which wax and sealant do you use?

H

Heff

New member
Well, I am finally taking the plunge, I just rented a shop to start my detailing business full time, and I know with the anticipated high volume, I need to switch most of my products to commercial or bulk items. My main item that I need some advice on is waxes and polymer sealants. What are some high quality waxes and sealants that can be bought in at least 1 gallon containers? I know I need to keep costs down , but I really don't want to skimp on quality.

thanks

Heff
 
I'd go with Meguiars #26 High Tech Yellow Wax by the gallon and Meguiars #21 Synthetic Sealant in the half gallon (largest size they have, a little apparently goes a long way). Better quality than the typical bulk assembly line detailing products.
 
Thanks for the tip, the synthetic sealant sounds good from the description, hopefully it's actually that good, at $42 for a 64 ounce bottle it better be. The yellow wax I have used before and I like, but I can't find it in anything but a 16 ounce bottle, even on meg's website. They do have a express liquid wax for $29 a gallon and it sounds perfect for a detail shop, but like the sealant I have never used it before so who knows. Also where is the best place to get megs from? I have a local distributor but they are never in stock and kind of expensive.

thanks

Heff
 
You can also check out Hi-Temp's products. Great stuff, and very economical. Their sealant is aprox $25.95 per gallon. They have several liquid wax products, but the Bahama Mama Carnauba runs $24.95 a gallon.
 
Like I said I have a local megs dealer, but they usually have to order most items, and I know alot of detailing supplies can be bought online cheaper, so I was wondering if anyone knows of a website where they carry megs that may be cheaper. As far as the wax goes, even on megs own site they don't have anything but a 16 ounce size of the yellow wax, but I have their complete pro catalog being shipped to me so maybe it will be in there. Lastly, their express liquid wax sounds really good, and possible a timesaver, has anybody here tried it?

thanks

Heff
 
Heff said:
Like I said I have a local megs dealer, but they usually have to order most items, and I know alot of detailing supplies can be bought online cheaper, so I was wondering if anyone knows of a website where they carry megs that may be cheaper. As far as the wax goes, even on megs own site they don't have anything but a 16 ounce size of the yellow wax, but I have their complete pro catalog being shipped to me so maybe it will be in there. Lastly, their express liquid wax sounds really good, and possible a timesaver, has anybody here tried it?

thanks

Heff
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Try www.wash-solutions.com Just use the 'contacts' link.



They are in Dallas but I am sure they ship.
 
Unless you are planning to have many employees and do 10 or 15 cars a day, I think it is a mistake to save a few bucks on sealant - the application of a sealant will probably be your cheapest step. I'd even argue that going with the most expensive stuff (FMJ) will save you money because it will save you man-hours applying and removing product, and the results will be second to none. To save a quarter per detail just doesn't work for me. My opinion anyway. I tell my customers I use all the best products money can buy (and I do) and I think it makes me more money.
 
That's a good point about using the best, when I was part time, that's what i did, I even used p21s for a wax sometimes, but with my low volume, I figured i could afford it. Also i know that most of my competitors probably use cheap bulk items that no ones ever heard of, so maybe that can be my advantage, I am trying to go after the high end market. I read the reviews on the menzerna fmj and it sounds good, I have used upp, but it's not a very efficient product to use in my experience, it never fully buffed off. I'll probably give the menzerna a try.
 
Exactly. And using a product as easy to use as FMJ will save you time, and thus make you money.



What kills me is the fact that most professional detailers tell people they use only the best products, when very few do. Then again, most professionals are "hacks" - because of them I'm always having to explain that I perform a "real" polish and not a 20 minute once-over with the buffer like the last guy who did their car.



I just detailed this BMW for a lady who just "found" me. She had another mobile detailer do her other BMW - this guy's work defined hack-job. He supposedly did a polish and wax, but even light swirls didn't appear to be removed. And worse, their was still a ton (TON) of rust contamination in the paint (and the car was white, so I don't know how he missed it). I will be fixing his work next week :) Of course, he had told this lady he is "the best" around. I can't tell you how many times I have heard this, and not once have I seen a good detailer in my area.
 
I use optimum wax as standard but offer an upgrade to 3 coats of Zaino Z2 Pro. I have found that offering Zaino brings in a good amount of business because of it's reputation. It is very expensive and I have to pay the same retail price as everyone else.
 
Another question that I have is that if I'm going to be offering sealants especially a quality one like menzerna, do I also need to add a precleaning step? Whenever I used upp on my own car I always used a pre cleaner like klasse aio, is this necessary, even if I buff the car? I want the quality to be top notch, but I know that every step I add to the process costs me moneyand time.

Heff
 
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