if you were to own a shop...

Lose the water reclamation system. Build a sloped floor with a trench drain and a "grease/sediment trap".



You'll want an electric pressure washer, air compressor, at least two air movers, a midrise lift,

leaf blower, washer/dryer, carts, ETG ...



That'll get you started.



Good Luck!



Jim
 
Tons of lighting! Epoxy floor for extra brightness and easy to clean.



BavarianShopFloor.jpg






Mid-rise lift. A joy to use, especially doing lower body panels, wheels, etc.



BMW_StartingOut.jpg




An air compressor.

A shop vac

A pro carpet extractor (clumsy hose, but useful)

Lots of electrical outlets

Halogen lights (I'm gonna modify mine with rollers for easy moving along the floor)

Fans (it get's hot using the halogen lights)

Rubbermaid rolling cart (not steel in case it bumps into a car)



Totoland Mach
 
Jimmy's right: pricing varies. The Snap-On unit is probably the highest price (no secret there LOL). There is a unit made in Oklahoma that is very nice for $1,500 or so. Can't remember the company name, but they advertise in Hemmings publications every month.



Totoland Mach
 
I'd definitely not skimp on the lighting. The shop I work at now (not a detaililng one) has inadequate lighting and the guys are always complaining about it. I would get all kinds of different lights as well. I know that Accumulator has mentioned how he can find flaws in his silver paint only under certain lights.
 
Way2SSlow said:
I'd definitely not skimp on the lighting. The shop I work at now (not a detaililng one) has inadequate lighting and the guys are always complaining about it. I would get all kinds of different lights as well. I know that Accumulator has mentioned how he can find flaws in his silver paint only under certain lights.



You're right about the lighting! We have a lot, but need it for Silver and White BMW's. Even with that, I still move the car outside (weather permitting) for interior work and power washing the compound/glaze from body seams.



BMW745Li_White_Finished.jpg
 
Jimmy Buffit said:
$1200 to $3000. Lots of choices, this is just one...

TPPRO-6M-2T.jpg


Pro6MR Portable Scissor Lift



Wow, done! I just moved to a new house and have a bigger garage than before.

I was going to get a shop style lift so I could park a car under it. But I forgot that the garage door, when open, sits above the car - :wall



This lift looks perfect, I can lift the car about 2 feet to change the oil, rotate the tires, clean the rockers, and polish the sides more comfortably. I totally forgot about these things. Going to do some research these and order one today.



Jimmy Buffit - were you the gent who told me about hooking jumper cables up to a car to discharge the static build up?
 
jsatek said:
Wow, done! I just moved to a new house and have a bigger garage than before.

I was going to get a shop style lift so I could park a car under it. But I forgot that the garage door, when open, sits above the car - :wall



This lift looks perfect, I can lift the car about 2 feet to change the oil, rotate the tires, clean the rockers, and polish the sides more comfortably. I totally forgot about these things. Going to do some research these and order one today.



Jimmy Buffit - were you the gent who told me about hooking jumper cables up to a car to discharge the static build up?



Those are nice. A guy, that got me interested in detailing a long time ago, has one in his garage and uses it all of the time.
 
Exclusivedetail: Our final wash area is on our sloping parking area and we only use plain water with a Karcher pressure wash. This is primarily used to remove compound and glaze from body seams and splatter.



24_BMW745i_Finalwash.jpg




When cars first come in, we run them through a local Water Way car wash (I'm gonna compound/sand them anyway).



Toto
 
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