Detailing Tools In the interest of full disclosure, I am in no way affiliated with, employed by, have any vested interest, or in any way receive compensation from the sale or distribution of the product lines reviewed or the company that manufactures or markets it. These articles are not intended to warrant or guarantee any results with any of the products mentioned. No endorsement of companies or their products mentioned is intended, nor is criticism implied of similar companies or their products not mentioned. The author does not provide, nor guarantee and is not responsible or liable for any third-party products or services. Brand, product and company names used throughout these articles are trademarks of their respective companies and are used for product identification purposes only. A paint film surface is a delicate thin coating, easily dulled and very easily scratched, so be very selective of any advice you listen to and/or act upon. The detailing methods set out here have been adapted for special use and may not be the same as those recommended by the product manufacturer, and you may experience different results from those stated. When in doubt always use common sense. Visit your local auto parts store or large retailer and you will find a plethora of car detailing tools, most of which are just brightly coloured cheaply made gimmicks. Innovation in the automotive detailing industry has made quality purpose-built tools for the professional and serious enthusiast detailer available. This listing is of the detailing tools I use, they are well suited to my needs and produce the high standards I expect Vehicle Lift (manual lift) To raise a vehicle for detailing, oil change, under body maintenance / cleaning, etc, requires a safe and quickly available vehicle lift, the Kwicklift maybe the answer. When it's not in use you have two options. Take it apart and store it (some what heavy and tough to do on a regular basis), or leave it setup in the flat position and just drive on and off of it. When you need to use the lift; drive the car off, insert the front stands, which now make it like a giant car ramp. Drive the car on the ramp, insert wheel chocks and then use a floor jack to raise the rear end of the lift, using the large connector bar, as the rear of the lift is raised, there are a set of built in legs that are lowered from underneath. They lock in place and the vehicle is now safely in the raised position, its low profile makes it a useful lift if you have limited ceiling height in the garage. Pick a KwikLift based on the empty weight of your vehicle, not gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) as this is the total the vehicle would weigh if fully loaded with cargo and a few of your favourite 200 lb. friends. Generally, the GVWR can be 1200 lbs. more than the empty vehicle weight - Greg Smith Equipment - KwikLift portable, drive-on, low-level car, truck and forklift lifts Scissor Lift: The Atlas Pro 6MR is a free standing 6,000 lb. capacity portable scissor lift. The perfect lift for body shops and vehicle detailing specialists, this portable lift will effectively raise a 6,000 LB. car or truck to a comfortable working height in garages with a low ceiling. The unique design allows access to some areas on the underside of the car not easily accessible with other portable lifts. The complete mid-rise lift includes one set (4) of truck adapters and another set of sliding car adapters. The arms can be located to an infinite amount of positions to accommodate the unique lifting points found on certain vehicles, Greg Smith Equipment - Pro6MR Portable Scissor Lift (See also Vehicle Lift) Paint Surface Inspection Lighting: Inspect your work under full sunlight or purpose-made paint inspection lamps; holograms, fine marring hooks, etc. are very difficult to see under man made light. There's nothing more frustrating than having to strip off your LSP and re-do. General lighting - double head with 2-300Watt halogen bulbs in each Brinkmann REI - most LED’s merely glow, but Rebel's highly efficient, finely focused lens casts a 40-ft. beam of far-reaching light. Fish-eye-shaped lens focuses the light from the single white LED bulb into a bright, consistent beam; no dark spot in the beam's centre, the LED bulb is nearly indestructible and draws very little power, greatly extending battery life; runs on two AA batteries, included, a tough ABS plastic is armoured with thick, no-slip rubber grips Push-button on/off switch inset in the back cap REI The 3M Sun Gun™ Colour Matching Light - can be used throughout the refinish process, the percentage of light vs. natural day light is CRI (Colour Rendering Index) = 99.35%: identify paint defects such as swirl marks, burn through, sand scratches, etc., which will reduce the chance of costly re-work- TCP Global Infratech CM5300 – Colour Matcher - this light is a great alternative to the 3M Sun Gun. Runs on mains electricity not batteries, a must have tool and it’s also an inexpensive investment. High Colour Temperature 5300K Duplicates Natural sunlight under any condition, high power 70 Watts, large coverage area, hand held lightweight, momentary "On/Off" switch, identify pre-or-post paint correction / renovation defects, eliminate re-doing or call-backs Vehicle Washing Buckets - Grit Guard ® Ironically, washing your vehicle can actually damage the paint finish because grit in the wash brush or mitt can leave scratches in the paint film surface, but with a Grit Guard ® in place at the bottom of the wash bucket, you simply nib the brush or wash mitt across the grid type surface to remove any damaging grit. This grit / debris will settle through the grid to the bottom of the wash bucket and your brush or wash mitt remains grit free. It makes this bucket is ideal for use as the rinse bucket in a two-bucket wash system; the other bucket contains the wash concentrate solution Grit Guard Washing Hose - Gilmour Flexogen - is one world's leading manufacturers of hoses and the Flexogen is one of the best hoses that has ever made. This 50ft hose has been engineered to endure extreme conditions so it's the last hose you'll ever have to buy and is backed by a full lifetime replacement (see details below). The 8 ply construction and double tire cord reinforced materials provides extraordinary strength and resistance to leaks and breaks. The 500psi burst strength ensures you'll never have to worry about too much or not enough pressure. The Flow Guard Plus protective collar prevents any kind of kinks near the source of water supply and the hose's natural strength is extremely resistant to kinking. The hose is polished so it's resistant to stains, abrasions, mildew, etc. The high flow brass couplings and built in washer provides a tight connection and completes this hose so you know you got a top quality product from end to end Water Filtration - The CR SpotlessSystem DI100WM provides approximately 100 gallons of mineral-free, de-ionized water that will provide spot-free vehicle washing and remove hard water minerals, based on your water input quality. It consists of two 10-inch de-ionization housings that feature replaceable cartridges that simply slide into the watertight tubes. This unit can be mounted next to your hose bib and comes with pre-drilled mounting holes. Using a cation/anion mixture; you get twice the filter life than the mixed bed which comes with the unit. The cationic resin goes in one chamber and the anion resin goes in the other. You won't get the 0 PPM reading that you would get with the mixed bed, but it'll be around 5 PPM (spotless if less than, 25-30PPM) The unit has a water purity indicator light that, when plugged into any normal (I would advice the use of a Ground fault indicator AC outlet) TFI illuminates when the de-ionization resin is still active, when the light no longer activates, it's time to replace the resin. (Includes two 10-inch cartridges, unit weight 30 Lbs. CR Spotless Washing Brush – Oxo Feather Tip Wash Brush This wash brush is made with extra-long, soft, feathered bristles that will not scratch any finish. The split ends create hundreds of fine bristles that gently loosen stubborn dirt so that it rinses away. As with all OXO products, the Wash Brush features an 8 ½” soft, contoured handle that fits snugly in your palm so that you can comfortably wash your vehicle for as long as it takes. The non slip handle allows you easily grasp it, even if your hands are wet. Drying Towel – Micro fibre waffle weave Drying off your vehicle can be a tedious task but doing it right makes all the other steps go a lot easier. It is important to remove all the water off your vehicle so there is no streaking or water marks. The micro fibre waffle weave drying towel is designed to quickly remove large amounts of water from open surfaces and joints. The waffle weave design allows the this towel to absorb so much water that the towel can be up to ten times heavier when wet. Many fine scratches can be added during the drying process with improper drying materials. This towel won’t scratch the surface because it uses a great plush micro fibre material, no tags and silk edges for maximum safety. Drying Blower - The Metro Vac N’ Blo After washing and rinsing, use the powerful air blower to dry the outside of the vehicle. Fireman's style nozzle An ideal nozzle for all your detailing needs, it won't rust or break, adjusts from a gentle fan spray to powerful jet stream; machined aluminium body, rubber comfort grip, stainless steel spray cap. Fibreglass reinforced nylon stem, aluminium hose connect for a tight fit and rust-resistance, 2-way shut-off for water-saving convenience Wheel Cleaning Brushes a)This non-scratch, very flexible, E-Z Detail Brush is 18 inches long, 4-1/2 inches in diameter and is super-soft with Nylex bristles, a material that combines the softness of a natural bristle with the strength of nylon. There's a vinyl tip bonded to the top of the brush and a knuckle guard on the handle but the most impressive feature of this brush is the flexible, inner core. This vinyl-coated wire core will bend in every imaginable direction which allows the brush to get into areas where few other brushes can reach. Proper Auto Care- b)Lambs wool wheel cleaning brushes - called Wheel Woolies; these brushes drastically cut the amount of time it takes to clean almost any kind of wheel. Each brush is 12- inches long with a chemical resistant handle and a bonded wool head. c)Spoke & Slot Brush - Simple, safe, and effective, ultra-soft bristles squeeze into wheel crevices. d)Lambs Wool Spoke Brush - it replaces those awkward spoke brushes that never seem to be the right size and lack soft bristles on the tip. This tapered ultra soft tool is completely covered with 100% lambs wool and is small enough to squeeze between spokes, slots and around bolts 6 1/2" long, 1/2" to 2" in diameter e)Microfiber Cleaning Wand - the special micro fibre thick nap cleans tight spaces in; (0.5"x1.5"x12") wheels use dry or moisten with water for extra cleaning power - no chemical cleaners are needed Machine washable, air dry, and no fabric softener. Refills are available f)Large Power Stick - 15 inch, 3/8 diameter rod with 9 inch brush area. Cloth diameter 3-3/8 inches g)Mini Power Stick - 15 inch, 5/16 diameter rod with 4.5 inch brush area. Cloth diameter 2-13/16 inches. Power Sticks are designed to be used with your cordless drill Tyre Cleaning Brush - OXO Wheel & Tire Brush Cleaning your tyres has never been easier; the shape of the brush provides extra handle clearance for reaching recessed areas without scraping hands and knuckles. The extra-long bristles are super effective in cleaning stubborn dirt, brake dust and grease, they’re stiff yet supple Tyre Dressing Applicator - The Tire & Trim Applicator Well-dressed tires are the envy of those who know cars, but attaining them is easier said than done. Tire dressing is inherently a messy product, but you don’t have to sacrifice tidiness to get great tires anymore. This applicator thankfully takes the mess out of the dress. Sturdy, durable foam is securely housed in a palm-sized, rectangular handle with finger grooves to eliminate slippage. This particular grade of foam was selected for smooth, even application without dripping. The design of the applicator makes it easy to control and target specific areas. Achieving good-looking tires have never been easier or cleaner. This applicator also is terrific for attending to your trim. Interior Vacuum – Metropolitan Vac ‘N Blo (Vacuum / Blower Unit) Look for a vacuum with a high number 'lift' (ins.wg) not HP as it only refers to motor size, or amps, which is current drawn The Vac N'Blo Pro comes with a 12 ft power cord, a 6 foot flexible hose that can be attached to the intake or exhaust side of the vacuum (making it a blower), two 20 inch, extensions, a blower nozzle, Pik-All nozzle, dust brush, crevice tool, carpet/floor attachment, inflator adapter, 4 piece Micro Cleaning Tool Kit and 3 disposable paper bags. Special features include an adjustable air control valve (Power Control) at the end of the hose that allows you to control suction and a carpet/floor attachment that is adjustable for carpeting and wood/linoleum/tile floors. This is the perfect vacuum cleaner for boats and RVs. It is powerful enough to clean up virtually any mess yet small enough to allow for easy storage. While the basic machine weighs under 10 lbs. (without hose), the Vac N'Blo Pro comes with a 4 wheel, hook and loop attached, trolley that allows you to pull it easily behind you. Specification: •Metropolitan Vac N’ Blo™ Vacuum / Blower Unit •Peak Motor Power: 4.0 HP •Power Requirements- 11.25Amps, 110-120 volts •Single-phase, 50-60 Hz VAC •Vacuum: 95-inch water gauge static lift (this thing sucks LOL) •Blower: 145,000SCFM @ 28,000FPM •Dimensions: 15-iches long and 7-inch diameter •12-foot cord, re-usable cloth dust bag, and 16 accessories (crevice tool, brushes and etc) Drying Unit - The AirForce Master Blaster Dryer Dryer features a total of 8 peak horsepower, twin fan, 4.0 HP motors that deliver up to 58,500 feet per minute of clean, filtered, warm airflow. Two switches allow users to set the airflow and temperature at 3 different levels. Use either motor (front or rear) independently or both simultaneously for maximum power. Five different nozzles enable users to position airflow where desired and eliminate water spots, 78 dB noise level, 100 –inch water gauge (water lift sealed suction measurement). •8 Peak Horsepower Dryer on wheels •12 foot cord •10-Foot Heavy Duty Hose •Heavy Duty Neoprene Blower •NozzleAir concentrator •Air streamer tool •Micro adaptor •Male/male adaptor •5 Piece Attachment Kit •1 Year warranty •Construction: Sturdy All Steel •Motor: 8.0 Peak HP / Two Motors •Air Flow: 58,500 FPM •Fan: 2 Motors / 2 Stage Dual Fan •2 Speeds / 2 Temperatures •Amps: 18 Amps •Hose: 10ft. x 1.5 inch Commercial Strength Flexible Hose •Nozzle: Heavy Duty Neoprene Blower Nozzle •Cord: 12 ft. Heavy Duty 3 Conductor •Weight: 16 lbs. •Filter: E/Z Change Foam Filter The Metro Vac N Go Hand Vac. Cordless models just doesn’t do the job and / or when a shop vac is too bulky. This is the perfect tool for the job Features: 500 watts of power with a new state of the art fan enclosed motor (110 volts at 4.5 amps) produces 60 –inch water gauge (water lift sealed suction measurement) yet weighs around 2.7 pounds 36-inch hose, 12-foot power cord. All steel construction with Stainless Steel finish, with a five year motor warrantee. Includes upholstery tool, crevice tool, dust brush, upholstery nozzle, flexible hose, shoulder strap are included at this price Metropolitan Vacuum Co Hot water extractor - Mytee Lite II 8070. No serious detailer should be without a hot water extractor for cleaning carpets, and fabric upholstery; it offers a hot water extractor in a lightweight 3 gallon body. With a weight of only 60 lbs. an incredible 85 inches water gauge that powers out the toughest carpet and upholstery stains. Features like a lift-off vacuum tank, clear view lid, and built-in storage basket make it convenient to use for both professionals and enthusiast detailers. Technical Specifications: Vac Motor: Single 2-Stage Pump: 100 PSI Water Lift: 85 inches Heater: 1000 Watt Housing: 3 Gallon Solution and Recovery Tanks Dimensions: 16" x 24" x 37" Weight: 60 lbs. Tools: 15 ft. vacuum and solution hose and 3 inch stainless steel upholstery tool 25 ft. power cord 6 inch non-marking back wheels Mytee Lite Fiber Liquid Glow - the ideal product for both hot-water extractors and pressure spray and rinse systems. Cleans and rinses effectively, contains non-toxic inhibitors to prevent mildew stains and odours. Steamax Dry Steam Cleaner - an economical solution to professional cleaning and sanitizing. Chemical free, affordable, easy to use, and light weight, the quick heat steamer converts 2.3 quarts of water into 1,118 gallons of dry steam vapour. Is the steamer as good as an extractor for carpets? A vapour steam cleaner will clean carpets if they are not terribly soiled or worn. If they are badly soiled or worn, they should be properly cleaned with a heated extractor system first and then gone over with the vapour stream cleaner to sanitize the carpeting and remove the chemicals left behind. These units are best suited for light cleaning (covered leather or fabric upholstery) maintenance, and spot removal Accessories Included •Large Rectangular Brush •Large Triangular Brush •(2) Extension Tubes & Elbow •1" Bronze Brushes •1" Nylon Brushes •1/2" Nylon Brushes •Window Squeegee •Filler Bottle •Terry Cloth Towels •Black Nozzle •Instruction Manual & User's Guide Steamer Specifications: •3 Speed Steam Control on handle and canister •Indicator Light for refills •120 volts (60Hz), 1700 Watts •Stainless Steel Boiler: 2.3 quarts •Internal Temp: 290.° F, Temp at Tip: 220.° F •65 PSI •Hose: 8 ft. •Size: 19" x 13" x 15" •Weight: 20 lbs. Warranty: Two years on boiler, 90 days on all electrical replacement parts. How does it work? Using less than a gallon of tap water, this multipurpose appliance creates a low moisture vapour that carries heat to the surface you wish to treat. The heat combined with light agitation does the work for you. This appliance comes with a variety of accessories, creating a system that can be used for carpets as well as oven cleaning. The process eliminates chemical residue while sanitizing the surface being treated. Dry steam vapour A system that produces a high temperature, low moisture vapour, this vapour contains only 5% to 6% water and is much less dense than air. A steam vapour system is equipped to safely produce thousands of gallons of live dry steam using only about 1.5 quarts of water per hour. It is mess free with temperatures hot enough to kill bacteria and germs, emulsify grease and oil as well as other surface contaminants. These units are best suited for light cleaning (covered leather or fabric upholstery) maintenance, and spot removal Carpet Brushes - The Carrand Deluxe Interior Brush Almost all carpet and upholstery cleaners need a little agitation to loosen tough spots and stains. This brush has super stiff bristles to deep clean carpet and upholstery. Remove old, ground-in mud and food from interior carpet, mats, and fabric seats using your favourite carpet cleaner. This brush features stiff, sturdy bristles capable of loosening ground-in dirt from carpet fibres and upholstered seats. The comfortable, GRIP TECH™ TPR handle gives you a lot of leverage to scrub stubborn spots. The flared bristles enable you to clean where you can’t quite reach. Upholstery Brush - Swisswax upholstery brush This cleaning brush allows efficient but gentle cleaning. It provides immaculate and powerful cleaning results when combined with a water-based leather or fabric upholstery cleaner Small Detailing Brush - Cobra Detailing Brush Kit These brushes from Cobra for those who demand the greatest attention to details; Cobra have assembled a brush kit intended for those who demand the best for their car. If so, you’ll need these three versatile brushes in among your detailing supplies to attain your goal. The well constructed brushes, all with half inch bristles, have finger grooves for non slippage use. (a) Nylon Brush - designed for removing wax residue around emblems, moulding, and anywhere else it may collect. Of course this is only one of its many uses. It also is handy to use for interior detailing. (b) Horsehair Brush - is great for all interior detailing needs. It whisks away all traces of dust, dirt, and crumbs from the tight spaces that you couldn’t otherwise touch. Its soft, gentle bristles reach into cracks, crevices and crannies to dislodge the particles that make their home in the most inconvenient places. (c) Nylon Brush - designed for removing wax residue around emblems, moulding, and anywhere else it may collect. Of course this is only one of its many uses. It also is handy to use for interior detailing. (d) Brass Brush - has extra sturdy bristles for cleaning the most baked-on, caked-on grime on engine parts. You can’t find a better tool for getting at those hard to reach places under your hood. (e) Poly-Foam Tipped Swab - with a 5” handle is included for good measure. You’ll find 101 different uses for it. High Speed Circular Polisher - Makita 9227C Excellent for avid detailers who don’t trust their vehicle to anyone else, its variable speed control and powerful motor make this polisher easier to use than many circular polishers, but still very effective. In skilled hands a circular polisher will eliminate scratches, swirls and blemishes to restore the smooth, uniform finish to your vehicle. Speed 1 – 600 RPM, 2 – 900, 3 – 1500, 4 – 2100, 5 – 2700 and 6 - 3000 FEATURES: Variable speed with pre-set maximum speed dial; ideal for ultra slow polishing Pre-set speed setting dial for maximum control Electronic speed control maintains constant speed under load 3-prong plug to prevent static electricity accumulation Fast and powerful polishing for clear coat finishes Lock-on button for continuous use at one speed Mikita Wax Applicators a) Lake County (LC) Concours Gold Foam- this wax/sealant 4-inch x –1 inch applicator is reticulated (exploded) foam with a 99% open cell structure. It literally glides over the surface applying a thin, uniform coating of glaze, wax or sealant without swirls or hazy patches. These hand application pads incorporate the same Closed Cell Structure (CCS) Technology used at the OEM level by the world's automakers. This technology uses strategically placed dimples pressed into the foam to slow the rate of wax or sealant absorption, gradually releasing product as needed. These dimples keep the wax or sealant on the surface of the pad. This maximizes coverage allowing you to use less wax or sealant to cover a given area - b) This DF Towels micro fibre - applicator is made from 100% cotton micro fibre and unique in that you can remove the foam pad so you can easily wash the applicator in a washing machine. Remove the pad and you also have a handy detailing finger glove for those hard to reach places. The fabric will absorb just the right amount of moisture to help you in applying wax and polish For a list of detailing product vendors see – Detailing Supply, Equipment and Chemical Manufacturers article Information resource Automotive Detailing Inside & Out; a Knowledge Base for the Perfectionist"– by Jon Miller © TOGWT ™ Ltd Copyright 2002-2008, all rights reserved Detailing Articles This is one of is one of a series of unbiased and informative, knowledge based, subject specific articles, which are dedicated to the automotive detailing enthusiast or professional detailer in search of development and further education Copyright Protection and intellectual property rights-© This work is registered with the UK Copyright Service All original material is copyright, unless otherwise state (1) it may be copied and distributed for non-commercial purposes only provided that you retain all copyright and other proprietary notices contained in the original material, (2) the information is copied in full with no changes unless prior written agreement is obtained from TOGWT, and a reference to © TOGWT ™ is included, any unauthorized use of these materials may violate copyrights and/or trademarks
