Large Scale Detailing on Farm Equipment

[ddaj273autodetailing]

I recently secured a contract with a farm operator and they pay a lot. They asked me to fully detail and polish their combines, tractors and semi-trucks. It's my first time doing this type of job as I am used to small-scale high end detailing on sport cars. Their vehicles are not that dirty as they have washed it already but we still have to decontaminate the surface. The vehicles are seen to have dirt stains and hard water stains The owner told me he gets this job done every year and wants all the oxidation gone and gloss back. He is not concerned about the scratches and swirl marks and it's all about protecting the paint from oxidation and bringing gloss back. I am looking for any advice at all to prepare for this job.

I am curious to know what this forum thinks as the best way to do this job in terms of pad selection and abrasive technology. We operate with only three people and we have a week or two to finish 15 large vehicles. The owner does not want perfection, and I'm trying to look for the best way to do this as fast and efficiently as possible. We use long-throw DA polishers with 15mm throw 5-inch backing plates. I am thinking of purchasing 6-inch backing plates just for the job but the next problem is which pad to use. I am looking for the pad that will last as many panels as possible without scouring the paint with residue. I usually use Meguiar's MF Finishing pad for one step and they work brilliantly for what we used to do, but the problem with these pads is that the fibers tend to get stuck to one another after only 1/4 of a sedan. I can just buy more of these pads and replace them more often but this isn't cost effective as I would have to use 999 pads just for one vehicle and that is not smart at all. I am looking into Rupes Medium Wool Pad but I have not used this product yet but have heard good reviews from it. There's also another option of getting lake country orange pads but I have never used them before and don't know how many panels they last and not sure if they cut fast enough that I don't have to do too many passes and waste time.

In terms of abrasive technology im still not sure which one to get. We use Rupes UNO Protect for our typical one-step but it seems to be too expensive to be cost effective with large vehicles. I am thinking of getting 3D Speed or 3D One but I'm not sure which one to get. I also have m205 but i prefer having some form of filler and gloss additive. If theres anything else on the market thats cheap and effective I would look into it too.

The machines we use are 15mm long throw polishers and they usually do whatever we need. Just a simple Griots G9 15mm and an Adams SK Pro 15mm. I was wondering if its worth it to spend money getting 21mm polishers since they work better for flat surfaces. My co-worker suggested that we use rotary polishers but I fear leaving holograms and ruining our reputation. Any advice will help

[Skier404]

My Family farms in in western Minnesota. We polish our equipment every year. in the past we have always used 3M Compounds with the appropriate pad. 3M compounds are formulated for rotary machines only so and the new formulas have a great buffing cycle. Like 3D One they are just compounds and provide no protection. We would follow paint correction with a Carpro Hydro2.

This winter we are going in a different direction and going to try using 3D Speed with either Yellow Rupes CP pad or Orange LC Force pad. No way around it you need alot of pads or clean often to do the job. For the machine going with FLEX Beast and CBeast.

Keep it simple, do a few test spots, you have a lot of real estate to cover.

[98CayenneTA]

6 in. backing plates.

Buff and Shine Orange Pads

Carpro Essence

The wool pads will probably micro mar single stage black farm paint.

Carpro Essence will keep the oxidation away for a long time on single stage paint.... as in many years.

[Bosko]

That type of work is above my pay grade.....

[dgage]

What about Rupes yellow foam pads with a compressor to blow the pads regularly so that the fibers? I think these would work fast and give you a very good surface. On a car where you’re worried about all the swirl marks, you might need a white polishing pad pass. But if you’re not worried about micromarring, then a yellow wool pad might be the quickest and best pad to use. For polish, the Griots Fast Correcting Cream works great and is economical. For protection, Hydro Blue or similar or Griots 3-in-1 Ceramic spray would be good ways to go quickly.

[ddaj273autodetailing]

What about Rupes yellow foam pads with a compressor to blow the pads regularly so that the fibers? I think these would work fast and give you a very good surface. On a car where you’re worried about all the swirl marks, you might need a white polishing pad pass. But if you’re not worried about micromarring, then a yellow wool pad might be the quickest and best pad to use. For polish, the Griots Fast Correcting Cream works great and is economical. For protection, Hydro Blue or similar or Griots 3-in-1 Ceramic spray would be good ways to go quickly.

Do you have any experience with using Rupes Yellow Pads with an AIO like 3d speed? Isn't it a bit more time inefficient if I have to use ceramic spray after polishing where I can just use an AIO?

[Bosko]

Do you have any experience with using Rupes Yellow Pads with an AIO like 3d speed? Isn't it a bit more time inefficient if I have to use ceramic spray after polishing where I can just use an AIO?

What is your timeline for the job?

[ddaj273autodetailing]

What is your timeline for the job?

I would like to finish one vehicle within 8 hours this includes some light interior detailing. 3 people would be doing the job. I inspected the condition of the paint and it looks oxidized single stage and I think it would require only under 2-3 slow passes to get a decent finish with the method that I am used to (using microfiber finishing pads). These tractors were annually polished and it isnt in bad shape. I only ever used the yellow rupes pads right after compounding, i'm not sure if their cutting ability is fast enough for the job.

[Bosko]

I should have been clearer on what I meant.

The reason I ask, is Griot's is coming out with a ceramic 3 in 1 AIO January 22...it seems like it would fit your needs perfect.

[ddaj273autodetailing]

I should have been clearer on what I meant.

The reason I ask, is Griot's is coming out with a ceramic 3 in 1 AIO January 22...it seems like it would fit your needs perfect.

Oh too bad, I need to get it done on December 11