The PERFECT Drying technique - Page 2

darbh · 12-04-01, 01:23

Hi carguy. Re environmental friendliness, I use an electric blower! I like the fact that it gets the water out of those hard to reach places that habor water that later drips, creating spots.

puterbum · 12-04-01, 07:29

Ng,

I have checked out the Ultimate wipes from Meguiar's and in terms of plushness there is no contest between them and Miracle Towels. The Ultimate wipes are not soft or plush at all IMO. I'd much prefer the MT, but I can see UW's being useful as wax buffers or something.

As to a link, i believe meguiar's website or Griot's Garage should have them, as mentioned by Carguy.

YoSteve · 12-04-01, 07:51

I to that 90% thing too by using a mf towel (but it's more like 98% with no big blobs of water). But rather than using the blot method, I just use QD on a new mf towel (I may blot with the wet towel to get any big spots that show up). The QD, on the left over water streaks, does a good job of the final pass with the mf. Course my car is silver

carguy · 12-04-01, 08:24

Ng - I think you can find them on the Meguiar's site - http://www.meguiars.com

peterbum - I promise to try MT - I haven't yet. I generally say nothing about stuff I have not used. I don't claim my way is the only way, just a way that works. I am not sure whether "plushness" has any real advantage in buffing - the UW's are certainly soft enough and do a great job. However I'd certainly like a towel that was a little softer than the drying towel I use. Do you use Miracle Towel for both drying and buffing?

Thanks...

puterbum · 12-04-01, 01:43

Hey carguy. I use the sheeting method to get most water off of the car and then follow up with an absorber, followed with an MT quick detail to get any leftover water. MT's are great for absorbing but don't work quite as well when they are loaded with water. For this reason I usually pick up visible water and QD, then wiping gently with another MT.

I use MT's for QD and buffing of light coats of product and Charisma towels for buffing of thicker coats of products. I do this really gently and then follow up with an MT.

CJ from Granite Bay, CA · 12-05-01, 04:02

This type of technique works well. I have been doing the same thing for a number of years. It sure cuts down on the amount of water that needs to be wiped off. One thing, you want to make sure the male end of the hose is made of plastic. This will protect the paint from being chipped in case the hose end hits the paint by accident.

adg44 · 12-04-02, 07:05

I just use my leaf blower and with the zymol carbon wax ont he car, it blows all the water off, I only really need to clean the windows.

Rlockyer · 01-13-03, 02:21

For a local source for MF I really learned a bit.
The towels at Kragen/Checker and Wal*Mart are "MicroFabric".
The towels at Target are "MicroBurst".

Pep Boys carries some TurtleWax 16x16 towels that are indicated as being MF, and they are packed in a sealed flat plastic container. I think they were around $3 each.

The Microburst at Target are also sealed, but the MicroFabric from the other places are stapled to a card and are intended to be hung from a peg. I shouldn't have to mention how auto parts warehouses ship product to the stores... thrown into plastic totes that are never cleaned, and may have once contained starter core returns.

Clinton · 01-16-03, 10:07

Awsome techniques guys. They work amazing, lot's of time but awsome.

Thanks for the tips.

..............Clint

ShineMGood · 02-03-03, 01:42

My favorite method is to spray ProActive (prowax.com) detailer on top of the water beads. It flattens them out and most of the water runs off. I use a waffle microfiber to finish the rest. Its real easy and you QD at the same time. ProActive leaves a real nice finish.

junior · 02-04-03, 01:58

...well sort of and it does work. I give the car a good wash and then use a low pressure, high volume water to sheet off the shampoo. It really does amaze me by how much water it gets rid of. After that, I just blot off the remaining water beads with Autoglym's Aqua Dry Synthetic Leather Chamois.

I have to take extra care to dry the car as quick as possible so as not to leave behind water spots.

And BTW, thanks for the drying technique tip, carguy.

Anthony Orosco · 02-15-03, 10:25

Hey folks, great subject and wonderful input.

My process is in the wash itself. On those vehicles with grit and grime from a recent rain I always wash WITH a flow of water. Add a few drops of cooking oil to my water and soap and this helps to capture and rinse away the grit.

I discovered by accident the advantage of a "flowing" rinse one day when I also accidentally ran over my hose nozzle. The client came out and saw me doing the final rinse and was amazed at how quickly the car dried "itself" and gave me a "Man, you are awesome, where did you learn that trick from?" I didn't have the heart to tell him......"Uh....just now when in my stupidity I ran over my nozzle!"

The final rinse is followed up with an electric, not gas powered, leaf blower. The gas powered is too loud and I fear gas and oil leaking on the car. The electric is enviro friendly and I can twist and turn it without fear of dripping gas on the car.

All that's left is a few drips that can be, as Car Guy said, blotted up.

Anthony