Having the right tool for the job is essential when you’re trying the build a successful auto detailing business. You might be tempted to say it’s not worth putting the money out for fancy equipment when you can do just as well by hand. But what’s missing in that justification is the fact that by using the proper auto detailing equipment, you can cut your labor time in half and also save you on product — and that means more money for you and your business.
The tools and equipment listed below — Orbital Polisher, Rotary Buffer, Pressure Washer, and Tornador Foam Gun — are what we here at Detail King consider some of the “must-have” equipment in order to get your professional auto detailing business off to a successful start. In particular, these must-have items relate specifically detailing the exterior of your client’s automobile.
And by the way…this is just the first in a two-part series on “must-have” auto detailing equipment (stay tuned for Part II in this spot in a week or two, when we’ll cover the top must-haves for cleaning the interior of your customers automobiles). For now, check out these four exterior cleaning must-have items every auto detailer should have in their toolkit:
Orbital Polisher: Orbital polishers are great for applying and removing waxes and sealants, and yes, they will cut your labor time in half. That’s because when applying waxes or sealants by hand you tend to use way more product than necessary. An orbital polisher will help to apply an even coat of product on your client’s vehicle without overdoing it.
The polishers we most highly recommend are the Porter Cable 7424XP, Cyclo Polisher and the Flex XC3401VGR Dual-Action Polisher. And if you don’t have any experience in using an orbital polisher and are afraid you’re going to ruin somebody’s paint job, no worries. An orbital polisher is designed to do slight paint correction without leaving any swirl marks or harming the paint.
Rotary Buffer: As an auto detailer you’re going to come across vehicles that need paint correction — a task that can’t be accomplished with an orbital polisher. That’s why God created rotary buffers. They’re designed to level any imperfections in the paint to assist in removing nasty scratches or swirls marks.
But a rotary buffer — unlike the orbital polisher described above — isn’t a tool that you just pick up and go at it. Nosiree. A rotary creates heat and friction can easily burn right through a vehicle’s paint job. So if you don’t have any rotary experience, we strongly encourage getting the proper training. Either that or practice on a junker that you don’t have to worry about messing up.
Some of the Rotary Buffers that we highly recommend are the Makita 9227C, Dewalt DWP849X and the Flex PE14-2-150. And while you’re shopping around, make sure to check out a specialty buffer/polisher called the BuffPro Axial Polisher, which is great for buffing large surfaces such as those found on boats, RV’s and trailers.
High or Low Pressure Washer: In our experience, most new auto detailing businesses are mobile in nature, which means you’re going to need some source of water. With a mobile pressure wash unit, there’s no worry in having to find or hook up to one all the time.
Having access to high-pressure water and soap can make your job a lot simpler than having to scrub the whole vehicle down with a garden hose. In addition, a pressure washer saves water, a factor that’s important when working in areas with water reclamation laws or limits.
Here at Detail King, we recommend a 2000psi pressure washer, which assists in spraying and blowing out dirt and debris from all of those hard to reach areas on the exterior of a vehicle — places where a traditional hose fails to have the output to remove tougher buildups. In addition, 2000psi units produce a fine spray that reduces water runoff.
Tornador Foam Gun: Remember when we told you the proper tools could save you time and money? Here’s another perfect example. While car wash soap is one of the most important chemicals in removing dirt and debris from a vehicle, too many auto detailers tend to use too much of the stuff. That’s just money down the drain.
The Tornador Foam Gun only requires two ounces of car wash soap — say, for instance, our Black Cherry Wash & Wax. The rest is just water. With the Tornador, which generates high-pressure aerosol foam, there’s no need for buckets! This tool performs half of the work for you by already creating the foam suds. And the fact that you can spray it cuts your labor time way down. To see this must-have professional auto detailing too in action, watch our Tornador video.
Editor’s Note: Part II of this post — focusing on interior must-haves — will publish in the next week or so. In the meantime, feel free to weigh in with your thoughts on what the must-have exterior tools are for the professional auto detailer by leaving a comment below.
