$500 to spend...help me spend it!

[conan777]

Hello All, I would like to put this out to everyone with a little experience detailing or alot of experience detailing. My question is:

"What would you buy if you were just starting to get serious about detailing and had $500.00 to spend on new equipment and products."

I am going to need a Machine. I have been leaning towards the PC or UDM. Someone has recommended the PC over the UDM because they are essentially the same thing however there seems to be more products available for the PC and it has a proven track record?
What do you think?

Then on to paint correction products, sealants, Waxes.

I will be working on my Metallic Silver 06 TL and my Wife's Black 07 IS250 mostly but I am sure I will be detailing many other peoples cars also to make alittle extra cash on the side. I think I need a pretty flexible line of products to correct bad paint and pretty good paint. This is where I am really hoping you guys/gals can help me. I'm losing my mind over which pads to get and use with which product???? I know it is a matter of preference and all but I really don't want to waste alot of money buying products that essentially do the same thing. Thank You!

[danponjican]

$150 - UDM
$100 - Assortment of 6.5 Lake Country CCS pads; 2 yellow, 2 orange, 2 white
$30 - Some sort of halogen lights
$50 - Menzerna SIP
$50 - Menzerna PO106
$50 - Assortment of microfiber products (polishing towels, drying towels, etc.)
$30 - Duragloss 101 & 105
$20 - Decent caruaba (Natty's Blue or equivalent)
$20 - Dressings, misc.

[scottgt]

list looks pretty solid...also foam aplicators for wax....

[Jimmie]

Bucket, car shampoo, mitt, MF drying towel
Cay and clay lube
Wheel cleaner, wheel brush
Tire protectant
Interior cleaner, interior protectant
PC or UDM with pads
Polishes
Sealant and/or wax
Glass cleaner
MF towels
Assorted brushes/tools

[D]

Dan had a pretty good line up. Heres mine based on products Ive used and what works for me.

Exterior
PC w/ 3.5" and 5" BP (might eventually want a rotary with some wool. But spend a lot of time with the PC first)
LC pads- 4" and 5.5" for PC (yellow, orange, white)
Menzerna SIP, 106FF, PG
Some kind of back up polish if Menzerna is working that day
Glaze- really an optional step.
Sealants- WG DGPS or CG JetSeal
Wax- Pinn. SSII (great on all colors)
Microfiber- Guzzlers, polish removal, wax/ sealant/ glaze removal, QD, crappy ones for dirty stuff
Various wheel cleaners- P21S, PB Spray & Rinse
Wheel protectant- Quality sealant, or DP Wheel Glaze
Degreasers- Amazing Roll Off
Dressings- CG VRP, DG, 303
1000 watt Halogen
Clay- Mothers
Soaps- CG CW&G, Meg's Gold Class. (I want to try Optimum for maintaining my car)
Buckets
Sponges/ Brushes- LC mitt, various wheel brushes- EZ Detail Brush
Bug/ Tar remover- PB Bug Squash
Metal Polish
Mothers Power ball

Interior
Wet/ Dry vac
Woolite/ Water
DP Total Interior Cleaner
Stoners Window Cleaner
Pinnacle or 4* leather conditioner
Detail brushes
Microfiber
Plastic cleaner/ protectant- Plexus, DP Plex All
Vinyl Protectant- CG Natural Shine
Odor Eliminator

Cant think of what else is in my cabinet.

[klumzypinoy]

These guys got u covered :D I have the UDM, never used the PC, but you can't go wrong with either of them :).

[ScottB]

go to "special values" and pickup the Poorboys kit w/ buffer. Add some Poorboys Suds and keep the other 225.00 in savings for later. Use couponcode AGO for free shipping as possible and your ready to detail !!

[klumzypinoy]

go to "special values" and pickup the Poorboys kit w/ buffer. Add some Poorboys Suds and keep the other 225.00 in savings for later. Use couponcode AGO for free shipping as possible and your ready to detail !!

Poorboy's soap is a nice soap!