Sunshine Detailing

[JCruiza120]

I hear a lot of different things about how a car shouldn't be detailed at all in the sun, but I've heard very few actual reasons why that is. Can anyone share some information as to why detailing should be avoided under direct sunlight?

Canopies can be a pain (Right now I'm running my entire mobile service out of my Miata - I have to take out the passenger seat but I can fit everything =p ... It's just a real mess fitting in a full canopy as well.)

I've done a lot of details on personal cars (mine and family's) in direct sunlight and I've never seen adverse effects. I had 2 full details today that I completed in the sun with no issues. Both cars finished up with showroom shines to them.

What are your thoughts on working in the sun?

Thanks a ton!

James

[GMC83]

Well,

it makes things harder.

[BlkTAWS6]

True, it makes it harder. But one thing that is definitely harder is paint correction. If you chemical dries up too fast before you correct the problem then you aren't really doin that great of a job and can be messing it up more.

But other things as just washing in direct sunlight can be harder because of water spots and not being able to dry all the water before it dries itself.

[Mike Phillips]

How hot was it when you were doing your work?

Hot temperatures, for example where I used to live in the Mojave desert, will make your paint care product try to dry before you're done working them, so you're always fighting the heat. It also makes them underperform as they were intended.

If it's windy you could have dirt landing on the surface landing in your work area and causing swirls.

Bright light makes you squint and makes looking at your work area a strain over time.

Even if a paint care product, for example a compound is formulated to be used in full sun, it will always work better on a cool surface in the shade. I don't know of a single product that works BETTER when it's on a hot surface as compared to a cool surface.

Black paint will easily hit temperatures over 160 degrees in full sun, so any liquid you apply to this temperature of surface is going to dry even if you don't work it, that can't be a good thing.

When possible it's always going to be better to work out of direct sunlight versus in direct sun. If you don't have that option then shrink the size of your work area down.

:)

[JCruiza120]

Thanks a lot for the information - I always wash and do buffing by small panels when I'm in the sun.

It was about 65-70 yesterday, and partly cloudy, so there wasn't a huge amount of time spent in the sun, but generally I've found that it happens. I've been borrowing a canopy and bringing it with me just in case but I think I'll probably just go out and buy my own 12x12 and be done with it.

[SRHTX]

This is the canopy I use. I bought it at Pep Boys several months ago. I REFUSE to detail a vehicle out under the sun since it's always hot and humid down here in Deep South Texas. This canopy WAS a 10x20. We made some changes to shorten the length from a 20 to about a 17, I think. LOL

Here is what it looks like with a Lexus RX 350 under is. This canopy is something that does take time to put together. Also, it will take two people to do it.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r269/srhtx/Lexus/2008%20RX%20350/Before/9c47fa4f.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r269/srhtx/Lexus/2008%20RX%20350/Before/20acb0e4.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r269/srhtx/Lexus/2008%20RX%20350/Before/bbc9ca73.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r269/srhtx/Lexus/2008%20RX%20350/Before/6bc752aa.jpg

[GK Auto Spa]

This is the canopy I use. I bought it at Pep Boys several months ago. I REFUSE to detail a vehicle out under the sun since it's always hot and humid down here in Deep South Texas. This canopy WAS a 10x20. We made some changes to shorten the length from a 20 to about a 17, I think. LOL

Here is what it looks like with a Lexus RX 350 under is. This canopy is something that does take time to put together. Also, it will take two people to do it.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r269/srhtx/Lexus/2008%20RX%20350/Before/9c47fa4f.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r269/srhtx/Lexus/2008%20RX%20350/Before/20acb0e4.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r269/srhtx/Lexus/2008%20RX%20350/Before/bbc9ca73.jpg

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r269/srhtx/Lexus/2008%20RX%20350/Before/6bc752aa.jpg


Man....i didn't wanna see that----> "Also, it will take two people to do it".

[SRHTX]

Well, one person can do it. It just takes an extra amount of time to do so.