To buy or not to buy

4u2nvinmtl

4u2nvinmtl

New member
**Updated with recommendations (Thanks)

Over the past year that I've been detailing I've accumulated a lot of products some good some not so good. With that said I've compiled a list of categories of products I'm considering purchasing... I welcome you to provide me with feedback, recommendations, or sugestions for any/all of the categories of products.
Note: I also listed the products I currently own and scored them from 1 to 10.​

These products are all intended for personal use only on my 09 Jeep SRT8 daily driven (15,000+ miles a year, in the snow/ice/salt for 6 months).

Detailing supplies list (to buy)

​
Brushes and other detailing supplies:
· Kwazar Mercury Pro + Spray Bottles
· Speed Master Wheel Brush Special
· Gilmour 75QGFMR Foamaster or Gilmour 95QGFMR Foamaster II
· Snow Foam Lance or Uber Foamer Canon Pressure Washer Attachment
· Bissell Little Green Pro Heat Pet Portable Deep Cleaner
· Shop-Vac
· Bauer 20900 Fold-N-Carry Work Platform
· Universal Brush Boar Hair Burshs
· Powerplay Pressure-Jet 1800 Pressure Washer
· All-Terrain Cargo Wagon Model# TC1801​
Clay Bar or Alternative:
· Nanoskin Autoscrub Towel – Medium Grade​
DA’s:
· Rupes LHR 21ES Big Foot Random Orbital Polisher​
Interior:
· 303 Aerospace Protectant
· Meguiar's D149 Detailer Quik Interior Detailer
· Dakota Non-Smoke Cigarette Smoke Odor Eliminator
· Leatherique Prestine Clean​
Micro Fibers/Wash Mitts:
· Merino Wool Wash Mitt
· Zaino Borderless Blonde​
Pads/Applicators:
· Meguiar's DA Microfiber Cutting Disc Buffing Pad
· Gloss-It Hexi Grip Professional Tire Dressing Applicator
· Gloss-It Premium Microfiber Applicators
· Gloss-It Red Ultra Soft Multi-Purpose Applicators
· White Standard Carpet Brush for DA
· Nanoskin Autoscrub Medium Foam Pad​
Polishes:
· Menzerna 2500
· Menzerna 3500/4000
· Menzerna Micro Polish SF 3800/4500
· CarPro Reflect​
Quick Detailers:
· Poorboys Spray & Wipe
· Garry Dean's Infinite Use Detail Juice
· Maguire’s M34 Mirror Glaze Final Inspection
​
Sealants:
· CarPro Hydro2 Touchless Silica Sealant
· Sonax Polymer Net Shield​
Soaps:
· Iron-X Snow soap
· Chemical Guys - Mr. Pink
· Duragloss 901 Red Car Wash Concentrate
· Pinnacle Micro Rejuvenator
· Griot's Rubber Prep
· Maguire’s D101 All Purpose Cleaner​
Tire Dressings:
· Chemical Guys V.R.P. Super Shine Dressing​
Trim Restore and Sealants/Protectants:
· Stoner Trim Shine
· Ultima Tire & Trim Guard Plus​
Waxes:
· Finish Kare 1000P Hi-Temp Paste Wax
· Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax​
Wheel Cleaners:
· CarPro Iron X Iron​

Detailing Supplies Owned

​
Brushes and other detailing supplies:
· Roof Brush (7/10)
· Wheel Brush (8/10)
· Q-Tips (3/10)
· Horse Hair Interior Brush (9/10)
· Carpet Brush (7/10)
· 5 Gallon Buckets (10/10)
· Grit Guards (10/10)
· Brass Spray Gun Attachment (9/10)​
Clay Bar or Alternative:
· Chemical Guys Surface Cleansing Mitt Medium Grade Clay System Kit (7/10)
· Riccardo Clay Bar (6/10)
· Mother Clay Bar Kit (5/10)​
DA:
· Porter Cable 7424XP (7/10)​
Glass:
· Bon Ami Ammonia Free Glass Cleaner (10/10)
· Microfiber Glass Polishing Towels (7/10)​
Glaze:
· Chemical Guys EZ Cream Glaze (7/10)​
Interior:
· Armor All Original Protectant (5/10)
· Meguiar's Quik Interior Detailer (10/10)
· Mothers Protectant (7/10)
· Lithium Grease Spray (10/10)
· Chemical Guys Lather Serum (9/10)
· Chemical Guys Leather Conditioner (9/10)
· Concrobium Carpet Shampoo (7/10)
· Folex Carpet Spot Cleaner (10/10)​
Metal Polishes:
· Mothers Aluminum/Metal Polish (10/10)
· Never Dull (9/10)​
Micro Fibers/Wash Mitts:
· Super Plush Micro-Chenille Wash Mitts (7/10)
· Microfiber Wash Mitts (5/10)
· Zaino borderless blonde (10/10)
· Rag Company Eagle Edgeless (9/10)
· Chemical Guys Monster Edgeless (7/10)​
Pads/Applicators:
· CarPro Denim Orange Peel Removal Pad – 5.25 inch (9/10)
· CarPro Denim Orange Peel Removal Pad – 4 inch (9/10)
· Lake Country Hydro-Tech Cyan Advanced Cutting Pad – 5.5 inch (9/10)
· Lake Country Hydro-Tech Cyan Advanced Cutting Pad – 4 inch (9/10)
· Lake Country Hydro-Tech Orange Light Cutting Pad - 5.5 inch (9/10)
· Lake Country Hydro-Tech Tangerine Ultra Polishing Pad – 4 inch (9/10)
· Lake CountryHydro Tech Crimson Ultra-Fine Finishing Pad – 5.5 inch (9/10)
· Autoglym Perfect Palm Applicator Pads (6/10)
· Microfiber Applicator Pads (2/10)
· Gripper Applicator System (8/10)
· Foam Applicator Pads (8/10)
· Foam Wheel Dressing Applicator (8/10)
· Cleanmates Tire Gel and Dressing Applicators (6/10)​
Polishes:
· Meguiar's M101 (10/10)
· Meguiar's M205 (9/10)
· Meguiar's Ultimate Compound (8/10)
· Mothers Pure Polish (8/10)​
Quick Detailers:
· Chemical Guys – P40 Quick Detailer + wax (9/10)
· Mothers California Gold Showtime Spray (5/10)
· Ultima Waterless Wash Plus+ (4/10)​
Sealants:
· Klasse All-In-One (9/10)
· Klasse Sealant Glaze (8/10)​
Soaps & Cleaners:
· Chemical Guys Wash and Wax (7/10)
· Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash Shampoo & Conditioner (8/10)
· Turtle Wax Zip Wax Liquid Car Wash and Wax (2/10)
· Goo-Gone Automotive (7/10)
· Simple Green All Purpose Cleaner (9/10)
· Chemical Guys Microfiber Wash Cleaning Detergent Concentrate (7/10)​
Tire Dressings:
· Chemical Guys Liquid Extreme Shine Oil Based Sprayable Dressing (8/10)
· Simoniz Microfiber Cloths (4/10)
· Terry Cloth Towels (4/10)​
Trim Restore and Sealants/Protectants:
· Mothers Back to Black (7/10)
· Chemical Guys Liquid Extreme Shine Oil Based Sprayable Dressing (5/10)
· Meguiar's Ultimate Protectant & Trim Restore (6/10)​
Waxes:
· Chemical Guys 50/50 Connoisseur Paste Wax (6/10)
· Mothers FX SynWax Paste (8/10)
· Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax 845 (8/10)
· Chemical Guys Butter Wax (7/10)​
Wheel Wax & Sealants:
· Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax 845 (8/10)
· Armor All Rim Protectant (9/10)​
 
Yikes, I'm overwhelmed by all those products!

Conspicuous by their absence are a Boar's Hair Brush and a foamgun ;)

Is this for your personal use, or for a business? I'd *simplify* things drastically.

If you can afford the Rupes there's no need for the Flex3401 or the Griot's (both of which I have/like).

No need for lots of slightly-different pads IMO. Just lots of a *few* kinds so you have enough on-hand.

IMO there's no need for Meguiar's DC Paint Cleaner or Griot's Paint Prep.

I *would* consider Griot's Rubber Prep, I *always* want some on the shelf.

Look at the threads comparing Trim Sealants (I'm sticking with Ultima) and see what might be best for *you*.

No need for lots of different Interior Cleaners IMO. A good dilutable APC could maybe handle most all of that work.

I'd pick one Tire Dressing and just use that unless you need low/med/high-gloss options for customers.

No need for special Wheel Wax-type products IME- You have the Klasse twins (use 4-6 layers of KSG), and if you get FK1000P (can get by with fewer layers) then IMO you're covered unless you want to use a genuine coating.

IMO you could get by with very few LSPs, and IMO the 845 has you covered with regard to "bright, reflective" waxes so no need for the P21s. Souveran is nice but needs redone after a couple of washes, so what would you do with it (I use it on one vehicle, but that's me and that car only got ~18K miles over the last 30 years).

I'd keep that Simple Green away from vehicles.

Surprised you don't like the Ultima WW+.

Honestly, much as I'd like to say "buy that FK1000P!" I hesitate to encourage you to buy much of anything else unless you have a genuine, pressing need for it.
 
my motto = when in doubt, BUY

:rofl


But then again, I got 4+ boxes I haven't even opened yet, and bought more stuff yesterday
 
Um, wow. In Waxes, avoid overlap. From your list:

All-'round winners. Pick one and be done.
· Poorboy's Natty's Paste Wax
· Color-Lock Wax

Performance Monsters. Pick one and be done:
· Finish Kare 1000P Hi-Temp Paste Wax
· Collinite 476S Super Double Coat

Beauty Queens. Pick one and be done.
· Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax
· P21S Concours Carnauba Wax

From your Detailrs list, these are both good,but you're missing a "leaves nothing behind" detailer, so add Poorboys Spray & Wipe.
· Chemical Guys – P40 Quick Detailer + wax
· Chemical Guys – HYBRID V7 (V07) Quicker Detailer + sealant
 
Accumulator said:
Yikes, I'm overwhelmed by all those products!

Conspicuous by their absence are a Boar's Hair Brush and a foamgun ;)

Is this for your personal use, or for a business? I'd *simplify* things drastically.

If you can afford the Rupes there's no need for the Flex3401 or the Griot's (both of which I have/like).

No need for lots of slightly-different pads IMO. Just lots of a *few* kinds so you have enough on-hand.

IMO there's no need for Meguiar's DC Paint Cleaner or Griot's Paint Prep.

I *would* consider Griot's Rubber Prep, I *always* want some on the shelf.

Look at the threads comparing Trim Sealants (I'm sticking with Ultima) and see what might be best for *you*.

No need for lots of different Interior Cleaners IMO. A good dilutable APC could maybe handle most all of that work.

I'd pick one Tire Dressing and just use that unless you need low/med/high-gloss options for customers.

No need for special Wheel Wax-type products IME- You have the Klasse twins (use 4-6 layers of KSG), and if you get FK1000P (can get by with fewer layers) then IMO you're covered unless you want to use a genuine coating.

IMO you could get by with very few LSPs, and IMO the 845 has you covered with regard to "bright, reflective" waxes so no need for the P21s. Souveran is nice but needs redone after a couple of washes, so what would you do with it (I use it on one vehicle, but that's me and that car only got ~18K miles over the last 30 years).

I'd keep that Simple Green away from vehicles.

Surprised you don't like the Ultima WW+.

Honestly, much as I'd like to say "buy that FK1000P!" I hesitate to encourage you to buy much of anything else unless you have a genuine, pressing need for it.
Click to expand...

This list of products are for personal use. I might detail a few friends/family cars but defiantly not going into business (at first I thought I might). I’ll defiantly add Boar Hair Brush’s to the list and a Foam gun (kind of thought the non-pressure washer foam guns sucked and I don’t own a pressure washer).

Updating my list with your recommendations.

Thanks!!
 
i list my items in an excel sheet like so...

http://i.imgur.com/AcBAvTQ.jpg

green means its in inventory and black is "next up" to get. i don't list my tools and brushes though cause those are purchases and have forever type inventory. this is all for personal use..

i have a tire dressing but its cheap stuff, haven't researched tire dressings enough to care yet.
 
WaxAddict said:
Um, wow. In Waxes, avoid overlap. From your list:

All-'round winners. Pick one and be done.
· Poorboy's Natty's Paste Wax
· Color-Lock Wax

Performance Monsters. Pick one and be done:
· Finish Kare 1000P Hi-Temp Paste Wax
· Collinite 476S Super Double Coat

Beauty Queens. Pick one and be done.
· Pinnacle Souveran Paste Wax
· P21S Concours Carnauba Wax

From your Detailrs list, these are both good,but you're missing a "leaves nothing behind" detailer, so add Poorboys Spray & Wipe.
· Chemical Guys – P40 Quick Detailer + wax
· Chemical Guys – HYBRID V7 (V07) Quicker Detailer + sealant
Click to expand...

Updated with recommendations, thanks!
 
i don't recommend a foam gun unless you have a pressure washer. IMO, it's not much help, but looks nice. A pressure wash foam cannon is an altogether different story though
 
Accumulator said:
Surprised you don't like the Ultima WW+.
Click to expand...

I saw so many good reviews and picked it up for a friend and I had to mix a gallon for myself (mixed about 3.5oz in a gallon). IMHO as a clay lube, it took longer to wipe because it left streaks, as a waterless wash it lifted the dirt/dust well, and as a quick detail spray I didn't like the feel of the finish... I get ALOT of contamination (condo building downtown, daily driver, endless winters, more salt on the roads than the Pacific Ocean) and part of my wash regiment (weekly) is to use a quick detailer spray/waterless-wash after rising, during drying (edgeless MF), especially on the lower panels. Frankly P40 did a better job at leaving a smooth to the touch finish whereas with Ultima my panels felt like they were textured with grime (I know I need to clay, but this is only 2 weeks after an intensive clay, m101 compound and 3 coats of K-SG). I can only assume the P40 has something that's breaking down the winter contamination whereas the Ultima doesn't (for me at my concentration), and/or the P40's wax does a hell of a job of filling/hiding that contamination...

I personally wasn't so impressed with the P40 when I picked it up but when I compared it with Mothers and Ultima I realized that I'd taken it for granted.
 
ihaveacamaro- How useful the foamgun is depends on how you use it ;) Used my way, I'm able to go *years* without polishing as it facilitates marring-free washes. I couldn't do that without it, and I tried for *decades*.

4u2nvinmtl- Personal use, huh? Heh heh, watch out you don't end up with as much of this [stuff] as I've, uhm....accumulated ;) Easy to waste a lot of money.

IMO you oughta buy a pressure washer. I got a *really* cheap, crappy one for Christmas and it's working out *GREAT* . Yeah, serious limitations but those are actually *features* for my situation. I'd buy that *first* to get the "big stuff" off before you commence the regular part of the wash. (NO, I do *not* use it with a foamcannon/etc. nor do I intend to despite having one sitting on the shelf.)

Ah, didn't think about using the Ultima as a clay lube or on unclean surfaces, but rather was thinking about its use as a QD/rinseless wash/drying aid after things are already clean.

BTW, with three layers of KSG, you should've been able to "clay the KSG clean" pretty easily...or at least I would've thought so. Well, six layers of it are better anyhow, and you *can* clay that clean without stripping it all off unless your clay technique is really awful.

The foamgun/BHB combo is just that, a *COMBINATION*. Spray the foamgun's output at the point of BHB-to-paint contact to help flush away dislodged dirt. It's how I do the first pass(es) at *EVERY* wash (then I use the foamgun with a mitt for a follow-up), but that's just me and it does go through shampoo mix fast (mix up a gallon or three of concentrate and fill foamgun from that). In other words, give the whole "foamgun/BHB thing" some thought. I just mentioned it because I couldn't wash without 'em.

Be careful buying BHBs, the only ones I've seen that are OK come from Universal Brush. Autogeek sells one as the "Montana", it's their cheaper one and in some ways it might be better than their "Blonde" one that's supposedly their best (I like them both).

Now...go research really inexpensive pressure washers ;) IIRC, the one I got is about the cheapest one AR makes (didn't pay much attention, hey it was a Christmas present) so it's sure nothing pricey. We'll see how long it lasts!
 
I agree about the foam gun...a must have! Accumulator is 100% right on...the wash mitt/MF towel and foam gun combo is dead on. Leading the wash mitt with the stream of soapy water is an awesome wash method. Flood that paint with soapy water is must for me now.
 
52split- Glad to hear that's working out for you. Heh heh, can't talk you into a Boar's Hair Brush to go with that foamgun?

Are you still using the pistol-grip on the foamgun, or did you replace it with a shutoff valve?
 
Accumulator said:
52split- Glad to hear that's working out for you. Heh heh, can't talk you into a Boar's Hair Brush to go with that foamgun

Are you still using the pistol-grip on the foamgun, or did you replace it with a shutoff valve?
Click to expand...

The Universal Boar's Hair Brush is on the way...still using the pistol grip, but I can see myself trying another route.
 
Bill D said:
The shutoff valve is so great for turning the water on and off as needed while washing
Click to expand...

Yeah, I found the pistol-grip just too awkward, especially when using the foamgun my way, too easy to bump it into the vehicle too!

The "full flow" shutoffs from Gilmour have a limited service life (always start to leak) but they send lots of water through the foamgun and are easy to turn with my thumb.
 
Since you're only taking care of your car and perhaps a few friends you could save yourself allot of money by just getting a Griots DA--equiped with a 5" backing plate and 5.5" pads it can handle anything you throw at it with the right pads and polishes--not to mention the lifetime warranty. And then just get a 3 or 4" backing plate for your PC for the small bits.

Think about just purchasing new items as you find you need them rather than purchasing everything up front not knowing if you'll really need it or not.
 
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