What are the best product manufactures? (Updated)

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Nealio

New member
Hey guys I am relatively new to the forum and this is my first real post, so take it easy on me lol. I have been detailing friends and families cars for some time now and am looking to move into a start up side business with my detailing. With that said I am very inexperienced as far as products used, I started out when I was about 18 and used whatever I found a local auto parts stores such as Mcguires, Mothers, and bought the cheap tools. A few years ago I went to Washtenaw Community College and took autobody and detailing courses, there I discovered 3M and Sam Brown Company and used both because of the deals I got through the school. Now I am in a full time career and I detail on the side for friends to gain more real world experience. I currently use 100% Chemical Guys products. I am seeking you detailing professionals or detailing enthusiast/connasuers advice to help me figure out if I am making the right choice using CG? I appreciate the advice, thanks guys!
 
Depends on what you're using from CG's. Their soaps are fine, the Jet Seal is supposed to be good.
Their towels and pads are manufactured for them and simply rebranded, you'd be better off buying Lake Country, buff and shine pads, and towels from the rag company. You'll get better quality, more options, and likely save a bit.

As for polishes, not many use the CG products and the little bit I've heard has been lackluster. Keep in mind that CG doesn't actually make any of their stuff. They are a marketing company, plain and simple. Not to say that means everything with a CG label is junk, but you can find better at a similar price point.

As for compounds and polishes, your best bet is to stick with Meguiars and Menzerna, but 3D/HD is a newer company that is converting quite a few of us. Great stuff.

As for waxes and sealants, there's so many options.

Bottom oms line is like I said earlier, chemical guys is a marketing company. They sell you on hype, and nothing else. Meanwhile, there's companies likemFinish Kare, Collinite and Duragloss that have been around for forever, are mainstays of many product collections and they don't really market at all. They don't have to, because the dependable results their products have delivered for decades keeps them going.

More than anything, I would strongly discourage the mindset of "I only use this company or that company." You'll limit yourself and your exposure to some really great stuff, and potentially better results for you and your clients.
 
Awesome this is exactly the type of advice I'm looking for! I want to step up to the professional level, and I haven't been happy with chemical guys compounds and polishes. I bought them at the end of last season (I'm in Mihigan so my detailing is limited to seasons until I get a shop) and I kind of regret going nuts with my purchases.
 
Nealio said:
Awesome this is exactly the type of advice I'm looking for! I want to step up to the professional level, and I haven't been happy with chemical guys compounds and polishes. I bought them at the end of last season (I'm in Mihigan so my detailing is limited to seasons until I get a shop) and I kind of regret going nuts with my purchases.
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I feel your pain...I went nuts too when I started and now I only use about half of what I bought.

I still try new things but at a slower pace.

My best advice is to read as much as you can here and watch as many videos as you can and be active. I've been reading for a long time and am now becoming active. There are a lot of great people here so don't be afraid to ask.

As far as product go don't stick to one manufacturer. It is only limiting yourself. There are so many good companies and products it's hard to choose. Find something that has a good following and if it looks interesting to you grab it.

Probably the best advice I can give you though is get samples and small sizes when ever you can...if you really like it then get the gallon size. When I went crazy at first I thought I needed gallons of stuff...not so much.

The one product I'll recommend and this is only my opinion is Meguiars D114. While this is only sold in a gallon size I don't think you'll be disappointed. Everyone needs D114 on their shelf!

Good luck!!

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk
 
There's a lot of solid brands, honestly. People rave about Polish Angel(very pricy), Sonax is very good(they make the best wheel cleaner), Poorboys is a crowd favorite here(though I've yet to use any), and the house brands(blackfire, pinnacle, mckee's and Wolfgang) are all well regarded too. I could go on and on. So many options, and so much stuff worth trying. Follow along around here and you'll get a lot of user testimony for a lot of different stuff. You'll get an idea of what fits your needs and what you'd be most interested in trying, and you can go from there.

Theres a lot of great people on this board, the best group I've ever had the pleasure of being a member of. Feel free to ask a lot of questions, you will get a lot of shared knowledge and insight in return.
 
There's a lot of brands I really like... But if I had to pick just one it'd probably be Meguiar's (mostly their non-OTC stuff) because they have some of the best products I've used in every detailing product category (APC, Degreaser, Rinseless, Soaps, Waxes, Compounds and polishes, interior detailer, the list goes on). Their products work, and they work well and when you find the ones you really like you can buy a larger size and a save significant money without waiting for sales.

Note: I'm not sure if Meg's manufactures all of their own stuff or subcontracts chemists/labs/factories (I'd assume a mix of both to the economics of it all)...
 
I thought a lot about this question.

If you can afford it - go all Wolfgang. The polishes are good, the soap is good, the coating is good, the wheel cleaner is good, and the wax is good.

However, it's not that easy. The thing with Chemical Guys is they sell everything. Most of the products are pretty decent - but some are just OK.

I would say, if you want to really step up - you have to do research who makes the best of this or that.
 
The best advice I can give you is simple and I mean really simple. No one manuacturer makes the best of everything. End of story. As you read through this forum remember there will always be a "flavor of the day" product. Look at products that people were talking about 2 or 3 years ago and that are still being talked about today. That does not discount the great new products that are continually coming out but this way you will find products with proven track records. You'll also come to find members whose recommendations you can trust.

There are certainly product lines I could mention that if you were to use only one manufacturer you would likely be satisfied with their products. To name a few, BlackFire, Meguiars (Pro Line), PoorBoys (good value), Wolfgang, there are obviously others. Admittedly I haven't tried them all but these are product lines that I really can't find a major complaint having used many of their products. Read up, read lots and good luck.
 
Hello fellow WCC student! Well, not student here, I graduated with 2 certificates in auto mechanics back in 2009. As well as some body shop courses as well. Glad to see another guy on here from there! I didn't know they offered detailing courses. Are they fairly new? Is Tony (I think that was his name) still teaching in the auto body shop? Short guy, easy to talk to, real great teacher. It's been a long time since I've been in there and never completed the body program, although I would of liked to.

Anyway, about your question, lots of good advice here. IMO, chemical guys put more money into marketing than they do their products. There are some good ones but they are few and far between with how much they offer. I think they sell a soap for literally any scenario one could imagine.

Personally, I like stuff from 3D (not to be confused with 3m), poorboys, blackfire, carpro and some Meg's stuff from their detailer line.

as said before, it comes down to personal preference. Do your research, use the forums and search, read reviews and take a gamble on things. Take advantage of autopias free samples, look for trial sizes etc. if you're serious about this, you'll build up a stockpile.

whereabouts are you in Michigan? I have a ton of stuff I might be willing to let you check out. Unless you're going to be in my market... Then we'll see... Lol jk.
 
I started out on the CG train a few years ago and I still use a few of their products, but if I was just going to stay with one manufacturer it would be Meguiars. Especially if I was going into business. Their gallon size products are excellent and affordable. Meg's 105 and 205 polishes are standards in the industry. Their microfiber pads and polishes are great. After saying that, I don't see the need to stick with one manufacturer, pick and choose the best (for you) in each manufacturers lineup and you will be a happy Autopian!
 
ShaneB said:
Hello fellow WCC student! Well, not student here, I graduated with 2 certificates in auto mechanics back in 2009. As well as some body shop courses as well. Glad to see another guy on here from there! I didn't know they offered detailing courses. Are they fairly new? Is Tony (I think that was his name) still teaching in the auto body shop? Short guy, easy to talk to, real great teacher. It's been a long time since I've been in there and never completed the body program, although I would of liked to.

Anyway, about your question, lots of good advice here. IMO, chemical guys put more money into marketing than they do their products. There are some good ones but they are few and far between with how much they offer. I think they sell a soap for literally any scenario one could imagine.

Personally, I like stuff from 3D (not to be confused with 3m), poorboys, blackfire, carpro and some Meg's stuff from their detailer line.

as said before, it comes down to personal preference. Do your research, use the forums and search, read reviews and take a gamble on things. Take advantage of autopias free samples, look for trial sizes etc. if you're serious about this, you'll build up a stockpile.

whereabouts are you in Michigan? I have a ton of stuff I might be willing to let you check out. Unless you're going to be in my market... Then we'll see... Lol jk.
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Well I graduated in 2011 so I haven't really been around there, yes the courses were relatively new when I was there. In fact I was a part of the first go at a detailing course. Tony no longer works there when I got there he wasn't an instructor anymore. Anyway I'm in the Ann Arbor area, that would be great I've been looking for someone to help mentor me along in this process of possibly beginning a business.
 
GearHead_1 said:
The best advice I can give you is simple and I mean really simple. No one manuacturer makes the best of everything. End of story. As you read through this forum remember there will always be a "flavor of the day" product. Look at products that people were talking about 2 or 3 years ago and that are still being talked about today. That does not discount the great new products that are continually coming out but this way you will find products with proven track records. You'll also come to find members whose recommendations you can trust.

There are certainly product lines I could mention that if you were to use only one manufacturer you would likely be satisfied with their products. To name a few, BlackFire, Meguiars (Pro Line), PoorBoys (good value), Wolfgang, there are obviously others. Admittedly I haven't tried them all but these are product lines that I really can't find a major complaint having used many of their products. Read up, read lots and good luck.
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Thank you you that's a huge help! I obviously am not ready to start up yet looks like I have some more research to do! Thanks for your insight!
 
Try not to over think it. Get out there and start detailing. Start with some friends cars, treat them like customers not friends. You'll gain valuable experience and quickly learn what you need that you may not have
 
jrock645 said:
Keep in mind that CG doesn't actually make any of their stuff. They are a marketing company, plain and simple.
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I thought Chemical Guys's parent company, Warner Chemical, made all of their chemicals and many chemicals for other brands in the detailing world.

I love Chemical Guys's air freshener Stripper Scent. I'm not much into strippers, but this scent is wonderful.

I don't believe there is any one best manufacturer/distributor/brand. Blackfire, CarPro, Tuf Shine, Meguiar's, and Optimum are some of my favorites. Check out CarPro's HydrO2 for an extremely fast way to add gloss and protection to paint.

I've been meaning to give Poorboy's products a go. They're a very highly regarded brand on almost all detailing forums.

Sonax arguably makes the best strong wheel cleaner (you don't need this every wash). 1Z Einzett's Cockpit Premium is a very nice and well-regarded interior cleaner and dressing. The strongest tire cleaner I've ever used is Tuf Shine tire cleaner. I'm a huge fan of their tire coating, too.
 
I wasn't aware that Warner was their parent company... Either way, the CG brand is really just a marketing front.
 
Just about everything I use is from Meguiars, I do not however use their waxes or sealants beyond 156 and their DA finishing wax as an all in one. Poorboys also makes some pretty good products. For polishes, I use some from other brands fast gloss 400 and 3m ultra fine mostly, but I also use a fair amount of 105/205. Waxes though, I find it hard to beat Nattys waxes from Poorboys, but my personal favorites are Dodo Juice by far.
 
Nealio,
Not sure where he is exactly - but if you can contact - David Fermani - who posts here and lives in Michigan, you will have found one of the best all around Detailers in those parts... He has a big shop now in Michigan.. Look him up here in the user name section... PM him sometime..
Good luck !
Dan F
 
I agree with the earlier post that not all the best products come from one manufacture. I have tried numerous products when I got started and spent way too much money and the next great products. I now use several different manufactures but if I had to choose only one for price and quality of product it would be Poorboys. With that being said I use several different companies products and I think that it is a matter of opinion. I like Chemical Guys Honeydew Soap, Meg's Hyper wash, Meg's 105 and 205, Nanoskin, and Collinite 845 is one of the best wax on the market. As long as you wash, clay or nanoskin, and polish the paint then the results will normally be great no matter which LSP you choose. Probably not a lot of help with your question.
 
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