Welcome!

[TortoiseAWD]

Welcome to the "Touch It!" detailing forum!

"Touch It!" is the tongue-in-cheek name I've given to my only-on-weekends-makes-money-for-pizza-beer-and-more-wax detailing "business".  I earn my living as a computer geek, and detail semi-regularly on weekends.  More often than not, I'm caring for my WRX, friends' cars, or my own family's vehicles, but I take the occasional paid job as well.

About Me
I've been detailing my own cars semi-seriously over the last ten years or so, with  varying amounts of success.  In the last several years, I've taken the "hobby" much  more seriously, investing money in supplies (including a couple of buffers), and  investing a lot more in time learning what works and what doesn't when it comes to  paint care.  Perhaps the most important turning point in my detailing, um,  "obsession" was stumbling upon Autopia, one of the  best sites for detailing information that I've found.  I had just bought my WRX back in spring of '01, and was Googling in search of information on detailing, hoping to  keep my first new Subaru looking its best, and Autopia came up at the top of the hit  list.  After that, detailing became a serious hobby for me.  I've since become a  moderator of Autopia's forums, helped proofread an e-book for the site's owner, and  had some of my before-and-after pictures published both in his e-book, and at GuideToDetailing.com

Pricing
The prices below are for cars in average condition.  In general, I like to see your  car in the sun before giving a final estimate, as heavy swirls or etching may require extra steps (and extra time) to correct.  While I'll always be able to  improve the appearance of your paint, I can't guarantee that I'll be able to remove all scratches or blemishes.  In general, if you can feel a scratch with your  fingernail, it's too deep to be safely removed by polishing.

The basic package includes a wash, cleaning and sealing your wheels, dressing tires,  claying your vehicle to remove contaminants embedded in the paint (rail dust from  delivery, brake dust, industrial fallout, etc.), polishing to remove swirls and  other defects, and finally sealing in the shine with your choice of a polymer  sealant or carnauba wax.  Other services are available "ala carte", and are listed  below:

Basic package

• $100 - $150 for small sedans and wagons (Imprezas and Legacies)
• $125 - $175 for large sedans and wagons, small SUVs and trucks (Foresters and Bajas)
• Trucks, SUVs, and other large vehicles by estimate

Why the large range in price?  The amount of time needed for the job is highly dependent on the color and condition of the paint, and how hard/soft the paint is.  I can give a better estimate after seeing the vehicle in sunlight.

Engine detailing

• $35 - clean and dress engine, clean hood and rubber seals
• Very dirty engines or "extreme" cleaning by estimate

Windows

• $15 - Aquapel application
• $20 - glass polished by machine with Sonus glass polish
• $30 - glass polishing plus Aquapel application

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If you have any questions about my services, or about detailing in general, feel free to post them to this forum, and I will answer as quickly as I can.  If you'd like to contact me about detailing your car, you can send me (TortoiseAWD) a PM, or  e-mail my home account , sborders@cox.net.

Thanks!
Tort

[InSaNeAzNKiD]

Will there be like 'Gold Package' and so on other than just the Basic Package, that includes like a selection out of each category such as windows and Engine detailing etc. for a better deal?  I'm also interested in this, but just gotta get some extra side money that I can safely spend w/out feeling bankrupt, as I have to fix some things first
Just Wonderin.
This Service sounds excellent and I bet you'll be cleaning all NSOC cars  
Eric-
If you prefer me to PM about these kinds of questions let me know as well!

[TortoiseAWD]

InSaNeAzNKiD,

The prices listed are already adjusted to reflect a discount to the club.  If someone wants the whole nine yards done, we can discuss a package deal, but I don't have any pricing already worked up.

Tort

[SubeGT1998]

I think this sounds fantastic, especially for someone like me who, until recently, hasn't had a car worth keeping up.  I guess my question would be this: Would you adjust prices for someone who wants to learn the craft?  I'm very interested in learning the art of detailing, and would be willing to put in the time, materials, and elbow-grease to learn, especially engine detailing.

Thanks,
SGT98

[TortoiseAWD]

SubeGT1998,

Yes, indeed!  If you're willing to help out, we can arrange something.  I'm more than happy to share what I know, and if you can pitch in during the washing and claying, or with engine detailing, we can knock a few bucks off.

In the meantime, here are a couple of links that you might find interesting reading:

http://www.bettercarcare.com/topics.php?topicId=17
http://www.bettercarcare.com/topics.php?topicId=20

There are a number of good how-to articles on those links, and should give you a good grasp of the basics.

Tort

[SubeGT1998]

Tort,

Thanks for adding a couple of very valuable bookmarks to my collection!  I would like to set up an afternoon sometime to learn a few things... hands-on.  I think my biggest problem is the fear of doing irreversable damage to the finish/engine (my engine bay is in DIRE need of work), so it would be great to see someone else do it, if just to prove that I'm not going to break anything if I take the proper precautions.  I mean, I KNOW that if you cover all electrical leads, nothing's going to get damaged, but I think I need PROOF.

I'll get ahold of you and we can get something arranged.  Thanks again for the reading material.  I think I might make a go at my engine this weekend!

Later,
SGT98

[Doomed]

I think my biggest problem is the fear of doing irreversable damage to the finish/engine

I think thats most peoples fear also!   "The Tort" is a good man and won't let that happen.    

[SubeGT1998]

One of the reasons I enjoy being a part of this club (though I do want to meet more of you guys/girls in person) is that I know that no-one here would steer anyone wrong.  There are people on here who know a heck of a lot more than I do about all aspects of these cars, and they are willing to share what they know.

Thanks, guys!

SGT98

[christian]

how much for a bike?
 

[TortoiseAWD]

Absolutely no idea; I've never worked on a bike before.  If you want to meet up sometime so I can take a look, I can give you an estimate.

If you just need a tank polished up, I can probably do it pretty cheap.  If you want me to go nuts on chrome and stuff, I'll have to give it some thought.

Tort

[boldtx]

I will be contacting you when the weather gets better. My wifes audi could use some TLC and I will probably have you do my EVO as well.

[WRXRATED7]

I will be contacting you when the weather gets better.

+1  I'd like to get my EVO in for detailing.  I've seen your work and it's very impressive.   :thumbup:  

[TeknoCop]

I tried pm'ing you back Scott, but your box was full.
 
I have the weekend of the 25th off, so what ever day is better for you would be fine.  Let me know bud.

[TortoiseAWD]

I cleared out some old PMs.

The weekend of the 25th is reserved for your STi . . .

Tort

[Taco Stud]

Wheres it located?

[TortoiseAWD]

Wheres it located?

I don't have a shop; I just work out of my garage every once in a while to detail.  My IRL job is as a computer programmer . . . detailing is really just a hobby for me, and the occasional paid job takes care of buying new products (polish, wax, beer, pizza ).  I only detail on weekends during decent weather, and usually don't take more than a couple of jobs a month during the spring and fall.  I don't do much during mid-summer, because I hate the heat.

PM me if you're interested in setting something up for later in the spring.

Tort

[boldtx]

There is no better when it comes to detailing. Scott has done 4 or 5 of my cars in the past and I am always amazed at what he can do.

[Elm]

When are you available in the second half of April?

I'd like (you) to give my paint some much needed TLC.  

Edit: You have a PM.