Okay so far I've only tried this one way since I was told it miminizes scratches. My main concern is NO tiny swirl microscratches. Due to the fact the car is super black. So far I've been using a shamie *however you spell it*. What I do is I put it on the car, and drag water off. It absorbs some of it, but spreads it a lot, so by the time I'm done with one area, the rest of the car is dried and has water marks! If I do a little to each area, by the time I do a full circle around the car, the place I orginally started has water marks. Can't use a towel, so what else is out there to absorb quickly, and NO scratches? Or should I just let the watermarks come, then end up detailing the car or using a glossy towel *those special expensive ones?*

Thanks!

 

I use a few of the "Big Blue Towel"s.

http://www.properautocare.com/bigbludryint.html

You'll still get a few water spots, but I just Zaino *Z6* them back to hell where they belong!!

I'm thinking maybe of riggin' up a leaf blower by putting a micro filter over the exhaust end of it (I just need the air) to aid in the procedure (ermmm...just kidding....I think! )

Seriously, check out the big blue towel.

VG

 

The leaf blower is what I use.Electric one it leaves no marks at all it just annoys the neighbors to bad.Otherwise it works great.

 

1) California Water Blade - Walmart - ~$10 (gets most of the water off and is very fast - also low friction).

2) Dry with water! (If your Z's finish has a good coat of wax you can use this method to get most of the water off your car. Remove the nozzle from your hose and adjust the water flow to a steady stream (a little more than a trickle). Start at the top. SLOWLY move the hose back and forth allowing cohesion to maintain a sheet of water on the finish. Slowly work your way down at a rate which naturally follows the water sheet. If you do it right most of the water will sheet off of the finish. Slower - very low friction - wastes water - poor results (poor sheeting action) are a good indicator that your finish needs waxing.)

Both of these methods require followup with a soft, clean, cotton towel.

 

I have 2 of the Big Blue Towels and they work great. Very soft, and absorb most everything. What it doesn't get on the first pass, it gets next time around. Wring it out, and it works like it's dry again. It's astounding!!!

 

Drying...What a nightmare. It's one thing they carried over from the Z32's that they shouldn't have. What I do, is after I've sheeted the water off as Hank Nukem described, I jump in and take a spin around the block, hitting 60 MPH if possible, to remove the water from the mirrors and wheels. Then I put an air chuck (with RUBBER tip) on the air hose from my compressor, and blow out the mirrors, door frames, window rubber, and rear hatch. The key with the rear hatch is to only open it partially so the water doesn't run back into the cargo area. Then I dry the car with a synthetic chamois to remove the majority of the water, then a real chamois to get the rest, because it gets water spots better than the synthetic one. That pretty much does it.

 

I'm jst afraid to use the water blade for fear of getting a grain of sand on the car and draging it across the surface of the car. I prefer Big Blue because it is soft and I don't have to worry about scratches and swirls.

 

DO NOT use a shamie to dry off your Z. Use a 100% cotton towel or an artificial "shamie",(the Absorber). Shamies are made of animal skin so it will leave fine scratches or swirls. Holla back.

 

Another Vote for Big Blue. Simiply the best

 

$10!!! I got it in Walmart for $19.99!!! Did they just lower the price?? or was the Walmart at your area cost $10???

 

I have tried both the chamois and the microfiber towels.

Both work, but the microfiber is MUCH faster.

I cut the seams off of the towels to ensure that there are no chances of scratches.

I have a number of microfiber towels that I use:
2 large for drying
1 medium for washing
1 medium for washing wheels
1 medium for drying wheels
1 small for applying zaino


I use an assortment of colors so there is no mistaking which towek to use for what.

happy detailing!!!

 

Another vote here for Big Blue, s'what I use. This sucker (literally) holds a lot of water for it's size - it's like magic or something..........

 

ok, so i used a chamois squeegee (big mistake, and absolutely no absorption) and it left micro swirls, this is after the first car wash, just picked up the car monday. what is the next step? best way to get rid of these swirls? it's a redline and i can see the swirls in any lighting. it's very frustrating.


joe

redline 350z enthusiast

 

I use a squeege (SP?) on the windows and a large shop Vac to blow the water off the rest. The vac has a large filter which prevents blowing dirt on the car. I went out and bought a gas leaf blower but get better results with the shop vac. My neighbors think I'm crazy, however; after 2 months of daily driving I still have no swirls on my paint.

After the blow-dry I just use a terry cloth towel any drape it across the whole car to wisk off and dirt before the waxing starts.

 

In my opinion, said grain of sand would get stuck in the big blue and wreck havoc, whereas the water blade just pushes it. It would be impossibe for annthing to stay between the fine blade and your finish.....

 

i use the water blade also but find that i need to use an artificial chamois to complete the job. Am I the only one with a blade that has to do this? Just curious, maybe I'm doing something wrong.

I'll give the big blue a try. Is it available only online through the site?

rock on

 

The absorber is where it's at! And for only like $10!