If you had 500 to purchase a starter kit what would you do?

[Grouse]

If you had 500 for a starter kit how would you spend it. Below is a list of general things I am trying to include. It will be a few weeks more before I buy, as I am trying to narrow it all down. However I bet some of you have some good ideas what you would purchase and why. What do all of you like and why. Please include the why. It is important to me that I learn why people like this or that, why this works. I am reading as much as I can get my eyeballs on but it’s difficult sifting through 1000’s of posts to answer this question or that. So I am trying it this way.

I am looking at this from a stand point to evaluate this as a buisness option. My previous exp is in the carpet industry. I understand quite a bit about leather, fabric and carpets in general. I am trying to learn as much as i can about the exterior, paint (both clear coat and laquer). Add into that chrome, and vinyl and plastics.

What works for you, what would you want as a starter kit now that you have the exp of doing this for a while. What mistakes in product purchasing have you made that you would not make now. What things do you wish you had purchased sooner. What 3 things have either saved the most time, stress, or simply improved your workflow.
I’m trying to put together a decent package that would include,
PC
Pads,
Swirl remover
Glaze
Wax
A sealant kit.
A quality QD
Foam gun
And little bits and extras.


Thanks Aaron

[Asonyexec]

Are you talking for your own personal use (maybe some friends & family) or are you going into the auto detailing business?

[Grouse]

for now personal use, I am evaluating this as a buisness option. By my skills right now relate more to the interior of the car not the exterior

[Asonyexec]

If i had it to do all over again with $500 i would do the following:

assumptions: personal car only, paint in okay condition.

PC
PC/pad backing plate
2 of the less aggressive pads (no need for cutting pads, ive never used mine)
poorboys' SSR1. SSR2, & SSR2.5 (can knock out 2.5 to keep cost down)
poorboys' professional polish
an "absorber"
x5+ good thick 100% cotton terry towels (never been a microfiber fan)
a decent wax (matter of personal preference)
Tire treatment (matter of personal preference again)
a plastic tote or 2 to store it all
a 5 gal bucket for washing (grit guard is a good idea also if it doesnt shoot u over your budget)
Car wash (again matter of personal preference)
car wash mit
clay bar(s)
Tire/wheel brush better the foam with the rough side to it


I don't do the glaze thing because I think it's over kill if you're going to use a polish, the better money is spent on the polish.

Sealants i think are for those that only have their car detailed once or twice a year, good idea to make it all last longer. personally i give my car the complete treatment every 4 months or so therefore I don't use sealants.

When i first bought my PC (frm autopia) i ordered the complete pad system but quickly found i had no need for the more aggressive pads as my paint was in fairly good condtion. Actually i ended up buying another 2 meguiars pads (least aggressive) because it was those i needed the most.


hope this helps

[Grouse]

Thanks, I have had p21s wax used on my tahoe, I like it so far. Anyone else, the more the merrier IMO.

[racingbeat]

hmmm must haves:

PC (I got mine from Coastal too for $110 I think)
Flexible backing plate and Pads from Autogeek, DetailCity or Autopia
Poorboys Swirl Remover ($15)
Klasse ALL in One polish ($20 bottle will last years)
Poorboys EX sealant ($15 will also last years)
FK 146 quick detailing cleaner 1 gallon $25
FK FX 100 spray gloss and sealant in one (great for after a wash, excellent on wheels)
FK 425 SUPER SLICK 1 gallon $25 (last thing that touches my paint and glass)
Clay (Blue Magic $12)
Michelin Tire Dressing ($6)
Sea Sponge or Excel Sheepskin ($20)
1Z Einzett Leather care$13 (best product I've used)
1Z Vinyl care $13 (only interior 'armor all' type product I have been satifisfied with)
1Z cockpit premium cleaner $10 (or a woolite mixture in a spray bottle)
Meguiar Gold Class Carpet Brush $10 (works great with woolite)
Meguiar's wheel face brush ($10)
12 pack of Poorboys Mega MF Towels ($148)

I want to try the Meguiar's Wheel Brightener from the Detail Line
My Ortho 2 gallon Pesticide sprayer for only $20 is a great tool
and I'm still not sold on a spray wax or paste wax. I'm using MOther's FX, FK Pink Wax
and they do a nice job on silver but I'll try something else if someone suggests a product.

[Grouse]

With the exception of the dash/cockpit I have a list of interior products i like. Most of them the professional carpet leather care products i used to use.

[MrSelfDestruct]

I've just spend about $400 on stuff

$200 on PC rotary buffer (7428)
$30 3M hook-it polishing foam pads
$30 3M superbuff compound wool pad
$10 superbuff adapter
$100 on the 06050 kit (Perfect it-III EC compound, SMR, and glaze)
I'm gonna try Meguires Gold paste wax and see how it goes with the glaze.. $20

toss in an easy $100 for other odds and ends- washing supplies, sandpaper, block, body filler and touchup paint to fix the rust
= $500 total

[holland_patrick]

edge pad Kit from autogeek
PC from lowes..
Poorboy's World Deluxe Wash Bucket Kit w/Dolly
A $213 Value!

1 Five Gallon Blue Bucket w/Handle
1 Grit Guard
1 Dolly
1 Seat Cushion
1 Quart Super Slick & Suds... car shampoo
1 Quart Spray & Rinse... wheel cleaner
1 Quart Bio-Degradable All Purpose Cleaner Concentrate(APC)
1 Pint Spray and Wipe... Waterless wash and Quick Detailer w/ sprayer
1 Pint Spray & Gloss... Gloss Enhancer and Quick Detailer w/ sprayer
1 Pint QW+ Quick Wax Plus ...quick wax and booster w/ sprayer
1 Pint Trim Restorer ...Trim Cleaner and Protectant
1 Pint Natural Look... Interior Dressing, cleaner & protectant w/sprayer
1 Pint Bold N Bright... Tire Dressing w/ sprayer
1 Pint Leather Stuff... Leather cleaner, conditioner, & protectant
1 Pint Bug Squash... Bug, Tar and Sap remover
1 24" x 36" Poorboy's Wolrd Waffle Weave Drying Towel
1 Poorboy's World Mega-Mitt ...plush interior detailing mitt w/ thumb & cuff

this can be had for $179


DELUXE KIT NEW!
For the frequent detailer who loves a good deal and only the best products. Includes 3 (THREE) each of:

16" Velvet Smooth Glass Towel
16" Work Towel
16" Super Thick and Plush
16" Mega-Plush
21 x 36 Velvet Smooth
24 x 36 Waffle weave
Mega-Mitt

this for 105.

and i would also get some of his DMT towels they rock.

[Grouse]

i'm having a time of it finding your items on autogeek's site. could you link them for me? BTW I love the kit you put together... seems right along the lines that i was thinking, Can i ask why you picked these?

[Sherman8r44]

Man, don't half-*** anything, get the good stuff now so you don't waste money on the crap. And make sure once you find stuff you love, buy it in larger quanitites (but small enough that you will actually use them). The Poorboy's line is great, super easy to use and performs well, and Chemical Guys products are awesome too. The ease of use of a lot of these products saves a lot of time, frustration, and money.

I would get:

PC 7336 at Lowes (110), flexible backing plate , and a custom pad kit with 1 yellow, 1 orange, 2 whites, 1 black, and 1 blue.
The CGC Compounds
Poorboy's Starter Kit w/EX and PwC for dark--a great assortment of the basics to get you started. This can also be a great way to see which products you do/don't like before you get in too deep.
Chemical Guys Speed Wipe gallon --great cleaning ability as a waterless wash and leaves a nice finish too!
For when you feel like getting soap in larger quanitity, Chemical Guys Maxi Suds (gallon)
200g bar of clay Don't bother with QD as lube, just use the suds on the car after washing as well as a spray bottle of mix (see where I mention wheel cleaners).
bucket with a Grit Guard as well as a foam gun.
Tarminator or another pre-wash
Stoner Invisible Glass
CG Leather Conditioner (and it cleans a little too)
Stoner foaming Carpet Cleaner
a couple of tire dressing applicators
waffle weave
plush microfiber

Don't forget the Danase' 10% off coupon!!

pick up some green VIKING QD towels and gold VIKING edgeless polishing towels at K-Mart if you can...they are unbelievable towels for the price.

Get some Oil Eater APC/Degreaser at Costco for like $7 a gallon. It's decent, and it will serve many purposes at different dilutions.

Buy wheel cleaner in bulk NOW. IDK about you, but I use wheel cleaner like it's going out of style. Get a gallon of Meg's Wheel Brightener , it's inexpensive, dilutable and strong (without acid!). For better maintained rims, try a mix of 1:31 (shampoo:water) in one of those spray bottles with the High Output Foaming Sprayer at the bottom of the page.

Collinite 845--don't bother with wheel sealant, IMO this outperforms Poorboy's Wheel Sealant by a mile. Plus, it's super durable on the paint too.

[holland_patrick]

the two kit's are directly from Poorboysworld.com they are new and are on the order page.

The edge kit is the only thing from auto geek i'm sorry i didn't clearify things the first time.