Detailing Odds and Ends you just CANT work without

i was thining about this while working on an H3 at work today. i have a bunch of different odds and ends in my locker at work, along with my "standard issue" detailing stuff, that i just cant do without. same goes for my private detailing i do on the side. im talking about stuff like razor blades, plastic razor blades, q-tips/cotton swabs, little snap on pics, mr clean magic erasers and scuff pads. you know, stuff that might be a little out of the ordinary that you'd feel naked without. lets hear some of yours.

 

the little foam pad for my knees when cleaning wheels..I can get away with other stuff, but I have to have that pad!! I have a gravel driveway..

 

I have this little brush I use to scrub tires. its probably about 1.5"x1.5" size bristle head, its small I know, but I've had the thing for years, and can't remember what state I bought it in. I would go nuts if I lost the thing.

other essentials would be foam apps, razor blades (plastic&metal), various small brushes for interior&exterior. oh and a foam app for tire dressings.

 

I have a plant watering attachment for the hose, you know one of those that are about 2 feet-ish long with a bend on top with a shower like spray head? Love using this to spray the top of SUVs, around wheel wells and the underside and lower panels of the car.

 

oh yess the foam applicator blocks. i must have like twenty five of those and love them. they're great because theyre so cheap and you can cut up a big block into any size piece to suit a specific use or area to be used on.

 

Radio, cushion seat for when I'm doing the wheels, comfortable clothes/shoes, empty bucket for dirty mf's....

 

radio...yes. well, i was thinking more along the lines of ipod for myself. i always bring my radio too, but once i get that makita wound up, its kinda hard to hear the radio.

 

Yeah I switch between a speaker set and my Zune depending on what I'm doing.

 

A super long crevice tool for the business end of the vacuum. I recently found a real good one from Rigid. This this has to be 16" long.

...and my detailing cart of course. My world on little casters.

 

An old office chair. Yep. I put it as low as it can go and roll around the car with a buffer..lol.

 

-Rubbermaid rolling cart

-Plastic trash bin (with heft bag inside) for dirty MF's to be thrown in

-Music, mostly for doing the tedious parts of a detail like engines, interiors etc to keep the energy up. I find oldies and upbeat music are best, hip hop I find just doesnt put me in the right mindset

-Racatac rolling seat for wheels and polishing by the license plate area

-Hand pump pressurized garden sprayer for doing a quick rinse if needed after compoudning to remove dust BEFORE moving onto the finishing stage

-Vic Firth ear protection headphones for using the Flex 3403 because it has quite a whine to it

I will think of more

 

- Some sort of sponge-like thing Majestic Solutions sells. Perfect for removing bugs
- Shure noise-cancelling headphones and my iPhone
- Solo 418 pump sprayers; IMO, a must have for stuff you use a lot of, like APC
- Swissvax wheel brushes (and their zymol equivalent)
- Sprayco XR-2500 spray bottles - I must have a dozen of them

 

I've got a Griot's roller that is great for sitting while detailing the lower body panels and wheels. Not that it is an odd or end but can't imagine going back to the kneel/squat approach. Guess I'm getting old, ha. Also using a lot of green 3M automotive tape to protect areas during the polishing stage.

 

I come across alot of rims with these little holes in them, so my "teat cleaner" is awesome. Another plus to having kids, you see things in shops you wouldnt normally go to.

 

Assortment of pencil erasers for wet sanding small ares :cig:

 

Rum. .

 

Q-tips and toothpicks are two small items I seem to use quite often that I wouldn't think to tell anyone about as a point of conversation.

 

Haha

I prefer 5hour energy... the extra strength version:headbang:

 

Toothpicks!! come in handy when polish dries in those flip top lids!!

 

^^^^^ :agree: I usually break a twig off of a bush and run it thru there :duh: