Recommended Detailing Equipment
Please consider this blog as a list of recommended equipment to either suit domestic or commercial use. I.e. by the average car enthusiast or business owner and if I’ve got any advice before we start, then I’d probably say to buy the best you can comfortably afford. But only if you’re really into car care.
The Nilfisk E145 and Karcher K4 are both good quality domestic machines. With plenty of attachments to choose from including a snow foam lance and a patio cleaner. You’ll be sure to impress the other half and not just your own car. Budget between £190 to £299 for one of these machines.
Stepping things up to the Kranzle range and we have the compact and portable K7/122. This machine is ideal for both mobile detailers/valeters and expect to pay around £700 from a reputable online retailer. If you plan to use the pressure washer from a generator then don’t buy the TS version. TS (total stop) can only be used when plugged directly into the mains.
Stepping things up to a commercial/fancy domestic machine, the Kranzle K1152 TS. Expect to pay in the region of £1,200 for one of these machines, but you can expect a much higher ‘flow of water rate’ to aid in faster and safer cleaning. One of these machines is currently on my wish list and if there’s anything that I’ve learned about pressure washers over the years, is that you will be paying for the pure quality.
Let’s say you live on a country ranch, manor house or if you have horse stables to clean out, then something like a Karcher HDS 5/12 C hot water pressure washer may be a worthwhile investment. Hot will always clean better than cold, but for most, I don’t imagine forking out £2,000 + would be on the cards.
For those guys and gals setting up a mobile car detailing or car valeting business then a generator must be a consideration to enable you to provide your customers with convenience. I’ve used a Ford FG4560P petrol generator for nearly 5 years and I would highly recommend, if you can find one in stock. Alternatively, take a look at the power outputs of that machine and match it with something similar.
The George numatic wet and dry vacuum should be the only consideration that you have for purchasing a vacuum. The wet and dry function is outstanding, it’s far better than any others. Expect to pay around £220 for one of these machines and make sure you take care of George because he’ll take care of you in return and not in the dodgy sense.
A machine polisher for the car detailers. I’d say the Rupes LHR15 is a sound investment, but at £500 you’ll need to make sure that you're planning to stay in the business for it not to be a waste of money. There are tonnes of polishing and compounding pads to choose from and polishes and compounds. However, I do like to stick with the Rupes offerings in addition to Flexi Pads microfibre compounding pads for permanently removing the swirl marks.
The ShineMate EP803 is a cost effective machine that will enable you to machine polish every last section on the car. No matter how intricate or hard to reach the areas are, you’ll be able to get to them with this machine, but you will need to be prepared to spend a few extra hours on your details, as you may get carried away. You can buy one of these from Clean Your Car, alongside the long reach attachment and it offers a more cost friendly solution over the Rupes iBrid.
Lighting is very important when it comes to detailing cars and that’s why I personally use a variety of built in lighting in the unit which is mostly 6500k lumen. I also use a few mobile units to allow me to position them in conjunction with specific areas on the car. A Scan Grip Sun Match 2 hand held LED is absolutely vital. I use this light with every single detail. A Scan Grip D Match 2 is not quite as important, but they’re still very useful. These bits of kit are not cheap, so I won’t horrify you with the prices.
A heated car blower is an awesome bit of kit and I certainly wouldn’t be without mine today. I’m currently using a Gravitis 4.2hp twin engine machine. However, I do feel like changing for an awesome looking and ‘blue’ big boy blower. Expect to pay around £200 for a good heated car blower and be prepared to spend extra time blowing out the gaps and crevices.
A water tank for those going mobile is absolutely essential. Tanks-Direct will supply you with a water tank to suit your vans requirements. I use a 250L upright baffled tank and it’s proven to be a sound investment, in regards to going out and cleaning a vehicle, absolutely anywhere! Make sure the tank is strapped down securely and make sure you refer to your vans owner’s manual as to not exceed the weight limit of your specific van. Calculations will be needed to weigh up your complete mobile setup, in order to stay legal.
You may also need to get yourself a hose pipe, electrical extension cord, a kneeling matt, nitrile gloves, eye protection, a snow foam lance, a wheelie stall, masking tape, sand paper, microfibre towels, brushes, applicators and wash mitts etc. Although they would be classed as accessories and not equipment but hey, who doesn’t like accessories!?
If you’re planning on moving into an industrial premises to conduct your details in, then you are going to ideally need a few extra things. A scissor lift, garage cabinets, additional lighting and additional tools/equipment for any more employees. These items are not cheap. When I was in the big unit, my scissor lift was £3k, garage cabinets £5K and I must’ve spent £2K on gearing up my employee. Not a cheap investment by any stretch of the imagination, but if you can make it work, you’ll be earning some good money.
Be sure to check out the JP Details - Staffordshire YouTube channel for plenty of car cleaning videos with all of the above being used in action. Thank you for taking the time to read this Blog and I’ll hopefully catch you in the next one soon. Just hit the 'Blog Posts' button below and it will lead you back to all the blogs.