Will we get over our addiction?

OCD Detailing

OCD Detailing

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We started a mobile detailing business about 3 months ago. We spent about 4 grand on products and tools not including the trailer with the generator and pressure washer/tank. Over the last couple of months we went through a wheel brush addiction. We must have about 8 to 10 wheel brushes in our wheel bucket and another 4 to 5 we don't take with us. Everything from the Speed Masters large and small, 3 or 4 different style wheel nut brushes to the Sonax brush. Even two different style tire/fender well brushes.

Now I seem to be on a clay addiction. When we first started we bought the Nano clay towels, 2 blue and 1 yellow I noticed they don't seem to always get the job done so I bought a couple of different clay bars from CG, that led to my last shopping spree here where I got the Megs (blue and red), both Pinnacles, the Wolfgang, and a couple others. (BTW the Pinnacle Ultra poly and Megs blue are my favorite so far. CG's is way too sticky. Wolfgang I think is good for the tougher jobs but harder to kneed.) I am actually liking real clay over the towels. Something more satisfying about it. It's almost as if you can feel every little piece of contaminant being removed as you go over it. I hardly use the Nano towels anymore.

It doesn't stop there. This doesn't take into consideration the MF towels, pads and other products that are somewhat duplicates of what we have just different brands. And now I am looking at the Flex PE 8 and the 3401. We already have the Rupes 75, Duetto, 21 and Griots 3"

I fear a wax addiction may be my future. I have been eyeballing some of the 100$ plus waxes and the pretty containers they come in. I have resisted so far.

I am just curious if it's because we are new to this that all this stuff is exciting to buy or if it's something that will continue on?
 
The symptoms will decrease...but, the underlying disease will persist
 
Nomadsto said:
:iagree:Lmao'.......I'm feeling much better now. Down to only buying on sale/w free shipping!
Click to expand...

That makes it worse sometimes. Last week I caught myself throwing things in to hit the 150$ min to get free shipping.
 
Find things that work and stick to them.. Remember this is your business not pleasure. Get good products and equipment get a good momentum going and stick to your guns. If you feel one thing is lacking seek an alternative. I know I could start a small stand alone business with just my GG6", a $200 steamer, my bissell, buckets, mitts, towels, pads, and about 10-15 products and meet just about every customers standards.

I think that is the key make sure you are just trying to meet/exceed the customers standards not your own and you will get on track.
 
Nomadsto said:
:iagree:Lmao'.......I'm feeling much better now. Down to only buying on sale/w free shipping!
Click to expand...

Over time and spending to much money I have found the items I like to use so now I wait for sales and shipping costs also. :xyxthumbs:
 
I went off the rails when I first discovered how to properly detail a car. I bought a lot of products (some that did not live up to their claims, but a vast majority that worked quite well). I went through several random orbital polishers as well.

Now, I will try something only if I feel it fits a defined need.
 
I disagree.

You're relating 'Detailer's Wheel Brush disease', but you haven't even bought a set of 5 wheel woolies (including both spoke brushes) and boar's brush. Relax, your symptoms are very mild! You can come back to the the Doctor when you collect all Valet Pro and Race Glaze set of brushes.

We may tie you and offer shock treatment. Guaranteed!

My opinion is just you're testing everything out (maybe not the best practice, albeit much NEEDED!), but in near future you'll stick with what worked better and only re-stock what you really use.

Don't worry, I wouldn't!

I also won't give up on Nanoskin / similar. Try playing with different lube so you can find what works better for you. I like 'flowing water', although it's not the most environmental friendly, take advantage of the rinsing step while using nanoskin.

You can always follow up with conventional clay after nanoskin, it'll give you a much better time claying. Charge accordingly for this thorough decontamination step.


Kind Regards.
 
On what I've spent this far I don't think I want to give up the addiction.
 
To answer your title question...hopefully not! The most addictive thing for me is the progressive nature of this business. I like the constant parade of new products, techniques, and approaches to how we do what we do. Having said that, i will admit that i have slowed down my purchases of the "latest/greatest" and restrain my impulsive side...my rather irrational impulsive side at times!

Then a few of you pro's throw up a review or a new experience with something that is within an area of my operation that i have wanted to refine or improve and CRAP, what the heck is my CVN # on that stupid card!

In summary, my addiction is now going on 15 years and it's still rearing it's nasty head every once in a while. But all with the intent of improving...progressing. And this line of work feeds it well!
 
We all might have "the disease" in different forms. Thankfully I feel I have zeroed in on my product choice, but it's the process that is the largest component of my "addiction". It's too cold right now for me to work on cars, so I find myself taking my drums a part and polishing the lacquer finish, with the lightest finishing polish I have.

I've gone through the same permutations with drum gear vs. Practicing/playing. For years I was in acquisition mode, while now I'm purely in performance mode. Again, I've zeroed in on the drum equipment I prefer already, and now it's time to use it.

Another area of interest for me currently is pseudo "minimalist living". This is why I've sold or given away many elements of both drum and detailing supplies. My focus had been on what to use, how to get the most out of it, and master using it. I don't like a lot of clutter, or extraneous things around me. I prefer cleanliness, and spaciousness. Sadly, things don't always work out that way, but I'm still working on it.

One caveat is that I like to "bulk up" on items that I'm going to use, and put through their paces. I like to have a stash of my favorite supplies. For instance, I have two Porter Cable machines, and I one just popped up locally for a nice price. I might be picking that one up... I recently bulked up on my favorite pads... My favorite chemicals are all in Stock and ready to be used. The only things I really want to add at this point is the Rupes Duetto, and Mini, the Flex PE14, and an assortment of Menzerna polishes...

So...... Maybe it doesn't end where I thought it did..
 
I'm pretty much over it.

But, it took me literally being a garage full of products to find what works best for me. Then again - I'm just out of places to store stuff.

I'm buying a house in the near future. My next addiction will probably be more with tools, getting a lift, compressor, etc...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
The addction is always there....I've just learned to control it better lol. I managed to get through this past weekend without buying anything simply because I'm forcing myself to use up what I've already got piled up
 
I get the same bug buying things not needed but wanted at first mostly to try different products. I have found products that work for me and my clients so I don't buy as many new products now.
 
Yes, me too. I have settled down on buying a bunch of things and, like you and others have said, have settled on what i like and what works for me. And my "addiction" is not as much about buying new products as it is getting better at what i do. And a better question might be "will we ever get over this passion?".

Again...i hope i don't.
 
I guess I am still in the early stages of my addiction. While I have a set of go to products, the various reviews of other products by the pro's (I am just a nut in a garage) make we want to try other stuff and sales like the one this past weekend certainly feed that addiction.

I am looking forward to continue to try new products and new techniques to make the detailing of my personal rides more fun and efficient.

So while I will thank many of you for contributing, my wife is probably cursing some of you. :joking:
 
I've purchased far more products that I will ever use. Consider placing some of those things in the trade/sample thread to barter for the next product you want to try.

As many other's have said, I've settled into the core set of products that I like and work well for me. But every time I run out of something I find myself in a person struggle as to whether I restock or try a different version.

When I buy a new-to-me product, I now find myself targeting a specific function and trying to find the one product that will suit the need; the latest was an interior cleaner that can be used for medium duty, smells good, no residue, ph neutral range, dilutable and inexpensive (I found only 3 that hit all the marks)

This is much more difficult with tools since the quality ones don't die often and there is always a new one that catches my eye. I just have to take a deep breath and ask myself if it will make me faster, make the job easier and produce better results; that usually quells the impulse.
 
EVOlved said:
Find things that work and stick to them.. Remember this is your business not pleasure. Get good products and equipment get a good momentum going and stick to your guns. If you feel one thing is lacking seek an alternative. I know I could start a small stand alone business with just my GG6", a $200 steamer, my bissell, buckets, mitts, towels, pads, and about 10-15 products and meet just about every customers standards.

I think that is the key make sure you are just trying to meet/exceed the customers standards not your own and you will get on track.
Click to expand...

Spent 1500 on a steamer. lol. We have started to find certain daily use products that we like. For AIO we seem to like XMR 360. Although now Rupes is coming out with their new system they threw a wrench in my plan to stick with the 360. For wheels and interior, Megs products except leather I got the Nanoskin leather clean and condition on bogo so we are trying that now.

It's a weekend thing for now since we both have weekday jobs so the money we are bringing in is "somewhat" extra, but eventually we want to go full time. We pretty much have weekends booked or close to it depending on the weekend. Word of mouth and good Yelp reviews seem to be the key.

Tato said:
I disagree.

You're relating 'Detailer's Wheel Brush disease', but you haven't even bought a set of 5 wheel woolies (including both spoke brushes) and boar's brush. Relax, your symptoms are very mild! You can come back to the the Doctor when you collect all Valet Pro and Race Glaze set of brushes.

We may tie you and offer shock treatment. Guaranteed!

My opinion is just you're testing everything out (maybe not the best practice, albeit much NEEDED!), but in near future you'll stick with what worked better and only re-stock what you really use.

Don't worry, I wouldn't!

I also won't give up on Nanoskin / similar. Try playing with different lube so you can find what works better for you. I like 'flowing water', although it's not the most environmental friendly, take advantage of the rinsing step while using nanoskin.

You can always follow up with conventional clay after nanoskin, it'll give you a much better time claying. Charge accordingly for this thorough decontamination step.


Kind Regards.
Click to expand...

We have the Wheel woolies and boars hair brush. LOL I forgot all about those. They are in the wheel bucket as well.

I still try the nanoskin first but really, when folded into 1/4's it's not a whole lot bigger than the clay. I don't find the time difference that great. It may reduce a min here and there because you don't have to kneed it but other than that I can clay almost as quickly. But I did just order ONR to try as a lube. Have gone through about 5 so far. They have all worked about the same. Just trying ONR because I seem to go through at least 16 oz spray bottle per car so ONR is much cheaper than Nano Shock, Glide, Luber, and the rest.

Thanks for all the feedback everyone

I actually just remembered in the Nikon forums they have a name for it NAS. Nikon Acquisition Syndrome.
 
Maybe we have GAS here! (Geek Addiction Syndrome).
 
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