letting the soapy water run down into the sewage
so look into the by-laws and use bio-degradable products if needed

Heya!

Yes, here in Toronto there are strict bylaws against runoff. You can get around this in two ways; as Evil Techie mentioned you can use biodegradable products (Poorboys sells a whole line of them), or you can use rinseless washes like Optimum No Rinse or QEW. Cheers.

[grant]

My buddy decided to start car detailling part time with 2 friends and they quickly ended up with more business than they can handle.

He started off small.. just doing his own car better & better because he was picky about it... friends would see him so enthused and ask him to do their cars, etc.

If you have the patience, that's a very low-risk route to start.

[a2vr6]

this reminds of a mag article I read where there is a guy that specializes in detailing extoic cars. He charges $1000 for wash/ wax but the thing is it has like 50 steps to the process. He is a one man business and people all over the world go to this guy.

[picus]

His name is Paul Dalton, his site is: http://www.miracledetail.co.uk/auto-detailing-home.html

Aside from the Zymol Royale his product list and process is pretty much the same as any high end detailer; he is an amazing marketer, though. :)

[aZnRYcEbOi]

Just wondering, has anyone in Toronto been fined from washing their car b/c of that by-law?

Where the heck are we supposed to wash our cars then? Unless it is getting done by a professional detailer, I would prefer to detail it myself.

[picus]

Just wondering, has anyone in Toronto been fined from washing their car b/c of that by-law?

Where the heck are we supposed to wash our cars then? Unless it is getting done by a professional detailer, I would prefer to detail it myself.

You're pretty much expected to use wash bays or machine washes, which use recycled water (thus complying with the by law), of course we all know that recycled water = water spots and swirls, so we don't use them...

[Canucklehead]

Biodegradeable products are good but they will not help you comply with the by-law. It's not the detergent that they are worried about, it is the automotive dirt/grime/grease that goes into the run-off.

There are mats that you can drive over - it collects all the waste water when you wash your car but then you still have to dispose of it. Canadian guy patented this technology I think. You can find it in industrial supply stores.

The waste water can be recovered and the detergent can even be reused using some of the newer water recovery equipment. The water ends up about 99.999% pure again. This technology is about $20K for a small unit.