OK, who knows detailing products??? (all opinions welcome)
 

I have been spending quite a bit of time on autopia.org and I am looking to spend about $300 on some good pro quality materials, including a good buffer, polishes wax / sealant, pads, towels etc..

So far, this is what I have in my cart at autopia

Sonus SFX Ultimate Detailing Machine - $234.00
Sonus SFX Foam Pad Kit - $40.00
Sonus Der Wunder Drying Towel, Pkg/2 - $24.00
Sonus SFX Detail Clay Bundle - $15.00
Sonus Rim Bright - $14.00
Sonus SFX-3 Final Finish Polish$10.00
Sonus SFX-2 Enhance Swirl Remover - $10.00
Sonus Glass & Chrome Polish - $12.00

I can get all that with 20% off, shipped to my door for $309.57


I have had about ten people at work alone ask me to do up their cars for them in the last week, so I figure I charge a bit, and I can easily make my money back plus gain more experience. I would like to make some good money doing this and it would be a great side job, or someday business 8) I am currently concentrating on only the outside for now, and will probably be getting more goodies for under hood and inside either later this summer or next spring. I know the quality and attention to detail of my work will speak for itself and I will pick up MUCH more work through word of mouth, especially at my price, and I will still be making money also, not much, but I am more after the experience and word of mouth right now ;)

What do you think?


Grimm, I would like to try the Menzerna out, as I have seen your results with it :shock: But the Sonus has about the same reviews and I can't get the Menzerna from Autopia. I will probably pick some up later though 8)

Take a look at Autogeek.net as well. They sell the UDM and have Menzerna. I haven't used the SFX products so I can't attest to how good they are.

I would also recommend a better pad kit. You really want to have extra pads, especially if you are doing other people's cars. It's usually a good idea to have at least a couple of each.

You should also consider a more aggressive compound like the SFX-1 if you think you will have some cars with heavy swirls and scratches.

And if you don't already have them, you'll want some good microfiber towels for polish/wax removall. A lot of them is good. I usually go through at least 5-6 if I'm doing polishing and waxing. Then you need to wash them, so it's nice to have a good stock if you don't want to have to wash them every time you detail.

I'm doing almost the same thing as we speak. I get asked all the time to detail someones car and want to learn paint repair and some other advanced car care processes.
I have been looking at a professional detail class that starts in April, 60 hours in total.

You have a good list there but its more for keeping nice paint nice, what are you going to use for a cut wax? and what about interior products?

Have you used a buffer before? I cannot coment on the brands you chose, I have two Milwaukee buffers that I love. I also have an old aluminum 2 spd Black and Decker from the mid 70's that weighs a ton. It's perfect for roofs and hoods where I can't press down with my arms streached out. Make sure the buffer has a variable speed. I just started using the foam pads and like them, but they are not nearly as durable as the lambs whool pads I also use.

Grimm -- I looked at autogeek also, and was really intrigued by the Menzerna kit, but the 20% off from autopia is very hard to pass up. The Sonus UDM kit I picked out has SFX 1,2, and 3 polishes as long as SFX yellow, white, and red pads, also a few MF towels and some MF bonnets. The extra bottles of SFX 2&3 are just because I will probably using that more then the heavier cutting SFX 1 polish. I looked at the Lake Country pads, and the have great reviews and most people like the alot, but once again, they don't sell them at autopia... What about the UDM pad kit, is it worth the extra $10 over the Sonus kit?

As far as the MF towels, I already have probably 20 or so, I started getting into this stuff last year, but am only now really getting obsessed and sinking money into it.


PontiacDad -- The Sonus UDM kit includes Sonus SFX 1 polish which from what I understand is a heavier cutting polish and works excellent on heavy swirls and minor scratches. As far as interior products, that will come either later this year or next year. I am starting off somewhat slow for now, with just the outside. I can do quite a bit of stuff inside right now, but I will be also picking up some pro stuff for the interior also. I haven't really done much research on the interior yet. Working midnights, plus overtime, I only have time to learn so much at a time, and I figure it would be better to concentrate on one step at a time and get that down to an art form then move on and learn more.


Pontiholic -- I currently have a cheap-o Ryobi palm style polisher that works alright and I have seen good results with it on my Monty Carlo and a friends Jimmy. I don't plan to jump right from that to the UDM on other peoples cars though. I am going to do all four of my cars first, then some family members that desperatly need it. Once I get the hang of the machine, then it is on to the money jobs. As far as being variable speed, I believe the UDM is.

I have the same kit you listed. I am no professional but I can say it works great for me.

Good to know. How long does the Sonus last for you? Also, what do you use for wax or sealant?

Ah OK, I didn't look at the UDM kit. Unless you really plan to do a lot of detailing, you probably don't need the extra bottles of polish. One bottle will last quite a while. You will probably only use an ounce per car. I'm guessing on that, but you only need a few dime sized blobs on the pad per 2 foot area. If you think you'll order more stuff in the near future I would wait and try another brand later if you are getting low.

As far as a discount, Autogeek has a discount code I believe for 10% off. I think it's "Autopia" but can't recall for sure. Most suppliers have a 10% off code.

Actually I see you are in Michigan Crash. I would take a look at Danase.com for products. He also sells the UDM and has a 10% off code. He is located near Detroit, and when I order I get my stuff usually in two days. He also is known to have the best shipping rates as he doesn't overcharge like other places.

As for the Sonus products, I've never gotten the chance to use them, so I can't vouch for them.

My UDM came with four pads of different hardnesses (abrasiveness). I've done two small paint jobs and one big paint job and finished it up with this and three different stages of 3M compound, and it turned out amazing. The UDM really does take a lot of the effort out of the job.

Haven't gotten the chance to use it on my car yet, but with the way the other jobs turned out, I'm sure the car will turn out very nicely as well.

Crash, I would look elsewhere after crunching the numbers (one of my favorite pasttimes). With the UDM kit, pad kit and extra polish you are spending $235 after 20% off.

I think I would look at Danase first. You can get his Danase brand for $35 (three 16 ounce bottles). Then add $48 for six pads , and the machine ($140) all for $201 after 10% off. Or substitute one of each of the Optimum polishes for an extra $18 ($219). He doesn't have Menzerna either. But the other two are good brands.

Otherwise get the UDM from Autogeek ($130), Menzerna SIP ($40, but it's 32 ounces), Menzerna Micro Polish ($30) two polishing pads and two finishing pads ($32 total) for a grand total of $209 after the 10% discount. Plus you get an orange cutting pad with each bottle of Menzerna, so you won't have to buy those. So you end up with 64 ounces of polish (vs 40 for the Sonus) and six pads (vs 3 with the Autopia kit).