Putting together a detailing list, opinions wanted!

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The_Auto_Tech

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Well, here's what I've got thus far. I've done a little reading around and asking some professional detailers what they're using. I've got some experience doing this, but would like to get a nice set of detailing supplies together so that I could start doing some detailing jobs on the weekends.

Onto the list:

Headlight buffing kit - 3M Headlight Lens Restoration system

Car wash for first time details (wax and bug stripper) - Dawn dish soap (original, unscented)

Car wash for regular details - Meguiar's Gold Class Shampoo and Conditioner car wash

Clay bar - Meguiar's Mirror Glaze detailing clay (mild, blue)

Quick Detailer - Meguiar's Quik Detailer mist and wipe (red bottle, not the Ultimate ####)

Wheel well/engine bay degreaser - Purple Power cleaner/degreaser (cut to 5 parts water, 1 part PP)

Wheel cleaner - Eagle One A2Z All Wheel and Tire Cleaner

Tire dressing - Meguiar's Gold Class Endurance tire gel

Wheel/exhaust tip polish - Mother's Mag and Aluminum polish

Buffer/polisher - Porter Cable 7424

Pad conditioner - Pinnacle XMT Polishing Pad Conditioner

Heavy swirl/scratch remover - 3M Rubbing Compound

Intermediate swirl/scratch remover - Pinnacle XMT Intermediate Swirl Remover #3

Light swirl/scratch remover - Pinnacle XMT Ultra Fine Swirler Remover #1

Glaze - Pinnacle XMT Carnauba Finishing Glaze

Wax - Pinnacle Souveran paste wax

Glass - Stoner Invisible Glass (aerosol can, not spray bottle)

Glass sealant - Rain-X spray bottle (at owner's digression)

Sticker/emblem/badge/etc. remover - 3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover

Leather cleaner - Meguiar's Gold Class rich leather aloe cleaner

Leather conditioner - Meguiar's Gold Class rich leather aloe conditioner

Interior cleaner/detailer - Meguiar's Quik Interior Detailer cleaner (non-greasy stuff)

Interior freshener - Febreeze Auto


Besides something to clean interior carpets I'd say that pretty much takes care of things as far as chemicals go. If you guys have any other suggestions before I move onto pads, towels, mitts, buckets, etc. I would appreciate it. :)
 
I would ditch the XMT swirl removers for Meg M105/M205 and if this is more for customers I would go wit ha sealant over the Souveran Paste.

You will need something that cleans better then the Megs QID as it is a very lite cleaner.
 
The XMT swirl removers I will be using until I've used them up. They seem to work pretty decent thus far. I think if I get anything else it might be Menzerna polishes. What brand of sealant are you talking about using? Like a quick wax or what?

As far as cleaning the Meg's QD is for clay-barring, not for actually cleaning the car. I also use it for drying the car to cut down on swirls.
 
The_Auto_Tech said:
The XMT swirl removers I will be using until I've used them up. They seem to work pretty decent thus far. I think if I get anything else it might be Menzerna polishes. What brand of sealant are you talking about using? Like a quick wax or what?
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No I'm talking about a sealant not a wax. Something like DP Poli-Coat Paint Sealant would be a good start.

The_Auto_Tech said:
As far as cleaning the Meg's QD is for clay-barring, not for actually cleaning the car. I also use it for drying the car to cut down on swirls.
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I'm talking about the Interior QD. For a clay lube you could use ONR as it would be MUCH cheaper. Not only that but you can used it for a quality QD and a rinseless wash.
 
i would sugest that you look at the dp line-i have slowly worked my way there after trying alot of products-the sealent is awseme-the dp line will make everything a good time and its on the bogo alot-i trust all there products and took me some time 2 get there
 
Ditch the xmt and get some m105 and m205 quick and 10x more effective than xmt polishes.
 
Alright, I'll just use the XMT polishes until I use them up and then switch to the Meguiar's stuff. I'm assuming the M105 would be a medium cutting compound to remove scratches and swirls and the M205 would be a light cutting compound for removing buffer trails and small swirls? Basically they would just replace my two XMT polishes?

As far as an interior cleaner goes, what are you using? I've used a ton of different cleaners and I like the Meguiar's QID the best. It's not harsh, cleans well, and doesn't leave a greasy/glossy shine on the interior.

As far as a paint sealer, you think the DP is the best? Why not something through another brand name? I can't say I've honestly ever used a paint sealer or seen other detailers use them...

The Meguiar's QD is one of the best things I've found so far for clay-barring. To me it's pretty inexpensive. I can't say I've ever heard of the ONR before. Who makes it?
 
The_Auto_Tech said:
Alright, I'll just use the XMT polishes until I use them up and then switch to the Meguiar's stuff. I'm assuming the M105 would be a medium cutting compound to remove scratches and swirls and the M205 would be a light cutting compound for removing buffer trails and small swirls? Basically they would just replace my two XMT polishes?

As far as an interior cleaner goes, what are you using? I've used a ton of different cleaners and I like the Meguiar's QID the best. It's not harsh, cleans well, and doesn't leave a greasy/glossy shine on the interior.

As far as a paint sealer, you think the DP is the best? Why not something through another brand name? I can't say I've honestly ever used a paint sealer or seen other detailers use them...

The Meguiar's QD is one of the best things I've found so far for clay-barring. To me it's pretty inexpensive. I can't say I've ever heard of the ONR before. Who makes it?
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I believe the ONR is Optimum.

I've used the Megs QD since getting into claying three years ago and it has served me well. It came in the Megs clay kit which I've also had good results with. I just do my own two cars though and a friends once.

I'm about to do my first ever black car - an '09 Audi - which I'm pretty psyched about. :xyxthumbs:
Menzerna polishes and Wolfgang sealant.
 
Is the Optimum ONR really that good? The reason I see that it's popular is because it's a waterless wash, clay bar lube, and quick detailer in one. Wouldn't you be able to do the same with the Meguiar's Quick Detailer?

Anyone have any reasoning for taking the DP paint sealer over something else? How come I've never seen other detailers use paint sealers before?

Are there any other compounds/polishes/glazes I would need to look into? I'm assuming with a heavy compound, medium and light polish, and a glaze that should be all I'd need, correct?
 
The_Auto_Tech said:
Is the Optimum ONR really that good? The reason I see that it's popular is because it's a waterless wash, clay bar lube, and quick detailer in one. Wouldn't you be able to do the same with the Meguiar's Quick Detailer?
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ONR is a rinseless wash not a waterless and its MUCH cheaper and MUCH safer then Megs QD.

The_Auto_Tech said:
Anyone have any reasoning for taking the DP paint sealer over something else? How come I've never seen other detailers use paint sealers before?
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A sealant will last longer then a wax and MANY detailers use sealants.

The_Auto_Tech said:
Are there any other compounds/polishes/glazes I would need to look into? I'm assuming with a heavy compound, medium and light polish, and a glaze that should be all I'd need, correct?
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Again M105 and M205 should get the job done. A glaze is more to hide defects, if you're polishing the paint correctly then there is no need for it. Plus it wont last past the first time it gets washed or rained on.
 
What exactly is the point of a rinseless wash? I'm assuming you wipe the car down with that stuff and then dry it with a different towel? Also, what's so wrong with the Meguiar's QD? I see a lot of people highly recommend it. The Optimum ONR seems like a good product, I just want to make sure it will cover everything I need it for. I'd probably just pick up the gallon of it for 40 bucks too.

As far as a sealant goes, I'm not understanding why you'd use it instead of a good paste wax. Are you saying that you don't use a wax and just use a polymer sealant instead? I can understand sealing up the wax maybe but that seems like a bad idea as it wouldn't allow the paint to breathe.

I'm assuming you mean that I should just get those two Meguiar's polishes and not use the 3M Rubbing Compound? From what I've seen everyone always finishes the car with a glaze to smooth it out completely, then usually applies a wax afterwards to protect the finish. I don't plan on using the glaze for paint protection, more for just to get the perfect finish.
 
The_Auto_Tech said:
What exactly is the point of a rinseless wash?
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I'm using rinseless wash more and more on lightly soiled trucks. No dragging the hose out, easier to do in the garage or other warm(er) spot as weather gets colder. And if you're in an area where it's important, no gallons of runoff into streets or storm drains.

Spread the solution with your favorite mitt, and wipe off with your favorite MF or WW.
 
Alright, a rinseless wash makes sense for those quick washes during the winter or when the car isn't that dirty. It just seemed odd because it feels like I would just be smearing the dirt into the paint on the car without rinsing. I guess it makes sense as long as the car has a good sealant/wax job.
 
The_Auto_Tech said:
What exactly is the point of a rinseless wash? I'm assuming you wipe the car down with that stuff and then dry it with a different towel? Also, what's so wrong with the Meguiar's QD? I see a lot of people highly recommend it. The Optimum ONR seems like a good product, I just want to make sure it will cover everything I need it for. I'd probably just pick up the gallon of it for 40 bucks too.

As far as a sealant goes, I'm not understanding why you'd use it instead of a good paste wax. Are you saying that you don't use a wax and just use a polymer sealant instead? I can understand sealing up the wax maybe but that seems like a bad idea as it wouldn't allow the paint to breathe.

I'm assuming you mean that I should just get those two Meguiar's polishes and not use the 3M Rubbing Compound? From what I've seen everyone always finishes the car with a glaze to smooth it out completely, then usually applies a wax afterwards to protect the finish. I don't plan on using the glaze for paint protection, more for just to get the perfect finish.
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The point of a rinceless wash is that it saves on time if time is a factor. If you are doing a detail where the use of water is limitted, it comes in real handy. During the winter months, when it is too cold to use a hose it works wonders. It does a much better job of cleaning then using a quick detailer, and you don't risk marring the paint. ONR is the most versitile detailing product you can buy.

The reason for a sealant over a wax is durability, and ease of use. If you are detailing a car that you will only do once or twice a year, you want the LSP to last as long as possible. It also takes less time to apply and remove. You can use a paste wax as a topper for your sealant however, just never top a wax with a sealant.

the Megs M105/M205 is a much better choice then the 3M Rubbing Compound. When used properly, you will see remarkable results with theese products. the M205 is a finishing polish that has some nice cut to it depending on what pad you use. There really is no need to apply a glaze. For the most part, glazes are used to hide swirl marks, not remove them. If you really want the perfect finish you can follow the M205 with Menzerna PO85RD.
The_Auto_Tech said:
Alright, a rinseless wash makes sense for those quick washes during the winter or when the car isn't that dirty. It just seemed odd because it feels like I would just be smearing the dirt into the paint on the car without rinsing. I guess it makes sense as long as the car has a good sealant/wax job.
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The polymers in the ONR actually lift and suspend the dirt off the surface of the car's paint, and rinces away. Do a search on ONR here and you will see how to properly use it without marring the paint. It really is a must have product.
 
Alright, I understand then. I would really like to be able to do hose-less or rinseless washes for the winter. I generally am unable to get to somewhere that has a heated wash bay that I could actually wash the vehicle thoroughly and doing a rinseless wash with the ONR would be better than letting the salt and snow sit on the vehicle. If the ONR does a rinseless wash, QD, and clay-bar lube then I'm down for purchasing it and replacing the Meguiar's QD with it. It does seem pretty cheap too.

Also, like I said, I'll ditch the 3M Rubbing Compound, XMT #3, XMT#1, and the XMT finishing glaze and just use the M105 and M205. If you guys say those will cover compounds, polishes, and glazes then I'll just use those two.

I'm assuming that as far as a sealant goes you guys are applying them after you finish polishing? I would prefer to top the sealant with a good wax as I have Pinnacle Souveran to use. If I'm going to be spending hours upon hours detailing a car I want the finish to last a long time to the point that it only needs a regular washing to keep the finish up. Just from what I've seen the Pinnacle Souveran will do that, and it should do even better with a sealant underneath it.

Would you guys recommend using the Wolfgang or the DP sealant or something else?
 
The_Auto_Tech said:
Alright, I understand then. I would really like to be able to do hose-less or rinseless washes for the winter. I generally am unable to get to somewhere that has a heated wash bay that I could actually wash the vehicle thoroughly and doing a rinseless wash with the ONR would be better than letting the salt and snow sit on the vehicle. If the ONR does a rinseless wash, QD, and clay-bar lube then I'm down for purchasing it and replacing the Meguiar's QD with it. It does seem pretty cheap too.

Also, like I said, I'll ditch the 3M Rubbing Compound, XMT #3, XMT#1, and the XMT finishing glaze and just use the M105 and M205. If you guys say those will cover compounds, polishes, and glazes then I'll just use those two.

I'm assuming that as far as a sealant goes you guys are applying them after you finish polishing? I would prefer to top the sealant with a good wax as I have Pinnacle Souveran to use. If I'm going to be spending hours upon hours detailing a car I want the finish to last a long time to the point that it only needs a regular washing to keep the finish up. Just from what I've seen the Pinnacle Souveran will do that, and it should do even better with a sealant underneath it.

Would you guys recommend using the Wolfgang or the DP sealant or something else?
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ONR is excellent, but DP rinseless wash n' gloss can do the same things, and it's on BOGO right now.

Good idea to go with M105, M205. Have you ever used M105?

You apply a sealant after polishing. However, you want to make sure the paint is free of polishing oils before you apply the sealant. A wash or IPA wipedown is ideal.

Pinnacle Souveran isn't that durable, so you definitely want a sealant under it for better durability. Then, you don't have to be so anal about applying Souveran, you can apply it as desired. I'd use WDGPS under Souveran. DP sealant will work fine as well.
 
M105 is definitely not a medium cut compound. It is aggressive compared to polishes like Menz SIP or WG TSR. Use it only if you need it.
 
I think I'll end up just going with the ONR. It seems to be hugely popular. Also, the 128 oz. bottle of ONR is still cheaper than if you were to do the BOGO offer on the DP stuff.

I've never used the M105 or M205 yet, so I'm interested to see how good they work. From what I'm understanding though you can use that combo over a wide variety of finishes. Seems like you could use the M105 on a heavy cut pad to get something that's going to cut very easily and fast, but still use it on an orange or white pad to get a medium cut. The M205 seems like it can either cut medium or light as well depending on what pad you're using. So, from the sounds of it, the two will cover what you need as far as compounds go.

I had never heard of doing an IPA wipedown before applying a wax or sealant, but I guess it makes sense. It would make an excellent surface for the sealant and wax to bond to. Does it matter if you wash or IPA really? Most likely I'd just like to wash again but that would probably be more work than just wiping down with IPA. What would you use to do an IPA wipedown as far as a microfiber is concerned?

I guess I'll end up going with the Wolfgang sealant as it seems to be popping up as more popular than the DP stuff.
 
The_Auto_Tech said:
I think I'll end up just going with the ONR. It seems to be hugely popular. Also, the 128 oz. bottle of ONR is still cheaper than if you were to do the BOGO offer on the DP stuff.
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Someone check my math for me here.

128oz ONR - 39.99

4 x 32oz DP = 128oz - 33.98
 
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