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RPM_BR
08-21-2014, 07:30 AM
Hi friends

Let me introduce myself: my name is Ron I live in Brazil in a 400 thousand city in the state of Sao Paulo. My city is booming lately, due to a new Hyundai factory established recently, and a planned Mercedes plant to be built nearby. Price of land skyrocketed, and there are a lot of foreigners and people with money. Therefore, with nice, expensive cars.
I decided to start a detailing business with my nephew, a car buff, in his late twenties. I'm a bit old, 49yrs, but detailing here is in the stone age mostly, people working solely on 3M products, rotary buffers, lacking the rigueur and professionalism I find in the American detailing business.

One other thing I noticed here in my city is the absence of a really good painter, to do retouchs in $$$$ cars, in modern ceramic paintings and the new 'flake' paintings. If there is a specialist in this matter reading this, who would like to try a new life, who knows, send me a private message.

I'm a big fan of Menzerna product line, Collinite and Sonax Nano Pro.

I own a rotary, a PC and a Flex. And in 30 to 45 days, a real business (I already rent a place, logo, waiting for the papers to come).

Before I decided to join this prestigious Forum, I read a lot, some 150 pages, read the whole Flex or Rupes thread (for me, it is like Canon or Nikon), which helped me decide in favor of Flex. And other threads regarding individual products, buffing pads, procedures etc

And yes, I consider Mike Phillips a guru. I said a silently amen to almost everything I read from him.

Finally my question is: what to do when the painting is really good, almost none to non-existent swirls?

Do I clay, seal and wax? Do I seal and wax only? Or should I polish before with Menzerna SF 4000?

All the best! And, like the ex-governor of California said once "I'll be back!" Ron :xyxthumbs:

wdmaccord
08-21-2014, 08:37 AM
Welcome to AGO!!

I would still plan to polish just to remove any potential marring from claying. SF4000 would be a good choice if the paint is in good condition. Meguiars M205 is another good choice (if you are looking for other brands to try).

If someone brought me a car fresh from the dealer, and the dealer hadn't hacked it up too bad and the paint was in great shape, I would decon, clay, light polish, sealant. Top with wax if the customer wanted/paid for it.

Since you have a shop and sounds like you are going to be full time at this, you might look into coatings as well and make that an offering at some point.

Best of luck on your venture! :dblthumb2:

HUMP DIESEL
08-21-2014, 08:39 AM
Congrats, and welcome to AG. Sounds like you may be onto a booming business in a short amount of time.

To answer your question, it depends on what the customer is looking for. Most definitely a wash, but you can also clay and seal and or wax. You also could do a light polish with the SF4000 that you mentioned to really bring more gloss out of the paint. Each one building on the next.

HUMP

Mike Phillips
08-21-2014, 08:59 AM
Hi Ron,

Great introduction and welcome to AutogeekOnline! :welcome:


Sounds like you're putting yourself and your nephew into position to be not only be very successful but dominate your market.

I'm already looking forward to your future posts...

Congratulations!


:dblthumb2:

RPM_BR
08-21-2014, 05:13 PM
Thanks for the warm welcome, I really appreciate.

To wdmaccord, I will offer Sonax Nano Lack Protect, after testing on my guinea pig, my own car. I'm afraid of those sealants that bonds to the clearcoat, afraid of uneven application, missing spots. To HUMP DIESEL, I was planning doing the sequence you and wdmaccord mentioned. To Mike, what can I humbly say, hail to the chief, I'll be buying your book soon!

I'm renting a nice space, but it needs floor tiles, taking care of the roof and redoing the electrical wiring. So august and september will be taken. But in october, I will post my before/after shots.

I believe that, since you are gonna work as a detailer, the place you work and the clients walk in must be detailed as well. It has to be spotless.

A shiny future to you all.