2020_ADN_V5_No3_web
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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>