$500 Budget and go!

[Duggs]

Looking to pick-up a polisher, shampooer/extractor and associated products (compounds, pads, product for shampooer, etc).

Budget is roughly $500. I only do 5-8 cars a month and would like to enhance my existing work and also improve quality.

Ideas?

[mleun481]

Maybe it would help if you can list what you currently have? You said you do 5-8 cars a month so you probably already have a polisher?

[KyleWrap]

Here what i got on an order to get started.

Griots Garage Car Wash 128 oz. $39.99

Meguiars M205 Ultra Finishing Polish 32 oz. $21.99

Mothers California Gold Clay Bar Paint Saving System - 2 Clay Bars $24.99

Duragloss Polish & Cleaner (PC) #101 $9.99

Collinite Liquid Insulator Wax #845 $17.99

Stoner Invisible Glass Cleaner With Rain Repellent $5.99

SONAX Wheel Cleaner Full Effect 16.9 oz. Two Pack Special $31.99

Optimum Power Clean All Purpose Cleaner 17 oz. $11.99

CarPro PERL Coat Plastic & Rubber Protectant 500 ml. $15.99

Clean Wheel Lug Nut Brush $7.99

CarPro Tar X Tar & Adhesive Remover 500 ml. $15.99

CarPro Ceriglass Glass Polish 150 ml $10.99

Meguiars M105 Ultra-Cut Compound 32 oz. $23.99

SONAX Upholstery & Carpet Cleaner $10.99

Natural Tampico Upholstery & Carpet Scrub Brush $7.99

Griots Garage 6 Inch Glass Polishing Pads, Set of 3 $14.99

Lake Country 6.5 FLAT Pads 6 Pack - Your Choice!
Pad 1 : Orange
Pad 2 : Orange
Pad 3 : White
Pad 4 : White
Pad 5 : Yellow
Pad 6 : Yellow $49.99

Mothers Detail Brush Set $3.99

Laitner Grip-It Fender & Body Brush $6.99

Clean Vent Kit $10.99

303 Aerospace Protectant 10 oz $7.99

Total ~ $320 (May want to throw in a few crimson / blue pads for wax/LSP on top of that)

HF DA ~$60

BISSELL SpotClean Professional Portable Carpet Cleaner, 3624
~$130

Total: About $520 without shipping.

You could always splurge and get the Porter Cable 7424xp and 5.5 inch pads instead.

[Duggs]

I don't have a shampooer/extractor. It's been a lot of product use, scrubbing and vacuuming with good results but it is very time consuming. As far as a polisher, I have not had the need as my details have typical been lighter cleanings, hand wax, headlight corrections. I would like to start offering a polishing/buffing process as I had done it at my previous employer.

[Duggs]

Also have a gentleman locally selling a Griot's 6" DA brand new. Offered him awhile back and it still hasn't moved so I may be able to get that for around $100.

Also, I have a wide array of brushes, cleaners, products, etc. This thread is mostly for a shampooer and a polisher and their associated products.

[Kengo123]

Ridgid wet vac $80
Automagic ez clean hd hand shampoo concentrate gallon $15
HF da polisher $50
5" buff and shine backing plate, 6x 5" buff and shine green polishing pads $48
Meguiars 5" mf cutting discs x2 $18
Meguiars ultimate compound, polish and liquid wax $36

Hand shampoo out of a bucket with solution and extract with a wet vac... IMO just as good or better than a $100 bissell extractor.

The HF da is solid and most will recommend a smaller backing plate to use smaller 5.5" pads. If not, the griots garage 6" da will fit in the budget very easily at just $130. Both are great value units