DFB5.0
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Beginner’s Buying Guide
Back when I started washing cars in the very early 2000’s, there was simply no avenue for learning how to detail other than buying and trying things for yourself. No internet, no YouTube, no forums. You either taught yourself or took a job in the detailing industry. These days, learning how to detail is relatively easy, likewise choosing what products to buy.
Having said that, it’s all too easy to get led down the garden path and end up with a garage full of detailing products. Now of course, to me that is a good thing. But what if you just want to get started, to learn the basics and perhaps expand your enjoyment of the hobby?
The following list is what I consider the essentials to do just that. Rather than list 120 different chemicals, tools and accessories for each and every task, I’m going to list products that can cover as many bases as possible, allowing the user to gain experience without jumping headfirst into the proverbial rabbit’s hole.
I won’t cover paint correction and pressure washing here because that is next level stuff, this article is about where to begin. I’m also going to assume that shopping online is not a barrier to entry or cater to cheap and nasty products. The goal is to compile a list of high-quality items that will last a long time, deliver high quality results, and hopefully make the washing experience easier and more enjoyable. And in the process saving time and money by skipping the "Armor All and Turtle Wax phase".
TOOLS & ACCESSORIES
Buckets –
For detailing, you want three basic white plastic buckets in 15-litre or preferably 20-litre capacity. One dedicated for wheels, two for washing/rinsing. I would also use a grit guard in each bucket.
5 or 6 Gallon Buckets (due to my location, I'm unable to link to Home Depo/Lowes ect) - $7.98 each / $23.94 total (approx.)
Grit Guard - $10 each / $30 total
Wheels –
These brushes will take care of most wheel designs.
EZ Detail Brush (For wheel barrel & wheel arch) - $31.95
Detail Factory Tire Brush - $14.95
Detail Factory Boars Hair Brush - $14.95
TRC Ultra Wheel Mitt - $13 (2-pack)
Foam Applicator - $8.99
Exterior/Interior Brushes -
One of each will get you pretty far, you can then build upon this as needed.
Detail Factory Ultra Soft Brush - $14.95
ColourLock Leather/Fabric Brush - $12.99
TOWELS
The below collection of towels is all about value for money without compromising on the quality of towel. All towels are from The Rag Company to keep it simple.
TRC Gauntlet Medium x2 (Drying Towels) - $22
TRC Dry Me A River Jr. x3 (Glass) - $19
TRC Cyclone Wash Pad x2 - $12 each / $24 total
TRC All Purpose 12 Pack - $17.80 (Separate the colors into specific uses, ie interior cleaning, wax removal, dirty jobs ect)
CHEMICALS
In this section, I’ll elaborate why I have chosen these products. I’ll also include spray bottles to allow products to be diluted for different purposes.
Adam's Car Shampoo - $39.99 Gallon Bottle
A high quality, high value wash soap for both bucket and foam cannons.
Koch Chemie Green Star APC - $13.99 for 1L
Shine Supply Spray Bottle x2 - $5 each / $10 total
Green Star is versatile, able to be used as a wheel and tyre cleaner at 8:1, or heavily diluted for interior cleaning (20:1), engine bay cleaning and bug removal (10:1). Have it mixed in two bottles for easy use. Add this to NV Snow for a stronger strip wash.
Optimum No Rinse - $17.99 for 1 Quart Bottle
Shine Supply Spray Bottle x2 - $5 each / $10 total
Another versatile product that can cover several bases. Quick detailer/drying Aid, rinse-less wash, clay lubricant, glass cleaner, interior cleaner/detailer. Again, have this mixed at in a couple of dilutions ready to go.
Carpro Perl - $23.95 for 500ml Bottle
Shine Supply Spray Bottle x2 - $5 each / $10 total
This product does great work as a tire dressing at 1:1 dilution, or as an engine bay/interior/leather/exterior dressing at 5:1.
Stoner’s Invisible Glass - $6.99 20oz Bottle
No explanations required, the best glass cleaner and freely available.
Gtechniq W7 Tar Remover - $19.80 for 500ml Bottle
Every car guy needs a tar remover. You can also use this to remove adhesive residue. No need to dilute.
Carpro Hydr02 Lite - $16.99 for 500ml Bottle
A ready to use spray and rinse touchless sealant, ideal for protecting wheels and paint.
Adam's Slick n Slide - $12.99 for 473ml Bottle
A fantastic gloss enhancer that provides decent protection in a simple spray and wipe application. Great drying aid too.
CONCLUSIONS
The above tallies up to just over $400, or $419.24 to be precise. Could I have chosen cheaper alternatives or less of something? Sure, but some of the key products are highly dilutable, while the tools are going to last for many, many years. Again, the concept was to deliver value in terms of product quality and user experience. Could I have included items like foam cannons and pump sprayer, yes to that too. But again, the idea was to provide a launching pad for greater things if the desire takes you there.
Happy Shopping!
Back when I started washing cars in the very early 2000’s, there was simply no avenue for learning how to detail other than buying and trying things for yourself. No internet, no YouTube, no forums. You either taught yourself or took a job in the detailing industry. These days, learning how to detail is relatively easy, likewise choosing what products to buy.
Having said that, it’s all too easy to get led down the garden path and end up with a garage full of detailing products. Now of course, to me that is a good thing. But what if you just want to get started, to learn the basics and perhaps expand your enjoyment of the hobby?
The following list is what I consider the essentials to do just that. Rather than list 120 different chemicals, tools and accessories for each and every task, I’m going to list products that can cover as many bases as possible, allowing the user to gain experience without jumping headfirst into the proverbial rabbit’s hole.
I won’t cover paint correction and pressure washing here because that is next level stuff, this article is about where to begin. I’m also going to assume that shopping online is not a barrier to entry or cater to cheap and nasty products. The goal is to compile a list of high-quality items that will last a long time, deliver high quality results, and hopefully make the washing experience easier and more enjoyable. And in the process saving time and money by skipping the "Armor All and Turtle Wax phase".
TOOLS & ACCESSORIES
Buckets –
For detailing, you want three basic white plastic buckets in 15-litre or preferably 20-litre capacity. One dedicated for wheels, two for washing/rinsing. I would also use a grit guard in each bucket.
5 or 6 Gallon Buckets (due to my location, I'm unable to link to Home Depo/Lowes ect) - $7.98 each / $23.94 total (approx.)
Grit Guard - $10 each / $30 total
Wheels –
These brushes will take care of most wheel designs.
EZ Detail Brush (For wheel barrel & wheel arch) - $31.95
Detail Factory Tire Brush - $14.95
Detail Factory Boars Hair Brush - $14.95
TRC Ultra Wheel Mitt - $13 (2-pack)
Foam Applicator - $8.99
Exterior/Interior Brushes -
One of each will get you pretty far, you can then build upon this as needed.
Detail Factory Ultra Soft Brush - $14.95
ColourLock Leather/Fabric Brush - $12.99
TOWELS
The below collection of towels is all about value for money without compromising on the quality of towel. All towels are from The Rag Company to keep it simple.
TRC Gauntlet Medium x2 (Drying Towels) - $22
TRC Dry Me A River Jr. x3 (Glass) - $19
TRC Cyclone Wash Pad x2 - $12 each / $24 total
TRC All Purpose 12 Pack - $17.80 (Separate the colors into specific uses, ie interior cleaning, wax removal, dirty jobs ect)
CHEMICALS
In this section, I’ll elaborate why I have chosen these products. I’ll also include spray bottles to allow products to be diluted for different purposes.
Adam's Car Shampoo - $39.99 Gallon Bottle
A high quality, high value wash soap for both bucket and foam cannons.
Koch Chemie Green Star APC - $13.99 for 1L
Shine Supply Spray Bottle x2 - $5 each / $10 total
Green Star is versatile, able to be used as a wheel and tyre cleaner at 8:1, or heavily diluted for interior cleaning (20:1), engine bay cleaning and bug removal (10:1). Have it mixed in two bottles for easy use. Add this to NV Snow for a stronger strip wash.
Optimum No Rinse - $17.99 for 1 Quart Bottle
Shine Supply Spray Bottle x2 - $5 each / $10 total
Another versatile product that can cover several bases. Quick detailer/drying Aid, rinse-less wash, clay lubricant, glass cleaner, interior cleaner/detailer. Again, have this mixed at in a couple of dilutions ready to go.
Carpro Perl - $23.95 for 500ml Bottle
Shine Supply Spray Bottle x2 - $5 each / $10 total
This product does great work as a tire dressing at 1:1 dilution, or as an engine bay/interior/leather/exterior dressing at 5:1.
Stoner’s Invisible Glass - $6.99 20oz Bottle
No explanations required, the best glass cleaner and freely available.
Gtechniq W7 Tar Remover - $19.80 for 500ml Bottle
Every car guy needs a tar remover. You can also use this to remove adhesive residue. No need to dilute.
Carpro Hydr02 Lite - $16.99 for 500ml Bottle
A ready to use spray and rinse touchless sealant, ideal for protecting wheels and paint.
Adam's Slick n Slide - $12.99 for 473ml Bottle
A fantastic gloss enhancer that provides decent protection in a simple spray and wipe application. Great drying aid too.
CONCLUSIONS
The above tallies up to just over $400, or $419.24 to be precise. Could I have chosen cheaper alternatives or less of something? Sure, but some of the key products are highly dilutable, while the tools are going to last for many, many years. Again, the concept was to deliver value in terms of product quality and user experience. Could I have included items like foam cannons and pump sprayer, yes to that too. But again, the idea was to provide a launching pad for greater things if the desire takes you there.
Happy Shopping!
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