What do you really need?

C

CharlesW

The Rainmaker
What products do you truly need to keep your car looking good?
Not what you have or use, but what would you really have to own to be able to keep a vehicle looking good?
A quick list for me.
1. Washing material. This could vary for lots of people depending on how they plan to wash. I would hate to give up S&W, but a lot of people have never used it.
This would include whatever tools were used. Mitts, brushes, towels.

2. Paint correcting product. The PC is very handy, but a lot of correction can be done by hand.

3. Paint cleaner/prep.
and
4. LSP. I'm guessing that the cleaner/prep and LSP could be actually combined in one product.

5. Good applicators. I use foam, but got by with a terry applicator and they are probably still OK to use.

6. Good polishing towels. MF being my preference, but terry will still work.

7. A decent vacuum.

8. A good APC that works for everything including carpet and upholstery.

9. Vinyl and rubber dressing.

10. a good window cleaner.

So, I guess having 50 products might be considered over-kill? :confused: :notme:
 
Charles, this is a very good thread and the question is very pertinent to the enthusiast on the forum today.

I am guilty of becoming obcessed with the flavor of the month for several years. I had fun and the vehicles that I owned were well cared for. I am gearing down on my purchases as well as my activity because I have learned how to better care for the vehicle thru proper techniques.

So my required items would be

1. Car wash shampoo and a dedicated wash mitt.

2. Heavy swirl remover and finishing polish.

3. Chemical paint cleaner

4. A sealant as my LSP.

5. A product to treat my trim that can be used for interior and exterior.

6. Wheel brush

7. Foam pad hand applicator

8. A minimum of 25 MF towels

9. A lubricious QD spray for dust and bird bombs.

10. Vaccumn cleaner

That is what is needed at a bare minimum.

Yet I would not be with out my PC and at least six pads of different texture to cover all the bases.

Another item that I have found in my quest for a swirl free finish is that less is more. Once the finish is to my liking the paint remains that way longer if I do not try an enhance it everyday. Self induced swirls are my undoing. Because anytime one touches the paint marring may occur.
 
cwcad said:
Charles, this is a very good thread and the question is very pertinent to the enthusiast on the forum today.

I am guilty of becoming obcessed with the flavor of the month for several years. I had fun and the vehicles that I owned were well cared for. I am gearing down on my purchases as well as my activity because I have learned how to better care for the vehicle thru proper techniques.

So my required items would be

1. Car wash shampoo and a dedicated wash mitt.

2. Heavy swirl remover and finishing polish.

3. Chemical paint cleaner

4. A sealant as my LSP.

5. A product to treat my trim that can be used for interior and exterior.

6. Wheel brush

7. Foam pad hand applicator

8. A minimum of 25 MF towels

9. A lubricious QD spray for dust and bird bombs.

10. Vaccumn cleaner

That is what is needed at a bare minimum.

Yet I would not be with out my PC and at least six pads of different texture to cover all the bases.

Another item that I have found in my quest for a swirl free finish is that less is more. Once the finish is to my liking the paint remains that way longer if I do not try an enhance it everyday. Self induced swirls are my undoing. Because anytime one touches the paint marring may occur.
Click to expand...

I would change a wash mitt to several wash mitts and I would add a glass cleaner although you could get by with using water.
Good topic.:passout:
 
If you *really* wanted to keep to a bare min., you could get an APC that can be diluted down to glass cleaner strength, which would reduce your collection of things to purchase by one. (I think all purpose cleaners are typically diluted down to about 1:150 or so for glass.)
 
cwcad said:
Another item that I have found in my quest for a swirl free finish is that less is more. Once the finish is to my liking the paint remains that way longer if I do not try an enhance it everyday. Self induced swirls are my undoing. Because anytime one touches the paint marring may occur.
Click to expand...

There in lies the problem, well at least for me...even after I get a nice swirl free finish...I look at the car the next day and say I wonder if I top that what would happen...
 
The list is very long for me. A pro that works on a variety of vehicles must have a good arsenol of products and supplies. I try to consolidate for space reasons but the minute I take something out of my arsenol that I think I don't need anymore, I run into a situation where I could have used it.:crazy2:
 
CharlesW said:
What products do you truly need to keep your car looking good?
Not what you have or use, but what would you really have to own to be able to keep a vehicle looking good?
Click to expand...

Troy@DetailCity said:
The list is very long for me. A pro that works on a variety of vehicles must have a good arsenol of products and supplies. I try to consolidate for space reasons but the minute I take something out of my arsenol that I think I don't need anymore, I run into a situation where I could have used it.:crazy2:
Click to expand...
My intent was to point out how few products the hobby detailer really needs to keep a vehicle looking good. The professional detailer is going to run into situations that most of us will never encounter. At least, I hope not. :) Some of the before pictures that have been posted look like people have intentionally tried to see how much they could screw things up.

For an extreme example of "easy", I used to work with two guys that did nothing but wash their cars regularly and wax them 3 to 4 times a year with OTC products. One was a deep Maroon, almost Purple, the other was white. Both looked great from 30' away and not too bad from 5' away. I'm sure they had swirls and flaws, but heck, even with the effort I expend, I still end up with swirls and flaws. :wall
 
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