basic write up on ilans paint correction (quite pic heavy)

[cartec_detailer]

well everyone has seen the results so here is a basic outline of the procedure.

products used

wash stage
cartec active shampoo with weak apc mix for wash solution (through foam lance)
cartec fine clay.
mark v showroom finish (qd & clay lube)
time taken 1hr 45 mins

correction stage
cartec paint control by finishing pad for wet sand area's
cartec gloss control by finishing pad
" " super paint cleaner by finishing pad
" " Perfect polish by hand
time taken 12.5 hours

wax stage
cartec gold wax 1 coat
collinite 915 2 coats
dodo rainforest 1 coat
time taken 3 hours
now for the pics
this is only a vague explanation of the process. if anyone would like to try it themselves and needs any help just ask me

on arrival

wheels cleaned and foamed(no pics taken shown after clay and 2nd wash)

clay after half of drivers side wing. shows very heavy contamination

swirl inspection in sunlight showing centre of bonnet before

afters same areas


once the best combination had been found we moved inside to control the light better
some 50/50 shots and mid correction
rear quarter before

rear quarter 50/50


and after correction

drivers door before

drivers door after

drivers wing mid correction

finished wing

roof before wash stage in sun

roof during ready for correction

left hand quarter is corrected

finished roof shot

full body shot after correction

wax applied by hand


all buffed off with pates refitted


and finally the sunlight inspection and engine dressing


thanks for looking everyone

[Mark Barber]

what do you charge to do this ??

[cartec_detailer]

the basic correction depends on how bad the paintwork is really.
general price is around £120-150

or the whole works (full detailing) is normally around the 300 mark but to members of the forum £250 fixed price

[rs2000scotland]

holy awesome job, wouldnt mind my motor done! can u work ur magic an make a key mark disapear lol??

[hoylaRS]

Im am mega impressed with the before and after shots, big hats off Karl you look like you do a fantastic job! do you attend any of the shows?

[northernjim]

great pics Karl


looks like you deffo know your stuff mate

think you'll be getting a bit more trade off here soon mate

[hoylaRS]

I'd love it done, just the distance is so far from me!

[cartec_detailer]

with key marks it depends how deep its gone. Some are just slight scratches and will buff out. (handle area type) but vindictive key marks are normally pitted and very hard to remove. they can be touched in like stone chips. but its near on impossible to get them perfect especially on metallic.

we did one on a bmw last year keyed right along both sides. but the guy had tried to touch it in and followed the sand area instruction. only problem was he used 240 grit paper. we managed to buff 95% out but the remaining paint was very thin.

i will hopefully be attending some shows this year. my supplier is actually a sponsor on the cumbria show i think
havent been to any since i was a kid with my uncle's.

[MidlandsDetailing]

Originally Posted by cartec_detailer

the basic correction depends on how bad the paintwork is really.
general price is around £120-150

or the whole works (full detailing) is normally around the 300 mark but to members of the forum £250 fixed price

Fantastic work, you are really selling your services short though!

[cartec_detailer]

where i am dictates the prices mate. i have a company right on my doorstep charging 20 quid for a full valet so tto compete i have to match as close as i can. very few people know what detailing is. most just see us as valeters. tho we are starting to build our name. and gradually people realise the difference. once we have the name we will be re-evaluating everything and changeing some of the services around. i start training on the paint barrier treatments tomorrow. so that will be added once i get the documents for the guarantee

the price is based on hourly rate i can get an almost 90% correction in 6 hours on my own. plus i know the right combo of my stuff for near all ford paints. the two i have done on here were at different scales and gave me the judgement on timescales to work out the best price to offer. i dont push for the best profits yes they are nice. but i enjoy what i do and the satisfaction i get when the client picks their car up most. hard to describe the buzz

[MidlandsDetailing]

Originally Posted by cartec_detailer

where i am dictates the prices mate. i have a company right on my doorstep charging 20 quid for a full valet so tto compete i have to match as close as i can. very few people know what detailing is. most just see us as valeters. tho we are starting to build our name. and gradually people realise the difference. once we have the name we will be re-evaluating everything and changeing some of the services around. i start training on the paint barrier treatments tomorrow. so that will be added once i get the documents for the guarantee

the price is based on hourly rate i can get an almost 90% correction in 6 hours on my own. plus i know the right combo of my stuff for near all ford paints. the two i have done on here were at different scales and gave me the judgement on timescales to work out the best price to offer. i dont push for the best profits yes they are nice. but i enjoy what i do and the satisfaction i get when the client picks their car up most. hard to describe the buzz

The gritty sponge washes are ruining the paintwork correction industry and it is very difficult to educate the general public when they can spend a fiver going through a swirl-o-matic.

I presume when you say paint barrier treatments you mean synthetic sealants rather than clear films etc? I'm shocked you can get correction so quickly, we had a fight with a Focus RS (suspect diamondbrite all over it though) as it was sticky as hell. Only had to look at it the wrong way and it marred.

You are right that the key to success is the quality of work - and yours seems to be second to none and the passion for it certainly shows!

[-Jill-]

Originally Posted by MidlandsDetailing

The gritty sponge washes are ruining the paintwork correction industry and it is very difficult to educate the general public when they can spend a fiver going through a swirl-o-matic.

I totally agree with you here it's just pure laziness taking your car through one of those places or getting it done for a fiver at tesco/similar sponge in bucket jobby

Great work Karl and fantastic pics also


JILL

[SLANTEYEUK]

Fantastic results Karl and a top bloke for all your help and great advice you've given me

[rs2000scotland]

You ever any where near the west of scotland lol??? and is it only fords you will do?? oh and key mark is quite deep lol

[cartec_detailer]

i think the reason i get such fast correction is down to the polish i use. its primarily bodyshop products all silicone free. sticky paint can be an issue mainly with polish that dries out quick. but i usually just spray a little qd on the pad and it glides better. and prolongs the working time of the polish.

like bulling army boots a little water helps no end

i work on any make of car, done a feg jags and audi, you would all bork if you seen the interior i did the other day on an audi a6.
im trying to get the owner of the garage i use to let me have a go at his old cortina no luck so far. he thinks the paint is beyond it but im sure i could bring it back up

[cartec_detailer]

thanks for all the fantastic comments everyone.

[MidlandsDetailing]

Originally Posted by cartec_detailer

i think the reason i get such fast correction is down to the polish i use. its primarily bodyshop products all silicone free. sticky paint can be an issue mainly with polish that dries out quick. but i usually just spray a little qd on the pad and it glides better. and prolongs the working time of the polish.

like bulling army boots a little water helps no end

i work on any make of car, done a feg jags and audi, you would all bork if you seen the interior i did the other day on an audi a6.
im trying to get the owner of the garage i use to let me have a go at his old cortina no luck so far. he thinks the paint is beyond it but im sure i could bring it back up

What polish do you use?

This sticky paint issue wasn't due to it drying out, it wasn't even starting to break down before it was suffering from serious pad hop. I've never had an issue with Menz IP on pretty much any other car.

[cartec_detailer]

my polish's are all cartec. they arent well known over here but work very well.
there are 7 grades to refine a finish down. and cover all paint problems

generally i find if a panel is too hot or cold it can cause pad hop. try leaving the car's panel in front of halogens for 10 mins. before you start to polish

un centred pads can cause hopping too. not easy to centre properly with a rotary tho.

[Lankypicker]

Whats marring?

Just done mine with 3m by machine, then lime prime by machine the 2 coats of dodo super natural by bare hand. came up a treat.

Oh, washed and clayed it first.

On the alloys used poor boys polish & 2 coats of collinite 915