Newbie Question - How would you spend $100?

JimGo · 09-01-04, 09:00

I have gotten some replies to my request for recommendations in NJ and VA/DC, but only a handful. So, my next question is, if I choose to try to learn to detail my cars myself, can I get started relatively inexpensively? I'm not a pro, not willing or really able to sink pro-level cash into my purchase, and only looking to make my car look a lot better than it does now (which shouldn't be TOO hard); doesn't necessarily have to be PERFECT. My test car is my daily driver, a recently acquired British Racing Green/Tan 1991 Miata (limited edition) with swirl marks and scratches galore (thankfully, the interior is in decent shape!). My problem is, I only have in the neighborhood of $100 to spend, and I'm in school part time, so time is a big factor for me (i.e., I'd prefer to use a mechanical applicator, if possible).

I've read several threads and articles on getting started, but none that I've seen have really addressed my fundamental question:

If you could only spend in the neighborhood of $100 (i.e., MUST be less than $150, and preferably less than $100) for tools and supplies for an exterior only detail, what would you buy, and from whom would you buy them?

Any suggestions are GREATLY appreciated!

Thanks,

- Jim

perry · 09-02-04, 12:16

Tough question, really. There's so much stuff you need to get if you're starting from absolutely nothing.

Since you only want to spend $100 - $150, you'll have to work by hand. A PC would blow the entire budget. I spent about $200 last month getting a PC, pads, and a couple other small things. For just getting started, you can get most of the stuff locally. If you enjoy it, and save up some green, then you can venture in to the realm of more boutique products.

Accessories
There are some decent MF towels locally if you shop around, but stuff you order online is usually higher quality. Go down to the WCD Vendor forum and look at his sale on MF towels. Looks like excellent prices! Pick up a dozen or so MF towels for product removal and a couple WW towels for drying. Maybe a wash mitt if you don't have one, actually, 2 so you can use one on the wheels. About $35 shipped for that stuff.
Eagle One tire swipes to apply the tire dressing: $2
Several foam applicators, little round yellow pieces of foam: $5 - you'll use those for applying all of your products.. the more the merrier because you'll drop a couple and it sucks cleaning them out in the middle of your work.
Bucket? Brushes?

Chemicals
Car shampoo, any will do really. Meguiar's Gold Class or NXT are probably decent choices: $5
Clay bar kit: $10 - $15 - Mother's, Meguiar's, or Clay Magic.. take your pick. I've used Mother's and Clay Magic and like em both.
Meguiar's ScratchX: $7 - this will work fine by hand for (hopefully!) removing the swirls. It should leave a "ready to wax" surface.
A2Z Wheel & Tire Cleaner: $5 - should be good for all types of wheels
Armor All or Eagle One Wet spray or whatever you'd like to try: $5 - good for dressing tires
Stoner's Invisible Glass or Eagle One 20/20: $5

Now you're up to around $80, and you still get to choose what wax you want to try. Meguiar's and Mother's both make nice products that you can find locally. And there's tons of products you can get from online vendors as well. Look through the forums and read up about various products and find one that you think you'll like. Meguiar's NXT seems to be popular and decent for a store bought wax..

Oh, something for that convertible top.. I don't know anything about those

If you have a Big Lots near by, check there for some of the accessories... applicators and brushes and stuff. Might save a couple bucks.

Hope that helps a litte

jaybs95 · 09-02-04, 04:31

Jim,
Do you have anything already, or are you starting from scratch(no pun intended)
Will you looking locally or the internet.

As Perry said a lot of the basic items can be picked up at Pepboys or Wally world

Maybe start with those and them see how much cash is left for cleaners and polishers (clay, MF, wash, A2Z..)

If the scratches or swirls are deep, you will not be able to remove them by hand...I know i've tried.

If your looking to do a one step, AIO, and poorboy's PWC will give you some nice results. I have never used any of Meg's NXT line, but I have heard that they give some very nice results.

I'm not sure about the ragtop either...do a search for woolite, that seems to work on a mutitude of things MAYBE that would work there.

Hope this helps.

"J"

JimGo · 09-02-04, 07:33

Thanks for the great replies! I will certainly be looking at the towels and mits. I have a handful of things, including two buckets, some Meguiar's leather cleaner (for the interior, obviously), some decent terrycloth towels, a few applicator pads, a Turtlewax car wash (can't remember which one), some Porzelack wax, some Amway "Mint Condition" bug and tar remover, and some Meguiar's plastic cleaner for the window on my convertible top, but no wash mits or brushes. I've used the Porzelack on the car before, and it REALLY deepens the color, but now I'd like to try to take things up a notch or two.

What do you guys think about the pads they sell for portable drills in lieu of a full fledged polisher/sander? Alternatively, I think I saw a Black and Decker polisher/sander (not an orbital) for like $25 a few weeks ago at a B&D outlet. I might be able to swing that without too many complaints by my wife.

JayBS95, to answer your question, I am happy to buy locally, where possible, if for no other reason than to save the shipping costs. However, where the product is FAR superior, or the deal is just that darn good, I have no qualms buying online.

tomstin · 09-02-04, 10:51

If you want to stay under $100 and be available locally, then Mother's has a three step Cleaner, Sealer/Glaze, Wax combination. Add their wash and clay, a good wash mit, a few applicators and you're there! There are a lot of higher end products discussed here and they have their advantages, that's what this board is all about. But if you want to just dip your toe in the water, the Mother's series is typically available at Pep Boys etc. and will do a nice job for you.

Wait until you're hooked...then this place can drain your wallet! LOL! But it's fun!!!!

perry · 09-03-04, 12:00

Quote:

Originally posted by JimGo
What do you guys think about the pads they sell for portable drills in lieu of a full fledged polisher/sander? Alternatively, I think I saw a Black and Decker polisher/sander (not an orbital) for like $25 a few weeks ago at a B&D outlet. I might be able to swing that without too many complaints by my wife.

Don't know about the drill things.. But the B&D tool you saw was probably a rotary polisher. Those can be somewhat dangerous in the hands of someone inexperienced. There's the possibility of causing holograms or burning through your paint. The former can be taken care of with a dual action polisher (the PC), the later cannot. First time out, I'd skip it.

Quote:

JayBS95, to answer your question, I am happy to buy locally, where possible, if for no other reason than to save the shipping costs. However, where the product is FAR superior, or the deal is just that darn good, I have no qualms buying online.

Save shipping, but if you order out of state, you don't pay sales tax. Usually evens out in the end. I like to order online due to my laziness -- I don't have to visit a half dozen stores to find what I want, and to get products that you just can't get locally.

joburnet · 09-06-04, 09:50

Without a PC your really not going to be able to remove scratches and get the results that you want. If you can push the budget just a little bit then I would get a PC with a couple pads, DACP, clay, and a wax of your choice, I would suggest EX-P or S100.

You'll be amazed at the results and you'll be able to use the PC in the future so it's something that you can hold on to.

If you get anything short of that I don't think that you'll get the results that your looking for.

If you really can't push the budget I'd go with some MF's($5 from walmart), clay(~10-12 from local shop), AIO(~25 online), and a good wax like i suggested above(~15). For around $60 you should be able to make your car look better then most on the road.

JimGo · 09-06-04, 10:03

Thanks to everyone for the great posts. I think what I'm going to do is hire a pro to take a crack at the car the first time. Oddly enough, I think I can justify the expense to my wife much better than the purchase of a new tool. Once that's done and the swirls are gone, I will give the old hand wash/polish/wax techniques a try for a while until I feel the need for another pro detailing, then decide whether I'm gonna make the investment in a PC or the like.