What is the best detailing purchase you ever made?

[04lss]

Hi all, was thinking about this yesterday while doing some polishing. I realized that if I had to pick a single best purchase it would be my griots 6.5 inch polisher. It’s what helped me take the step from guy who waxes his car to hobby detailer. It really ignited my passion. More importantly it just works consistently. It easily outperforms my cordless rupes and has transformed a dozen cars at this point. A close second would be my 3 inch polisher.

So, what is your “best” purchase?

 

[BLM]

Have a little bit of an advantage as we have a local internet auction site with several warehouses in the area where you pick up your winnings. They auction everything under the sun but have detailing stuff from time to time. Matter of fact I won a brand new Autofiber Dreadnaught Max XL drying towel last night for $1.00. It is $4.44 with fees and taxes. One of my best scores ( detailing wise ) was a brand new IK Multi Pro 12 for $3.00.

 

[Uncbrs]

Maybe the last thing I ever thought I needed. Now I'm hating the fact I've run out and want to get some Atom Mac to try first.

Another that came to mind... Griot's pfm towels. Perfect.


Agree that the Griot's G9 polisher is iconic for me. It's the machine I used to clean up all the washers and dryers in my family (practice!). I bought the G8 shortly after and then went cordless... the usual progression for most I suppose.

Sent from my SM-S938U1 using Tapatalk

 

[04lss]

Maybe the last thing I ever thought I needed. Now I'm hating the fact I've run out and want to get some Atom Mac to try first.

Another that came to mind... Griot's pfm towels. Perfect.


Agree that the Griot's G9 polisher is iconic for me. It's the machine I used to clean up all the washers and dryers in my family (practice!). I bought the G8 shortly after and then went cordless... the usual progression for most I suppose.

Sent from my SM-S938U1 using Tapatalk

I bought the rupes cordless and it just stalls too much for me to reach for.

 

[Uncbrs]

I bought the rupes cordless and it just stalls too much for me to reach for.

I've got 3 at the moment.

Shinemate 15mm
3in from a US based small business
3in SPTA (usual to use the 2in or 1in)

I haven't used my G8/G9 combo in some time...

Sent from my SM-S938U1 using Tapatalk

 

[John U]

Flex, corded Beast a long time ago.... then cordless Beast, Finisher & Pixie.

 

[Silly Rabbit]

A bucket, couldn't do a decent wash without it, lol. More serious, Ego blower. If I had to pick the one part of washing I found least fun, it was drying. Blower gets everything off the car and into nooks and creases.

 

[MisterSnoop]

probably my electric plant sprayer that i use for rinseless. my Griot's polishers are good but they don't see that much usage.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

3in from a US based small business

Is this a secret?

 

[DFB]

Maybe the last thing I ever thought I needed. Now I'm hating the fact I've run out and want to get some Atom Mac to try first.

Another that came to mind... Griot's pfm towels. Perfect.


Agree that the Griot's G9 polisher is iconic for me. It's the machine I used to clean up all the washers and dryers in my family (practice!). I bought the G8 shortly after and then went cordless... the usual progression for most I suppose.

Sent from my SM-S938U1 using Tapatalk

I've used both Hyde's and Atom Mac, the Bilt Hamber product is the more effective of the two.

Hydes is RTU, but Atom Mac requires a 5% dilution - 25ml to 475ml of demineralized water.

 

[DFB]

I have three best-ever detailing purchases. These are supportive to the process rather than something that directly touches the car.

Pressure Washer -
Buying a decent pressure washer changed how I washed cars. I went from a weak Karcher K2 with limited connectivity to a Kranzle K1152 (1122). If you've never used a pressure washer at this level, you don't know what your are missing. A lot of that is the performance improvement, 6.0 lpm (1.5 gpm) to 10 lpm (2.64 gpm) is highly noticeable and makes rinsing more time efficient. But then there is the way it sounds, no high-pitched screeching and surging, just a stout and pleasant sounding tone. Then there is the superior hose, the ease of adding aftermarket upgrades, and the ability to service and repair as needed.

While I've since invested in a wall mounted setup, I still love using that 1152. Worth every single cent.

(Not trying to plug my channel, just showing the sound)

Sink -
This changed everything! Having a convenient central point to fill buckets, clean tools, fill foam cannons, and mix chemicals.................it made my workflow more efficient, more enjoyable. I always hated filling buckets with a garden hose, and mixing foam cannons meant a trip to the kitchen sink. The sink itself is nothing special, but its impact has been priceless.









Swisstrax Flooring -
Another addition that doesn't have a bearing on how clean I can get a car, but its impact was significant. I mostly did this for cosmetics, it easily covered up an ugly concrete slab with peeling paint. But then you start working on it and you go wow, standing in puddles of water after washing sucks. So, the standing surface is always clean and dry. I actually enjoyed the install process as much as the end result.







I know, those are significant purchases. But all three combined take a labour-intensive hobby and make it enjoyable. I've also sacrificed a lot to make those purchases; I don't drink, don't smoke, don't gamble, don't go to sporting events, don't eat out, don't take vacations, don't have children, don't buy expensive watches, jewelry or clothes. In the past, I've had people make snarky comments about my garage space, that it's not a place to do "real", and then take pot shots at what I've spent money on. Well, if they stop smoking, drinking beer and sitting on a sunny beach and maybe they could afford nice things too.

 

[Bosko]

Not sure it fits the question, but for me the best thing I did to help with detailing.
Car pavilion....

 

[Big DaveBig Dave is verified member.]

Mine is simple, it's this Pope Boat/Caravan hose. Very flexible, light, does not tangle up, even in winter it's great. It's 7.5 metres empty, but expands to 15 when pressurized, creepy AF when it's expanding and contracting though, very snake like. I've been using it more than 18 months and when I thought about it, it's the thing that's made washing more enjoyable than any other product I use.

 

[04lss]

I have three best-ever detailing purchases. These are supportive to the process rather than something that directly touches the car.

Pressure Washer -
Buying a decent pressure washer changed how I washed cars. I went from a weak Karcher K2 with limited connectivity to a Kranzle K1152 (1122). If you've never used a pressure washer at this level, you don't know what your are missing. A lot of that is the performance improvement, 6.0 lpm (1.5 gpm) to 10 lpm (2.64 gpm) is highly noticeable and makes rinsing more time efficient. But then there is the way it sounds, no high-pitched screeching and surging, just a stout and pleasant sounding tone. Then there is the superior hose, the ease of adding aftermarket upgrades, and the ability to service and repair as needed.

While I've since invested in a wall mounted setup, I still love using that 1152. Worth every single cent.

(Not trying to plug my channel, just showing the sound)

Sink -
This changed everything! Having a convenient central point to fill buckets, clean tools, fill foam cannons, and mix chemicals.................it made my workflow more efficient, more enjoyable. I always hated filling buckets with a garden hose, and mixing foam cannons meant a trip to the kitchen sink. The sink itself is nothing special, but its impact has been priceless.









Swisstrax Flooring -
Another addition that doesn't have a bearing on how clean I can get a car, but its impact was significant. I mostly did this for cosmetics, it easily covered up an ugly concrete slab with peeling paint. But then you start working on it and you go wow, standing in puddles of water after washing sucks. So, the standing surface is always clean and dry. I actually enjoyed the install process as much as the end result.







I know, those are significant purchases. But all three combined take a labour-intensive hobby and make it enjoyable. I've also sacrificed a lot to make those purchases; I don't drink, don't smoke, don't gamble, don't go to sporting events, don't eat out, don't take vacations, don't have children, don't buy expensive watches, jewelry or clothes. In the past, I've had people make snarky comments about my garage space, that it's not a place to do "real", and then take pot shots at what I've spent money on. Well, if they stop smoking, drinking beer and sitting on a sunny beach and maybe they could afford nice things too.

I upgraded from a normal ryobi to their car wash focused one and it was a noticeable difference. If I owned a home with a garage I would 100% get a wall mount, some nice overhead lights, and a full station. Just having my ryobi stay in the same spot and not having to put it away and take it out every car wash was huge. Swiss tracks look very cool, how do you manage drainage? Do you have a drain in your garage?

 

[04lss]

Not sure it fits the question, but for me the best thing I did to help with detailing.
Car pavilion....

Going from an apartment to having a carport really improved my detailing since I can wash decon and if I don’t finish polishing the same day it’s not going to ruin the effort since I’m not getting kicked out of a friends garage l.

 

[Uncbrs]

Going from an apartment to having a carport really improved my detailing since I can wash decon and if I don’t finish polishing the same day it’s not going to ruin the effort since I’m not getting kicked out of a friends garage l.

It sounds like your upgrade should've been better friends

I don't think I could send a half polished vehicle into the wild... especially unprotected

Sent from my SM-S938U1 using Tapatalk

 

[04lss]

It sounds like your upgrade should've been better friends

I don't think I could send a half polished vehicle into the wild... especially unprotected

Sent from my SM-S938U1 using Tapatalk

I’ve never actually done it, and I’ve never been kicked out but I’ve also worked myself way harder than I should have to finish in a day. The real issue became “this is my ride home” a few times.

On my GTi for example I worked from 10 am till 1 am trying to finish it. I ended up giving up on topping my csl with exo after the hood because I was too tired.

At the current place I can Decon and polish one day and wash prep and coat the next. Much less stressful.

 

[Tasmania]

My water pump that pumps the rainwater to the pressure washer or hose. Before that is was the "Dredded Car Wash" best birthday gift.

 

[Tasmania]

I have three best-ever detailing purchases. These are supportive to the process rather than something that directly touches the car.

Pressure Washer -
Buying a decent pressure washer changed how I washed cars. I went from a weak Karcher K2 with limited connectivity to a Kranzle K1152 (1122). If you've never used a pressure washer at this level, you don't know what your are missing. A lot of that is the performance improvement, 6.0 lpm (1.5 gpm) to 10 lpm (2.64 gpm) is highly noticeable and makes rinsing more time efficient. But then there is the way it sounds, no high-pitched screeching and surging, just a stout and pleasant sounding tone. Then there is the superior hose, the ease of adding aftermarket upgrades, and the ability to service and repair as needed.

While I've since invested in a wall mounted setup, I still love using that 1152. Worth every single cent.

(Not trying to plug my channel, just showing the sound)

Sink -
This changed everything! Having a convenient central point to fill buckets, clean tools, fill foam cannons, and mix chemicals.................it made my workflow more efficient, more enjoyable. I always hated filling buckets with a garden hose, and mixing foam cannons meant a trip to the kitchen sink. The sink itself is nothing special, but its impact has been priceless.









Swisstrax Flooring -
Another addition that doesn't have a bearing on how clean I can get a car, but its impact was significant. I mostly did this for cosmetics, it easily covered up an ugly concrete slab with peeling paint. But then you start working on it and you go wow, standing in puddles of water after washing sucks. So, the standing surface is always clean and dry. I actually enjoyed the install process as much as the end result.







I know, those are significant purchases. But all three combined take a labour-intensive hobby and make it enjoyable. I've also sacrificed a lot to make those purchases; I don't drink, don't smoke, don't gamble, don't go to sporting events, don't eat out, don't take vacations, don't have children, don't buy expensive watches, jewelry or clothes. In the past, I've had people make snarky comments about my garage space, that it's not a place to do "real", and then take pot shots at what I've spent money on. Well, if they stop smoking, drinking beer and sitting on a sunny beach and maybe they could afford nice things too.

When i win the lottery my goal is this but epoxy floor and dedicated in door wash bay.

Think Larry from Ammo NYC set up

 

[DFB]

I upgraded from a normal ryobi to their car wash focused one and it was a noticeable difference. If I owned a home with a garage I would 100% get a wall mount, some nice overhead lights, and a full station. Just having my ryobi stay in the same spot and not having to put it away and take it out every car wash was huge. Swiss tracks look very cool, how do you manage drainage? Do you have a drain in your garage?

Swisstrax have drainage channels on the underside, which allows water to flow into a drain or out into the driveway.





When I was researching what to do with my floor, I had dismissed Swisstrax because of the "where does the dirt go" thing. But everything else outweighed that perceived fear -

1. It meant I didn't have to totally gut the garage for several days. Epoxy or polishing would need that to happen.
2. I did not want the dusty mess associated with concrete polishing.
3. Long term durability, epoxy is known to fail and look crappy, which would have me back in the same situation I was trying to address.
4. The look, even though I went with a cookie-cutter colour combination.
5. The ability for water to flow through, no puddles of standing water to work in and around.
6. I could install it myself and keep control over the job. Large items were moved as needed onto already installed tiles, then slid back when done.

The big selling feature for me was the cleanliness. Because dirt/dust falls through, it means the surface you stand on is always clean. So, you don't end up tracking that mess back into the house or car. And when debris blows in from the driveway (leaves), they are caught in the first few rows of tiles rather than being carried all the way in to the back. That mess is vacuumed once a week, if I wanted that cleanliness before the install, I would be vacuuming/blowing out the garage once a DAY.

Sorry to go all salesman on you, but I would 100% do this again. And that applies to both aesthetic and functional aspects.