Suggestions for organizing detailing supplies

[Ambrose Wolfinger]

As I was in the middle of some tedious and frustrating detailing on my car today, i started thinking about the best way to organize my detailing gear. Right now, the fluids, polishes, soaps, etc are in a box, and my towels, mitts, and pads are in two overstuffed plastic tubs. The only real “tool” I have is a Porter Cable 7424XP, kept in its original box. This setup really stinks, and while I could line everything up on an open shelf, I’d have to find a way of keeping all my microfiber from getting coated with ambient dust. The plastic tubs are ok, but I hate having to dig through them.

Since I plan on getting a Harbor Freight 44” tool box, I thought of getting the side locker, 4 drawer, or 5 drawer cart for my detailing gear. The locker might work *IF* I can get additional shelves. The carts would work, plus I’d have the added benefit of getting to move it around while I work. While not air tight, the drawers and top lid should be good for keeping my large collection of microfiber towels from getting contaminated. The bottom shelf could be used for polishes, wax, soap, etc.

Any thoughts on these three products, or is there something else that would work better?

 

[johnyg]

i use an old file cabinet on wheels. price was right. deep long drawers hold everything.

 

[HOTFR8]

I have mine in buckets although I have found plastic crates just as good. All my vehicles have a bucket with all the cleaning gear in them with the basics. I have a couple of other buckets with more items. I used to go to events and get given a goodie bucket so have plenty of them to use.

 

[jbwilkins]

I grabbed Harbor Frieght's 30" large service cart. Items I use regularly are on the top shelf and on the bottom I keep all the mitts, drying towels, wheel cleaning tools, and microfiber cloths in plastic storage containers e......Just roll the whole thing out to the car, grab the buckets and I have everything I need......

Refills are stored in the garage on a shelf.....

 

[Kaizen]

Definitely should be mobile. Check out ammonyc on YouTube for the cats meow. His setup is perfection. Might give you some ideas. I like he gives the reason behind it as well.


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[Rickster]

If it's gotta be mobile the HF makes a nice 3 tier open shelf cart 30 x 16 for not https://www.harborfreight.com/tool-...-x-16-inch-three-tray-service-cart-97542.html

If stationary, I have some of their 3-door wall cabinets that work really well. But I did need to stiffen them up with some added pop digits.

 

[lml999]

As I was in the middle of some tedious and frustrating detailing on my car today, i started thinking about the best way to organize my detailing gear. Right now, the fluids, polishes, soaps, etc are in a box, and my towels, mitts, and pads are in two overstuffed plastic tubs. The only real “tool” I have is a Porter Cable 7424XP, kept in its original box. This setup really stinks, and while I could line everything up on an open shelf, I’d have to find a way of keeping all my microfiber from getting coated with ambient dust. The plastic tubs are ok, but I hate having to dig through them.

Great question!

How do you store your PC pads? I've been keeping mine in individual ziploc bags, but i'm concerned that this might promote mold growth...

 

[ScottsGT]

I just did this. I bought this cart because it's rust proof.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00H1V4EB2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I wanted something I could get wet and not worry about, roll everything out of the garage and park in the grass next to my car I'm working on. I keep my Ryobi 1600 PSI pressure washer on the bottom shelf next to my wash bucket. But after using my PW and soap cannon for the first time, not much need for a wash bucket anymore.

Can hang the wet chamois cloth over the plastic handles and not worry about rust. I installed a garage hanger hook under the handle that I store my rolled up shop vac hose for car use on. I still want to come up with some sort of built in organizer for my vac attachments and brushes for cleaning.

 

[Billy Jack]

I had intended to buy this cart from HFhttps://www.harborfreight.com/30-in-x-16-in-three-shelf-steel-service-cart-62179.html, but came across some aluminum trays, so I made my own (see attachment).
The bottom shelf is for microfibers, divided by posterboard into 3 compartments, 2 stacks deep. It's enclosed by thin storm window plexiglass on three sides and has a clear plastic curtain on the front for easy access.
The middle shelf has a few odd brushes and tools, as well as containers of hand pads, but leaves enough free space to set down a polisher and hold a few pads.
The top shelf has a bunch of 4" diameter mailing tubes, retained by binder clips. They can hold most bottles upright when it gets rolled around, or stuff in a mf towel. Also, I've taken a thin piece of aluminum, bent it to hang from the side wall, then glued a bunch of odd plastic pipe scraps to hold small brushes and tools. The only update to be done is to cover the vertical supports with a soft rubber or foam material in case it rolls against the vehicle. Hasn't happened yet, but there's always a possibility. Otherwise, I'm very happy with it. I just load it with whatever I need for the job at hand and roll it around the car as i go.

Bill

 

[ChaseDE]

Wish I had the time and money to detail my cars and buy the right gear for it. All my towels and waxes, bottles, are on a shelf. My wash soap, wheel spray, mitts, wheel brushes all sit in my wash bucket.

 

[mrrooG8]

Detailing for a job is all about your setup and being proficient with your tools and space. Get a real buffer setup. Your time will be much improved and your overall results will be much better. I used a Porter Cable for a while. Then switched to Rupes and Griots polishers. So much better. All my towels are in clean cabinets separated from any liquids or other supply's. They are folded and stacked so you can grab easy out of the totes. My pads are kept in plastic totes and kept sealed once dry if they were used. I use Gladiator cabinets for storage of supplies. Your work space is a direct reflection of your quality of work. I work on airplanes a lot also. So cleanliness and professionalism is key around these customers. Proper lighting and temp in your detailing area are also key. Even if doing this on your own for fun, the same info above applies. The products and setups you use directly relate to your results.

 

[ScottsGT]

Your work space is a direct reflection of your quality of work. So cleanliness and professionalism is key around customers.

This right here is words of wisdom to live by. Modified a bit, but same meaning.

 

[Jeepster04]

Ive got a large metal shelf thats on wheels for all of my detailing stuff. I would need around 10 of those little carts to contain it all.

 

[Ambrose Wolfinger]

Great question!

How do you store your PC pads? I've been keeping mine in individual ziploc bags, but i'm concerned that this might promote mold growth...

Right now I have everything in two plastic tubs. It's all washed and dried before storage. It works but obviously I need something bigger

 

[Ambrose Wolfinger]

Detailing for a job is all about your setup and being proficient with your tools and space. Get a real buffer setup. Your time will be much improved and your overall results will be much better. I used a Porter Cable for a while. Then switched to Rupes and Griots polishers. So much better. All my towels are in clean cabinets separated from any liquids or other supply's. They are folded and stacked so you can grab easy out of the totes. My pads are kept in plastic totes and kept sealed once dry if they were used. I use Gladiator cabinets for storage of supplies. Your work space is a direct reflection of your quality of work. I work on airplanes a lot also. So cleanliness and professionalism is key around these customers. Proper lighting and temp in your detailing area are also key. Even if doing this on your own for fun, the same info above applies. The products and setups you use directly relate to your results.

Thanks, and I agree 100%! I only work on my car and my girlfriends car. The PC has been a good starter. I am really impressed with Rupes, so I will likely upgrade at some point.

I've only attempted polishing my car a handful of times. I find there is still something I miss or could've done better. Being able to correct even light swirls on my car depends on a lot of variables, and I think I'm finally learning that there is no set formula, even when working on the same car.

Most people don't think much about it and most of my friends think I'm a bit weird for obsessing over things, but there really is an art and science that pros have gained over years of experience. Observing a couple of professional detailers and reading the Autopia forums is really informative.

 

[Ambrose Wolfinger]

This looks great! Good job!

I had intended to buy this cart from HFhttps://www.harborfreight.com/30-in-x-16-in-three-shelf-steel-service-cart-62179.html, but came across some aluminum trays, so I made my own (see attachment).
The bottom shelf is for microfibers, divided by posterboard into 3 compartments, 2 stacks deep. It's enclosed by thin storm window plexiglass on three sides and has a clear plastic curtain on the front for easy access.
The middle shelf has a few odd brushes and tools, as well as containers of hand pads, but leaves enough free space to set down a polisher and hold a few pads.
The top shelf has a bunch of 4" diameter mailing tubes, retained by binder clips. They can hold most bottles upright when it gets rolled around, or stuff in a mf towel. Also, I've taken a thin piece of aluminum, bent it to hang from the side wall, then glued a bunch of odd plastic pipe scraps to hold small brushes and tools. The only update to be done is to cover the vertical supports with a soft rubber or foam material in case it rolls against the vehicle. Hasn't happened yet, but there's always a possibility. Otherwise, I'm very happy with it. I just load it with whatever I need for the job at hand and roll it around the car as i go.

Bill

 

[Ambrose Wolfinger]

Thanks for the other replies. The service carts are good, but I like the idea of having separate drawers to make access to towels, pads, etc easier. I definitely don't want to leave them sitting unprotected on the cart.

 

[ScottsGT]

When I replace my bottom 44" HF box with the new 22" deep model, I'll use the old one as a portable bench and I'll keep my microfiber's and buffing pads and buffer in it since I won't use those items every time I was my car.

 

[ezriderga]

This is only some of the spray bottles in my detail shop. About three years ago I went to Walmart and bought this shoe rack for less than $10. It sure helps keeping so many bottles organized and easy to find when I need a particular product. Now to get my microfiber towels organized.

 

[Ambrose Wolfinger]

This is only some of the spray bottles in my detail shop. About three years ago I went to Walmart and bought this shoe rack for less than $10. It sure helps keeping so many bottles organized and easy to find when I need a particular product. Now to get my microfiber towels organized.

Good idea!

 

[1967rsss]

I was thinking this would work for my situation. I like the spray bottle organizer. I have a steep driveway where I do my detailing so I need the brakes on the casters.

https://store.jaxwax.com/Professional-Detailing-Cart-with-Bottle-Organizer-p/dtlcart.htm

 

[James E]

This is only some of the spray bottles in my detail shop. About three years ago I went to Walmart and bought this shoe rack for less than $10. It sure helps keeping so many bottles organized and easy to find when I need a particular product. Now to get my microfiber towels organized.

Yeah, very clever. I may copy this.

 

[dittle fart around]

View media item 82546
This is the new project center from NewAge Products. Two door cabinet for bottled products, five 38" wide tool drawers more than enough for brushes, towels and tools. Roll it out to driveway or around the shop, take your stuff to where the work is located.

Included is a 62" worktop a 24'" wide 2 door base cabinet and a 38" wide tool cabinet. The project center is packed inside a 42" wide locker cabinet and sells for 1059.99.

 

[Rag Roc]

Washing supplies are kept in the bucket in the house garage. Vehicle is then pulled into the shop for detailing.
Because I'm paranoid and imagine worse case scenario, all my detailing liquids are on a rubbermaid cart I roll up near the car. I worry about crashing a steel cart into a vehicle.
My towels, microfibers, pads, and Porter Cable are kept in a storage cabinet, taken out, and placed on the cart as needed.

 

[ct03911]

Bought two fireproof cabinets.
Keeps everything well organized and secure.
I have flameables in one, oils, grease, lubes etc and all my detailing stuff in another.

 

[ard]

All those pads and rags sitting out exposed are a nightmare to my eye.... A spec of dirt/sand blown, brushed or dropped onto it and you can destroy a surface. Just crazy to my eye.

I am paranoid about pad/rag contamination- everyone goes into a ziplock for storage. (Or is factory seal). Sharpie on the outside to describe the condition. I will reuse a pad for a bit, but only a few times and obviously for the same materials.

I just have 3 plastic tubs- chemicals, rags/pads, buffer/used pads. Out onto the car...use them...back into the cart. TOuchup paints/chip repair in a little plastic tub. Detail spray usually sits out, but with a microfiber in a ziplock. And weekly 'just carwash' stuff has its own tub separate from 'full blown detailing'

But again, protect your pads and rags from dirt!