First time doing correction for money: 01 red corolla

[szjalo]

So, I started my part time detailing business and mostly provided some wash-clay-wax-general cleaning services. I played around with polishing my own car and girlfriend's and family's cars for a while (for free of cause) but never officially do this for money, Since polishing takes too much time for a part time job and the charge keeps people away.

Then one day, the customer came and asked a full interior detailing and outside washing-claying-waxing. She also asked for a paneled one-step correction over the hood. I felt she was not quite comfortable for paying a bulk of money and letting a part-time young man do the whole car. Anyway I just moved my hands over the car. Whole exterior took me 3.5 hrs, I guess I was really in a rush...Results turned out good. Clearly not as good as most of you did, but both the customer(client) and I were happy with it.

Products:
Washing: Meguair's NXT soap 1 oz + Dawn 1oz
Clay: unknown brand ebay clay (there was a review somewhere in AGO) + Megs Ultimate quick detailer/ ONR
Wheels: Megs APC+ 10:1 and 3:1; different brushes
Polish: GG 6'', HT Tangerine Low profile 5.5'' pads, Megs Swirl X
Prewax cleaner: ONR
Wax: 845

Following some before and after shots(sorry I forgot to bring my camera so only went with cell phone)

Befores:
http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/1211.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/419.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/154.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/59.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/69.JPG
=======
Afters:

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/232.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/164.JPG
test spot upper left panel

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/183.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/271.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/2110.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/204.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/302.JPG

http://www.autogeekonline.net/gallery/data/500/medium/293.JPG

I'm sure the result is not perfect in your eyes, but I think the customer is very pleased and very likely will come back later and let me do the rest of the car.

please leave some comments? Thanks in advance

[tw33k2514]

I think you did great.

This business is all about making the customer happy. And doing so within their budget. A lot of times what I think could still use work, the customer thinks is brilliant.

[Mustang81]

So what did you think of the SwirlX with the DA? I've only ever used it by hand.

[szjalo]

So what did you think of the SwirlX with the DA? I've only ever used it by hand.

I think it did a decent job with DA only.

I basically tried all meg's customer polishing products, they are cheap and can be found in local store. By hand, I won't use anything less aggressive than UC. I m now only use M105 by hand. I never experienced any case UC or M105 leaves a bad finish by hand.

Ultimate polish, Scratch X2.0, SwirlX, etc. By hand, I honestly didn't see they can do much if any on a clear coated car. maybe I need to go to gym? They did what they should do with DA tho-

[sparty]

Nice work on what appeared to be a pretty neglected car. You were able to put a nice finish on it. I have never used the Megs Swirl X, seems like it did a fine job with just a single step and the orange pad. I am betting that a 2nd step with a quality polish would have helped hid more swirls. But good work none the less.

Sparty

[SkateForGirl]

Nice job with the hood man.

The dirt looked pretty caked onto the wheels. Was it hard to get them completely clean?

[rider9195]

Looks good to me! As long as the customer is happy with the results I usually don't sweat it, unless I said I was going to do something specific and couldn't achieve it.

[Vegas Transplant]

I think you did great.

This business is all about making the customer happy. And doing so within their budget. A lot of times what I think could still use work, the customer thinks is brilliant.
=1

[Mike McDonald]

Looks very nice! And like the above posters said, this business is all about making the customer happy. That happy customer WILL talk about you!

-Mike

[szjalo]

Nice job with the hood man.

The dirt looked pretty caked onto the wheels. Was it hard to get them completely clean?

with APC+ 3:1--> not at all

[shoeless89]

Great job! People don't understand what really goes into corrections. The only thing I might change about your process is you "pre wax cleaner". I don't think ONR will remove all the polishing oils very well. I would try a product like Griots Pre Wax Cleaner, CarPro Eraser or just IPA. I think you would get a better bond out of the 845.

[szjalo]

Great job! People don't understand what really goes into corrections. The only thing I might change about your process is you "pre wax cleaner". I don't think ONR will remove all the polishing oils very well. I would try a product like Griots Pre Wax Cleaner, CarPro Eraser or just IPA. I think you would get a better bond out of the 845.

Thanks a lot, Shawn

There is one question I always feel shame to ask: I know IPA= isopropyl alcohol, can it be regarded the same as ethanol (ethyl alcohol)? I know chemically they are different, I happen to have a giant bottle of 98-100% scientific use ethanol. I prepared 50% solution with that. Tried once with it to strip the 845 but didnt work out. So is ethanol not supposed to be a good pre-wax cleaner or wax stripper as IPA is?

[conthedon]

I think it did a decent job with DA only.

Ultimate polish, Scratch X2.0, SwirlX, etc. By hand, I honestly didn't see they can do much if any on a clear coated car. maybe I need to go to gym? They did what they should do with DA tho-


I disagree, I have a clear coated car and I did a full 3 step correction by hand (repeated applications, over a course of about 3 days to complete) using Ultimate Compound, Ultimate Polish, and Swirlx with very good results. Also, I had used scratch x 2.0 for spot correction for awhile before testing those 3 products, and I would use a yellow foam pad with good results with scratchx 2.0. What is equally important, I found, is the pad used. For example, I had used the suggested yellow foam applicator by Megs and applied it with what I use exclusively use now, CCS foam hand applicator pads. I used the orange pad with scratchx 2.0 and it gave exceptional results compared to using the softer yellow foam applicator pad. Same with the other products, choosing the appropriate pad to what you are trying to achieve is important in getting the most out of the product, in this case ccs orange hand applicator made scratchx 2.0 work the best due to the applicator cutting ability, and probably the white (polish pad) would have performed better than the yellow foam applicator as well. I highly highly recommend stocking up on CCS Foam hand applicator pads (orange,white, red), I wouldn't do a hand job (no pun intended) without them.

[szjalo]

I disagree, I have a clear coated car and I did a full 3 step correction by hand (repeated applications, over a course of about 3 days to complete) using Ultimate Compound, Ultimate Polish, and Swirlx with very good results. Also, I had used scratch x 2.0 for spot correction for awhile before testing those 3 products, and I would use a yellow foam pad with good results with scratchx 2.0. What is equally important, I found, is the pad used. For example, I had used the suggested yellow foam applicator by Megs and applied it with what I use exclusively use now, CCS foam hand applicator pads. I used the orange pad with scratchx 2.0 and it gave exceptional results compared to using the softer yellow foam applicator pad. Same with the other products, choosing the appropriate pad to what you are trying to achieve is important in getting the most out of the product, in this case ccs orange hand applicator made scratchx 2.0 work the best due to the applicator cutting ability, and probably the white (polish pad) would have performed better than the yellow foam applicator as well. I highly highly recommend stocking up on CCS Foam hand applicator pads (orange,white, red), I wouldn't do a hand job (no pun intended) without them.

I also used ccs hand applicator pads, both orange and white. My experience is, in most cases, UC plus orange pad are so versaltile, which is easiest to hands and arms and finishes close to perfect. When with my hands I d try my best to avoid multiple steps, so UC alone is a great one step polish/ correction by hand. I also tried other less aggressive Meg's polishes. Scratch X works by hand, but when I realize UC can do whatever scratch x can do and save me a little time, and i dont quite worry about removing too much clear coat by hand, I barely use it now. (scratch x with da gives me tons of dusts and hard to remove, that's why I always feel its a little awkward product with either hand or DA). I didn't see swirl x or UP quite work out by hand tho they are awesome by machine.

After all I haven't tried to do correction by hand a lot, so it's really just my own opinion based on my limited exp. so i guess Its just me had bad luck with those. It's absolutely awesome and admirable to do a whole car with 3step polish. My muscle never allows me to come even close to this.