Everything You Need To Know About Detailinghttp://www.detailingsuccess.com/auto-and-aircraft-detailing-bl/The Latest Within Detailingen-US2008-07-23T23:47:25ZSquarespace Site Server v5.0.0 (http://www.squarespace.com/)Scratch Removal and Wet Sanding...What Is Up With New Car Painthttp://www.detailingsuccess.com/auto-and-aircraft-detailing-bl/2008/6/6/scratch-removal-and-wet-sandingwhat-is-up-with-new-car-paint.htmlRenny2008-06-06T21:48:38ZQ: Are we the only ones that are getting paint thickness readings that are all over the place?

We had a Ford in this week that had factory paint that measured from 3.9 mils to 6.1 mils. This is not the only one...all of our late models are having this level of varied paint?

Grumpy...any input?

A: First of all, what model,build date (month/year), what assembly plant?

Q: As for the build location and exact build dates, I did not note that info but I will! We are also seeing variances within imports. We had a BMW 5 series in and while the paint was varied, it was not to the degree of the domestics?

Here are a few model samples from the past ten days:

2007/2008 Ford F-150's
2007/2008 Chevy Tahoe's
2008 Cadillac Escalade

Measurements from panel to panel are close matching but compare those measurements on the same vehicle to the doors or roof and they are worlds apart.

On the F-150, the entire back bed was 3.9 - 4.9 and even; meaning that the rear panels were nearly the same side to side yet the doors and front panels on the same truck were from 3.4 - 6.0...and not spotty...very even and to my trained eye it would indicate a factory finish yet has so many odd levels of paint?

A: Sounds like the Fords are from one of the older plants, older paint kitchen.

The "bells" are in need of adjustment.

Same may be at the makes as well.

They are supposed to get two applications of clear on the horizontals, some manufacturers only put one application on vertical panels, while others will do two full clear applications on the entire vehicle.

Some use an "anti-chip primer" on a few of the leading edges, which will show a higher film build.

Another issue is the "base color" of the vehicle, red requiring almost twice as much film build as black, white, etc.

There are many variables, plant age, time of year (as a new model is getting ready to go on line), the plant will not be as vigilant about keeping equipment operating at spec, etc. as the equipment will be completely reset to meet application requirements of the new models.

Or, the new model may be using a new clear, which will require different atomizers on the bells, etc.

The main concern is that the "flats" (hood, trunk,top) are showing at least 4.5 mil film build,(the "edges" may show slightly less) however, overall, these areas are subjected to the most UV exposure and having less than 4.2 mil will usually result in premature clear failure.

Ketch

Q: Great input Ron and many thanks. What would you say is the average amount of total surface coverage on most cars today...lets say 2003 and newer?

Is it still safe to assume that the clear is roughly 25% of that total coverage?

A: Total film build has little to do with the life of the paint, as long as there is a good e-coat coverage and a surface primer to block any UV's from penetrating through to the e-coat.

A very small amount of UV's will get through a clearcoat, and if no surface primer, they will reach the e-coat and cause premature delamination of the upper layers. (Ford F series mid to late 80's, GM sedans, pickups, vans, Toyota Tacoma's, Chrysler vans, Neons, etc.)

Then there is the concern with the type and percentage of the extremely expensive UV blockers in the clear.

The clearcoat is what is most important.

1.5 mil is normally acknowledged by the paint manufacturers and their customers,as the minimum amount of clear, and 2 mil is the target for longest life.

Only the very top .5 mil has real density and is where the majority of the all important UV blockers are concentrated.

Total film build is often misunderstood, and is only an "indicator" to knowledgable technicans as to the extent of any previous corrective work that may have been done.

The total film build reading may be influenced, additionally, by what primers are used by a manufacturer.

For years in the 90's, Chrysler applied an additional layer of an anti-chip primer over the surface primer, which was over the e-coat.

This was only done to mid and upper level vehicles, not Neon's, etc.

The film build would read out at 6.5 to 7 mil, however there was still only 1.5 to 2 mil of clear.

Many mid sized GM pickups and SUV's of the late 90's and early 2000's, had a "powder coat" primer used. This would provide a total film build reading of 7.2 to as high as 10 mil. This variance was due to just how high a temperature was being used to flow the powdercoat primer, and some did not compact as much.

Once again, the total reading makes little difference, as these GM's of then and now, still receive 1.5 to 2 mil of clearcoat.

Ketch]]>Because the nose knowshttp://www.detailingsuccess.com/auto-and-aircraft-detailing-bl/2008/6/3/because-the-nose-knows.htmlRenny2008-06-03T21:31:11ZInterior odor issues are a fact of life that we as professional detailers are expected to properly deal with. The days of simply masking an odor with fragrances and expecting the customer to be satisfied are long gone. Today’s consumers are flooded with advertisements highlighting products that offer odor removal and while many of these products may not truly work, that customer expects his or her detailer to be able to properly deal with odors and remove the smell, not mask the smell.

Like many elements of the auto detailing industry, odor removal techniques have witnessed remarkable changes with the advancement of technology. When one speaks of technology within the auto detailing industry, most technicians automatically think of equipment advancements, but today chemical companies are developing new products that just a couple years ago were only figments of own imaginations. While there is no doubt that equipment advancements are fascinating and changing the way in which we deal with such problems as interior odors, the changes within the chemicals we have available to assist us is simply remarkable.

Within the trainings I perform at detail centers and carwashes across the country, I am amazed at how many within the car care community are confused or simply not educated on the processes, products or equipment that are available to assist the professional within the topic of proper odor removal.

The equipment and products
Both the vacuum and the extractor play a role within odor removal and both of these items are commonplace within detail operations. In addition to the vacuum and extractor, the vapor steamer is a tool that remains new to most detailing professionals.

The vapor steamer has become an irreplaceable interior cleaning and odor removal tool with top performing shops for good reason; these units greatly reduce labor while improving quality within both interior cleaning and proper odor removal. Within many industries, steam is recognized as a superior agent to clean and sanitize surfaces. When used within auto detailing operations, units with vapor steamers assist detailing professionals at neutralizing both interior stains and odors like few other tools within our available arsenal.

While most within our industry have heard of ozone machines, few utilize these tools. Ozone generation machines create 03, which is also known as activated oxygen or trivalent oxygen. Ozone is within the air we breathe daily but found in lower quantities or simply missing from interior environments. Ozone is a powerful natural oxidizing agent that has the ability to break down most organic chemicals and can gain access to nearly every part of the interior including the ventilation ducts and vents.

Ozone machines come in array of shapes and sizes. There are units specially designed to be used within the auto detailing industry and there are commercial units. We prefer the commercial units due in part that we can use them with large trucks, RVs and rent the units out to motels and hotels for additional profits.

When we ozone an interior, we request that we have the vehicle all day or over night. To properly treat an interior with ozone will take 3-8 hours. Shorter durations are possible, but heavy odors will require these longer time frames.

Another tool that many within the auto detailing industry are utilizing is the
fogger. Fogger units reach into tight areas much in the same way that ozone machines work, but utilizes chemicals instead of ozone. In the event foggers are utilized, follow-up with an interior detail as foggers often leave chemical residues behind on surfaces that will give the interior a smeared, dull look.

Chemicals to consider
The chemicals we as professionals have available today are very advanced but can be mind-boggling and confusing to new– comers to say the least. Odors and their causes are wide spread, yet thanks to some very creative chemists, the professional can now treat just about any odor and only maintain an inventory of three to four odor-related products. Within our locations we maintain chemicals that treat nearly all odors and like to have on hand the following product types:

General use odor eliminator: I prefer to utilize a liquid form, non-scented based product. We look for products that kill a wide range of odors. Usually these products will note that they are a non-masking type product but instead work by killing the bacteria (bugs) that thrive on spilled substances.

Urine/pet odor eliminator: Pet urine is a common challenge within interior odor elimination. I have found that you must utilize a specific pet urine removal product for this treatment.

Smoke remover: I prefer to utilize products that have been specially used for smoke removal when dealing with vehicles that have smoke specific issues. While ozone, foggers and bombs may deal with smoke odors, I still prefer to first treat the smoke issues chemically first before moving onto more advance methods.

Protein-based odors: Most common within many vehicles is the dreaded food smell and this smell can be one of the most challenging to remove. The key to removing any odor is removal of the source; one must remove the entire source if he or she expects to see success. This may mean removal of the carpet shell to clean the underside of the carpet and the base board of the vehicle.

The odor removal process
The first step within odor removal is proper communication with your customer. I am careful to never sell 100 percent removal of odor. A vehicle’s interior is simply too small, with too many absorbing surfaces to be 100 percent certain one can effectively remove all signs of odor. I am more out to instruct our customers that we will most likely remove 70 to 90 percent of the odor. In many cases we are much more successful and can often remove the entire odor; I simply hate to promise 100 percent success when many odors may simply not be totally removable.

When we receive a vehicle into one of our shops that has odor issues, we immediately identify the cause and location of the odor. Identifying the cause of the odor may not be obvious and may require that you discuss the odor with the vehicle owner.

Not all odors are the same
Not all odors are created equal and the process, equipment, products and techniques utilized may be slightly different for each odor you encounter. If the odor has been caused by milk that remains wet, you would want to start your process by dry extracting the area, being careful to not add more liquid to the area causing the milk to spread to a larger area. In the event you have a coffee or milk spill that has dried, you would start by vacuuming the area, followed by steaming the area with your vapor steamer, then dry extracting, repeating the process until all contaminants are removed.

One of the most common mistakes made when it comes to odor removal is water or cleaning solution over-saturation of the area that contains the odor causing elements. If a technician over-saturates an area, he or she has simply increased the area involved in causing the odor.

I prefer to remove all possible odor-causing contaminants, including anything liquid or dried. I do this by starting with a very in-depth vacuuming of the entire interior. I follow the vacuuming with a “dry” extraction followed by going over the effected area with the vapor steamer. Steam allows contaminants to “rise” onto the steamer head unlike a wet extraction that will simply sink the materials deeper into the nap or backing of the carpet or upholstery.

Proper odor removal most commonly requires that the entire interior be cleaned. If the entire interior is not detailed, chances are that the odor could return or at minimum linger behind somewhat.

Before I start cleaning the interior hard surfaces, I choose my cleaning agent and go to work on the tough carpet and upholstered areas. Once all possible contaminants are removed via vacuuming, steaming and dry extraction, I once again liberally add my cleaning chemicals to the surfaces and allow them to dwell. I then clean the hard surfaces, vents and leather.

After allowing my cleaning agents to dwell, I start on the final vapor steaming or wet extracting of the entire interior, removing all residual contaminates. I repeat these steps until the desired outcome is reached.

Following the completion, I like to keep this vehicle for 2-4 hours so that I can inspect the final outcome once the interior has dried and the interior has been exposed to natural sunlight and heat. Keeping the vehicle for a few hours after you are complete will allow you to witness the outcome of your efforts and is a great learning tool to view your work after the vehicle has had time to cure.

Renny Doyle is the founder of Attention To Details, a company that trains and consults with a wide range of carwashes, car dealerships and car care professionals worldwide. He can be reached at: renny@detailingsuccess.com.

]]>The Flex Polisher Detailing Aircrafthttp://www.detailingsuccess.com/auto-and-aircraft-detailing-bl/2008/5/25/the-flex-polisher-detailing-aircraft.htmlRenny2008-05-25T21:01:35ZWe have been working with our Flex polisher for some time now and are now using this tool within our aircraft detailing efforts more and more.

As many of you know, the Cyclo polisher has been used on bright work polishing for years and this is another tool that is a must have. In addition we also use a number of Drum Polishers within our aircraft detailing efforts.

In June we will be providing useful information on how each one of these polishers work and what they are best used for within aircraft detailing.

]]>Why Go Green in Eco Detailing?http://www.detailingsuccess.com/auto-and-aircraft-detailing-bl/2008/5/23/why-go-green-in-eco-detailing.htmlRenny2008-05-23T18:31:37Z There are a number of important reasons to Go Green with your business. The most significant being that preserving the world’s natural resources is the responsibility of every individual at work and at home. People should be the highest priority in our life, but we all need a place to live, and we all want to pass it on to future generations. Additional reasons for your business to GO Green in Eco Detailing? * Setting a positive example for employees which boosts morale and company loyalty * Gaining a competitive advantage by differentiating yourself as an Eco Detailer * Improving efficiency and potentially lowering operating costs * Provides a cleaner and healthier work environment * It's the right thing to do for you and the environment, and your family * Places you in compliance with the law The primary objective of this article is to be a Green Enabler... Think of this as a journey, not a destination as well as a good education for your self and your employees think about why it is important to Go Green, and these ideas may provide a roadmap to greenify your business. This can be an incremental process as there will be easily attainable action steps and more advanced requirements. It is impossible to say how far along the green path any business should travel, but a focused and educated effort can have a meaningful impact. Any step towards a greener more responsible work ethic is one in the right direction There has never been a more appropriate time to Go Green in Eco Detailing. Being mobile or a fixed location it is equally important! Its value is recognized more so now that ever before. For those interested, we can work together to collaborate and achieve results together. Get Educated! Get Involved! One of the primary requirements is you have to go out and put energy towards getting informed. Just like you did when you developed skills in paint correction or high speed buffing, you will need to understand, and be able to communicate with your relevant customer base, and a good deal of this is knowledge at the local level. Does your City have a Building Green Program, who else is going green, etc? Read, get involved, go to meetings, do your internet research on eco-friendly, meet people! Let your intentions be known in your community, other like minded individuals will help and encourage you and confident that you will get numerous referrals as a result. Water Conservation! In our business, water conservation is the biggest win in terms of conservation and recognition of your efforts. First, you need to understand just how much water you are using. So start measuring, on Monday, put a precise amount of water in your tank. When you run out, divide that by number of cars and you have the average water per car. Now that you have a benchmark, you can seek to reduce the amount of water used in your business. With proper training and a repeatable / reliable systematic process, you can achieve the maximum outcome with the lowest level of water. There are many innovative products available (and the list gets longer every day). The most radical is to go waterless, while some waterless products are far from environmentally friendly, may are, and provide excellent results. The better ones are water based, yes "waterless" uses water, just like Coca Cola does, and a car can be cleaned with less than a pint of water Another innovative product is Optimum No Rinse, with more being developed by Optimum as well it, requires only 1-2 gallons of water to wash a car as it does not contain soapy surfactants to wash away and there are even Franchises that are built around the principle the "waterless" business models. In countries where water shortages are common there are many of these franchises, and they are quite successful, and they have a satisfied and loyal customer base Or, switch to steam to achieve great results while reducing water and chemical usage in washing your car or cleaning the interior as well with steam. Steam is not only efficient, but also is a great way to impress customers, and with its reduced use of chemicals it will improve your working environment and overall operating costs as well. When considering waterless and rinse less products there is also a large savings to be had in time. For the mobile operator not needing to deploy the affluent capture mat is a considerable labor savings in itself. Still want to improve, use deionized water that can help reduce water and dry time as it will not spot. In detailing we must also keep in mind that washing the car is but one small step in the process, and if one can save time and resources it’s also a smart business decision. You can also look outside the washing of the car. If you are a fixed based detail shop, you can collect the rainwater, and use that to water your plants and landscape. Mobile detail operators can hookup a drain or capture system in the ceiling vent of the trailer and direct the water into their water tank for your next day’s work. Outside irrigation solutions can significantly cut water usage. The same would go for your home residential efforts to conserve water. And, make sure you tell a couple friends what you have learned so that they might benefit and participate. More info at www.bewaterwise.com Water conservation can reduce related emissions & pollutions. Water related energy consumes 19% of California’s electricity, 30% of Natural Gas, 88 billion gallons of diesel fuel. Source: 2005 CA Energy Commission Report from SF Gate.com 4.20.07 For mobile operators reducing water also means less weight to carry around, a good fuel savings Control Water Run Off and Prevent Discharge! Federal EPA is pushing states to "clean up" their acts by requiring enforcement of regulations of the Clean Water Act. Reducing water usage is great but when you must use water it is imperative to contain the run off. Detailers must keep in mind that they are not only rinsing water down the drain but also the chemicals that were used and hazardous waste from the car. Storm drains are just that, for storms, and they should only carry water, most discharge directly into lakes and rivers. For a fixed location it’s also important to make sure that the drain you are using is connected to the sewer system (where waste gets treated) and not to the storm drains. For mobile operators make sure that you empty your reclaim tank often (no need to carry around that extra weight) and to a location where the waste will get treated. Equipment Contact your supplier, and let them know that it is important to you that they begin to offer equipment that is green or at least greener that what you have. Get a new or modify your existing pressure washer to use less water, and make sure your hoses and fittings are free of leaks. Maybe a biodiesel generator is part of our future. If you have a fixed base shop, buy Energy Star appliances; Have a free energy survey done on your shop. Consider solar panels for your business there are many tax incentives as well as aggressive rebate programs that can cut your cost in half for the purchase and installation of the units. If you wash towels on site, use a front load washer to reduce water usage. Eco-friendly towels are emerging see www.towelpros.com for further info. Summer gas prices may force the decision, but if you reduce the amount of water you need to carry, then you can also reduce the size of the vehicle or trailer you will need to get your job done. Additionally, try to carry only the supplies you need for the day. There is no way you will go through a gallon of rough compound in a day, but that weight with all the other dead weight contributes to excessive fuel consumption. Put your rig on a diet, and if you have a van and a trailer try to schedule days where only the supplies in the van are needed, and leave the trailer at home (it deserves a holiday once and a while). It's very important to capture all of our waste liquids, but negotiate with your waste disposal facility to be able to empty your waste water tank more frequently, have them charge on a per gallon basis and not a per dumping basis. That way you are not paying the as to haul your waste. Until they get a Hybrid that is reasonable in both function and cost, seek to lower the gas mileage. Still not satisfied, then plant trees to offset you carbon emissions. Here is a Calculator, and you can give a tax deductable donation, and this site will plant 17 trees; Green Fleet. You can drive 55, have your tires at proper inflation levels and plan your mobile route to minimize drive time and gas usage. UPS Trucks have software to eliminate the amount of lefts they take which reduces idle time. Products If you have to use products, green choices are now available that have the same if not improved efficiency over the historically chemically-laden traditional products. These plant, polymer and nano technology product offerings are taking the place of petroleum based chemicals and offer the cleaning power combined with environmental safety. Coconut and citrus are popular plant based formulations as cleaning agents. Polymer based technology cross links molecules and nano technology uses small particles to perform both cleaning and surface protection. These can be used for exterior and interior detailing. Marketing Capture Customer's Emails: Take the time to capture the customer's emails which will eliminate your paper marketing waste and allow you to facilitate a 1 to 1 and 2 way relationship with customers. Instead of marketing and sending out postcards wasting paper, consider an online newsletter to compliment your website and to further brand your valuable business. 1% for the Planet: Join Patagonia and other thought leaders www.onepercentfortheplanet.org . Even simpler, donate $1 of every tip to a green organization; suggest to make it local to be more meaningful. Get Public relations; Get recognized for your efforts: Go wash the Mayor’s car at City Hall before a meeting, or invite them to your shop or car wash. Contact the local newspaper, introduce yourself and offer a free Wash to demonstrate your Eco Detailing. Get creative, and make a big splash. Get involved in the City's Education & Outreach programs. They will invite you to City Events where you can set up a booth and talk to residents. Write a Monthly Column for the Newspaper, publish an e newsletter and put on your Website. Attend local Green & Eco Events, hand out Marketing Materials and introduce your self. Start an eco-friendly blog for your business. Also free PR with numerous press release websites that can tell your company story to the world by submitting a press release ( www.1888pressrelease.com ) or a paid one which is more effective (www.prweb.com) to get the word out even more. Regulation and Code Compliance Be an industry leader. Meet and or exceed the local and federal regulations, and then climb a tall tree and make sure everyone knows about it. MSDS Sheets: Material and Safety Data Sheets. It is a requirement that all businesses have them on site or on their mobile unit with the appropriate Hazardous Communication plan and safety & health plan. You should not only carry them, but look at them and read them. Choose chemicals that are low in toxicity and Biodegradable to help limit customer and employee exposure. Proper labeling. Make sure they are VOC Compliant (Volatile Organic Compounds). Don’t know how to read an MSDS Sheet or identify VOC’s ? … ask your supplier to educate you or visit www.osha.gov for a complete description on how to interpret and read the MSDS sheet. Drinking Water In this business, you work up a thirst. Get yourself a reusable drinking vessel, and stop using bottled water. Tap water is required to be safe, and costs 1,000 times less than bottled water Bottle Facts… Lighting Focus on opportunities in lighting in your energy audit. Seek to introduce CFL lights wherever appropriate. Use your Detail lights only when necessary, and turn off lights when not in use. The industry needs a solution to deliver the good light we need to perform our services, yet decrease the energy. Contact your supplier, keep your eyes and ears open, and let people know when you have identified an improvement. Try to detail outside as much as possible in a cool shaded location and use the ambient light as much as possible to you advantage while your shop lights are off. Energy If a fixed base location, ask for an energy audit from your local Utility. Seek to add natural light when ever possible. Change your light bulbs. Use CFL bulbs in your non detailing areas. Partner with Companies that share your Go Green Passion Target other businesses that are trying to Go Green. Many drive to work, and some even have fleets of vehicles you can Eco Detail. Banking: Wachovia comes to mind for their efforts in achieving sustainability. Bank on Sustainability. Or, choose a local Credit Union or Community Bank that can offer local solutions, consistent with your Eco Detailing business. Reduce, Reuse, And Recycle This is the mantra … Perhaps you are already doing this, but there is an opportunity to do more than recycle returnable bottles and loose change.

Provided by:

Anthony Flammia
of Gia's Mobile Detailing of Long Island

and

Jim Fitzpatrick
Master Franchisee of PRONTO WASH USA
State of California

and

Yvan Lacroix
Franchisor, Repare-Brise Inc.
Québec, Canada]]>Great Cities To Start or Expand a Detailing Businesshttp://www.detailingsuccess.com/auto-and-aircraft-detailing-bl/2008/5/13/great-cities-to-start-or-expand-a-detailing-business.htmlRenny2008-05-13T19:27:45ZAs per Forbes, the cities below are holding out well and some of these areas are growing! If you are looking to start or expand within your detailing efforts...you may desire to check these cities out!

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: Austin, Texas; Houston; Charlotte, N.C.; Dallas; San Jose, Calif.; Raleigh, N.C.; Salt Lake City; and Seattle.]]>Paint Gauge Topichttp://www.detailingsuccess.com/auto-and-aircraft-detailing-bl/2008/5/13/paint-gauge-topic.htmlRenny2008-05-13T17:49:28ZThere is a great discussion going on about paint gauges on a detail related forum. Here is a link over to the discussion...enjoy!

]]>The Best Flight I have Ever Had with Brett Hunter Airshows!http://www.detailingsuccess.com/auto-and-aircraft-detailing-bl/2008/5/12/the-best-flight-i-have-ever-had-with-brett-hunter-airshows.htmlRenny2008-05-12T19:57:33ZOn April 14, 2008 I was packing up at the end of the annual Sun & Fun event in Lakeland Florida. Good friend and airshow pilot Brett Hunter invited me on a ride in his famed Pitts...A ride that ended up being one the greatest things I have ever done!

Now I had flown aerobatics before, both in prop and jet aircraft so when Brett made the invite, I was in belief this ride would be like the others before it...WRONG! Brett being a true professional was kind and gentle...he made his way through items he performed within his act one at a time. We perform basics rolls and Brett would ask if I were ok...I quickly would relay YES! We then looped (multiple ways), performed rolls, hammer heads and other maneuvers I had never imagined I would be doing...I kept repeat to Brett that I was OK...no motion sickness and wanted more! So, we moved on to serious "G" moves...WOW...I was really digging this!

At last, Brett informed me that we would now "link" all of these moves into a performance and the ride of my life started. It was unreal...and by the end of the performance...Brett had done what numerous others had tried before him...to get me sick...while I did not loose the wonder breakfast I had that morning...it was as close as anyone had taken me to doing so.

I can try and explain what moves we did but these days...video is much better then words...so follow this link over to an incredible video! Brett...if you are reading this...Thank you for the ride of a lifetime...and see you at Oshkosh!

]]>Wet Sanding - Paint Correction - Swirl Removal - Running a Profitable Detailing Businesshttp://www.detailingsuccess.com/auto-and-aircraft-detailing-bl/2008/5/9/wet-sanding-paint-correction-swirl-removal-running-a-profita.htmlRenny2008-05-09T15:57:46ZOn Saturday and Sunday, June 21 & 22, 2008 Attention To Details is conducting our annual detailing continued education course for all of our students and affiliates at our training facility. This training is no charge to our network of professionals as a way for you to maintain, enhance and grow your knowledge within our industry. This training is open to all past (and future) students and affiliates alike.

Day One (Saturday)

Advance detailing training that will include:
Proper Wet Sanding
The Latest In Steamer Techniques
Getting Ford, Dodge and Other Tough Interior Fabrics Perfectly Detailed
Advance Paint Correction and Perfection
Introduction to the newest polishers, tools, products and equipment available on the market. We will show you what we have been testing and what we are recommending to use for the best results available.
Convertible Top Service and Soft Top Window Repair
Using the Flex Polisher to Its Fullest
Advance Techniques and Processes for Easy Swirl Removal
Using System One, Meguiars 105 and Other Like Products…A Side-by-Side Test That Everyone Will Take Part Within!

The Second Day (Sunday) will be

Accessorizing Your Detailing Business With Add On Services and Products
The Latest in Marketing Trends Within Detailing
Designing Services That Sell in Today's Market
Taking Your Word of Mouth Business To The Next Level
Successfully Marketing To Country Clubs
Selling New Car Prep Packages To Your Client Base
Lease Turn Backs and How To Profit
The Latest Technologies that Make Keeping in Contact Easier!
Using the Calendar to Sell More Services!
Mastering Gift Certificate Sales...All Year Long!
Inexpensive Ways To Build Loyalty
Open Discussions and Networking

Above is just a taste of what will be shared. Many of the nations leading detailers will teach these courses and all of these industry leaders have been successful at launching, running and operating successful detailing shops...learn from your peers!

We are organizing daily events for spouses and kids so families are welcome!

For those dedicated to heading to this event, save money and make your travel plans in advance! We are working out hotel arrangements to fit every level of budget!

More details to come soon...mark your calendar and see you in June! To reserve your spot, contact us at admin@detailingsuccess.com

]]>Choosing The Best Windshield Repair Kithttp://www.detailingsuccess.com/auto-and-aircraft-detailing-bl/2008/5/9/choosing-the-best-windshield-repair-kit.htmlRenny2008-05-09T15:55:16ZAttention To Details is well respected for testing a wide range of products and providing our findings to our detailing students and the detailing community alike. As part of our continued dedication to always finding the best, Attention To Details has been testing and working with three window repair systems and has a wide range of experience and expertise within this field. "For the past several years our shops have been offering windshield repair to our detailing clients and doing so has extended our profits as a company", Renny Doyle founder of Attention To Details offered.

"Now we can offer those looking to get into or add windshield repair to their services a way to experience windshield repair systems and learn the skills needed to succeed at this segment of our trade", Doyle added .

Attention To Details starting in June 2008 will offer a one-day windshield repair course that can be attended solo or added on to one of our existing training courses. The nice thing about this is that the student will have access to the most common repair systems on the market today along with a system that Attention To Details recently endorsed.

"We have identified not only the best windshield repair systems on the market but have invested within some of most common systems so our students have a wide angle of exposure to systems they may desire to invest within", Renny said. "We want people to work with the systems we not only believe in but systems they may be already looking at to purchase. Giving students a chance to work with several systems will allow them to be better technicians and allow them to make educated buying decisions", Doyle added.

We have located one unique windshield repair system that is easily the most technically advance system we have used and allows for far greater outcome within the repair while being cost effective, rugged and easy to use! "When you use this system along with some of the others we have located and purchased, it will allow you to be a very educated windshield repair technician and make buying your windshield repair kit an easy decision" Renny said.

]]>Paint Thickness Gauges Within Auto Detailing and Aircraft Detailinghttp://www.detailingsuccess.com/auto-and-aircraft-detailing-bl/2008/5/8/paint-thickness-gauges-within-auto-detailing-and-aircraft-de.htmlRenny2008-05-08T19:27:50Z

ProMotorCar

Attention To Details has been using paint thickness gauges for nearly two decades but late last year, staff of Attention To Details desired to see what gauges really performed. "We have used a host of gauges over the past twenty years and have been hooked on the Pro Motor Car ETG line for most of that time but had not tested a wide range of paint thickness gauges and 2008 was the time to identify which gauge manufacture truly offered the best" offered Renny Doyle, the Founder of Attention To Details. "So in our normal fashion, we ordered over a half dozen gauges and started the testing", added Doyle.

"We were shocked to see such a huge price spread and so many fellow detailers were using such a wide spread line-up, we had gauges shipped to us that cost as little as $100.00 all the way up to gauges that were nearly $2,000.00", Renny offered.

Attention To Details looked at several aspects when grading the gauges such as the overall quality, precision, durability, availability and of course the price of each gauge along with options such as a single gauge that worked on both ferrous and non-ferrous surfaces. "So many detailing professionals put importance on price but when it comes to working on expensive paint, the old saying you get what you pay for is very true when it comes to paint gauges", Renny included.

"We were not impressed with cheap foreign made units, while some may say having a gauge no matter what the cost is better then not having one at all, I would disagree after testing the cheap gauges it is apparent to me that the reliability of some of the cheap units was shocking. I mean the readings were not even close to accurate and some were downright wrong which is a scary thought when you are working on a factory paint job that allows little room for error", Renny said.

"We at Attention To Details are happy to endorse, use and share with others that Pro Motor Cars line of paint thickness gauges are in our minds the best of the best! These gauges offer the user a wide range of options and not only tested well but also are hardy and stand up to the demands of a busy shop or mobile operators”, Doyle added.

Attention To Details currently uses both the ETG II and the ETG Mini within our shops and within the detailing services I offer worldwide on a host of vehicles including exotic automobiles and aircraft alike", Renny said.

Automotive Paint Thickness Gauges

To look at the entire line of paint thickness gauges that Pro Motor Car offers, Simply follow this link.

To learn more about What Attention To Details can do for your detailing business, contact Attention To Details Today (800) 871-4781 www.detailingsuccess.com

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