Another MF thread: What's the cheapest towel you have safely used on your paint?

[john1r]

Lots of assorted threads about what towels to use for what task, and whether or not to use cheaper, bulk towels on paint. It seems to me that if it passes the CD test that it should be perfectly fine for paint (buffing polishes, sealants, waxes, etc...). I also notice that the cheaper ones tend to be 80/20 vs. 70/30, making them not as soft. What is the downside of this as long as it passes CD test? Does it not buff as well as something that is 70/30? Is it made more for drying?



Does anyone disagree with the statement that if it passes the CD test it should be ok for paint?



And what is everyone's favorite cheap towel to use on paint?

 

[G37]

Costco yellow MF towels ...

 

[Accumulator]

john1r- I bought a gross of cheap MFs from "Dr. Somebody" (forget the actual name) and I use 'em for household tasks. The closest they get to my cars is for some interior work or for wiping excess dressing off tires.



Just because a MF passes the CD-test when new, that doesn't mean it'll still pass it after a little use, and cheap MFs seem to wear badly.



I've never paid any attention to the composition, so I can't comment on it :nixweiss



I don't use any cheap MFs on paint. Never. I buy the best I can find and am happy to pay the difference if only for my peace of mind. You're working on a black Audi, right? No way anything but the best MFs available touch the paint on *my* Audis...or even my beaters for that matter!

 

[john1r]

john1r- I bought a gross of cheap MFs from "Dr. Somebody" (forget the actual name) and I use 'em for household tasks. The closest they get to my cars is for some interior work or for wiping excess dressing off tires.



Just because a MF passes the CD-test when new, that doesn't mean it'll still pass it after a little use, and cheap MFs seem to wear badly.



I've never paid any attention to the composition, so I can't comment on it :nixweiss



I don't use any cheap MFs on paint. Never. I buy the best I can find and am happy to pay the difference if only for my peace of mind. You're working on a black Audi, right? No way anything but the best MFs available touch the paint on *my* Audis...or even my beaters for that matter!

Fair enough, thanks! Yes, black Audi.



When you say nothing but the best touches your paint, can I ask what factors you use to determine 'the best'? Is there a particular brand, weight, etc...? If you want to PM me rather than post any specific that's cool too.



Also, do you mind if I ask if you are using 3 for $9.99 towels, 1 for $9.99, etc...? I see so many different options from so many different vendors (all found via forum recommendations) that my head is swirling (no pun intended).



Thanks as always!

 

[Kean]

....I agree with Accum. I currently have a couple of dozen towels specifically for paint and a boat-load of others of varying “grades” for all other types of tasks. I don’t skimp on the quality of the towels I use for the paint and will generally err on the side of caution using ones that have a good reputation (even though they usually cost more). When changing to a new source, I usually buy a few samples (“testers”) first. ….which is what I’m doing now with some Pak Shak towels to replace my aging stock of good ones. I use “cheapies” for all sorts of other stuff though.

 

[john1r]

I've been looking at PakShak as well since they seem highly recommended. But again, they have so many different types to choose from... I just got some from stocktowelsnow.com. They seem pretty good and were about $3 or $4 each. I just need to wash them first and then I'll probably try them on my next wash/wax. Also waiting on some from Chemical Guys (they must have the most diverse, confusing collection of MF towels anywhere!).



Would like to try Cobra towels but very expensive...

 

[Accumulator]

Yes, black Audi.



When you say nothing but the best touches your paint, can I ask what factors you use to determine 'the best'? Is there a particular brand, weight, etc...? If you want to PM me rather than post any specific that's cool too...

Nah, I don't mind posting my preferences. (But never hesitate to PM me if there's something you'd rather discuss that way.)



Other than the CD-test and observations about how how they wear, and concerns about the edging material.....these days I go primarily by reputation. I've simply never had a problem with PakShak MFs (other than the WWs for glass linting and they all do that eventually IME) so that's my short answer. I have some perfectly good MFs from Patrick at West Coast Detail Supply Home (and I really like to send business his way) and some good Cobras from We Are Car Care -- Car Wax, Car Polish, Auto Detailing Supplies, Car Buffers & Car Accessories Store (but also some not-so-good Cobras from years ago), and some good MF bonnets from Meguiar's, and some nice suede-style MFs that are good for buffing off certain LSPs (these days I only see them at Top of the Line Auto Detailing Supplies ). And I have a zillion other MFs ranging from wonderul to crappy from countless other sources, but why muddy the waters further :nixweiss



As you can tell, I have a mountain of MFs

Also, do you mind if I ask if you are using 3 for $9.99 towels, 1 for $9.99, etc...? I see so many different options from so many different vendors (all found via forum recommendations) that my head is swirling (no pun intended).

No doubt (regarding the confusion), that's one reason I like the "short answer = PakShak" approach.



As to the cost, I honestly can't say. I don't want this to come across badly, but I simply don't pay attention to the cost of such stuff as it's not really significant enough (to me) to warrant my concern. If somebody wants to comparison-shop to get the best deal, more power to them, but the potential savings aren't worth it to me.

I've been looking at PakShak as well since they seem highly recommended. But again, they have so many different types to choose from...

I use their Ultra-Plush for most everything polish/LSP-related, but can understand if somebody prefers their "Ultra-Soft" for buffing off LSP residue.



Also, you might want to buy somebody's "super duper extra ultra PLUSH" MFs for any kind of QDing/etc. where the added cushioning/nap/etc. might provide an added margin of safety. The ones I have were called "Monster Fluffy" back when I got 'em from Bob Danase and I have some Shamrocks from (IIRC) AutoGeek...those are nice but man-oh-man do they lint something awful.



Other than that, some of PakShak's Ultra-Soft WWs for drying and you should be all set.

 

[Accumulator]

Would like to try [whatever] but very expensive...

I'd weigh that expense against things like the time you spend comparison shopping and/or the time you'd spend fixing something that a poor choice might result in (money being more readily renewable than time ).



And one might quip along the lines of "if you want to do this on the cheap, choosing an Audi isn't a good starting point" :chuckle: (Says the guy with a dealer-serviced, hideously complicated, troublesome old Audi for one of his beater cars!)

 

[john1r]

Thanks for both posts! I'll definitely take a further look at PakShak.



Totally understand your points on the cost of MF vs. the cost of messing up my Audi... Over the time I own the car, and the cost of the car, a few dollars here and there for MF are not that big a deal...

 

[john1r]

Upon further research, can you please advise on the following (sorry for all the follow-up questions):



Are these are the Ultra-Plush you are referring to: MICROPAK 16" x 16" "Big Boy" Ultra-Microband Plush Micro Fiber Towel



And this would be the ultra-soft which I might prefer for buffing off LSP: MICROPAK 16" x 16" Ultra-Edgeless Micro Fiber Towel or Cobra Indigo Microfiber Polishing Cloth



And why might someone prefer ultra-plush vs. ultra-soft (is one better for a novice?)



And this would be an example of a super duper extra plush: Microfiber Towels, microfiber detailing towels, best microfiber towel, buffing towels (out of stock) or Cobra Super-Plush Deluxe Microfiber Towel is 100% microfiber all the way to the edge! Our softest microfiber detailing & buffing towel. or Titan Plush - Towels by West Coast Detail Supply , which I would use for QDing, etc...?



Also, would this fit as an ultra-plush or super duper plush: MONSTER MICROFIBER JUMBO ABSORBER



I thought I had read somewhere that it might be best to first use a super plush when buffing, then follow it up with a super soft (i.e. something not as thick as the super plush)?

 

[Accumulator]

Upon further research, can you please advise on the following...

I see that names/products have changed yet again since the last time I wash looking. I'll try my best... and again, my personal preferences might not be the same as yours.

Are these are the Ultra-Plush you are referring to: MICROPAK 16" x 16" "Big Boy" Ultra-Microband Plush Micro Fiber Towel

Yeah, those are what I use for most polish/LSP work, in various sizes (sometimes I want smaller ones and I just get a fresh one out more frequently).

And this would be the ultra-soft which I might prefer for buffing off LSP: MICROPAK 16" x 16" Ultra-Edgeless Micro Fiber Towel or Cobra Indigo Microfiber Polishing Cloth

Yeah, I *think* so, but I'm kinda just guessing. I'm not sure you really need to split hairs like that though, as opposed to just using the first ones (Ultra-plush) for everything.

And why might someone prefer ultra-plush vs. ultra-soft (is one better for a novice?)

The potential concern is that super-plush MFs can be too gentle to get LSP residues off easily. Less of an issue for polish residues, at least IMO. But again, I'm not sure if you'd find it an issue at all.

And this would be an example of a super duper extra plush: Microfiber Towels, microfiber detailing towels, best microfiber towel, buffing towels (out of stock)

Those are the Shamrocks I was referring to.

or Cobra Super-Plush Deluxe Microfiber Towel is 100% microfiber all the way to the edge! Our softest microfiber detailing & buffing towel.

Those don't look quite as plush to me, but just guessing.

or Titan Plush - Towels by West Coast Detail Supply , which I would use for QDing, etc...?

Those look more like an alternative to the first (Ultra-Plush) ones, for general use.

Also, would this fit as an ultra-plush or super duper plush: MONSTER MICROFIBER JUMBO ABSORBER

That looks geared more towards drying, and could be good for using a QD while drying.

I thought I had read somewhere that it might be best to first use a super plush when buffing, then follow it up with a super soft (i.e. something not as thick as the super plush)?

Nah, I don't think it'd be necessary to do it that way, although I can follow your line of thinking.

 

[john1r]

Thank you again so much for the detailed response. I will look through everything and post back with any follow-up questions (but I don't think I'll have any as you were very clean in your responses). Thanks again!

 

[john1r]

Quick follow-up: would this work as the super duper plush for QDing: http://www.detailersdomain.com/thenewnonameubersuperplushtowel.aspx



at 700 grams it sure seems like a super duper plush...



And to summarize, something like the one I just pasted above, or the shamrock would be good for QDing, and for basically everything else paint-related (buffing after polish or AIO or SRP or 845 or a sealant) I would use something like MICROPAK 16" x 16" "Big Boy" Ultra-Microband Plush Micro Fiber Towel (or how about this: PREMIUM MICROFIBER, which I just got in the mail today is fairly thick and very soft, or http://www.detailersdomain.com/uber-microfibertowels-classicmicrofibertowelblue.aspx)



And that would be all the towels I need for paint, aside from big WW towels for drying?

 

[Accumulator]

Quick follow-up: would this work as the super duper plush for QDing: http://www.detailersdomain.com/thenewnonameubersuperplushtowel.aspx



at 700 grams it sure seems like a super duper plush...



And to summarize, something like the one I just pasted above, or the shamrock would be good for QDing...

Right. But beware of excessive lint, which might drive you nuts. Sigh...always something, huh?

.. for basically everything else paint-related (buffing after polish or AIO or SRP or 845 or a sealant) I would use something like MICROPAK 16" x 16" "Big Boy" Ultra-Microband Plush Micro Fiber Towel (or how about this: PREMIUM MICROFIBER, which I just got in the mail today is fairly thick and very soft, or http://www.detailersdomain.com/uber-microfibertowels-classicmicrofibertowelblue.aspx)



And that would be all the towels I need for paint, aside from big WW towels for drying?

Yeah, and what you have now might be completely sufficient. [Repeat caveat about not going nuts over this stuff...]

 

[john1r]

Right. But beware of excessive lint, which might drive you nuts. Sigh...always something, huh?

Yeah, always something. I have these (Amazon.com: Eurow Microfiber Double Density Towels 12 X 16 in 660 GSM Eurow Shag 10-Pack: Automotive) that I got a few months ago, and they are incredibly soft, but they shed like crazy. So bad that I've never been able to use them. I'm going to wash them a few more times and see if they get better. If they do, I'll try them for QDing.

Yeah, and what you have now might be completely sufficient. [Repeat caveat about not going nuts over this stuff...]

Who me? I would never go nuts over this stuff