Product recommendations for production shop please!

[2BlackChevys]

I’m about 2 weeks from officially opening the new shop and need some product recommendations for production work please! I have listed the different work types below along with my current product or the one I am thinking about using in parentheses (). I have also numbered each item to make responses easier if needed.

1. Pre treat for bugs etc (Megs APC/+ I have ¾ gallon of APC then new gallon APC+)
2. Traditional Hand wash & dry exterior (Megs Gold Class)
3. Waterless wash (thinking about ONRWW)
4. Rinseless wash (also thinking about ONRWW)
5. Clean interior (Megs APC/+)
6. Clean windows inside and out (Invisible Glass)
7. Clean carpet & seats (Folex / Megs APC/+ - Also I have Mytee HP100 extractor)
8. Exterior & interior dressing (Megs D170 Hyper Dressing w/ PERL as upgrade)
9. Clean jambs (Megs APC/+ and small Shark steamer)
10. Clean & dress wheel wells (Megs APC/+ & Megs D170 Hyper dressing)
11. Clay bar (Couple bars of Megs clay from OTC kit – thinking about nanoskin sponge)
12. Clay Lube (Megs Quick Detail Spray - thinking ONRWW)
13. AIO for use with DA (Megs cleaner wax)
14. 2 stage machine polish (Compund CGv34 & Megs 105 – Polish CGv36 & Megs 205)
15. Clean & Condition leather or vinyl seats (Lexol cleaner and separate conditioner)
16. Clean and dress engine bay (Megs APC/+ and Megs D170 Hyper dressing)
17. Clean and seal wheels inside & out (Megs APC/+ and Megs UPW)
18. Hand rubbed sealant & wax (Megs UPW / NXT paste / M26 Liquid)
19. Spray wax (Megs Ultimate Quick Wax / CG V07)
20. Microfiber towels (Cheapos from AZ/Costco/Sams – need recommendations for others in bulk)

That’s everything I could think of right now. If I missed something please reply with it and your recommendation for product.

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

[Evan.J]

6. Megs glass cleaner D120 Much cheaper IMO.
8. You can add APC to Hyper dressing and do cleaning and dressing in one.
19. Go with D156 bulk version

Just a few things I could think of

[dooyaunastan]

1. you got it
2. Meg's Hyperwash or CG shampoos @ gal
3. UWW+
4. Meg's D114
5. Meg's APC+ @ 1:10, Meg's D149
6. Meg's D120 (user Ihaveacamaro just did a great Thrifty vs Fifty episode on D120 vs IG
7. you got it
8. you got it
9. that or a waterless wash
10. you got it
11. nanoskin sponges, jar of good ole fashioned clay just in case
12. ONR/ONRWW/UWW+
13. Meg's D151
14. M101 if you can find a bulk size, otherwise D300 for compounds
HD polish, M205 for polishes
15. Meg's D180
16. you got it
17. Meg's D140 for the nasty wheels, IronX, TriX, TarX, CG Sticky Orange or APC+, would use a WOWA or Spray Wax/Sealant personally for the wheels
18. Meg's M21 (Pro-line NXT 2.0 basically?), Collinite 845, Collinite 915
19. Meg's D156
20. Microfibertech

Meg's Detailer's Line has got you covered pretty well if you ask me.

[2BlackChevys]

Thanks guys! One thing I forgot was applicators for dressing, wax etc. I have a couple sponge ones I have used for dressings and I either use the one that came with the wax or just my hand sometimes for those. What do you recommend for bulk applicators and are they washable/reusable or disposable?

[2BlackChevys]

Meg's Detailer's Line has got you covered pretty well if you ask me.

I basically grew up on Meg's stuff so using their detailer line works for me.

[dooyaunastan]

For tight trim places 1"-2" foam brushes (the kind on sticks with the rectangular foam-heads) are dirt cheap and hard to beat as far as getting into the corners.

For regular applicators most major online car care distributors sell tire and foam applicators in bulk, AG actually has some good prices on their applicators, but it's ultimately up to you to find the one that suits your needs and your prices.

I'm relatively new to the game but those products with the praise they get, at the price they're offered in bulk is just too good to pass up for anyone just starting out.

[VP Mark]

I've been doing work for 3 dealerships in parallel to my retail work. I also worked as a production detailer for a couple of years. My responses are in red.

Edit: Order more APC+ every time you make an order. With multiple uses you will go through it fast. I order more every time I get under 2 gallons.


I’m about 2 weeks from officially opening the new shop and need some product recommendations for production work please! I have listed the different work types below along with my current product or the one I am thinking about using in parentheses (). I have also numbered each item to make responses easier if needed.

1. Pre treat for bugs etc (Megs APC/+ I have ¾ gallon of APC then new gallon APC+)
Works fine
2. Traditional Hand wash & dry exterior (Megs Gold Class)
Don't worry about being too thorough drying if you are going to polish it anyway
3. Waterless wash (thinking about ONRWW)
If you are going to polish afterwards don't use WW. Use the original. This is fine for maintenance washes
4. Rinseless wash (also thinking about ONRWW)
Same as above
5. Clean interior (Megs APC/+)
Great idea, but mix it with a few ounces of Megs hyper dressing and dress the vehicle at the same time. Works wonders. For a 32 oz bottle I put 2 oz APC+ 4/5 oz. hyper dressing.
6. Clean windows inside and out (Invisible Glass)
Good stuff but the ONR can also be used 1:32
7. Clean carpet & seats (Folex / Megs APC/+ - Also I have Mytee HP100 extractor)
Yep. I use CG Fabric clean also but there is no problem here
8. Exterior & interior dressing (Megs D170 Hyper Dressing w/ PERL as upgrade)
I either dress and clean at the same time or use Optimum Protectant Plus for people wanting a non glossy look. Smells better too.
9. Clean jambs (Megs APC/+ and small Shark steamer)
Unless the jambs are bad you probably won't need the APC
10. Clean & dress wheel wells (Megs APC/+ & Megs D170 Hyper dressing)
Good to go
11. Clay bar (Couple bars of Megs clay from OTC kit – thinking about nanoskin sponge)
Don't mess with the sponges. They work fine but go ahead and get the medium grade nanoskin towel. It eats through contamination and is useful for 60-80 cars. Keep a little clay around for higher end vehicles with very little contamination
12. Clay Lube (Megs Quick Detail Spray - thinking ONRWW)
ONR or ONRWW for the win here. Very cost effective
13. AIO for use with DA (Megs cleaner wax)
I use HD Speed or XMT 360 but pretty much any cleaner wax will do
14. 2 stage machine polish (Compund CGv34 & Megs 105 – Polish CGv36 & Megs 205)
D300 or Carpro fixer. You need something that will finish LSP ready on some paints, or will require only mild quick finishing steps.
15. Clean & Condition leather or vinyl seats (Lexol cleaner and separate conditioner)
Clean them with APC+ then dress with Optimum Protectant Plus. You will not be disappointed with this combo
16. Clean and dress engine bay (Megs APC/+ and Megs D170 Hyper dressing)
Yep
17. Clean and seal wheels inside & out (Megs APC/+ and Megs UPW)
Yep
18. Hand rubbed sealant & wax (Megs UPW / NXT paste / M26 Liquid)
Megs UPW for the win! This stuff is great even in direct sunlight
19. Spray wax (Megs Ultimate Quick Wax / CG V07)
Don't have an opinion here. Never had much of a use for a spray wax.
20. Microfiber towels (Cheapos from AZ/Costco/Sams – need recommendations for others in bulk)
Sam's Club ProForce towels for the win. I use nice towels for paint but I use PF for basically everything else. Get a decent microfiber wash like the one CG sells and it will keep them from going hydrophobic after a few washes.

That’s everything I could think of right now. If I missed something please reply with it and your recommendation for product.

Do you have a Tornador? If not order a Tornador black. You will need it for nasty interiors.

Buy a good shop vac. Metrovac's are cool and all but I have this shop vac beast and it takes care of business.

Shop-Vac Professional Stainless Steel 12 Gallon Portable Vacuum, garage vac, wet dry vacuum (http://www.autogeek.net/shop-vac-steel-portable-vacuum.html)

Hope this helps you a bit!

Thanks in advance for your feedback!

[2BlackChevys]

Thanks Mark! A tornador black is on my shopping list.

For the microfibers I need a recommendation for nice ones to do paint work, waterless/rinseless wash, clean glass with etc.

[Meticulous-Detail]

Thanks Mark! A tornador black is on my shopping list.

For the microfibers I need a recommendation for nice ones to do paint work, waterless/rinseless wash, clean glass with etc.

http://www.towelsbydoctorjoe.com/CarWashTowels.aspx