Microfiber

A

airhog

New member
Just wanted to know if there is actually a huge difference in buying a cheap microfiber cloth compared to a more expensive one? They are still microfiber but do they work the same?

Thanks
 
I personally prefer the cheap ones! I can't stand the Cobra feel or the expensive price they go for. They just seem more difficult to use. Target sells some great microfibers! I like the ones from Wal-Mart too.
 
I only got into serious detailing a few months ago. I've already amassed a staggering collection of microfibers. I think I need a MF 12-step program.



I don't think the really expensive ones are worth the money. I would say that there is a difference though. Durability and softness increase with price. I have everything from Cobra and Uber to Wal-mart and Harbor Freight. The Harbor Freight ones are strictly for wheels and engines. I'm not sure they even deserve to be called MF. The fresh "boutique" towels are for paint.



I do really like the Vroom from Target. They have a nice plush feel and they seem well made. I'll probably buy more of them.
 
the cheaper ones lint more. . . .they are not as heavy and therefore not as thick or soft. The thicker the MF, the more protection you will have in between the pressure you apply and the contact point with the paint. This will help reduce marring. Thicker usually also means there are more threads and they can help grab more dirt, dust, and trap it inside it, as opposed to dragging it across your paint . . .but that turns a lot on the weave as well (there are some good thin MFs that have great weaving for yanking off excess product) for those who like taking the extra steps . . . its worth it.
 
^+1 The cheaper ones lint a ton and are super thin. If you are worried about price Autogeek and some others usually have a buy-one-get-one sale weekly. I got most of mine through that. Buy a 3pack get a 3pack, thats six towels for the price of three. Can't beat it. Get a couple expensive ones, and compare it yourself. You are your own judge.
 
IMO there are differences, and usually the better mf towels use the satin or microfiber edging as well. sometimes you'll realize, you get what you pay for...



i personally don't want to have to re-wash (lint) or polish (marring/scratches) more than i have too. remember, these touch your paint most often than anything else. if you have good luck with the cheaper ones, then more power to you...
 
Thanks guys for the help. I just tried the cheap towels and no problems so far. Now I have to get some "expensive mf towels" and try those out to compare them.
 
I guess I'll be the first to just come right out and say it loud and clearly ... YES THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE!!! :bat

If you spent all the hours to do a multi-step process to get the paint into pristine condition without a spiderweb to be found -:buffing:- then cheap-out on the thin, short-cut, low-fiber-count MF's, you're going to see spiderwebs again.

I'm sure you notice when you pick up a rich, thick, luxurious towel getting out of the shower ... well so does/will your paint finish with quality MF's.

Sure I own some of the cheap ones, but they're for wheel-wells, door jambs, hood & deck lid channels etc. But the finish/final steps are always done with a good quality MF and it's worth it.

Once you've invested (yeah, it's an investment) in a variety of MF's you'll feel, see and know why there's such a difference. Especially when you didn't accidentally loose track of where the edge of the towel was while in a final step and it left it's mark! :wall

Sorry if I came off too opinionated ... but I hope it encourages you to check out a few different kinds to get a real feel/knowledge for all the differences. The biggest trick is to get the best price for the towels you like. It's almost a game to find the deals & specials.

Hope this helps.
 
I cheaped out once and bought the orange Vroom towels from Target since they were "buy one, get one" pack of 6. At first glance, they looked and seemed to work okay. Until I cleaned the glass. There was enough lint just to be frustrating. I couldn't get rid of them.



After a couple of days, I used them again this time to buff out my polishing. The double 500w-halogen lights I used to check for swirl marks revealed that the lint was more than I thought. It was everywhere. No swirl marks though.



The Vrooms (all 12 of them) are now relegated to door jambs, wheels, engine bay, interior, etc. But not my paint.
 
BigAl3 said:
IMO there are differences, and usually the better mf towels use the satin or microfiber edging as well. sometimes you'll realize, you get what you pay for...



i personally don't want to have to re-wash (lint) or polish (marring/scratches) more than i have too. remember, these touch your paint most often than anything else. if you have good luck with the cheaper ones, then more power to you...
Click to expand...



BigAl definitely knows mf's. He's the one responsible for me buying 6 packs of Eurow shag mf's a year ago:2thumbs:



Anyway, BigAl I have a question . . . which do you prefer (or is there a difference) between the silk edge or mf edge towels? I find that having an edging like that on the mf's really prevents putting scratching into the finish.
 
Vintage said:
BigAl definitely knows mf's. He's the one responsible for me buying 6 packs of Eurow shag mf's a year ago:2thumbs:



Anyway, BigAl I have a question . . . which do you prefer (or is there a difference) between the silk edge or mf edge towels? I find that having an edging like that on the mf's really prevents putting scratching into the finish.
Click to expand...



there you go. sometimes isn't always necessary as long as you don't apply too much pressure towards the outside edge of the mf towel or use it where the towel is folded/bunched in where the edging is mainly exposed (just watch how you're using it). Eurow Shag Towels (i need to order another pack :D ) have such a deep pile, i wouldn't really worry about it...
 
BigAl3 said:
there you go. sometimes isn't always necessary as long as you don't apply too much pressure towards the outside edge of the mf towel or use it where the towel is folded/bunched in where it's mainly exposed (just watch how you're using it). Eurow Shag Towels (i need to order another pack :D ) have such a deep pile, i wouldn't really worry about it...
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Hey there BigAl, would you mind clarifying? Is there a difference between silk edge or mf edged towels? I have both but just wondering what I should get when I make my next major purchase. Cheers!
 
Blade9 said:
I cheaped out once and bought the orange Vroom towels from Target since they were "buy one, get one" pack of 6. At first glance, they looked and seemed to work okay. Until I cleaned the glass. There was enough lint just to be frustrating. I couldn't get rid of them.



After a couple of days, I used them again this time to buff out my polishing. The double 500w-halogen lights I used to check for swirl marks revealed that the lint was more than I thought. It was everywhere. No swirl marks though.



The Vrooms (all 12 of them) are now relegated to door jambs, wheels, engine bay, interior, etc. But not my paint.
Click to expand...



Funny you should mention that. I never noticed till yesterday, but after ONR wash and orange vroom, I noticed the dust and lint flying everywhere in a beam of sunlight, and of course being attracted like a magnet to my car. I have been using the orange vroom for a long time, and never saw the lint like I did yesterday. I wonder if they are just getting old and falling apart now.
 
Vintage said:
..........Is there a difference between silk edge or mf edged towels? I have both but just wondering what I should get when I make my next major purchase. Cheers!
Click to expand...
There's not really a right or wrong answer since most of that is personal preference as long as the MF (fabric) is a quality towel. The biggest advantage I see with the silk/satin and mf borders is they won't unravel when washed several times like a non edged towel sometimes does.



I have some older, but good quality, MF's from before they started using those nice borders and they work fine except they are more prone to unravel. Some newer towels like the original Danase Phat and the Eurow Shag also don't have borders but are nice towels. If I have a choice my personal preference is the silk or satin, but since you have both I'd order the type that you prefer or have had the best experience with.
 
Saintlysins said:
I guess I'll be the first to just come right out and say it loud and clearly ... YES THERE'S A BIG DIFFERENCE!!! The biggest trick is to get the best price for the towels you like. It's almost a game to find the deals & specials.
Click to expand...



I have to agree with this. My problem usually is deciding if a mid-priced towel is good enough to be trusted, but as far as the "game", you can easily overpay for a towel you can get much cheaper somewhere else.



As far as the edging goes, that's personal preference; I like the MF "banding" rather than the silk edging, I've even stopped buying certain towels because they began to put the silk edging on.
 
I have one car with soft clear, and so I tend to buy the high-end MF for paint use. I have a few of those, mostly from CMA. I'm very happy with those. I also have a great many medium-low quality towels, like Vroom or misc stuff from Big Lots that I use for wheels, jambs, interior work. If you're not worrying about marring, I don't think towel quality is that important. It's all in what you need it for.
 
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