Jumping into detailing, products to get started.

[actionstan]

Hello All,

I have been reading for a while now, and have decided I want to take a leap into car detailing. I wanted your thoughts on the products to get started, I already have an idea of what I want to get, and just want your opinions for me getting started.

The cars:
2013 Kia Forte, the paint is in good condition, some rock chips, a few scuffs and scratches that can likely be buffed out with the proper tools, nothing major. Just a few light swirls in the paint that can only be seen in very specific conditions.(likely from my cheap MF towels)

1999 Saturn sl1, this car has some bad water etching all over, some scratches and scuffs, nothing extremely deep.. it also has some pretty severe swirl marks.


What I already have:
A small bottle of gold class wash
Gold Glass spray wax
Hot shot tire foam
perfect clarity glass cleaner
Interior cleaner
Meguiar's cleaner paste wax
some cheap microfibers and a cheap copy of the abosrber
cheap walmart sponges and a decent viking microfiber wash pad



Right now I am thinking I will purchase Meguiar's Ultimate results bundle from walmart.com as they have a pretty good price on it, and it is almost everything I need/want to get started, and even some duplicates of things I already have, it contains:

Ultimate Wash & Wax car wash soap
Ultimate Compound
Ultimate Polish
Ultimate Wax
Ultimate Quik Detailer
Ultimate Protectant (interior dressing)
Ultimate Black (Exterior trim)
Perfect Clarity Glass Cleaner
Microfiber Wash Mit
Water Magnet Drying Towel
x4 foam applicators
x6 Supreme Sine Microfiber towels

Then on top of that I was going to get the following to complete my set:
Severe headlight restoration kit
Claybar kit
Scatch x 2.0 <- - maybe this is overkill? I have a few small scratches on the kia I want to tackle, but the car doesn't really need a full compound, but I assume I could "Spot-use" ultimate compound in a similar manner to Scratch x2.0
more microfiber towels maybe, 6 doesn't seem like enough


I also want to get the DA power kit or a cheaper DA polisher, but at first I will likely work by hand. My plan is to clay/compound/polish/wax my saturn, to try and correct the paint, for the Kia i'll likely clay then do a light polish to try and correct the very minor swirls, and also use some scratch x 2.0 to take care of some areas on top of the car that have been scratched by sitting things on the roof, then follow up with a wax. For maintenance I plan on washing bi-weekly/monthly with the ultimate wash and wax, these are daily drivers, and wont always have the chance to wash them every week/bi-weekly. If I think it needs it I'd also hit it with some of my quick spray wax, and probably give it a full re-wax every few months.

Let me know if my plan seems sound, and if I left anything out, thanks!

[Jarhead0754]

Looks good. I say pass on the scratch x and buy more towels. I recommend getting the big bundle of 40 supreme shines, and a few ultimate wipes down the road.

U can do the quick detailer as a maintaince followed with quick wax in between ur bi weekly washes. But u got a nice starting point where ur at, and the more u get into it u can move on to the detailer line which is more cost effective. But for sumone like u just starting and only doing a car here and there u got a great lineup. Good luck to u.

[The Guz]

Re: Jumping into detailing, products to get started.

Agreed. You don't need scratchx since you will have UC. I would also pick up the supreme shine microfiber bundle from walmart. Can't beat them for the price. If you are looking for a cheap polisher look into the harbor freight polisher. Just get a better backing plate and plads and you will have a good machine.

[Jarhead0754]

One thing I learned is u can't have enough mf towels. And they bed to be good quality. For me I like to stick with as much meguiars products as possible for you know your getting a good quality. So that said 40 ssmf is plenty to get started but down the line your gonna wanna add another bundle. Also as I stated earlier ultimate wipes are great but u don't need so many of them. U really won't need them till you get into it further then I say get urself at least 10.