Do you think buying product for the average weekend warrior is a waste?

M

MikeWinLDS

New member
Well, not that buying polishes, glazes, sealants, and waxes are a waste, but what I mean is that for the average hobbyist detailer, it doesn't seem like you'll be using all of that product for many, many years to come (I still got a can of Meguiar's Hi-Tech Yellow wax that isn't even halfway empty, and I've been using it for a couple years now), because you're not detailing many cars like a professional detailer that does this for a living (well, unless you plan on detailing everyone's car in your family or something).



And since there are so many different products out there, it seems like you would be wasting a lot of money trying to find something that you like really well, since the bottles that you buy can last you for lots of application, I don't know how many, but most people don't regularly polish their cars except for every 3-4 months from what I've been reading on here.



Do any of you have a bunch of different products from testing out different brands and all of that? What do you do with all your other products? Do they just sit on your shelf and collect dust? I know I have lots of products in the garage that I bought, used it once, and it's now collecting dust (probably wasted like $10 on it too). I don't know whether I should throw them out, or just use them out of pity (but I don't know why you would want to use something that you think sucks), or what.



Anyone got any insights or comments about this?
 
I justify buying different products by offering to work on my friends' cars (as it gives me a chance to get some practice, after all). However, I know I won't be doing this often either so I only buy items that I feel are a sure-thing (Menzerna PO83Q, PO106ff, Klasse, Zaino, etc.). I have another friend who also is interested working on his cars so I'll let him use my polishes and equipment. It works out since I use some his equipment (like the pressure washer) which he rarely uses.



Since my time and budget are limited, I'll have to accept the fact that I won't have the opportunity to try everything out there and find the most ideal combination that'll work for my car. However, I'll still end up with a car that looks nicer than almost everyone else's on the block.



If you have products that you used once and plan to never use again, you could probably offer it up for trades here or sell it at a discount to your fellow Autopians.
 
Yes, we all have way too many products. That's why the trading post is such a popular forum. You can also try waxing your bathroom, appliances, cell phone...
 
Yes, If you are not disciplined with your credit card most "weekend warriors" will end up with a bookshelf of products that will take forever to use. I think the best approach is to find what you like and stick to it. Yes, in the early stages of this craft you may have to tinker with some things to see what fits your eye, but once you have it, stick with it, and then you won't be wasting money and product
 
Cleaning fool is right on target with this one. But to be honest, I don't mind spending money on products because it's my hobby. It's how I relax and enjoy my car. However, I would like to start trading products instead of buying them. I just bought four shampoos and three waxes that total about $150 just to try them out. The good news is that I do find products I like better. But to be completely honest, they're usually not all that much better than the ones I already had!



Patrick
 
Why not just give the products you don't want to keep to friends and relatives? Some might get the detailing bug, others might just appreciate getting something for free and you'll get a smaller stock of stuff you don't use.



Sounds win-win to me. RG
 
Sounds like a good idea, but most people I know don't even wash their cars, so I doubt they'd get into detailing. I guess I could also try getting rid of some stuff on Craigslist too, since it's free and local.



What were the first products you guys got when you first got into detailing? And do you have any recommendations for products where you can't go wrong, like if you were to only buy one set of products and didn't have extra money to experiment?
 
MikeWinLDS said:
What were the first products you guys got when you first got into detailing? And do you have any recommendations for products where you can't go wrong, like if you were to only buy one set of products and didn't have extra money to experiment?
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First stuff: Meg's #2, #7, and #16, still using #16 30-some years later! My family used those products since forever.



Can't-miss: 1Z brand polishes, Collinite brand waxes (no question in my mind, period). They keep my non-detailer friends happy, people who truly couldn't care less about this stuff, and they work great for me too...that's quite a range of satisfied users.
 
When I started doing this for a hobby a few years ago, I ended up buying a bunch of differant products and brands. Some I liked, some were OK and some I really hated. This spring I noticed just how full my shelf was and how much I don't use. So some of it I gave away, and some just went in the garbage, and I have some that will probably go in the garbage the next time I really look as to what I have on my shelves. I came to the conclusion that I can't keep buying every item I read about. Paying $20.00 or more plus freight just to try something once and then ends up sitting on a shelf until being thrown away isn't as much fun as it use to be.

If you want some simple and easy to use polish and wax ideas, one might be Clearkotes Vanilla Moose, or Red Moose for polishing and then top it off with thier Carnauba Moose Wax. If you have a machine, Meguiars #80 is pretty easy to use also and has a nice look to it, and just top it off with the Hi-tech wax you already have and it should look pretty good. Thier is probably a few dozen other products that will work also, I just know that these are easy to use and provide good results for a daily driven car. :)
 
Accumulator said:
Can't-miss: 1Z brand polishes, Collinite brand waxes (no question in my mind, period). They keep my non-detailer friends happy, people who truly couldn't care less about this stuff, and they work great for me too...that's quite a range of satisfied users.
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I 2nd that on the Collinite!



About 1Z...how does these compare to Menzerna polishs? Would they be fine to use by PC?
 
I too probably have bought "too much" products that will probably take forever for me to finish since I'm really only maintaining two cars on a regular basis. I've bought products just to try out or if I hear it talked up a lot. I have about 7 waxes, 3 or four polishes/compunds and glazes, multiple glass cleaners, enough shampoo and QD that I really shouldn't have to buy anymore for some good time. I'm sure those are some small numbers compared to some, but for someone with just two cars, it's more than plenty.



I was looking into buying more stuff just to have or to try out, but I had to stop myself because 1) I'm running out of space, and 2) The wallet can only take so much!



Right now, I can say I have my favorites that gives the best results for me and will probably only restock them as needed for the time being. Most of the time, I find out that the differences between some products are so slight, that it hardly matters which one you go for. But sometimes you just can't help to want to try different products...you just might find something that replaces your favorite that until then, nothing could touch.



The term getting bit by the detailing bug is no joke...:nervous2: :help:
 
grease said:
About 1Z...how does these compare to Menzerna polishs? Would they be fine to use by PC?
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1Z (at least their consumer line) leaves wax behind, Menzerna doesn't. Haven't tried the new 1Z for scratch-resistant clear but none of their polishes have ever disappointed me. I have only limited experience with Menzerna but you sure won't go wrong with it either.



1Z works fine by hand/PC/rotary. More idiot-proof than Menzerna and/or probably anything else for that matter.
 
MikeWinLDS said:
Well, not that buying polishes, glazes, sealants, and waxes are a waste, but what I mean is that for the average hobbyist detailer, it doesn't seem like you'll be using all of that product for many, many years to come (I still got a can of Meguiar's Hi-Tech Yellow wax that isn't even halfway empty, and I've been using it for a couple years now), because you're not detailing many cars like a professional detailer that does this for a living (well, unless you plan on detailing everyone's car in your family or something).



And since there are so many different products out there, it seems like you would be wasting a lot of money trying to find something that you like really well, since the bottles that you buy can last you for lots of application, I don't know how many, but most people don't regularly polish their cars except for every 3-4 months from what I've been reading on here.



Do any of you have a bunch of different products from testing out different brands and all of that? What do you do with all your other products? Do they just sit on your shelf and collect dust? I know I have lots of products in the garage that I bought, used it once, and it's now collecting dust (probably wasted like $10 on it too). I don't know whether I should throw them out, or just use them out of pity (but I don't know why you would want to use something that you think sucks), or what.



Anyone got any insights or comments about this?
Click to expand...



Great topic since the majority of members are weekend warriors, they may not always be active on the forum, but from what it looks like they out way people getting paid for it. Anyways, I believe this is why the retail auto detailing chemical industry is the way it is, they market a 16oz bottle of wax for $50 to the retail consumer and although a chunk of change, doesn't seem bad when you look at as $5 an application, try doing that running a business, you can't. That is why wholesale or direct distrubition would be the way to go, it may not have a pretty label but the product does the same thing at $25 a gallon. Why not order that way, break them down and resell? I usually have 5-10 in chemicals in each detail(depending on severity) If I had $5 in just the wax portion, I couldn't imagine what my cost per car would end up at if I purchased retail directed products. I used to before opening my business and I have found that it is just like alot of things...the label.
 
I was thinking about starting out with Meguiar's products for the first time I start detailing with a machine too, Accumulator, since I see a lot of people using Megs #83 DACP and #80. Thanks for all the advice on the different products to try, guys.



Has anyone on here compiled a list of different websites on where to buy your detailing supplies? I only know of a couple, but I'm sure there are a lot more out there, especially some that gives Autopians discounts. I know that Autopia-CarCare.com and Danase.com give Autopians 10% discount when you input the Autopia coupon code.



Some other websites I've seen mentioned on here are PakShak.com and ChemicalGuys.com. Are there any other reputable websites you guys have purchased from and can recommend? I would like to start saving up some money to buy my own PC or possibly UDM in the future. So making a checklist wishlist and checking out current prices will give me an idea of how much and how long I need to save up.
 
MikeWinLDS said:
I was thinking about starting out with Meguiar's products for the first time I start detailing with a machine too, Accumulator, since I see a lot of people using Megs #83 DACP and #80. Thanks for all the advice on the different products to try, guys.



Has anyone on here compiled a list of different websites on where to buy your detailing supplies? I only know of a couple, but I'm sure there are a lot more out there, especially some that gives Autopians discounts. I know that Autopia-CarCare.com and Danase.com give Autopians 10% discount when you input the Autopia coupon code.



Some other websites I've seen mentioned on here are PakShak.com and ChemicalGuys.com. Are there any other reputable websites you guys have purchased from and can recommend? I would like to start saving up some money to buy my own PC or possibly UDM in the future. So making a checklist wishlist and checking out current prices will give me an idea of how much and how long I need to save up.
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Ill PM you the ones that I use
 
MikeWinLDS said:
I was thinking about starting out with Meguiar's products for the first time...I see a lot of people using Megs #83 DACP and #80.
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FWIW I don't find #83 all that user-friendly at all. Not knocking it, but I don't use it because there are so many easier products. If you're looking for easy-from-the-git-go, IMO that's not it.



Has anyone on here compiled a list of different websites on where to buy your detailing supplies?
Click to expand...



Besides the ones you mentioned, I also patronize Welcome to Exceldetail.com! and Top of the Line Auto Detailing Supplies (no Autopia discount at the latter). Both offer impeccable customer service.



Oh, and don't worry about shipping costs if you patronize PakShack..the Hawaiian location doesn't really factor into it.
 
Do you have any 1Z polish recommendations for beginners, Accumulator. I figure when I do get my detailing stuff, I'll get at least a semi-medium-cut polish and then a finer polish or glaze when it comes to paint correction. I think that type of combination will be good for taking out the majority of swirls and imperfections using a machine with a cutting and polishing pad.
 
MikeWinLDS said:
Do you have any 1Z polish recommendations for beginners, Accumulator. I figure when I do get my detailing stuff, I'll get at least a semi-medium-cut polish and then a finer polish or glaze when it comes to paint correction. I think that type of combination will be good for taking out the majority of swirls and imperfections using a machine with a cutting and polishing pad.
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Medium- 1Z Paint Polish

Fine- 1Z Metallic Polish with Wax



If you need serious correction (when I read "cutting pads"...) I'd probably start with a pass or two using 1Z Ultra/Extra Polish. They say it's not for "newer clearcoats" but I've used it on them countless times with no problems (just a little micromarring).



And I'll repeat for the umpteenth time, this is my hands-down recommendation for beginners.
 
I wouldn't discount DACP as there are many happy users of the product and it was my first true compound I used when I first got my PC and never had any issues with it that kept me from liking it. I kept reading how some had difficulties with it so I started trying different products but still find myself coming back to DACP for some of the more severe problems. The Optimum Compound and Polish have also been good products, but a DACP and #80 combo is hard to beat. Best way to start out is see if you can purchase some small samples from members here and find a product you like.
 
Accumulator said:
1Z (at least their consumer line) leaves wax behind, Menzerna doesn't. Haven't tried the new 1Z for scratch-resistant clear but none of their polishes have ever disappointed me. I have only limited experience with Menzerna but you sure won't go wrong with it either.



1Z works fine by hand/PC/rotary. More idiot-proof than Menzerna and/or probably anything else for that matter.
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Menzerna needs perfect conditions to fuction its best...and even then, they're still my favorite.



I can't find the scratch-resistant clear polishs on the 1Z website. Do you know the product names?
 
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