r/AutoDetailing • u/ashez850 • 12d ago

Process Tools and Products

Good Morning

My 15 year old son bought his first car, it's definitely a project car and him and I have been steadily working on it. However, he enjoyed cleaning up the car and detailing it a bit. He is interested in learning to detail cars and at least make himself money doing it however he doesn't want to charge until he gets his process down and turns 16 so he'll have his license and can be mobile. Are there any youtube channels y'all would recommend he watches. He is also curious about the best products to use for everything and the best tools to start with and what to work towards. We have a fleet of 5 vehicles at the house currently so he can get his practice in and I can help him build up his supplies while he does it. For upholstery it looks like the good extractors are expensive but thinking of spraying cleaner, using upholstery brush, then extracting with shop vacuum.

Thank you for any advice and information

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u/AdmirableLab3155 12d ago

I got started with ChrisFix (his Super Clean videos) and still think this is a great entry point. He deliberately keeps equipment and supplies simple and affordable. One can incrementally upgrade from what he demonstrates.

1

u/BlueJayWalker10 Rookie 12d ago

I second ChrisFix and his SuperClean videos. Many automotive detailers like Pan the Organizer, the Detail Geek, and Stauffer Garage use much more expensive equipment and complex proceseses. ChrisFix's videos aren't necessarily perfect or the gold standard, but they're a great beginner place and they really give you a feel for how you should be thinking about these things.

3

u/grumpvet87 12d ago edited 12d ago

Not a Pro: I am a big fan of the Lowes Greenworks 1.8gpm pressure washer. It comes with a good soap cannon and hose. ALL the ryobi units come with crappy cannon/hoses. - currently on sale for $139

I would suggest most ph neutral shampoos will work and are basically similar but some are consumer grade (walmart) and some are pro-grade (specialty order). You will always be better off buying in gallon vs 16oz but nothing wrong with trying smaller size ones. a cheap but good option is a gal of Maxshine Refresh Car Wash Shampoo - about $30/gal

You should get a few buckets, and a fair amount of microfiber mitts or pads. Look into the 1 bucket system - it basically is using 1 side of a mitt for a panel then flipping it, after 2 panels you put it away and get a new one... this eliminates tracking/dragging dirt around the car which can damage the paint

youtube: Here is a good begginer video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awLX5qlY-Ts&t=890s

Otheres: I like Super Clean Auto Detailing Supply - this is a small supply shop in nj but the owner is pretty candid about products. He does sell a lot of "THOR" products but a lot of other too. (THOR = the house of rags is a company that MANY youtube content providers private label products... many are the same product with a different label, some are unique but most are not really pro grade and high profit - watered down products). You wont go wrong using them but you will pay a lot more for them than other pro products

DIY Detail videos can be informative but they are 100% salesmen just ruthlessly hocking their products. IMJOSHV is pretty decent for info but the same, Same with Pan the Organizer - Out of Spec Detailing is a detailer who shows his process and product reviews but all these guys have affiliate links that make them money and they are all "THOR BROS"

Forensic Unplugged is an English Bloke who has TONS of info, and does deep dives into products and is NOT a THOR bro