Detailing For Profit
Table of Contents

What You Will Find in this Manual.... 13

How to Use this Video Training Package. 13

What is "Detailing," Anyway?. 17

What Does a Professional Detailer Do, Anyway?. 20

The Detailer as a Business Professional................ 23

Philosophy 27

Fixed Versus Mobile..... 27

Shop Layout................ 28

Water Supply................ 29

Waste Water and Water Reclamation................ 31

Power Supply................ 31

Ergonomics................ 32

Safety..... 32

Business Management and Marketing 33

Pricing.... 33

Spatial Orientation 36

Setting up Your Detailing Process.. 37

Expanding your Service Foundation 37

The First Step:  Customer Interview and Vehicle Inspection 37

Overview 41

Major Equipment 43

1.  Canopy......... 44

2.  Vehicle......... 45

3.  Water Tank. 46

4.  Water Treatment System or Treated Water 47

5.  Water Containment or Reclamation System......... 49

6.  Generator........ 50

7.  Hot Water Extractor......... 51

8.  Vacuum......... 52

9.  Pressure Washer......... 53

10.  Air Compressor.... 56

11 & 12.  Equipment for Paint Rejuvenation and Protection....... 59

11.  Random-Orbital Buffers 61

12.  High-speed Buffing Equipment...... 64

13.  Ozone Generator........ 67

Smaller Equipment and Supplies................ 68

Tools....... 77

Safety and Personal Comfort Equipment......... 78

Equipment Management................ 81

Overview 85

Recommended List of Detailing Chemicals 86

Chemicals for Paint Rejuvenation and Protection 92

Chemical Management................ 96

Philosophy and Overview.............. 101

List of Recommended Equipment, Chemicals, and Safety Items..... 102

Procedure.............. 103

Step 1:  Inspect vehicle and assess customer requirements 104

Step 2:  Prepare interior for cleaning....... 105

Step 3:  Air purge and vacuum....... 107

Step 4:  Check and clean the headliner....... 110

Step 5:  Clean interior panels....... 111

Step 6:  Clean leather and vinyl seats 115

Step 7:  Clean carpets, mats, and upholstered seating....... 117

Step 8:  Deodorization 122

Step 9:  Clean interior windows....... 123

Step 10:  Apply protectant to all plastic and vinyl surfaces....... 125

Step 11:  Dress the leather seats 127

Step 12:  Re-assemble and inspect the interior....... 128

Philosophy and Overview.............. 133

Customer Requirements............ 133

Process Considerations.......... 133

List of Recommended Equipment, Chemicals, and Safety Items..... 134

Procedure.............. 135

Step 1:  Prepare and inspect the vehicle....... 136

Step 2:  Prepare yourself and safety considerations....... 138

Step 3:  Spray on degreasers and other cleaners....... 139

Step 4:  Agitate the sprayed areas as necessary..... 140

Step 5:  Rinse the engine compartment 141

Step 6:  Clean and rinse underside as necessary..... 142

Step 7:  Inspect, re-clean as necessary, and final rinse....... 143

Step 8:  Dry and re-assemble the engine....... 144

Step 9:  Dressing and final detailing in the engine compartment 145

Step 10:  Troubleshoot engine problems....... 147

  Philosophy and Overview.............. 151

Process Considerations.......... 151

List of Recommended Equipment, Chemicals, and Safety Items..... 152

Procedure.............. 153

Step 1:  Prepare and inspect the vehicle....... 154

Step 2:  Prepare yourself and safety considerations....... 155

Step 3:  Prep wash techniques using a pressure washer....... 156

Step 4:  Prep wash techniques using a standard garden hose 159

Step 5:  Using detailing clay during the prep wash 160

Step 6:  Dry the vehicle....... 161

  Philosophy and Overview.............. 165

Customer Requirements............ 165

The Elements of Exterior Detailing 166

Paint Technology.............. 166

List of Recommended Equipment, Chemicals, and Safety Items..... 168

Procedure.............. 169

Step 1:  Interview the customer and inspect the vehicle....... 170

Step 2:  Prep wash the vehicle....... 171

Step 3:  Diagnose paint damage....... 172

Step 4:  Prepare the exterior for detailing....... 177

Step 5:  Rejuvenate the paint as necessary..... 178

Using a Random-Orbital Polisher 178

Using a High-Speed Buffer 180

Categories of Paint Rejuvenation 184

Step 6:  Apply protection to the paint 186

Step 7:  Rejuvenate and protect other exterior surfaces....... 187

Step 8:  Conduct a final inspection..... 189

  Appendix A:  Sample Detailing Package Menus... 193

Appendix B:  Additional Automotive Reconditioning Services.............. 199

Appendix C:  Deodorization Using Ozone Technology.............. 201

Appendix D:  Removing Seats for Heavy Interior Detailing 207

Appendix E:  Acid Washing 211

Appendix F:  Suggested Progressions for Several Paint Conditions.............. 215

Appendix G:  Procedural Reference Checklists.............. 219

List of Tables

  Table 1.  Major Equipment for Detailing................ 43

Table 2.  Pneumatic Versus Electric Power source
for Detailing Equipment 58

Table 3.  Differences between Technologies Available
for Paint Rejuvenation................ 60

Table 4.  Advantages and Disadvantages
of Various Random-Orbital Equipment 61

Table 5.  Smaller Detailing Equipment and Supplies................ 68

Table 6.  Tools for Detailing. 77

Table 7.  Safety and Personal Comfort Equipment for Detailing................ 78

Table 8.  Paint Surface Damage and Remedies.............. 173

Table 9.  Paint Sub-surface Damage and Remedies.............. 175

Table 10.  Basic Services Sample Package Menu..... 193

Table 11.  Multiple Services Sample Package Menu..... 194

Table 12.  Custom Detailing Sample Package Menu..... 196

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