Having car Buffed-who would you go with?

**third_shift|studios** · 09-02-2008, 07:10 PM

Prior to the photo shoot for the girls calendar, i'm having my car buffed. I mean 8+ years of age and the car could really use it. I'm caught though...

quote 1: $200. Guy will buff and wet sand as need then wax my car. He is a highly reputable guy and was my "body shop guy" when i had all the accidents in the Batmobile. He's always been good to me, but he's pricey. I would have to drop off/then pick up my car. Then give it a quick detailer bath prior to the shoot, plus do all the wheel wells and rims/engine bay.

Quote 2: $220: he will come to the car's location with all of his equipment. wash, clay, buff, seal the paint and wax the car. he'll also do the interior, dry-clean the carpet, wash and "blacken" wheel wells/tires, and steam clean the engine and dress up [gloss] the stuff under the hood. i don't know him, but he has a website with cars he's done: http://www.cincinnatidetailing.com/

So who do i go with? the reputable guy who i've developed a relationship with over the years, or the unknown guy giving the astronomical deal?

**TransAm11973** · 09-02-2008, 07:34 PM

i would go with the new guy, but the only thing that worries me is that i see some holograms in that porsche,....so either he did it or he isnt good enough to get them out.....i duno its a tough one....does he have a contract for work done or is it all verbal?

**Y2KPewterSS** · 09-02-2008, 07:36 PM

Stick with what you know works. Don't fix it if it isn't broke. I never let anyone touch my car for anything though

**KahanaReef** · 09-02-2008, 07:49 PM

Sometimes it's not worth it to take a chance to save a few bucks ...

On the other hand, does the new guy have references or a large clientèle?

I voted the reputable guy. Better safe than sorry.

**sstg** · 09-03-2008, 06:09 PM

$200 for wet sand and buff is dirt cheap.

**KyleLs1** · 09-03-2008, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by sstg

$200 for wet sand and buff is dirt cheap.

no shit, you can barely pay a homeless guy 200 bucks to wash your car where i live haha

**Lucky 13** · 09-03-2008, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by sstg

$200 for wet sand and buff is dirt cheap.

he is only wetsanding where needed -- IE : minor scratches or imperfections in the paint -- not getting rid of all the orange peel

PS: I would go with the new guy, 200 is a decent price for a good detail, and he is doing MUCH more than the other guy... "your guy" wont even do your wheels or wheel wells? 200 is too much for just a paint buff

**Z06-Goose** · 09-03-2008, 07:22 PM

They both seem to be good, if in doubt, ask for references...

**KarenCaren** · 09-03-2008, 09:48 PM

I would go with the guy with reputation. He knows how to do it so there is no reason if he fails.

_____________________
Get some cargo liners for your truck.

**Mike's TA** · 09-04-2008, 09:03 AM

I voted reputable. Reason is: You get what you pay for.

If someone is willing to do all the stuff the new guy does but only charges $220 for it, makes me wonder if he's cutting corners, or using crappy products. Plus, he doesn't show any before pictures of the cars on his site. How do you know what condition they were in before he touched them?

**jd2002ss** · 09-07-2008, 02:58 PM

Originally Posted by sstg

$200 for wet sand and buff is dirt cheap.

quote #1......That's my vote

**TA421** · 09-07-2008, 03:34 PM

If you go with the New guy 99 % of the time they will do a good job so you call them back i would just watch him if you can, I like the idea of talking to people he has done work for but i am sure he will only give you the people that were happy

**third_shift|studios** · 09-17-2008, 04:58 PM

well guys, i had the car buffed by the reputable guy, and the paint looks smooth as silk. I'm not happy with how rock chips and nicks in the paint are like bright as hell now. he mentioned they'd be more noticable due to the white compound but i'm really

about it. Maybe i'm over critical.

is there away to solve this issue? Is the white in there perminate or can it be cleaned out with alcohol or somethign? How abrassive do i need to be to remove the junk? Thanks!

**KyleLs1** · 09-17-2008, 05:31 PM

you will get no response until pics are posted

**maxwax** · 09-17-2008, 05:39 PM

I would go with MAX WAX. just my .02

**Z06-Goose** · 09-17-2008, 06:49 PM

Originally Posted by third_shift|studios

is there away to solve this issue? Is the white in there perminate or can it be cleaned out with alcohol or somethign? How abrassive do i need to be to remove the junk? Thanks!

In my opinion, the white compound is something he should've removed for you. That's why you wanted to have your car detailed and not have to redo stuff that should've been taken care of as part of the deal
Try this, and step up to step 2 or 3 until you get the results you want. This is just assuming the compound just filled up the chips:
1- soap and water (warm water)
2- a quick detailer
3- alcohol and water mix

**third_shift|studios** · 09-18-2008, 05:21 AM

Goose, should I needle around in the chips with a q-tip or tooth pick or someting that'll scrape the junk out? Or will the alcohol break it down enough to whipe out?

Pics will come after my shoot next saturday.

**Z06-Goose** · 09-18-2008, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by third_shift|studios

Goose, should I needle around in the chips with a q-tip or tooth pick or someting that'll scrape the junk out? Or will the alcohol break it down enough to whipe out?

Pics will come after my shoot next saturday.

If they're tiny, a q-tip would work better. Try to see if they can wash out, and then see what you've got left to work with

**third_shift|studios** · 09-18-2008, 06:43 PM

I just dont' get how washing will help if he washed and waxed it

**Z06-Goose** · 09-18-2008, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by third_shift|studios

I just dont' get how washing will help if he washed and waxed it

Most detailers, would wash a car after buffing, and then moving onto the wax, glaze and what not
I'm just guessing he used a heavy compound to correct defects. The heavier the compound the more dust it produces. Usually, it goes from a heavy compound (cut) to a polishing compound (finishing)
Obviously he saw them, that's why I'm confused as to why he left it like that

I will still give the guy the benefit of the doubt, and say that even if he tried to clean the compound out, that he will still be left with a bunch of rock chips that have not paint left in them

Take some upclose pics. I just want to make sure that what you're seeing is not rock chips that has gone thru the clear and may look like it's compound when it may just be the base coat of the finish showing thru

I have a customer who has a black Corvette. He brought the vette to me about a month ago to have me take out some white specks from the rocket panel. Upon closer look, I realized they were deep tiny rock chips that have gone thru the paint showing the white of the fiberglass