Evaluate my product selection

Dunrite

Dunrite

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Hey everyone.

I'm getting everything in order to offer mobile services for this upcoming season (trailer is in the process of getting it's lettering as we speak) and have decided to re-evaluate my product choices and make sure they are the most efficient and cost effective.

Here's what I've come up with, and would appreciate any comments or advice whether approving of what I've chosen or pointing me in another direction. I'm looking for products that perform well, are easy and reliable to use and are time/cost effective for their associated category.

I'm partial to Meguiars products, only because I've used them for a while and have had good results. I had initially wanted to stick with one product line, but feel I will benefit from branching out and utilizing the best products from other brands as well.

Express detail (spray wax): Carpro Hydro 2. I had initially planned on using Meguiars X-press spray wax since I'm familiar with it, but learned about this product and it sounds like the end-all product for production detailing. Does anyone have an idea of how much hydro 2 you use per vehicle, or a cost per vehicle number?

AIO: Klasse AIO. Always had amazing results with Klasse AIO and feel like there's no reason to switch.

2 and 3 step: Meg's 105, 205 topped with Meg's gold class. I'm not married to these products, they are just what I have on hand to offer these services and have good success using them. I would be very willing to switch up my polish, compound and wax.

Headlights: Meg's Plastx and Meg's headlight protectant, again, not married to these just what I have on hand.

Trim dressing: Meg's all season, Meg's hyper dressing

Glass polish: Carpro Ceriglass

Wash: Foam cannon with Meguiars gold class or CG honeydew

I keep Collinite 845 on hand, but don't see it fitting into my production work even as much as I love it. I will probably offer it at the end of the season as winter protection since I find it to be quite durable. I'm also interested in any suggestions for a LSP to finish with after 1 and 2 step processes.

I use a flex 3401 and Dewalt rotary. I run LC foam pads for the most part.

I'm excited to write up an article detailing my transition to mobile detailing, and answering a lot of the questions that I had trouble finding answers to along my journey. It almost seems like a secret society, there's a lot of information about it, but some of the questions I had were extremely hard to find answers to.

I'm looking forward to offering my experience up as a learning experience for people looking to get into this! I plan on laying out my complete experience as well as current or former detailing products/processes that I find effective or ineffective.

Thanks for looking, and thanks in advance!

Mike
 
I'd think of switching to an air with an abrasive. Such as the new menzerna 3 in 1. It will work wonders for daily drivers. For head lights u can prob use the 105 205
 
I do use 105 and 205 on headlights if they're bad along with sanding. For simple headlights, I find it easier to use plastx with my drill attachment to avoid switching backing plates and cleaning 2 more pads. Menzerna would be great, but would it be cost effective? I'm not sure how it compares price wise to klasse. Thanks for the input!
 
Hydro2 is expensive per application, but it is a huge time savings. You'll have to look at how that balances with your rates. I find about 4-6 oz. RTU is enough to cover all surfaces of a normal size vehicle, you do need to be more generous with product than using a spray wax. So based on AG's price today for 1 liter and using more than 6oz (200ml to make the math easy). You'll get 20 applications for $120, that's $6 per vehicle. You may be closer to $4 per vehicle if you're using 4oz. This may not be the most time savings on a express detail as you have to wet the car first, then spray, then wet again, then dry. It goes fast, but applying a spray wax or spray sealant would be faster and cheaper and there are plenty of wipe on, walk away sealants that are as durable as hydro2.

If you are comfortable to M105 and M205, then don't feel pressured to change anything, but consider menzerna fg400 and sf4000 and read up on the 'smack technique' with the flex.

As a substitute for gold class wax, consider blackfire wet diamond or wolfgang deep gloss paint sealant.

For trim, consider ultima tire and trim guard or wolfgang exterior trim sealant. Both are extremely durable, but nowhere near as cost effective as meguiars dressings.
 
My thoughts are that your products are not very sun friendly, and being mobile you will at times be required to work in full sun.

M105, I know lots of people still use this product a lot, but there are much better products out there with just as much cut. FG400, HD Cut, Optimum Hyper Compound are an example.

Klasse AIO is a good product, but for speed/efficiency I've always found HD Speed and Optimum GPS about the top of the heap when it comes to an AIO.

Megs Ultimate Paste Wax is a great product that is super sun friendly. Also consider using Optimum Opti-Seal when Hydro2 is not an option.

Do you really need a glass polish? Are you going to be charging accordingly for this service? Ceriglass works great but is a pain/mess to work with. Most people are not willing to pay what it takes to properly prep/correct/protect glass. Just something to think about.

For trim, SONAX trim restorer is a top notch, very economical product.

Remember, being mobile you are probably to have a lot of days where you are doing several appointments per day, so you want to stay away from product with excessive/any cure times. Time is money, so you will want to be able to do your job as quickly and efficiently possible, then go on to the next job.
 
IMO:
You may need to revisit your car-washing and Hydro2-type-LSPs processes...if there are any water-use restrictions; or, effluent run-off/reclamation regulations where you're going to be doing business?


Bob
 
Thanks for all the great advice. I did not consider how my products would be affected while working in the sun since I've al and worked in a garage, but that's a great point I hadn't considered. I know m105 can be finicky to work with even in the garage so I'll probably have to switch it up, and look into menzernas product options that may be better suited for me.

Ceriglass is a product I want to have on hand for myself, and since I have it I would like to have the option of offering it if the opportunity presents itself. It's not something I plan on up selling a lot, but plan on trying out. I haven't polished glass before, so I appreciate the insight into how it is to work with.

Klasse seems to be very efficient for me to work with. I'll look into the reviews on those products you recommend as an alternative and see if they can improve my process even more.

One reason I was considering hydro 2 is that I thought it would be quicker and easier to apply than a traditional spray wax. At 4-6$ per application I would still have a decent profit margin, and if it sped up my process I would be willing to use it. I may have to try a smaller bottle and do some testing to see which process is more efficient for me.

Thanks for the insight and the great advice as always.
 
Bob, there's no water use or run off restrictions in my area thst affect me from what I've seen. If anything changes though I will probably have to change my methods.

Thanks for the input.
 
Meg's paint recondition cream is a fantastic AIO (I think it's D151). If you want to mix it up.

Offer a more durable "sealant" for those looking for one. Wolfgang deep gloss paint sealant 3.0 (WGDGPS). It's easy on and easy off, hands down one of the best sealants I have ever used. Buy it in a gallon size and then charge $25+ more, it's about $5 an application.

Offer a comparable higher end option like pinnacle Souveran (or other fancy paste wax) for someone looking for the wetter look than the glassier (sealant) look of WGDGPS. Charge $25+ for this, it will still be around $5 (or less) an application depending on average price of jar ($75-$100).

Menzerna is great but isn't cheap. I use lots of it alongside chemical guys polish.

Also look at getting a good wheel cleaner (there is nothing better than Sonax).

And the one must have that I didn't see - a clay bar setup. Drop ~$60 on a nanoskin and have it last a long time. Will save you tons of time and make your first pass go much smoother. They pay for themselves and if you drop it just rinse it off in the bucket. Let's you clay a car in under 5 mins guaranteed.

Other than a good glass cleaner you have a great list up top. And I'm sure more people will continue to chime in. Hope this helps.
 
Thanks for the reply. D151 sounds like a very good option for an AIO based on review and price, much cheaper than klasse, assuming the amount used is even remotely comparable.

I use invisible glass for glass and just use old fashion clay bars. When they're ready to be replaced I'll definitely look into nanoskin.

Great idea to offer a variety of premium waxes based on preference. I'll probably try both those products on a small scale and see if my customer base is interested.

Thanks again, every reply so far has made me adjust my list and brought to light important stuff I hadn't considered.
 
Dunrite sorry for the late reply.

Yes D151 is a great product, very versatile and fast. IG is great, nice choice.

Yes for sure. It allows you to offer every customer something "THEY LIKE" and you can recommend worry free. And who doesn't love options... Plus any of the products I mentioned (and competing ones) are highly regarded, so if they go home and search them on the web, they will see they aren't cheap, and they aren't just paying for a run of the mill "wax" that you (the detailer) is giving a fancy name.

Glad to see you getting into the detailing game and best of luck on everything. (Feel free to shoot me a message too!)
 
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