got a buff/wax...WTF [Archive] - FSC

cpolito2

11-18-2009, 02:49 PM

OK so I ended uptaking my truck to a local car wash place that offers a "hi tech" buff and wax (120$)...
The reason for the buff/wax was because of some scratches all down one side from using a dirty towel to wipe it one day...so I ask the guy and he says sure theyll come out....

well they did fine on those no complaints there ...but..
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq39/cpolito2/P1010372.jpg

...its all over both sides...I mean the truck looks amazing in the shade
http://i431.photobucket.com/albums/qq39/cpolito2/P1010374.jpg
but once it hits the light its just like wtf?

I think im gonna try to go back and complain, but I got it a week ago and just havent noticed it til now(dont ask how I guess I just never came at it at the right angle)

Is this something saveable or not?

Stealth HD

11-18-2009, 02:57 PM

cpolito2

11-18-2009, 03:01 PM

Just swirls from the buffer. They probably just used compound and no polishes to get the swirl marks up....That's why they step up the compounds and polishes. Use #1 then #2 the #3 and so on working your way up. It looks like they jumped straight from Compound to just wax.

Oh, and definately savable. Every car I paint gets buffed and looks like that after being attacked by the wool pad and compound.

Ok thanks..

haha It's the first detail I've ever had done and I'm not really a paint expert so I was freaking out when I saw it..

so if they redo it right it should look like the last picture even in the light right?

daleh

11-18-2009, 03:13 PM

yea id have some ones a$$ for that after spending 120 bucks...

Sinister C3

11-18-2009, 03:19 PM

The thing is, if they didn't do it right the first time, they probably won't the second time.

Stratosman

11-18-2009, 03:23 PM

yea id have some ones a$$ for that after spending 120 bucks...

Agreed--I would be embarrassed to charge someone $120 and return the truck looking like that. That's BS.

cpolito2

11-18-2009, 03:37 PM

Agreed--I would be embarrassed to charge someone $120 and return the truck looking like that. That's BS.

Believe me if I noticed it when i got it back I would have said something..

but I got it back at night and went outta town for a week so I'd never seen it clean during the daytime until now ..

Now I get to go have fun trying to get them to redo it for free..Im sure theyre gonna somehow blame me for not saying anything sooner though

Stratosman

11-18-2009, 03:49 PM

Believe me if I noticed it when i got it back I would have said something..

but I got it back at night and went outta town for a week so I'd never seen it clean during the daytime until now ..

Now I get to go have fun trying to get them to redo it for free..Im sure theyre gonna somehow blame me for not saying anything sooner though

Detailers depend on reputation - they should do it for free if they care about their work. They may have a few different guys and maybe you got a new guy or something.

cpolito2

11-18-2009, 04:03 PM

Detailers depend on reputation - they should do it for free if they care about their work. They may have a few different guys and maybe you got a new guy or something.

well Its a Car wash chain that does like 20$ car washes and they do amazing jobs..and last time I went I saw they offered some detailing services..I was skeptical at first but they have a special detail section and offer more than just buff/wax (estimate kind of stuff) so i figured why not..

but im thinking they stuck some random towel guy on it or something..Im gonna be asking for someone experinced next time or else theyll be paying for someone else to do it

Stratosman

11-18-2009, 04:08 PM

sounds like a plan! good detailers are like good painters--they sometimes work in the oddest, most unexpected shops, but when you find one-you stick with them

1CLNY2K

11-18-2009, 06:48 PM

Yeah that should come out with no problem. I have removed far worse then that.

Tweaks

11-18-2009, 08:06 PM

Doesn't look like micro-marring or "haze" caused by not allowing a polish to break down enough so I'm with White Stealth on this one... appears to be a cutting compound used to remove the scratches but the new guy (let's hope that was the case) opted to do the whole truck with it because under the light he was working with, it probably looked showroon new to him. It's not until you get a good day of sunlight or hold a halogen lamp up close to the finish that you discover that not all is as it should be.

Luckily that can all be removed by some milder compounds or polishes. It's also a good thing that your paint is dark. If that were my pewter, I might not have noticed that for a long time.

I see what's going on with the finish of your truck on almost every dark colored truck out where I am. It's usually some kid who got carried away detailing his pride and joy and they think it looks great but I always tell them sand paper would have just been as effective at swirling the paint.:wink:

Z71Sierra

11-27-2009, 12:58 PM

Looks like they took a wool pad to it with a cutting compound and then never finished your truck. No damage but they need to finish it. We do a $100 buff that will get you a wash, clay, wool pad buff w/cutting compound, foam pad w/fine cutting compound/swirl remover then a polish/wax.

They skipped the foam pad part. Plus whoever did the buffing is horrible at it, those marks are all over the place, wool pad swirls should be in even and pretty straight lines.

I got some pics of a lighting I did the other day, I'll try to find them.

Z71Sierra

11-27-2009, 01:28 PM

Found em.

Tailgate before and after:
Before:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o264/rduchateau2954/Detail%20Cars/b4tailgate.jpg

After:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o264/rduchateau2954/Detail%20Cars/aftertailgate.jpg

Hood after wool pad w/1500grit cutting compound:
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o264/rduchateau2954/Detail%20Cars/b4hood.jpg
^^ See how the lines are? Thats what they should look like, not the willy nilly mess on your truck.

After foam pad with fine cutting compound: (before polished)
http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o264/rduchateau2954/Detail%20Cars/afterhood.jpg

Tweaks

11-27-2009, 01:56 PM

^^^ 100 dollars for all that? That's a bargain at 3 times the price.

Shawn

11-27-2009, 04:05 PM

^^^ 100 dollars for all that? That's a bargain at 3 times the price.

I guess maybe.... that's an assload of work!

Crews Customs

11-27-2009, 04:09 PM

yeah, looks like he didnt hit it with a foam pad & fine polish. on other colors you usually can skip the ultra fine & foam pad, but on black you better go through every step.

it can easily be fixed. just bring it back & tell him to finish it.

JonnyBlaze

11-27-2009, 04:48 PM

Id be livid!

Z71Sierra

11-27-2009, 04:54 PM

Another teaser for ya.

http://i122.photobucket.com/albums/o264/rduchateau2954/081.jpg

gone carby

12-14-2009, 05:46 PM

hate to tell ya, but if they didnt do it right the first time they probably wont get it right the second time around either. Finishing perfectly with a rotary is an extremely hard thing to do which is why many reputable pros finish with an ro type machine such as a porter cable xp or a flex. Depending on the product they use to finish out there, it could look like a million bucks when you pick it up again but first time you wash it or it gets rained on will look like that again. Also, properly detailing a truck like yours will most likely take anywhere from 8-15 hours (wash clay, buff, wax dress, all the little things add up. So if your guy was to take 15 hours to do the job it would mean they made less than 10 bucks an hour on that job, not gonna happen. I would suggest getting yourself the tools and products and learning to detail it yourself, in the end you will be much happier. Head over to www.autopia.org. you may be able to find a good detailer in your area, plus there is a wealth of info over there.

GTODRIVER

12-14-2009, 11:43 PM

i'd return and complain, could have just been a newbie with a buffer..

DMAXBubba

01-02-2010, 04:45 AM

What those are called are "buffer trails" This is where, as mentioned, a synthetic wool pad with a heavy cut compound was used to removed the scratches and swirl marks that were originally there. This is an extreme case and it is obvious, the individual that buffed your truck has not been buffing long. No pattern whatsoever and the pad was not flat. Not to mention they failed to use a foam pad with a less cut compound and then follow that with a black pad/polish.

50thAnnR6

01-02-2010, 11:17 AM

go ask him nicely the first time to clean it up. if he doesnt, go back and throw a fit to mess his day up. make sure hes around some of his customers too.

if you lived up in this area id tell you to being it over and id finish that thing up for free. thats insane. guy deserved to realize (if for some VERY STUPID reason he didnt) what he did wrong. thats pathetic right there.

AndyJ_o

01-02-2010, 07:37 PM

definetly used a wool pad. looks like the new hire at the detail shop got his hands on the old trusty rotary. what a hack job, if i just paid 120 for that id have my foot in someones ass. go get your money back dude.

flat-top

01-12-2010, 07:18 AM

I have a meguires random orbital buffer and I charge $60 for a full detail job, wash, inside, polish and tires...usually takes about 3hrs.

Everyone is happy for that price.

Joe

01-12-2010, 07:23 AM

Joe

01-12-2010, 07:25 AM

^^^ 100 dollars for all that? That's a bargain at 3 times the price.

Maybe where you live that is $300 worth of work :lol:

Tweaks

01-12-2010, 01:37 PM

Maybe where you live that is $300 worth of work :lol:

I was trying to compliment z71sierra's paint correction on that SVT, but you're right, a detail like that does start at 300 out in my area and that's what you can get away with out here because most folks here are wealthy and retired.

cpolito2

01-14-2010, 03:40 PM

Never Never Never at a car wash place.

Some of you act like they used sand paper and took it down to primer. That swirl problem is easily fixed by someone who knows what they are doing...

Get some references and find a GOOD detail shop in your area. For about $120 that should get you a bumper to bumper detail (including the motor compartment) and polish. Professionally :cool:

haha actually when I walked out to my truck this morning there was a business card on the windshield for a detailing guy..had a link so I checked them out..they come to your house and do it for you for around the 150$ range and the pics on his site seem legit...

other than that what would be a good way to get a reference?

Joe

01-15-2010, 06:42 AM

haha actually when I walked out to my truck this morning there was a business card on the windshield for a detailing guy..had a link so I checked them out..they come to your house and do it for you for around the 150$ range and the pics on his site seem legit...

other than that what would be a good way to get a reference?

Small world.
Ask friends, family, coworkers who they have used. Also, ask on this site, maybe someone in your area has a place to recommend :D

Joe

01-15-2010, 06:43 AM

I was trying to compliment z71sierra's paint correction on that SVT, but you're right, a detail like that does start at 300 out in my area and that's what you can get away with out here because most folks here are wealthy and retired.

Gotcha.
It's probably the cost of living, etc. in your area, wealthy people didn't get wealthy buy spending $300 on a detail when it is available elsewhere nearby for half that :D