Sometimes i ask myself why i bought my truck.. I love it but trying to keep it up and nice is hard. I spent 5 hrs last night, just polishing and waxing it and polishing the wheels. Did a 3 stepper on it.. paint cleaner, polish, and a protective wax. Then i still have a payment, and not to mention my tires are getting wore out and the economy sucks and its hard to drop 1k plus on tires, when i told myself id get a lift and 35's the next tires i bought.. damn damn damn

Sorry had to vent

 

Welcome to adulthood. Trust me...it just keeps coming. As soon as you think you're on top again...here comes life to roll you back over...Good luck...I know where you are.

 

Well, if ya don't take care of that paint properly be prepared to spend a LOT more time fixing it. Paint cleaner ? WTF is that? You need to visit the detailing forum....asap before ya pooker that finish.

5 hrs, lol... just getting started. Didn't hear you mention, well, maintenance...

 

Not being a jerk but i have my own detail business. Paint cleaner is like cleaner wax without the wax. It cleans the paint(fine scratches, paint defects, bug guts, road salt etc.. its a prep before the polish. It gets all the grime off the paint so you dont smear it into the paint when you polish it. 5 straight hours w a buffer is tough.
Maintenance is a given...

 

I know that you may have your own detailing business but you can always learn something new. Hell, everyday I learn something new. What products are you using and are you performing these steps via hand?

 

The 1st two are done w a D/A buffer, and a rotary buffer for the heavy scratches, the 3rd is done w a orbital. Meguires miror glaze swirl remover #82 Mequires mirror glaze polish #5 and Mirror glaze Hi tech wax #26

Tried others, these seem to work the best. The 3rd step wax has lasted 5 months and was still beading when i stripped it

 

That's just the price we pay to keep our rigs looking good... It's a labor of love...

 

Welcome to my world Here pretty quick I'll spend a week, 8-12 hours a day picking apart my truck from top to bottom, side to side, and in every crevice detailing the hell out of her! I'll spend part of the week after that on the wheels and tires, as well as doing dressings and detailing the interior. I'd love for it to take me 5 hrs, instead Ill spend 150+ hrs by the time its all said and done..

I'd take 1k for tires too, instead I'll spend nearly 2k sometime this year


I can understand the rant though, I'd like to rant about many of the companies I have delt with here lately and their crummy service..

 

Start it and drive it, wax it once or twice a year. Its a TRUCK. At least you dont have to throw money into buying parts like you would if you have a dodge or a chev

 

I gave up doing all that work a couple of years ago. My truck is an 05. I'll keep it clean but other than that I just don't care anymore. Stock wheels + no waxing + no polishing = for when you just don't care. On my next truck I'll start caring again.

 

No problem - I'm not offended.

Just that, I didn't hear you say 'clay first'. I learned from the OCD's long ago that's crucial before taking any steps involving DA's.

This stuff takes me all weekend

 

detailer here too... you should know that 5hrs for a full work-up isnt too bad at all, ESPECIALLY on a full size 1/2 ton.

keep it up, you know you love doing it, and it feels good when the overhaul is done, now it's just maintenance until you decide for the next overhaul!

venting is always good, just remember... you have a job and a truck and a place to live, along with a computer and an internet connection, MUCH more than others have.

 

Couldent of said it better man!

 

Amen brother.... amen.

 

They do take a lot of time to detail, but I prefer the Zaino Bros products. A lot less wok to get them on/off, and it seemed to last about 2-3 months longer than the Meguire's Gold Class I was using before.