First off let me say this. About 5 months ago I decided to start a detailing business. It is on the side as of now and I'm starting slow until I have more time, money, and means to put into it. After all, I'll get more out of it the more I put in if I do everything correctly.

So I thought I'd share with everyone how I'm set up and how I'm able to move everything around. I firmly believe that organization is key to doing quick details and not taking more time than needed. Quality always comes first, but organization is crucial.

First up are my 2, 5gal. buckets. Black and red for my colors and at the bottom of each are a color matching grit guard. In one bucket I have all my tools, Shmitts, etc. I also have a large black bath towel that I like to lay on the ground once I'm at a site. I then take all of my detailing tools and ley them out on this. This takes an extra 10 seconds, but saves me much time later when I would fumbling around for tools.


Here are 3 milk cartons I picked up for free. They stack on top of each other for easy space saving and they are ver sturdy. Notice the black/red colors again.
In one container are my polishes/waxes/compounds/sealants/etc. These are all re-bottled in 8oz. and 16oz. bottles.
The next container holds some of my 24oz. spray bottles with black fine mist sprayers and smaller 12oz. spray bottles that I use for my less "used" chemicals. The black fine mist sprayers are low enough where I can stack my third carton on top of this.
As just stated, the third carton (one with the black towel), has the rest of the spray bottles. These all have the red high volume sprayers (red? who would of guessed). However, these poke through the top and so I can not stack another carton on top.


Here are some examples of my bottles. I re-size 95% of the stuff I get so I can carry it easier. I use 8oz. bottles for polishes/compounds/protectants/etc. I use 16oz. bottles for my soaps and rinseless washings. 24 oz. spray bottles with either a black fine mist sprayer or a red high volume sprayer (depends on the chemicals purpose) and 12 oz. spray bottles used for the "lesser" used chemicals.

(BTW, that Souveran wax for those who don't know is $80)


I keep all my MF's, Guzzlers, hand applicators, tire dressing pads, #0000 steel wool, Edge Pads, chemical resistan gloves, 4" Edge pads and WG's polishing pal in this Meguiar's Duffle bag. (I'm going to be ordering AG's bag for it's a little larger)

 

I keep my PC in a Stanley tool box that I lined with 1" foam for protection. The fit is perfect and is the box is very light. (yes, I do have the HD version.)


Ridgid 4gal/5HP wet/dry vac for vacuuming. I got the car kit which contains an 11 foot 1 7/8" hose and it's accompaning attachments. They are smaller, but they certainly get the job done.


Here is my pressure washer set up. Karcher 1400PSI with a 25ft. extension hose. Notice there are quick connects coming from the hose and the PW (both for the garden hose and the PW hose)


Here is my 100ft. Yellow Jacket 12/3 extension cord and my 50ft. Craftsman hose along with a water softener filter. Again, notice quick connects and a shut off valve from the water softener and the garden hose. When I set up, I manually screw the 2ft. green hose in the customer's water spicket, then quick connect into the water softener, garden hose and then PW. Quick connects galore!!!

 

Here's an idea I came up with after running into a problem with the water softener. The softener wouldn't stand up right (even though it's rather heavy). I went to Lowe's and picked up this all metal garden hose guard (it was one piece)


I took a hax saw and cut off the bottom piece (the prong piece) and then got some industrial velcro. After metal sanding the bottom of the prong piece and applied the velcro and the adjoining piece of velcro to the bottom of the water softener. Now I can simply stick the velcro's together and then stick the water filter into the ground where it WONT fall over!


An my "desk." Haha! It's just at the foot of my bed, but it's all I need. I have here some extra flyers, my appointment book which I carry with me, and my "client's box/list." When I get a call and if the client is new, I will get their name, phone number and address at the very least. I will also try to get the year,make, and model of the car along with their E-Mail. I now have all their info on "record" and can simply look this up for a future appointment. Easy enough for me. Sure, computer might be easier, but I'm working on that. Also, on the card I can keep personal notes to myself of what I have done to their vehicle in the past.




I hope some of you enjoyed.

 

outstanding dude; I wish you all the success in the world!!

oh yea Souveran is the ****!!! Only lsp that touches my cobra

 

Definately bro! Have you ever used Clearkote's RMG and VM (Mix to make Pink Moose) before adding Souveran? If not, try this, it will bring Souveran to a whollleee other world. (I have this option for customers called my "wet paint pachage upgrade." For another $15 they get CK's Pink Moose and Souveran paste, not bad eh?)

 

I have been a CK fan for many years; my car is actually on their site on the customer testimonial section

 

Very good, it was a PITA trying to find some of their products.

Are you on Autpia or Autogeek?

 

how much would a detail cost for a fellow mustang boards member????
possibly free and ill hand out some of your business cards at car shows around here

 

Well, it wouldn't do much good up there. Aren't you from Cleveland? That would be a long drive for a detail, lol.

If you just want the exterior, just the cost of supplies would be good

 

really? I used to buy their stuff off of pakshak.com or specialtymotoring.com

I am on autopia with the same screen name.

 

very nice setup, wish i lived near ya id havE you detail my car for sure! good luck with the buisness

 

I think I finally got some from Danase

 

the cost of supplies sounds great....i get outta school on may 1st ill shoot you a pm and we will see what if we can work anything out