Needing good advice

R

RToth

New member
Well, spring is getting ever closer and I am gettin extremly anxious. I have become obsessed with keeping my cars clean and shining like no other. Good news is that many other people have began to notice my passion and attention to detail that I have with my cars and they want me to do theirs also:woot2:



Now my question is I am looking for some good products to use on daily driven cars that don't always get the proper care. Some of the cars will probably have well over 100,000 miles of use and abuse. I am sure I can please though, all of my cars have from 130,000 miles up to 197,000 miles and they look great.



I will have a budget of around $300, maybe more if need or worth it. I currently have a $30 "junk" orbital and I want to upgrade to something with more power and correction ability, but I am not really comfortable using a rotary yet. I have been looking at some of the UDM kits, and I noticed the 20% off over $300 order here:heelclick I will probably need all the goodies, so I think a kit might be a good way to go for me, but I am unsure if it will be everything I will need.



How long do the pads last? Should I get a few of each?

Is $300 a good starter budget, or should I go higher?



Any help and opinions here would be greatly appreciated, as I would like to order in the next week or two.



Thanks
 
I had a startup cost of around 8,000 for my equipment and supplies for a pro detailing setup. You could get a udm and some polishes and waxes for around 300. But to me personally, I don't like to do something if I can't do it right. Don't be cheap on your products and supplies or it will show in the results.
 
Hes not going pro, hes just doing a few of his friends cars, i think autogeek still has their UDm kits for 159 and UDM alone 99, maybe you could get that and some menzerna, if its too expensive, try optimum
 
Well, of course I know you can spend thousands on supplies for a professional detail shop, but I also have a full time job working 50+ hours per week, so this is not my job, just a hobby and a passion of mine. I don't really need thousands of dollars worth of supplies to do what I want to do (yet LOL). I am just beginning here and will be doing this in my driveway in my spare time.



I don't think that around $300 is a bad amount to spend on a buffer and some quality products to make paint look good, is it?



EDIT



Here are some things I am thinking about...



Sonus SFX Ultimate Detailing Machine $234.00



Sonus SFX Detail Clay Bundle $15.00



DAS Pad Bundle & Bonnet $52.99



Sonus Tire & Wheel Care Kit $42.00



How do you think that would work for me?
 
So what do you guys think of my list above? Does that seem like a good way to start for just the outside?
 
Your list looks ok. The link for the UDM kit doesn't open all the way for me and I don't know what the polishes are specifically. Sounds like your initial clients will need some pretty good correction and you'll need to work the UDM and more aggressive combo's a bit.



Once you get a few paying jobs you'll find the want to widen your inventory and will have the extra cash to experiment with some different things.



One thing you'll need is a few MF towels. One thing I've found over the years is you can't have enough pads and MF towels. You can build those up over time though.
 
Yeah, for now I plan on doing the cars for either very cheap or free, as they are all people I know and I want the experience. Of course, as time goes, I will charge more with more experience, but having no overhead except my supplies, I can charge only a little and still make money.



I do have about 20 or so MF towels, though they are not the highest quality ones, but they are by no means dollar store material.



I can't wait to order the stuff, I am VERY excited. I absolutely love the look of a car when it is done:waxing:
 
I started out about the same way you are now although I bought about 3 of each pad color - yellow, orange, white and black (LC). It is a benefit to changing out to a fresh pad when the one you're using gets caked up after so many cleanings or picks up some dirt, debris or black molding transfer.
 
I am now having some trouble deciding on the Menzerna UDM kit from AG, or the Sonus kit from ACC.



It looks like the reviews are about the same on them, but I think the Menzerna might be a better way for me to go with the higher mileage cars I will be working.



How good will the Sonus cut? will it remove heavy swirl marks on a car with well over 100,000 miles that has been run through the car wash hundreds of times and never polished out before?



I would rather get everything here to make it easier, but if the Menz will work better, then that is what I will go with.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top