In May of 2008, I made an innocuous purchase of $150 in basic car wash equipment from Griot's Garage. The trip was made on a whim during the week and I thought nothing of it at the time. Little did I know that the $150 I spent that day was just the beginning. Within a little under two years, what started out as weekend hobby would come close to bordering on an obsession. For those of you who have just started getting into detailing, I'm not trying to discourage you. This is just a reminder of how much this hobby can take over your life.

Here is proof. This photo is dated June, 2008 and is (now hilariously) titled 'The Detailing Arsenal'.


Now two years later, this is what the arsenal has grown to include...






The scariest thing is I'm not done yet, either and I've paid for all of this myself. Again...this is not me trying to discourage novice and future detailers. I'm just trying to shed some light on the addictive qualities this hobby can have.

 

Wow, nice assortment you have there and super organized

 

where are your gallon container spouts from?

I totally agree it is an obsession!

 

Imagine after 10+ years? Wait til Dale chimes in........lol.

 

For me too, its turned into an obsession...I've even started my own detailing business to get some extra cash.

I have just about as much stuff, with the exception of the nice clean and organized garage.

 

I love the dispensers. What a great idea!

 

now if we could get you to stop buying that over priced boutique griots stuff!!

 

^ + 1

 

About the only Griot's stuff I currently own are the chemicals, mitts and drying towels you see on the top two shelves as well as the tire dressing. They actually make a good product through my own experience. The green MF towels come from a local distributor and I have stuff from Stoner, Meguiar's, Menzerna, Lake Country, 3M, 4-Star, Blackfire, Chemical Guys, and other companies.

Ask around...I don't have brand loyalties. I buy what's best and if it slips, I go elsewhere.

 

I don't look at it as an obsession because detailing for me is sorta therapeutic.... I find it relaxing. Whenever I'm stressed out or in a bad mood, I detail my car (or someone else's car). In the end, the money I've spend on detailing stuff is worth it.

 

^ I feel the same way. Cleaning my car relaxes me, it's too bad I only get to see it 3 - 4 times a year.

 

I'm with you guys. I love cleaning my car. I take a lot of pride in keeping it showroom clean.

 

^+1 to that... i try my best but houston weather is kinda a guess...

 

I thought it was just me. Everyone time I'm in a terrible mood I spend the day cleaning my car or a friends. The shine and their faces cheer me up I guess

 

Damn .. I'm not that organized.. these are 3 years old .. worse now ... 2 UDMs .. 1 7424, 1 7424 XP and more pads ..

 

Nice cabinets. Me likey.

+1

 

Welcome to the madness...

Just because you stopped by to visit me during your cross-country trip, it doesn't mean that I'm partially to blame for it!

 

You've certainly came a long way Andrew, the garage and your detailing arsenal have definately taken a turn for the better then when I first met you, not that it was bad to begin with but always nice to progress through life than regress, and the compliments I get from peoples stares when I'm in the TL-S is priceless...all thanks to your detailing skills, can't wait for summer so we can perfect it again !

 

Todd...about the only thing you are guilty of is pushing me to be better and more detailed in every facet of what I do.

Thank you, sir.

They are a Griot's product. You can find them here.

 

Me too.


Niice setup. A lot of space to work.

 

Thank you sir.

 

My pleasure. They should fit most standard gallon jugs...the jug on the far left is actually the Meg's APC jug and it actually fits on that better than the Griot's gallons.

 

Exactly what I was looking to find out. Thanks.

 

Right there with you bro, I started out with one shelf full and now have like 8 shelves of detailing products. Griots is by far some of my favorite products, but all the sales that Patrick and DI have done have made me buy tons of products from all different types of brands. Sometimes I think I will never use up all of the products that I have, yet I keep buying more, it is an obsession, especially since I only detail my own vehicles. I had planned to start a side detailing business, but I have health problems and it's so hard on the body so instead I have 1000's of dollars worth of chemicals for just 3 cars, I did have to put myself on probation from buying detailing products just because I blew so much damn money it was getting out of control.

 

Chris I have something for you, you may find irresistable.....LMAO

 

Thanks, man. I try my best to buy from all over but during the winter lull, I have to be very careful about what I purchase because I don't know when my next job will be. It could be tomorrow or a month from now. Right now I'm running critically low on vital stuff so the next detail job will go into restocking those items (like soap ).

My list of things to buy is finally dwindling to a manageable point. About the only things I need are Swissvax brushes, Leatherique, and a couple other things my brain is too tired to think of right now. The list of new items is right at or under $200. At one time I had a free night, I sat down and crunched the numbers on how much I've spent on detailing stuff. It came out to something insane like $1,400 and that was in October, I think. By the end of this year I guarantee it will be over $2,000.

 

Thats some nice arsenals but wanted to see if you guys can "put me on". I just bought my TL last week and first thing i did was get her detailed. BUT after seeing this thread i wanted to ask you guys if you could recommend me a started kit since i see tons of stuff there. I feel like cleaning her every three days now but settling for carwash since i have no products yet.

 

I finally got the shelves up in my garage...here is my collection: