To All Detailing Enthusiasts!

[carguy750]

How much do you guys spend on detailing supplies a month? I find myself spending $200-$300 a month give or take; it's a mix of trying new stuff. It's getting lower now that I have a little bit of everything now though

[sensi09]

A lot of times its $0. Unless I want to try something out or need some basics like car wash soap, I find a lot of things last a good long while.

Have a ton of products and MF that never see any use

[advans]

I have a shit load of detailing products, I'm a sucker when chemical guys send some promotional discount thing, I end up buying something everytime haha, and I handwash my car almost every weekend, so my stock goes by fast!

[1LRM3]

Originally Posted by williyam

spending $200-$300 a month

yes we are fanatical about our cars, but unless you are having your car professionally detailed by some1 each month, that is crazy!!! do you put many coats of each product on because that wont work..... I think you need to tell us more about what you are buying, using, and why.... that is way to high imo!

[SouthShoreM3]

Yeah that is a little steep. I would recommend buying in bulk if you have products that you really like.

Detailers domain is always having some good prices. So does autogeek.
It's addicting almost like modding though!

[carguy750]

Originally Posted by 1LRM3

yes we are fanatical about our cars, but unless you are having your car professionally detailed by some1 each month, that is crazy!!! do you put many coats of each product on because that wont work..... I think you need to tell us more about what you are buying, using, and why.... that is way to high imo!

loool detailing supplies are expensive! Maybe I can elaborate, here are my supplies and still growing. Most of my expenses are just trying new things or a new tool to make my life easier.

Tools:
Pressure Washer $300
Snow Foam Attachment For Pressure Washer $100
Two 5 Gal Buckets With Grit Guards $50
Blower To Dry Car $70

DA Polisher $200
DA Pads (Varying sizes/Abrasiveness) $50
1000w Halogen Lights $50
Painter's Tape $10
Stroller $40
MF Towels and MF Wash Mitts $40
Applicator Pads $20

Jack $120
Jack Stands $40
Race Ramps $40
Torque Wrench $120

Spray Wax:
Meguiars Spray Wax $10

Spray Sealant
CG V7 $15

Liquid Wax:
Collinite 845 $25
CG Butter Wet Wax $30 (1Gal)
Wheel Wax $15

Paste Wax:
Collinite 915 $30
CG 50/50 $50

Glaze:
3M IHG $25
CG Deep Reflections XP $15

Detailing Spray:
CG Clay Lube $30 (1Gal)
Meguiars Quick Detailer $15

Clay Bar:
CG (1lb) $30
Nanoscrub Clay Mitt $50

Compound/Polish
M205 $25
M105 $25
Mothers Metal Polish $20

All Purpose Cleaners
Optimum Power Cleaner $35
CG Grime Reaper $30

Dressing:
CG VRP $15
Meguiars Hyper Dressing (1Gal) $45

Wash:
Foam Lance $30
Soap $25

Leather:
Cleaner $15
Conditioner $15

[carguy750]

If I didn't try anything new; I'd probably be looking at $50 a month. Too bad that's not the case, next is a steam cleaner for the engine bay! I loveeeeeeeee detailing!!!

[Z K]

After you've amassed a couple thousand dollars worth of equipment and detailing products, you tend to stop. They don't introduce new products that often and you have so many redundant products that it'll take you forever to go through it.

I wash my car every week and detail it pretty often. I also work on other people's cars. Even so, I find it hard to go through all the products. Also, some stuff like polish goes bad over time so there's no need to stock up as it'll go bad before you use it all.

With detailing, it's often not the products that make the difference, it's the labor behind it. You can get stunning results from using some over the counter stuff and crappy results from using great stuff - it is all dependant on the detailer.

[carguy750]

Originally Posted by Z K

After you've amassed a couple thousand dollars worth of equipment and detailing products, you tend to stop. They don't introduce new products that often and you have so many redundant products that it'll take you forever to go through it.

I wash my car every week and detail it pretty often. I also work on other people's cars. Even so, I find it hard to go through all the products. Also, some stuff like polish goes bad over time so there's no need to stock up as it'll go bad before you use it all.

With detailing, it's often not the products that make the difference, it's the labor behind it. You can get stunning results from using some over the counter stuff and crappy results from using great stuff - it is all dependant on the detailer.

Very true, the difference between polishes is minimal but using a better product is always a plus. Having a wide variety is also a plus: a full detail, I'll use paste wax; just messing around I'll use spray; weekly, maybe liquid. Don't want to polish, I'll use glaze and top off with a sealant.

[nvladik]

Originally Posted by williyam

loool detailing supplies are expensive! Maybe I can elaborate, here are my supplies and still growing. Most of my expenses are just trying new things or a new tool to make my life easier.

Tools:
Pressure Washer $300
Snow Foam Attachment For Pressure Washer $100
Two 5 Gal Buckets With Grit Guards $50
Blower To Dry Car $70

DA Polisher $200
DA Pads (Varying sizes/Abrasiveness) $50
1000w Halogen Lights $50
Painter's Tape $10
Stroller $40
MF Towels and MF Wash Mitts $40
Applicator Pads $20

Jack $120
Jack Stands $40
Race Ramps $40
Torque Wrench $120

Spray Wax:
Meguiars Spray Wax $10

Spray Sealant
CG V7 $15

Liquid Wax:
Collinite 845 $25
CG Butter Wet Wax $30 (1Gal)
Wheel Wax $15

Paste Wax:
Collinite 915 $30
CG 50/50 $50

Glaze:
3M IHG $25
CG Deep Reflections XP $15

Detailing Spray:
CG Clay Lube $30 (1Gal)
Meguiars Quick Detailer $15

Clay Bar:
CG (1lb) $30
Nanoscrub Clay Mitt $50

Compound/Polish
M205 $25
M105 $25
Mothers Metal Polish $20

All Purpose Cleaners
Optimum Power Cleaner $35
CG Grime Reaper $30

Dressing:
CG VRP $15
Meguiars Hyper Dressing (1Gal) $45

Wash:
Foam Lance $30
Soap $25

Leather:
Cleaner $15
Conditioner $15

Can you wash my car? Very nice list.

[Z K]

Originally Posted by williyam

Very true, the difference between polishes is minimal but using a better product is always a plus. Having a wide variety is also a plus: a full detail, I'll use paste wax; just messing around I'll use spray; weekly, maybe liquid. Don't want to polish, I'll use glaze and top off with a sealant.

If I didn't have Jet Black, which is by far the most soft and delicate black color I've seen, I probably wouldn't be as OCD about it. Simply wiping with a clean microfiber after washing will cause swirls on Jet Black.

I've given up on keeping it totally swirl free and layer Gtechniq C2 over it every month to keep the swirling down. I do a 1 step polish every 1/2 year and a bigger polish once a year. Most products are redundant.. I have a bunch of sealants, waxes and other stuff that I rarely use anymore. Seems like a total waste of money as I just stick to the same products over and over - mostly the ones easiest to use.

[1LRM3]

Originally Posted by Z K

With detailing, it's often not the products that make the difference, it's the labor behind it. You can get stunning results from using some over the counter stuff and crappy results from using great stuff - it is all dependant on the detailer.

yup!

[carguy750]

Originally Posted by nvladik

Can you wash my car? Very nice list.

For sure man! Just PM me hahas

Originally Posted by Z K

If I didn't have Jet Black, which is by far the most soft and delicate black color I've seen, I probably wouldn't be as OCD about it. Simply wiping with a clean microfiber after washing will cause swirls on Jet Black.

I've given up on keeping it totally swirl free and layer Gtechniq C2 over it every month to keep the swirling down. I do a 1 step polish every 1/2 year and a bigger polish once a year. Most products are redundant.. I have a bunch of sealants, waxes and other stuff that I rarely use anymore. Seems like a total waste of money as I just stick to the same products over and over - mostly the ones easiest to use.

On the contrary! Black really pops when its corrected; my Alpine White seems to look the same no matter how many swirls I remove

Btw it's funny you mentioned wasting money; I'm on a little vacation for myself in California and I just wasted some more money on some towels when I visited Chemical Guy's warehouse yesterday