stealthboy

I have the Griot's Garage 6" random orbital and I like it quite a lot. Not less than $100, but only a little bit over if you look around.

addysdaddy

I tried to pick products to recommend that are readily available either through brick & mortar or the internet. There are also many boutique products in all categories many of which I've tried and liked. But again, since I'm trying to help a broader audience - I've made broader product recommendations.

For those who don't know, Autogeek is the 800 lb gorilla of detailing supplies on the internet but never ever buy from them without a min of -15% and reduced shipping charges. A good sale is -20% and free shipping - so just wait them out. There is always another promotion coming - trust me. Around the holidays you can get -25% so make your list and wait for the sale but note they are typically very time sensitive. There are obviously other solid internet companies but...AG does a nice job and if there's ever a problem, they fix it.

Hope this serves as a starting point for all. There are lots of YouTube Videos on proper detailing techniques for those in need.

EXTERIOR PRODUCTS

Car Wash
Ultima Paint Guard Wash - everyday usage and extremely cost effective when you calculate the cost per wash.
http://www.autogeek.net/ultima-car-wash.html

Wheel Cleaner
1Z ColorTech
http://www.autogeek.net/1z-colourtec-wheel-cleaner.html heavy duty wheel cleaner that turns color as it dwells. Excellent product but has a strong odor.

Tire Dressing
Optimum Opti-Bond Tire Gel - med-high gloss finish
http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-opti...-gel-32oz.html

Metal Polish
Optimum Metal Polish
http://www.autogeek.net/auto-metal-polish.html

P21S Polishing Soap definitely a must have product. Fantastic for exhaust pipes.
http://www.autogeek.net/p153.html

All Purpose Cleaner (APC)
P21s Total Auto Wash Only APC I use on my paint for decontamination
http://www.autogeek.net/p2totautwasr.html


INTERIOR PRODUCTS

Vinyl Treatment - Matte finish, like new with no residue

1Z Einszett Cockpit Premium Interior Plastic Cleaner
http://www.autogeek.net/1z-einzett-cockpit-premium.html

Leather Cleaner
Ultima Interior Shampoo Gel - my favorite for the well maintained car
http://www.autogeek.net/ultima-interior-shampoo.html

Leather Conditioner
Pinnacle Leather Conditioner Have been using this for more than 20 years and there's still nothing to compare for treated leather

http://www.autogeek.net/64ozleatcon.html

Vinegar & Water diluted 1-1 for cleaning glass - spray onto towel first. Avoid overspray onto painted surfaces


KIMBERLY CLARK WYPALL Cloths w/Microban - KIM83630
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Kimberly-cla...item4d1932d06f If you want clean streak free glass, these towels are a must. Usually 6 towels for less the $20 if you search just a little. Trust me, it's all about the towel and not the window cleaner. You won't be sorry.

POLISHES, PAINT CLEANSER, SEALANTS, WAXES & CLAY BARS
Paint Cleansers - non-abrasive polish
Klasse AIO Paint Cleanser - great product but contains a sealant. I prefer to use just a cleaner and apply my own sealant/wax. Good when you need/want an AIO. (all in one)
http://www.autogeek.net/klasalpolsea2.html

Nanoskin & Clay bars
Nanoskin Pad truly a gee whiz product that is luxury turned necessity. Replaces traditional clay bar and allows you to decon the paint in a fraction of the time and effort. Cheaper in the long run then clay. Get the medium grade version in the size desired. I have stopped using conventional clay as a result of buying this product! But old school clay bars work just fine.
http://www.autogeek.net/nanoskin-aut...ium-grade.html

Glide concentrated lube for Nanoskin products this is what's recommended by Nanoskin and since it's such a high tech product, I use it exclusively though any clay lube would "probably" work, but...I'm sticking with Glide.
Nanoskin Glide Instant Detail Spray Lubricant Concentrate 16 oz.

POLISHES-COMPOUNDS for defect correction
Remember the detailers creed. Least aggressive product is best and do a test spot first.

Most aggressive - max cut compound
Meguiars M101 cut rating = 12
Probably the most aggressive cut compound on the mkt and something I use strictly on badly neglected cars.
http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-m10...-compound.html

aggressive
Menzerna Fast Gloss 400 Compound (FG400) cut rating = 10
Instead of M#105 since it's easier to wipe off and has longer working time. I've seen it used with a white pad as a one step. Awesome product.
http://www.autogeek.net/menzerna-fast-gloss.html

more aggressive
Meguiars Ultimate Compound cut rating = 7- an excellent over the counter product that can be found everywhere. Easy to work with and does a great job. Can function as an All In One.
http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-ultimate-compound.html

mid level aggressive
Optimum Hyper Spray Polish - cut rating = 5 a little strange since it's spray on application method but it's a great polish and I would highly recommend it.
http://www.autogeek.net/optimum-hyper-polish-spray.html

POLISHES-FINE POLISH
after compounding you would generally use one of these fine polishes to remove the micro marring and achieve max gloss. Also can be used as a standalone for light touch ups and minor defect removal

Meguiars Mirror Glaze #205 Ultra Finishing Polish cut rating = 4 one of the standards of the industry and available everywhere. Great stuff and should be in everyone's cabinet.
http://www.autogeek.net/meguiars-205-polish-8oz.html


POLISHES, SEALANTS, WAXES & CLAY BARS (continued)

SEALANTS - Spray on
Blackfire Crystal Seal (WOWA -wipe on, walk away) New High Tech Spray-on Sealants. Nothing is easier to apply and only takes 10 minutes to seal the entire car. And the best part is it's WOWA!!! Since it's so easy to use, apply 3 coats for max effect, waiting 30 minutes between applications. Buy on sale or BOGO.
http://www.autogeek.net/blackfire-crystal-seal.html

Carnauba Waxes - "old school" style waxes. The sky is the limit and the possibilities endless when it comes to Last Step Products (LSP). Here's a few of my favorites but let me note that the key difference between all these LSPs is not the gloss/shine but rather the experience in applying the product and the longevity. For a comprehensive list with brief descriptions & reviews, see the link below.
http://www.live2detail.com/showthrea...ly-Nuba-Thread

Collinite #845 - liquid and meant to be applied by machine. This wax is tough as nails and will last 6-8 mos. If you follow Nick's directions, super easy to apply & remove. Apply by hand or machine, wait 45-60 minutes and remove by hand with soft MF towel. One of my favorite combinations is 1-2 coats of #845 topped with 2 coats of BlackFire Crystal Seal. Unbeatable for the price!! Search Nick's article on how to use. I use this as my "base coat" of protection whenever I'm doing a full detail on one of my cars. Especially good on white & light colored paint. A must have!
http://www.autogeek.net/collinite-in...r-wax-845.html

Pinnacle Signature Series II - carnauba paste wax that's super easy to remove with a great look. Apply one panel at a time and then remove. They make a 3 oz jar which I recommend to start with.
http://www.autogeek.net/pisisepawax.html

Wolfgang Fuzion- hybrid paste wax that's super easy to remove with a great look. Apply one panel at a time and then remove-impressive results. They make a 3 oz jar which I recommend to start with due to price.
http://www.autogeek.net/wolfgang-fuzion-wax-sample.html


RINSELESS WASH
Wolfgang Uber Rinseless Wash is a highly concentrated, viscous liquid that creates 3 gallons of rinse-free wash solution with just one ounce of concentrate. Rinse-free wash? That’s correct! Wolfgang Uber Rinseless Wash with its advanced formula enables you to wash your entire vehicle without rinsing it off. This time-saving solution cuts your water usage by 90% while making it possible to wash your car virtually anywhere, including apartment complexes, car shows, and anywhere else that a hose is not available. http://www.autogeek.net/wg-3701.html

Optimum No Rinse Wash & Wax is yet another revolutionary product from Optimum Polymer Technologies. Dr. David Ghodoussi - the brains behind Optimum car care products - managed to fuse his award-winning No Rinse Wash & Shine with the patented UV inhibitors found in Optimum Car Wax to create an all-new product – Optimum No Rinse Wash & Wax. The latest innovation from Optimum Polymer Technologies promises to deliver the convenience of a rinseless car wash with the cutting-edge protection of advanced UV inhibitors and high-grade carnauba wax.
http://www.autogeek.net/no-rinse-wash-and-wax.html

MICROFIBER TOWELS
Drying Towel
The best of the best MF Towels - German made.
I know these towels cost a fortune but....if I had to do it over, I would buy nothing else. Here's the link to Corey's website - he's the only USA distributor for Microfiber Madness. And trust me, the right towel makes a tremendous difference
http://www.carpro-us.com/microfiber-madness/

Drying
WAVERIDE Waffle Weave for drying. Just fantastic and durable. (2)

DRY ME CRAZY makes for the perfect second wipe drying towel Combined with their waffle weave, best drying combo I've found. (2)

Waxing & Detailing
CRAZY PILE (16" X 16") best for "final wipe" after a waterless wash, applying detail spray & final wipe after waxing (4)

SLOGGER is their best deal and if you use another towel for added bulk, this is a great buffing towel, spreading sealant and interior cleaning at a reasonable price. A little thin on its own. (6)

Wheels, Rims & Door Jams
Costco. they sell a pack of 30 towels for $15 which I bought and use as my tire & rim towels. These are a must have for the dedicated super dirty jobs. Make sure you wash them first and separately from your prime towels

Gary JR

What do you think of 6" vs. bigger? Can other pads besides Griot's be used on it?

Porsche_nuts

Fantastic detailed list. Thanks for posting!

addysdaddy

You're quite welcome. So many choices and honestly once you're into a higher end stuff, a lot of the difference is ease of use IMO - especially with polishes & LSPs. Being a beta tester for Autogeek, I've had the opportunity to test so many different products in the same category. Pretty hard to find a bad one. And the choices are different if you're a hobbyist vs a professional detailer. If nothing else, go for the towels, they are truly amazing.

And I forgot to mention that if you didn't want to order supplies online and strictly buy from Autozone, Walmart etc - get the Meguiars Gold Glass Version (whatever). Probably the best over the counter line of products out there.

Penn4S

One last tidbit. I usually spray my wet car after washing with Blackfire quick detailer and then dry. Works to leave no spots and dries to a nice shine.

I just found Chemical Guys After Wash. spray on your wet vehicle after washing and it creates a slick lubricated surface that water runs off and the shine when dry is great. You can detail over it. Nice product, good to have in your arsenal.

addysdaddy

Any detailing spray can serve as a "drying agent." I use this technique as well since I'm back to towel drying. If using a blower, the drying agent doesn't seem to offer the same benefits - YMMV.

bluehorseshoe

Oh thanks a lot LexVan, my Amazon cart more than doubled now!

bluehorseshoe

For wheels, as brake dust inhibitor, is it more effective to seal with some fancy polymer/wax coating or simply use the Armor All Outlast?

Needsdecaf

You don't ever want a random orbital larger than 6". In fact, you'll wish you had a 3" often if you don't have one.

Gary JR

.✋.

Needsdecaf

I have the 6" and mine doesn't seem to have enough oomph to turn the pad consistently, even with zero pressure. Mine is old, but it's always been that way. Could be the pad.

In any event, what's interesting about this discussion, and my recent 911 purchase, is the cost and time for all of this. I've determined that it's not worth my time to do paint correction. Once you start getting into pads, polishes, polishers, etc., you've spent quite a bit of money, and you don't need to do it all that often if you wash the car right. Plus, it takes me the better part of an entire day plus to do it fully.

In Houston, there are several excellent detailers who will do paint correction for under $500. My plan is to have them correct and protect the paint, and then use the quality products and 2 bucket + foam wash method to keep it from needing heavy correction for a long time. But we'll see how long that lasts with a black car.

DMA3

I have more money than sense, so I bought this. Looks awesome in the frunk of my 50th.

Icebreaker

It is the little things that gives us pleasure... in this maddening stressful world. Don't apologize. I like it!

I spent three years searching for soft, leather tool rolls. I am now happy with my selection. A tool roll is a wrap that holds assorted tools and accessories so they can be kept organized in minimal space without banging around. I take it from the boat to the car, and from project-to-project around the house. I actually use it more than my tool box as it is convenient and only has quality pieces. I subsequently added one for metric and another for SAE wrenches. Easy to grab and I can now clearly identify what pouch to grab for each job.

I see I'll have to make something to contain my detailing supplies. Nice idea. To be honest... you probably saved money buying the houndstooth bag compared to the money I threw away buying inferior tool rolls off of Amazon that didn't live up to my expectation. Oddly enough, the one's I liked the best were not that expensive in the end.

By the way... great thread. I've learned a lot from everyone. Thank you.

Al.Fresco

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