help me get set up

[bowtie-guy]

hey guys, im 18 and i just joined this site. iv been a lurker for probablly over a year, but finally joined up cause ill be needing help soon. right now i drive a camaro but the paint is shot on it so i just give it a basic detail, but im buying a vette in a few months and i want to go all out. i started a little side savings thing just for detailing supplies, and iv got about 400 to spend. so help me figure out what i need! i already have a good vacum, im not buying the polisher and pads yet, and im not buying the chemicals yet. right now im just gonna collect my buckets, wash mitts, brushes, etc. so help me out, list what you think i should get and some recomended products that wont break my budget but still be worthy for my baby! haha thanks guys

[GoCubsGo]

I know you said you`re not buying a polisher or chemicals yet, but here`s the kit I picked up along with a nice long list of other items I used to get started.



Kit:

Uber PC KIT with Menzerna Polishes and Einszett Glanz



Buckets (x 2):

Home Depot (a bucket is a bucket)



Grit Guards (x 2):

Run a search, you can find them for around $7-$9 a piece (online)



Mitts (x 2):

I use sheepskin wool mitts, picked them up locally.



Brushes:

Search for Boar Hair`s brush, wheel brush, interior brush, etc..

(grab an extended handle brush to clean the wheel wells without having to pull off the wheels or scratch your knuckles all to hell).



Microfiber Towels:

Lots of quality MF towels (a nice all purpose MF - Uber Classic Microfiber Towel Blue) .

Here`s a great deal I found the other week - I just ordered my 2nd 3 pack: (MONSTER MICROFIBER JUMBO ABSORBER )



Clay:

Clay of choice ( I use Sonus SFX Ultra Fine Detailing Clay Bar - I`m a big fan of this clay) (online)



Other:

Storage bins (The Container Store)

Floor Jack (for wheels on and off) (local)

Quality Torque Wrench (for wheels on and off) (local)

Spray Bottles (Home Depot has a 3 pack for around $7)

2 x 500W Halogen Lighting (Home Depot)

Extension cord that is at least the same gauge as your polisher (Home Depot)

Gilmour 75QGFMR Foamaster Adjustable Multi Ratio Cleaning Gun (online)

3M Scotch-Blue Painter`s Tape for Delicate Surfaces (Home Depot)

Mother`s Micro Powerball (for exhaust tips) (local)

Powder-Free Nitrile Gloves (local)

More quality microfiber towels



Other chemicals:

303 Aerospace (local)

P21S Wheel Cleaner Gel (online)

CD2 (online, some places locally)

Meg`s Gold Class Shampoo (Target)

Mother`s Billet (for exhaust tips) (local)

QD of choice ( I use Meguiar`s Ultimate Quik Detailer) (local)

Megs 105 (online)

Tire dressing of choice ( I use Optimum Opti-Bond Tire Gel) (online)

Wheel Wax ( Wheel Wax )

Generic Protectant for wheel wells (303 is pricey so I use Meg`s Supreme Shine) (local)

Stoner Invisible Glass (local)

ONR (online)

Chemical Guy`s Jet Seal 109 (online)

A nice higher end wax (run a search to find one that fits your budget)



And did I mention some quality MF towels? I just started and have about 25-30 of them plus 15 or so Target brand MF towels for the engine and wheels.



This all for just my car, I`m not in the detailing business .

[bowtie-guy]

wow thanks! that list is exactly what i needed. its honestly not as much stuff as i thought, so maybe i will pick up my polisher soon. are there any decent foam guns i could pick up for like under $50? maybe ill check ebay

[qwkgtp]

Gilmour foam gun.

Plenty of detail sites have it and also amazon has it.

[craigdt]

This is the same list as above, just edited to suit me, if I were in your shoes.

I know you said you`re not buying a polisher or chemicals yet, but here`s the kit I picked up along with a nice long list of other items I used to get started.



Kit:

www.autodetailingsolutions.net/g110-kit-1.html



Buckets (x 2):

Home Depot (a bucket is a bucket)



Grit Guards (x 2):

Run a search, you can find them for around $7-$9 a piece (online)



Mitts (x 2):

I use sheepskin wool mitts, picked them up locally.



Brushes:

Search for Boar Hair`s brush, wheel brush, interior brush, etc..

(grab an extended handle brush to clean the wheel wells without having to pull off the wheels or scratch your knuckles all to hell).



Microfiber Towels:

www.autodetailingsolutions.net/ads-tw.html



Clay:

Mothers yellow (OTC) or Sonus Green



Other:

Storage bins (The Container Store)

Floor Jack (for wheels on and off) (local)

Quality Torque Wrench (for wheels on and off) (local)

Spray Bottles (Home Depot has a 3 pack for around $7)

2 x 500W Halogen Lighting (Home Depot)

Extension cord that is at least the same gauge as your polisher (Home Depot)

Gilmour 75QGFMR Foamaster Adjustable Multi Ratio Cleaning Gun (online)

3M Scotch-Blue Painter`s Tape for Delicate Surfaces (Home Depot)

Powder-Free Nitrile Gloves (local)

More quality microfiber towels



Other chemicals:

303 Aerospace (local)

Megs APC+

CD2 (online, some places locally)

Meg`s Gold Class Shampoo (Target)

105 Works great as a metal polish

Clear Kote Quick Shine

Megs 105 (online)

Megs 205

Armour All Extreme Tire Shine Gel

Generic Protectant for wheel wells (303 is pricey so I use Meg`s Supreme Shine) (local)

Stoner Invisible Glass (local)

ONR (online)

Poorboys EX-P

Poorboys Nattys Blue

Clear Kote Red Moose Glaze or Danase Wet Glaze

And did I mention some quality MF towels? I just started and have about 25-30 of them plus 15 or so Target brand MF towels for the engine and wheels.



This. You can never have enough mfs. I try to buy one or two towels from each place I place an order from, just to try em out.

Best of luck!



Polisher Link:

Meguiar`s G110 Dual-Action Polisher Kit



Towels:

Premium Microfiber Towel 16 x 16

[bowtie-guy]

what are you using all those microfiber towels for? buffing off polish and wax? anything else?

[craigdt]

Yep. and other things like window cleaning, using APC, removal of products, ONR washes, etc.



Basically, almost every step involves the removal of leftover/excess product. And that means using a MF towel.