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DETAIL DOCTOR<br />

Maintenance<br />

Matters<br />

Why your shop’s equipment<br />

requires scheduled care.<br />

Bud Abraham is Founder and President Emeritus of DETAIL PLUS Car Appearance Systems,<br />

with more than 40 years of experience in the car care industry as a manufacturer, operator,<br />

distributor and consultant. He writes articles and gives seminars on the subject of auto<br />

detailing throughout the automotive industry. He can be reached at buda@detailplus.com.<br />

By Bud Abraham<br />

buda@detailplus.com<br />

When someone brings a vehicle to<br />

your detail shop, you can tell if it has been<br />

properly maintained. If it has not, what’s<br />

your reaction? You probably feel that<br />

the owner doesn’t bother to do the little<br />

things that keep the car looking good.<br />

You see that they rarely wash the car, has<br />

probably never waxed it, or shampooed<br />

the carpets. If there were jail time for cosmetic<br />

vehicle abuse, this person would be<br />

behind bars for a long time.<br />

How, you ask yourself, can a person<br />

spend so much money on their vehicle - one<br />

of the largest investments they will make in<br />

their life and then not take care of it?”<br />

TAKE A LOOK<br />

IN THE MIRROR<br />

Look around your shop or mobile rig<br />

at the investments you’ve made in equipment.<br />

Are you properly maintaining<br />

the equipment and tools that you need<br />

to practice your chosen profession? Or<br />

are some of your tools/equipment now<br />

malfunctioning or not functioning at all<br />

because of the abuse they have been put<br />

through? You’re thinking about repairing<br />

or replacing them, but they’re “doing<br />

fine,” even though it might be costing you<br />

in work quality and re-dos.<br />

Most of your equipment and tools<br />

need regular maintenance. Frequency<br />

will vary, depending on the equipment/<br />

tool, shop management, shop personnel,<br />

and the level of respect an owner has for<br />

their equipment investment. The following<br />

is a list of equipment maintenance<br />

tips that will help you focus on an important<br />

part of your business.<br />

Although not a comprehensive list<br />

by any means, these tips might deal with<br />

some equipment that your shop has let<br />

slide. If this nudges you into taking another<br />

look at that particular piece of equipment<br />

and its maintenance, maybe it will<br />

have saved you some part of your initial<br />

investment or even a future job. Remember<br />

that there is no “downside” to regular<br />

maintenance. You’ll never see an article<br />

titled, “The Pros and Cons of Equipment<br />

Maintenance” because the “cons” simply<br />

don’t exist. Properly maintaining your<br />

shop’s equipment can only produce good<br />

results for your bottom line.<br />

Keep in mind that some tips presented<br />

here may not apply to a specific manufacturer’s<br />

equipment. Always follow the manufacturer’s<br />

recommended maintenance.<br />

AIR COMPRESSORS<br />

Regularly replace air filters and carbon<br />

vanes, check oil and add or change if<br />

necessary, open the valve to blowout condensation<br />

or dirt, clean out water traps to<br />

remove condensation.<br />

After a few years, your compressor<br />

may have inadvertently become situated<br />

in a less-than-ideal area of the shop.<br />

Make sure that it’s placed in an area that<br />

provides clean, fresh, breathable air that<br />

is well ventilated.<br />

Regularly check the belt to ensure<br />

snugness. A loose belt could break the<br />

belt down and throw the pulleys out of<br />

balance. An overly tight belt, on the other<br />

hand, may damage the motor and compressor<br />

bearings. Check for damaged<br />

wires around the belt area.<br />

Check monthly for rust and cracks in<br />

the body or tank of the compressor. If either<br />

appears, it may be time for a brand<br />

new compressor.<br />

Check for bubbles or blisters in hoses<br />

and replace before breakage can occur. If<br />

you have a new compressor, allow for a<br />

break-in period before you begin subjecting<br />

it to the wear of everyday shop use.<br />

If you use air tools, lubricate them every<br />

day only with manufacturer-recommended<br />

oil or install an automatic oiler<br />

or lubricator in the air lines that power<br />

the tools. (If you use electric tools, check<br />

brushes and cords for wear).<br />

Regularly check for worn parts that<br />

will affect the tool’s performance. Since air<br />

tools rely upon specific air pressures a worn<br />

part that causes a drop in pressure can adversely<br />

affect the tool’s performance.<br />

Keep all moisture out of the air lines<br />

by using a dryer or filter. Drain the compressor<br />

daily and install moisture traps<br />

and separators in the air lines.<br />

Periodically check air tools to see if<br />

they’re receiving the proper amount of<br />

air pressure. Air pressure can be checked<br />

at the tool by rigging a compression<br />

gauge or an air-pressure gauge to a tee<br />

fitting and then note the air-pressure<br />

reading. Note this reading against the<br />

running air pressure.<br />

ELECTRIC TOOLS<br />

The most important thing to do with<br />

electric tools is to change the brushes in<br />

the motor regularly. Check the electric<br />

cord for any fraying or loosening where<br />

the cord goes into the tool. And, check<br />

the condition of the plug regularly.<br />

COMPUTERS<br />

Periodically check all plugs, wires and<br />

connecting cables for signs of fraying or<br />

other damage.<br />

Regularly clean the outside of your<br />

computer and its components, following<br />

manufacturer recommendations. You<br />

should not use aerosol sprays, solvents or<br />

abrasives to clean your computer. Do not<br />

allow moisture to get into any openings.<br />

After a computer has been in your<br />

shop for some time, it can be taken for<br />

granted. If you’re not careful, some employees<br />

will begin using it as a magazine<br />

stand, memo holder or coat rack.<br />

Avoid overheating of your computer,<br />

make sure that all ventilation openings<br />

remain clear and unobstructed.<br />

HAND TOOLS<br />

Make sure the tips of screwdrivers are<br />

free of dirt and grease, and keep handles<br />

clean as well. Inspect tips regularly.<br />

Check for wrenches with broken or<br />

battered points - discard these. Inspect<br />

ratchets regularly and keep each mechanism<br />

clean and properly lubricated with<br />

Iight-grade oil.<br />

Periodically inspect sockets and replace<br />

immediately if showing cracks or<br />

6 | AUTO DETAILING NEWS | VOL. 5, NO. 3 • FALL <strong>2020</strong>

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