What tools should I get?

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Based

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I want to start a detailing business. I've read the stickies and I've also read the thread called the 500$ startup list. But I'm not really wondering about the chemicals at this point I'm more worried about the tools.

Tools as in, vacuum, steam cleaner, hot water extractor, etc. I want to buy the tools that will make my job as easy as possible and make it as non-tedious as possible. I plan on doing just Production Detailing so I just need the tools good enough for those types of jobs.

What tools should I get? Thank you. I really am super excited about getting into detailing.
 
If you want top of the line tools, It's going to cost more than 500. Honestly, how I bought my luxury items, I saved money from details to reinvest in better tools.

If you can't she'll out copious amounts of cash, invest in a Bissel spot clean pro, and a McCullough steamer. Both of those items can be had for under $250


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A2D Signature said:
If you want top of the line tools, It's going to cost more than 500. Honestly, how I bought my luxury items, I saved money from details to reinvest in better tools.

If you can't she'll out copious amounts of cash, invest in a Bissel spot clean pro, and a McCullough steamer. Both of those items can be had for under $250


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Good advice. If money is not a super issue I would go with:
Vx5000 steamer
Flex xc3401 polisher
Rupes 75e (or if money is getting tight GG 3")
I would probably hold off on the extractor as you can't can get damn good results with the steamer.
 
Griot garage 6" polisher w/ 5" backing plate
griot garage 3"
mcCullough steamer
carpet brush attachment
no extractor
(5) 5" cutting pads
(5) 5" medium pads
(2) 5" finish pads
metro side kick
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Do you have any experience detailing cars?
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No I do not. I am going to be gathering up detailing supplies and then practicing on my own vehicle and once I have it down I'll look towards starting a business.

To all who have posted, I'll be looking up all those tools, and I really appreciate the responses!
 
Shop vac. I have an uber shop vac but really anything will work. Ridgid from Hope Depot has some great models that are affordable and you can purchase the filters locally.

McCulloch 1250 steamer can be found for less than $100. Great unit that will do wonders for years.

Brushes of various sizes and shape are an essential set of items that are often under looked when starting up. You can never have too many wheel brushes, fender well brushes, interior brushes, boars hair brushes. Big money polishers are amazing but you will find that tiny brushes will be doing a lot of your grunt work.
 
:welcome: to the forum and welcome to the addiction.

If I was to mentor you, I would first start with a nominal investment of products (before investing in tools). Tools are important but.....

I started my son in the detailing world by locking up the tools and doing everything by hand (with him). At the end of the 7th car is when I unlocked the tools. He was able to learn the craft and the razor sharp focus and dedication he will need for those long and tough details. Only then was he allowed to apply what he learned and perfected (by hand) to the use of tools. The tools don't produce those incredible result, your skills do. The tools just make you achieve those results faster and easier (if you know what you are doing in the first place). Tools are a great asset but in my opinion they makes a detailer lazy (as far as trying to learn the craft or to develop the passion despite the hardship).

If you can survive multiple full interior and exterior hand detail and still have the passion burning in your belly then you will LOVE detailing. Only then should you even consider shelling $1000s. If you are in it because you can spend $500 and hang a shingle so you can make some quick cash, then we will eventually have to fix your mistakes (as too many corners will be cut for the sake of making bank).
 
Based said:
No I do not. I am going to be gathering up detailing supplies and then practicing on my own vehicle and once I have it down I'll look towards starting a business.
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How does that saying go? Love your job and you'll never work a day in your life? If I were you, I would make sure I actually LIKE car detailing before I invested in enough equipment to run a business.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
How does that saying go? Love your job and you'll never work a day in your life? If I were you, I would make sure I actually LIKE car detailing before I invested in enough equipment to run a business.
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Man, I knew I should have waited for someone to post something more concise than my post. You hit the nail on the head!:dblthumb2:
 
thebamboo23 said:
Griot garage 6" polisher w/ 5" backing plate
griot garage 3"
mcCullough steamer
carpet brush attachment
no extractor
(5) 5" cutting pads
(5) 5" medium pads
(2) 5" finish pads
metro side kick
Click to expand...


:iagree:THIS!!!:iagree:

The McCullough steamer will go a long way towards getting the job done.

What you WILL need is the most powerful SMALL shop vac you can get. Combine that with the steamer and you'll get 95%+ of all carpets done just fine.

As has been said, the Bissell machines offer a great value.

The Metro Side Kick is a great tool, although to save a few bucks you might want a 12amp dedicated leaf blower.

And you absolutely can get into the business, and do FANTASTIC paint buffing and correction with a GG6 (as well as the GG3 for smaller areas, or even another GG6 with a 3½" backing plate). They are rock solid machines that will give you years of service while you grow your bank account.

Make your pads ALL be 5½" and get at least 2 dozen of them. Probably will not need yellow, but you'll need 5~6 orange, 6~8 white (because you'll use more white than any others), 3~4 green (CCS), 2~3 blue, 2~3 black and at least 2 cutting and 2 finishing of the Meguiar's microfiber pads.

Microfiber, go to Microfiber Tech and get at least 40 of the 360's. Then pick up 20~30 530's. You can actually dry with the 530's! :) That'll get you going.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
How does that saying go? Love your job and you'll never work a day in your life? If I were you, I would make sure I actually LIKE car detailing before I invested in enough equipment to run a business.
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I know I will like it. I spent 3 full days just doing my truck's interior when I bought it. It had coffee stains everywhere, the plastic had dirt all over it, the leather grimy and stained as heck... I'm very detail oriented and I have somewhat OCD :D. The reason I want to know the tools I should get is because if I'm going to be doing a mass amount of cars I want to make sure I'm not taking 5 hours a car and working way harder than I would have to if I had the right tools.

I'm reading all these posts.
 
VP Mark said:
Shop vac. I have an uber shop vac but really anything will work. Ridgid from Hope Depot has some great models that are affordable and you can purchase the filters locally.

McCulloch 1250 steamer can be found for less than $100. Great unit that will do wonders for years.

Brushes of various sizes and shape are an essential set of items that are often under looked when starting up. You can never have too many wheel brushes, fender well brushes, interior brushes, boars hair brushes. Big money polishers are amazing but you will find that tiny brushes will be doing a lot of your grunt work.
Click to expand...

Yeah right now I'm looking at getting the 5hp Ridgid Wet/Dry. It's 80$ at Home Depot. It looks like the McCulloch 1250 and the Ridgid would be a good place to start.
 
What is better for all around interior cleaning? A steamer or an extractor?
 
Based said:
What is better for all around interior cleaning? A steamer or an extractor?
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Steamer. Extractors are for carpet/upholstery only.

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VP Mark said:
Steamer. Extractors are for carpet/upholstery only.

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Yeah that's what I thought. What's the point of an extractor then? Do they just do a better job than steamers on carpet?
 
Extractors save you a ton of time when doing interiors. You aren't always guaranteed clean floor mats and carpet on an interior. It's best to be prepared for that type of carpet. I started off with 2 spray bottles. One with Hot water, one with Meg's APC and a scrub brush. Once I got the carpet clean, I'd vaccum with my shop vac That can take a good chunk of time, cleaning the interior. If it's cloth seats!!! Forget about it lol. I think an extractor is one hell of a good investment.


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Based said:
What is better for all around interior cleaning? A steamer or an extractor?
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I use a steamer for all things interior. They do work on floors and seats. Blasting out all the gunk and nastiness in seat tracks and the little nooks and crannies... Never gets old.

If you're planning on doing production detailing just get the basic stuff?

Also, have you put thought into how to advertise & get business going? The best tools won't get you business - that's the most challenging part starting out.

But go for it dude. I started 3 months ago and my wife is able tk quit her job to stay home with our new baby and I'm switching mine to part-time.

Owning your own business is awesome, but it takes a serious amount of work to get things going & you're going to work extremely long hours.. Not just cleaning cars but all the administrative stuff & cleaning your microfibers, etc.

But go for it. If you work hard, provide awesome service you can do it. Just my thoughts but then again I'm a newbie as well.
 
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