What do you think your biggest 2012 single item detailing purchase be?

[Deep Gloss]

Just went to a garage supply dealer yesterday. My purchase will be a scissor lift for the garage. Just have to upgrade my circuit in the garage to 20 amps.

This is what really need. Do you mind sharing what the approx price tag is on the set up you are getting.

Thx

[SS 07C70]

Master Blaster would have to be pretty high up there on my list. Convincing the wife I need the Master Blaster is probably just a little higher on my list.

[Rocket]

man, i wish my two car garage was a four car garage.

I`ve been looking at some houses lately just to see what the market is like and the garage is usually the first thing I look at. Funny how the garage is so important to us

[Nth Degree]

Since I am getting married this year I am on a bit of a budget for detailing expenses. My planned purchases, though, are: A paint thickness gauge, a digital microscope, and a flex DA. I just need to find a way to purchase without my fiancee knowing. Not sure how I didn`t end up in an argument about my purchase with the 25% BlackFire sale.

[Bunky]

Look into the AR610. Kody (Kakeuter) has a nice set-up (foam gun, quick connects, etc.) for one and is happy with it. I have a cheaper AR, but when it finally gives out I`m going to copy his set-up.

As far as a single, big item I`m torn between the Flex PE and the new DeWalt 849x. Lightweight vs. overbuilt ruggedness....

I had looked at them briefly but liked the hose roller. Now, they say the kranzle/camspray/karcher will work in bypass most forever and not worry about pump damage when running dry. It does seem to fit the budget.

[Bunky]

I have a spigot off the softener itself in the garage. If you hook it to the exterior, you have to change to potassium salts ($$) or you kill your grass.

I have a water softener and our salt usage is fairly low (maybe 2 bags per year) because we only had moderately hard water (7 grains). Your salt usage also depends on your water softener brand.

NaCl costs about $6 per bag and yes Potassium salt (KCl) costs about $25 per bag (40#). I do plan to try potassium this year.

If you use softened water on grass it is not an issue (you are drinking the stuff). I water my grass with it in the fall when reseeding. There is a very slight increase in sodium content (say no more than say a cola drink) in the softened water itself.

The problem with sodium salt (NaCl) is the regenerate from the tanks since it is very high in salinity and can kill grass or cause issues in septic tanks.

[Iomcamaro]

My biggest purchase will probably be a paint meter. I plan to detail during the summer instead of working at Walmart again! :dancebanana:

[holland_patrick]

I might get a flex.....I saw they have an edge pad adapter for it ....

[TroyScherer]

I have watched this thread and have been thinks long and hard about this.

Right now I have only a few major things I want at this time. In no real order.

Paint thickness Gauge
Steamer
Pressure washer
Extractor

[Jaddie]

Dear SS 07C70

Master Blaster would have to be pretty high up there on my list. Convincing the wife I need the Master Blaster is probably just a little higher on my list.

I have the Blaster and don`t see anything miraculous about it. It reduces labor and if its user knows what he`s doing, it could save some time. I have less than an hour on mine, and I don`t know how to use it very well yet.

As far as convincing your wife, tell her it doubles as a blower. I just blew out our garage with it and can`t believe the debris it found along the edges and in the corners. I`m not sure but I think it may have come with an adapter to inflate balls, air mattresses, and things like that.

Tell her that it`ll save you lots of time, which you could use for her benefit, and that it`ll save lots of wear and tear on your joints, which you could also use for her benefit.

[CT3]

I have a water softener and our salt usage is fairly low (maybe 2 bags per year) because we only had moderately hard water (7 grains). Your salt usage also depends on your water softener brand.

NaCl costs about $6 per bag and yes Potassium salt (KCl) costs about $25 per bag (40#). I do plan to try potassium this year.

If you use softened water on grass it is not an issue (you are drinking the stuff). I water my grass with it in the fall when reseeding. There is a very slight increase in sodium content (say no more than say a cola drink) in the softened water itself.

The problem with sodium salt (NaCl) is the regenerate from the tanks since it is very high in salinity and can kill grass or cause issues in septic tanks.

My problem is that I have well water, and it`s beyond hard water. It makes it really frustrating to wash cars, Ill have to do something about it. Right now I`m using an iron out salt since we have so much iron in our water. I can`t move fast enough to prevent water spotting.

[Bunky]

My problem is that I have well water, and it`s beyond hard water. It makes it really frustrating to wash cars, Ill have to do something about it. Right now I`m using an iron out salt since we have so much iron in our water. I can`t move fast enough to prevent water spotting.

I have community well water and the water is considered moderately hard. With the softener, it is soft but there are still suspended stuff (iron, etc) in the water so it is not the end all. You would need to have to get extra filtration equipment.

[CT3]

I have community well water and the water is considered moderately hard. With the softener, it is soft but there are still suspended stuff (iron, etc) in the water so it is not the end all. You would need to have to get extra filtration equipment.

Do you have anything extra on your setup, something like a whole house filter or iron curtain? I guess I don`t expect it to completely eliminate the problem as I know how difficult a problem hard water can be, but I`m looking for some
relief maybe so it`s not quite so hard.

[Bunky]

I have a Kenetico water softener. I did not get the complete package (charcoal, etc). It comes with a whole house water filter but you can change what it filtration by using a different filter.

The best advice is to call a water softener salesman and they will usually do a free water analysis (hardness, suspended particulates, etc). For example, some people get the reverse osmosis setup applied to the kitchen sink faucet.

[TroyScherer]

I have a water softener and our salt usage is fairly low (maybe 2 bags per year) because we only had moderately hard water (7 grains). Your salt usage also depends on your water softener brand.

NaCl costs about $6 per bag and yes Potassium salt (KCl) costs about $25 per bag (40#). I do plan to try potassium this year.

If you use softened water on grass it is not an issue (you are drinking the stuff). I water my grass with it in the fall when reseeding. There is a very slight increase in sodium content (say no more than say a cola drink) in the softened water itself.

The problem with sodium salt (NaCl) is the regenerate from the tanks since it is very high in salinity and can kill grass or cause issues in septic tanks.

Al, I literally when I read this... I would kill to only use 2 40# bags a year. Here in Ohio I go through any where from 6-8 40# bags every 3-4 months. But then again our water hear is crazy!!!

Luckily being in town I have city water but I also have a well that is used specifically for the sprinkler system and one outdoor spigot. My garage water is run through the water softener though.