Dave M wrote:t4k,
Everything went great with the Mercedes. I asked for his okay to use vehicle protection and putting my equipment on top. He was delighted that I asked and cared! I also used a terry cloth towel to cover the side mirror so there was no chance of me rubbing against the paint. On the side of the Mercedes where I was working, all paint was covered so nothing (including the curing light cord) could touch the surface. The customer was very pleased that I was so concerned about damaging his new Mercedes!
Ok guys I have'nt gotten on in a few days and just had to add to this. I used to have a custom paint and restoration shop and know all to well about scratching paint. I will agree that this is a topic that no matter what anyone says everyone isn't going to be happy. I would just like to say that screenman has a point any little debri can scratch paint. We used to paint black so slick you could'nt wipe the wax off except with very certain cloths to keep from showing fine scratches. Now given we don't usually work on show cars everyday. I would just like for everyone to take extra precaution that does place their things on the hood. When we assembled show cars we had to lay tools and such on the fenders and used specialty fender covers. I'm not going to say that there is a thing wrong with placing tools on the hood. I'm just gonna say I don't because I dont want to go through the extra steps to insure I don't scratch the car. Such as make sure u only use a high quality fender cover and like screenman or someone said always and I mean always lay it straight down and pick it straight up. Picking up from one side and allowing the other to drag will cause scratch. Always make sur to keep perfectly clean from debri and dirt. When you lay your cover on a hood that is not clean then it will most likely have debri on it when you pick it up, just be sure to clean off before placing on next car.I will disagree with screenman in saying that there isn't anything wrong with putting tools on the hood as long as all the right precautions are taken. Just doesn't seam worth it to me. It's a little more convienent I understand but if precautioned properly alot more trouble i think. I think the reason screenman said this was that most ppl won't go through the extra steps it takes to insure it's sucess. For those of you that do Props to you. I just don't feel it's worth the extra hassle to insure safety and just place my kits on the ground next to the tire. JMHO
I would like to add that I recently got an account with a high end detail shop because the previous tech put his tools on the hood w/ protection, and I don't put them on it at all. We need to remember that when we work on vehicles, they represent what our customer can afford. Regardless of our opinions of their vehicles, they represent probably the single largest investment most consumers make aside from houses. By showing them respect and courtesy, we win their trust and friendship, and end up with much happier customers. Just my .02, another account is always more convenient to me than not having to bend over to pick up a tool.
I dont like the hood cover. Mine is kept clean, but I noticed when I first used it that it slid around on the hood too easy. I picked up a large (10') linen table cloth. I drape it over the work area and down the side of the vehicle Iam working on. Its doubled so If I accidently spill a drop of pit resin it will not penetrate the cloth. I keeep a razor blade, UV lamp, and small UV cover on the cloth. I have the Pit resin in my shirt pocket, upside down: Once I use the Megabond it goes back into the case beside the front tire. This works pretty well for me. I also have two painters cloths if Iam doing more than one vehicle. I plan to get another linen cloth soon. I also have a mechanics leather belt that I wear to prevent scractch marks.
