I've got my duster on order and just wondering what time of day yeilds the best results?

1. Before the morning commute.
2. At work after the morning commute.
3. During lunch.
4. At work before the evening commute.
5. At home after the evening commute.
6. Just before bed.

 

I've had a CA Car duster for years. When I had my Maxima parked outside I'd use it before the morning commute, and after the evening commute. Now that I have the Max & the Z in the garage I ususally do it after the evening commute.

I see you're from NJ. You'll love this thing when the pollen starts to get heavy over the next few weeks.

When new, just be careful about using it when the paint is hot, it'll leave streaks from the carnuba wax that its been treated with.

Its a great product really extends time between washing... especially for Super Black which both my vehicles are.

 

When the car is dusty.

 

NEVER, I use to have one, but would NEVER use it on a real nice car, ANYTIME you have ANYTHING (dust) on your car (basically anytime OTHER than just after you washed it) and you drag another object across it, it isn't good. I know people will disagree, but I wouldn't ever do it on my Z.

btw, it also leaves a greasy film (unless it is getting old) that is very apperant on dark colors.

 

CA duster actually picks up the dust. Doesn't really drag it. ditto on the greasy film tho. on my super black.. looks nasty. But i just touch it up with quick detail spray.

I even tried wrapping the CA duster in newspaper for like one week... the newspaper was all greasy.. but it still left residue on my car.

 

Every day when I get home from work. I love my duster. I just wish I would have bought one sooner. Brickyard is my color.

 

I've used one forever on the Z and on my Stealth before that. I have never seen so much as a swirlmark after using it. It sucks the dust up with its coating of parafin wax (the so-called "greasy coating" mentioned) and IMO is quite safe to use.

 

So I should leave the wax on the duster? I was going to soak it in a bucket of Dawn for a day or two before I began use.

 

At night before I put my car cover on and on weekends after driving around.

 

don't take it totally off, it is part of the product, the wax acts in a couple ways, it makes it so there is a lubricant adn glides on the surface easier, and also acts as a cleaner, it picks up the dust particles by clinging to it.

 

I use mine while driving down the street sometimes. SB is fun to keep clean.

 

ditto

 

I am sure that would ruin the product. I have been using dusters for probably 10 years, I have 4 wood handle ones in my shop right now. I would not own a black car without one.

 

My black car was zaino'ed, which meant the surface of the car was much slicker than a waxed car. The oil on the CA would leave streaks on the car, and those streaks would make the dust stick (paraffin? Come on, it melts at 109 degrees - those streaks are some kind of oil).

I hand washed my CCD in hot water and dawn. I ended up with a BUNCH of red dye (I probably did 5 washings in a 5 gal bucket). It took a LONG time to dry, but when I was done, I had a CCD that brushed the dust off, and didn't leave anything behind. I finish this off with a mist & wipe using Zaino Z-6 and a soft towel, and if I did this every morning (only took 10 minutes), I was able to go MONTHS without washing my black car.

I remember one car show - temp was 105, parking lot was dust. Just before judging, I took out my clean/dry CCD and got all the dust off my car. Other entrants were shell-shocked. They couldn't dust their cars, because at 105 in the sun, the wax on their cars had melted, and any attempt to wipe them off would have been a disaster.

I should've kept that trophy, but the memories are probably better!

 

Doug, so you have NO problem with the CCD and don't think it will effect the paint????

Totally safe??

 

I have never had these experiences - it works fine and my color is black.

But the answer to your question is - when it is dusty.

 

If you dont let the car cool down after being outside it will streak;my 68 chevelle is also garaged and with the duster I only wash it if I get caught in the rain.I bought another one just for my brickyard Z.

 

Safer than using a chisel, that's for sure. If your paint has a layer of protection on it, you're not going to scratch the paint by using a light swipe with a CCD. Heck, DRIVING is a lot harsher on your paint than that. I use the CCD when the car is not dirty enough to wash. The CCD gets most of the dust off, and a spray & wipe with Z-6 finishes the job. Eliminating all of those washings will do more good for your finish.

As I said before, my only problem with the CCD is all the dye and oil that is in it. I washed mine to get all of that out.

 

Doug, if you don't mind me asking ... how is washing your car bad for the finish? I wash mine once maybe twice per week ... is this overexcessive? Thanks.

 

I consider washing "bad for your finish" because of all the opportunities you have to do bad things. When you wash your car, you are rubbing a cloth against your paint - is the cloth clean? You're also squirting water into all the nooks & crannies (can you have a nook without a cranny?) which gives you opportunity to start some corrosion. You're also letting water sit on your paint, which is just ASKING for water spots. Some areas of the country are worse than others for this. I think I live in one of the worst areas for spotting - bright sun, low humidity, VERY hard water. You're also using soap, which may contain chemicals that cloud your paint's surface.

All of these potential dangers can be avoided with the proper technicque, but my general rule is to be as GENTLE as possible. A light wipe with a CCD followed by a mist & wipe with Zaino Z-6 is more gentle than a wash & dry. It also takes less time, so you have more time to drive & enjoy your car. If you keep one step ahead of the dust, you won't need to wash your car as often, so you minimize the opportunity to harm the finish.

If you just like to wash, think about spending time on the "unseen" areas instead. I would routinely put my car on jackstands, and scrub the underside of the car. Guys at the shop were always commenting that you could eat off the bottom of my oil pan. It might have been overkill, but I would know INSTANTLY when an oil leak or other problem popped up. Ditto for under the hood, in the wheel wells, etc. If you don't wash your bodywork metal every week, you'll have time to work on all of those "other" areas that make a difference when you go to a judged car show (I have judged before, and my "mirror on a stick" will find out what's under your car).