David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
I view the chamois as the polar opposite of the Absorber - I think that's why the Absorber inherited such a negative perception right from the get go.
Absorber - Your thoughts??
- Thread starter David Fermani
- Start date
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
MuttGrunt said:
If you give me one I'lll try my best. :LOLOL
jfelbab
New member
I use both Absorber and Water Magnets. They both work flawlessly for me. I believe the Water Magnets seem to last longer and dry dryer but they are pretty close in performance in my estimation. No marring in a coupe of years of use.
I sheet most of the water off with a low flow hose and then blot the rest. I find no film of water left after the final wipe but I always follow a wash with a gloss enhancer like UQW anyway.
I sheet most of the water off with a low flow hose and then blot the rest. I find no film of water left after the final wipe but I always follow a wash with a gloss enhancer like UQW anyway.
Rob Tomlin
Lotus Exige S
BigAl3 said:
Same here. Used the Absorber for years, but its been a long time. I have much better results with WW towels.
The one thing I never liked about the Absorber is that if you are unlucky enough to get a piece of dirt/sand etc between the paint and the Absorber, there is no nap at all, so you can really mar the paint badly.
Rob Tomlin
Lotus Exige S
DaGonz said:
"Shouldn't be" being the key words.
It happens.
I have been using the Absorber for years. I cut my Absorbers into 8" x 8" pieces that makes the drying process easy for me to do a one hand squeeze out of excess water. Dip into the pail of clean ONR, squeeze out excess with no issues. The remainder of tiny water droplets on the car are taken off with a WW.
I do pre-soak the Absorber and WW and this system works just great for me.
I wash the Absorber in the washing machine and then back into their tube to keep them clean and fresh.
I do pre-soak the Absorber and WW and this system works just great for me.
I wash the Absorber in the washing machine and then back into their tube to keep them clean and fresh.
DaGonz
Autopia fire/rescue.
Rob Tomlin said:
Exactly the reason why I wash each panel twice and wash again after claying! :2thumbs:
Rob Tomlin
Lotus Exige S
DaGonz said:
Hmmm. Sounds easier to just use a WW towel rather than the Absorber. :2thumbs:
imported_WhyteWizard
New member
I wasn't really kidding about the big dog drying towel. It's microfiber, and gets a car as dry as the absorber. Awhile back, a local parts store was selling three foot by three foot microfiber towels that looked bath towels - half in thick at least and very soft. Too big to wring out but great when cut in half. I bought a dozen of them. They don't pick up all the water but they get a lot of it very quickly. Then, I follow up with the lower nap dog towel and it's over. Very fast and not a mark on the car.
Of the chamois style drying products out there, I found the water sprite most effective and used it for years until microfiber came along.
Robert
Of the chamois style drying products out there, I found the water sprite most effective and used it for years until microfiber came along.
Robert
unleashedfury
New member
Ive been using ShamWow's.. Blotting with them
Then top it off with a WW...
Hard water can kill ya. I have a water softener in my house. Its a PITA to maintain though
Then top it off with a WW...
Hard water can kill ya. I have a water softener in my house. Its a PITA to maintain though
MuttGrunt said:
ONR baby, O-N-R :buffing:
Seriously though, ever since discovering ONR and combining it with my drying technique, I'm 110% certain there's no dirt left behind and next to no marring after a dozen washes. Yes, I do have the odd marr here or there on extremely soft black paints (e.g., g35, bentley) after a dozen washes, but it's very very minimal and only detectable when searching for it with a Brinkman; looks perfect under natural lighting.
After working with ONR, i've lost all faith in regular washing methods - I used to think that I did a good regular wash (good in the sense that there was no dirt left behind), however, after doing a regular wash then going over it with ONR I was quite surprised to find I was still pulling off some dirt here and there!
Accumulator
Well-known member
David Fermani said:
Could you please elaborate on the above?
I found the Absorber and my other synthetic chamois to be more similar than not to the real chamois. Better, but conceptually similar (unless I'm forgetting something, and that's very possible :think: ). The synthetics are a lot easier to clean up, that's for sure.
I quit using such stuff over fear that I'd drag an abrasive particle, but I still use my Griot's synthetic (dimpled texture) on loaners/etc. And I've recently been thinking about how such drying media work with a blotting technique for the initial drying pass. But then I just reach for the AirWand anyhow and I also wonder how my drying-process use of a QD might muck things up.
I *do* use an Absorber on *me* in the shower to get most of the water off before switching to a real towel
tom p.
Active member
Rob Tomlin said:
+1.
.>>
MarcHarris
New member
efnfast said:
You're making my point for me: you're still damaging paint. Now i'm not saying your destroying paint like a used-car dealer, I'm just saying you're still doing damage.
DaGonz makes a good point about washing twice: but mind you every time you touch a panel you're putting it at risk. I'm not talking about risk or catching fire or scratches down to the primer - but risk of slight marring/swirling. Just like with EFNFAST, it's not because you're bad or don't care, or any of those things: its the nature of the beast.
If you wash each panel twice, then use the absorber, I say you put the paint at a higher risk due to 33% more touching the panels.
1 single gain of dirt smaller than you can see will cause damage people. Its not because you're not good or you don't care - its just fact. And it's the exact reason we brainstorm topics like this: so we may mitigate the risk to clients/our vehicles.
Barry Theal
New member
I'm so glad I knew how to detail a car klong before I came to Autopia you guys make this so darn confusing.
David Fermani
Forza Auto Salon
Accumulator said:Could you please elaborate on the above?
I found the Absorber and my other synthetic chamois to be more similar than not to the real chamois. Better, but conceptually similar (unless I'm forgetting something, and that's very possible :think: ). The synthetics are a lot easier to clean up, that's for sure.
I quit using such stuff over fear that I'd drag an abrasive particle, but I still use my Griot's synthetic (dimpled texture) on loaners/etc. And I've recently been thinking about how such drying media work with a blotting technique for the initial drying pass. But then I just reach for the AirWand anyhow and I also wonder how my drying-process use of a QD might muck things up.
I *do* use an Absorber on *me* in the shower to get most of the water off before switching to a real towel
I think when people(mainstream America) think of Chamois they think of the old school deer skin ones. Those things were terrible. They'd leave streaks, an oily film and would dry out and crack apart. The Absorber is head and shoulders better IMHO.
*I* really don't have any fear of picking up anything with my wash regiment. If you blast all the loose dirt out of all the cracks and crevices, how will you pick it up after hand washing and while your drying? You'd have to swipe your wheel wells or door jambs and then the paint. I'm sure it's possible but after so many years of doing this same thing, it hasn't failed me yet. I actually wash them at night too. None of my cars have RIDS and I've stared them down in all kinds of light. It's been well over a year and a half since it's last paint correction and the only thing I've done is put a couple coats of LSP since then. I'll probably just 85rd it and throw something on it soon I guess when I find time.
Accumulator - Are their any RIDS on any of your vehicles with how careful you are with your system?
Rob Tomlin
Lotus Exige S
MuttGrunt said:
I agree with this.
Again, this is why I would strongly recommend a WW towel over the absorber. You still might very well mar the paint with a WW if you get a single grain of sand in it, but I think you have a better chance of NOT doing so than you would have if you were using the Absorber.
MarcHarris
New member
David Fermani said:
Very nicely stated. I believe the absorber to be VERY good. That being said, I recommend everyone to take a look at the pros and cons of anything.
I wash my mitts / mfs very well and inspect them after drying to make sure there's nothing stuck to them that I can see with the naked eye. I then use them to gently wash my car. Even still, and despite my best efforts, I'll still get RIDS - not so much as super-swirls. Absorber or not. Waffle weave or not. Shag style mf or not. MF Mitt or not. Lambs wool mitt or not. I always feel better knowing I'm doing all I can in prevention, and would rather have a clean car withs RIDS than a dirty car that has perfect paint.
besides... 3M ultrafina is my friend