Purchasing Business Equipment

Car detailing makes a very good and efficient first time business. You can get started without having to buy a lot of fancy, expensive equipment.

The very basics are:

·    Pressure washer

·    Wet/dry vacuum

·    Bucket

·    Wash mitt

·    Towels

·    Small soft-bristled brush

·    Upholstery brush and towels

 You can buy these supplies from any hardware or automotive parts store.

Once you have a good idea of what you are doing in your car detailing business, consider buying some more advanced equipment. Buy equipment that is more specialized and so you can be certain that your business is well established enough before making a bigger investment in new equipment.

What Exactly Is Involved in Car Detailing?

Let’s take a look at some of the primary details.

Automotive finishes are quite thin and generally range from 4 to 6 mils in total thickness. This includes anti-corrosion coatings. The color coat on a vehicle is typically the thinnest coating.

The exterior paint layer is a clear coat and it is thermo set. This clear finish is only 2 mils thick, and compares to the thickness of a piece of paper.

The car’s bumper and softer parts are all plastic. The plastic is painted with a modified paint that is plasticized to endure the impact of stone chipping.

General Cleaning

In order to do an appropriate paint evaluation on all vehicles, first thoroughly wash, clean and dry. A bug and tar remover will have been used to remove any unwanted stains.

Paint Finish

Along with your customer, conduct a thorough evaluation of the paint finish. This will determine the best care treatment.

This technique works well to promote your services and products when done with the customer. Ask for their input and share your expertise on all of your services and products as it relates to their needs. 

Swirl Marks

When evaluating the paint finish, pay careful attention to any swirl marks present on the finish. The reduction of swirl marks will lead to your best service in revealing the vehicle’s shine and beauty.

Always study the paint condition while in bright light. Swirl marks will appear in bright light even on light colored cars, using this technique.

Use the palm of your hand to assess the smoothness of the finish. If the finish feels rough to your touch, this means that contaminants have bonded to the finish.

Also take note that surface stains, black marks, or water-run marks can appear to be under the paint and this will show up as a result of surface contaminants.

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