Tools/ Accessories making our detailing projects easier - Show Yours

[Bjkearns]

Re: Tools/ Accessories making our detailing projects easier - Show Yours

It is a car lift
lifts the car up to make working on the sides etc easier

you can remove wheels and detail in there easier

[greg0303]

Re: Tools/ Accessories making our detailing projects easier - Show Yours

It is a car lift

Thank you, Sir.

I wonder how much this lift set costs.

[RaskyR1]

Re: Tools/ Accessories making our detailing projects easier - Show Yours

Thank you, Sir.

I wonder how much this lift set costs.

I've seen them from $999 (Harbor Freight) to about $2000 for a nice Bend Pack unit (pictured above). The one I'm looking at is listed at $1595.

[Blazebro]

Re: Tools/ Accessories making our detailing projects easier - Show Yours

My little gem is this:



Most people have open tote tool bags or if your lucky a stanley or even 3M tool trolley. This little item is made by Keter, lovely and cavenous inside and has some nice little compartments:





It's also tough enough to take a persons weight, so makes an ideal seat when using the rotary.

[greg0303]

Re: Tools/ Accessories making our detailing projects easier - Show Yours



Collapsible create - great for storage and transportation, folded away takes very little room. I use it when going mobile. Purchased from K-Mart.



Wagner steamer cleaner - used for carpet and upholstery, great helper in tough old stain removal.



Makita LXT 18V cordless vacuum - great companion for mobile detailing, easy access to any tight hard to reach spaces.

[Marc08EX]

Re: Tools/ Accessories making our detailing projects easier - Show Yours

How's the power of that hand held vacuum Greg? I've used an Armor All (could this be the problem? ) portable vacuum and it doesn't have any power at all. It's so hard to vacuum engrained dirt/sand.

Great thread BTW!

[greg0303]

Re: Tools/ Accessories making our detailing projects easier - Show Yours

How's the power of that hand held vacuum Greg? I've used an Armor All (could this be the problem? ) portable vacuum and it doesn't have any power at all. It's so hard to vacuum engrained dirt/sand. Great thread BTW!

Thanks, Marc.

This Makita vacuum uses 18V 3.0Ah battery so it creates pretty good suction.

[KidDetailer]

Re: Tools/ Accessories making our detailing projects easier - Show Yours

I must ask about the Bamboo stick method. I was thinking about using brushes like these : http://www.autogeek.net/mothers-detail-brush-set.html as the EnvyDetailing brushes don't seem to get the emblem dried on wax effectively, because it isn't stiff enough. But then I thought, why don' you just use Q-Tips for those door edges, and emblems? Has any one tried Q tips?

[BillE]

Re: Tools/ Accessories making our detailing projects easier - Show Yours

Sometimes in those real tight (and small) 90* areas, like in/on 'emblems' that sharp point can 'get in there.' Whereas, a 'Q-Tip' just kinda smooches things around.

I had really never given them a thought until Mike mentioned them. Work pretty darn well.

Bill

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Tools/ Accessories making our detailing projects easier - Show Yours

RE: Bamboo stick for emblem cleaning -

This technique was introduced to us by Tim McNair of Grand Prix Concours Preparation; he's been using these on extremely high end cars for years so we figured if it's OK to use when prepping a multi million dollar Ferrari or Alfa Romeo for events like Pebble Beach, Amelia Island, Villa d'Este, etc then it should be perfectly fine for use on anything else.

These shots are from a project we did for RM Auctions at their 2011 Monterey auction. The car is a 1959 Ferrari 250 GT Coupe and, as you can see from the first image, who ever waxed it in the past was more than sloppy.

We have no idea how old this wax residue was, or what kind of wax it was. The car was brought in from Kuwait for the auction, meaning this stuff was pretty well baked on. This was typical of the residue around all the trim but, unfortunately, it's the only such image we have since we were really pressed for time on this project.


On all emblems we started by spraying a bit of Quik Detailer onto the area to start breaking down the residue:


Next, a soft brush was used to loosen the residue:


The bamboo sticks came into play for the really tight areas, and these old Pininfarina emblems have plenty of tight areas:


The end result, with very little effort or time:

[Detailing by M]

Re: Tools/ Accessories making our detailing projects easier - Show Yours

Backing my van right up the vehicle is a great time saver