[beowulf556]

Originally Posted by SOCAL.M6.ZLE

This one

Dude you made me order one of these, what a great idea lol

[SSJ455]

Originally Posted by Whoomba

Wash them

Thanks

[Val Walkinshaw]

Hobbyist and professional detailer checking in.

Waffle weave towels to initially get the bulk of water but do not use as a final dry.

https://theragcompany.com/products/d...41402390118583

Then you should use a drying aid. Meguiars, carpro both makes excellent products. you spray them on while wet to create lubrication because any DRY towel will create micro swirls. It is recommended to also spray the drying polish towel (500GSM) once to help. NEVER DRY A CAR WITH A DRY towel. Always at least 1 squirt to aid in lubrication which reduces swirls, scratches and dull paint.

After you have sprayed the drying aid damp you should use 350 or higher 70/30 GSM towels to both remove the dying aid (wax or ceramic based). One wipe to spread the product and one wipe to "buff off the remaining. This will provide you with protection both from swirls and offer mild protection as a LSP (last step protection) if you are not applying a coat of wax/sealant or ceramic. I use about 5 towels per vehicle. Most come ina 4 or 5 pack for $20.

I highly recommend TRC. Make sure you take care of your towels,, NEVER WASH ANY MF in tide/ fabric softener or anything that has an additive. They are absorbent and if you use those products you will clog the absorbent pores and your rags will become useless. They will smear and not absorb anything. NEVER DRY on high or even medium heat. MF are plastic and anything but low or air-dry will cause it to become hard (as plastic fibers do when they get hot and melt). THis will damage your paint.

NEVER USE CHEAP MF from big box stores. they are a low GSM that are meant for cleaning wheels and things that require abrasive agitation. NEVEr EVER. Always use no less than 350GSM. Rule of thumb if the MF sticks to the callouses on your hand, it's junk. Its now a wheel cleaner or shop towel.

https://a.co/d/jeywwYd

These are 500 GSM but you can get away with 300 GSM but since I am meticulous I wont go lower than 500.

ALL MF have a life expectancy. I replace mine once per year and buy a different color per year as to not confuse them. Then they become shop towels for oil changes or nasty jobs.

These towels from TRC are also great to remove waxes when you choose to polish or wax your vehicle.

Meguiars drying aid that is also a good but weak protectant.
https://www.autogeek.net/d156-bottle...AaAtiPEALw_wcB

Carpro ceramic drying aid
https://www.carpro-us.com/wash/carpr...er-500ml-17oz/

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by Val Walkinshaw

Hobbyist and professional detailer checking in.

Waffle weave towels to initially get the bulk of water but do not use as a final dry.

https://theragcompany.com/products/d...41402390118583

Then you should use a drying aid. Meguiars, carpro both makes excellent products. you spray them on while wet to create lubrication because any DRY towel will create micro swirls. It is recommended to also spray the drying polish towel (500GSM) once to help. NEVER DRY A CAR WITH A DRY towel. Always at least 1 squirt to aid in lubrication which reduces swirls, scratches and dull paint.

After you have sprayed the drying aid damp you should use 350 or higher 70/30 GSM towels to both remove the dying aid (wax or ceramic based). One wipe to spread the product and one wipe to "buff off the remaining. This will provide you with protection both from swirls and offer mild protection as a LSP (last step protection) if you are not applying a coat of wax/sealant or ceramic. I use about 5 towels per vehicle. Most come ina 4 or 5 pack for $20.

I highly recommend TRC. Make sure you take care of your towels,, NEVER WASH ANY MF in tide/ fabric softener or anything that has an additive. They are absorbent and if you use those products you will clog the absorbent pores and your rags will become useless. They will smear and not absorb anything. NEVER DRY on high or even medium heat. MF are plastic and anything but low or air-dry will cause it to become hard (as plastic fibers do when they get hot and melt). THis will damage your paint.

NEVER USE CHEAP MF from big box stores. they are a low GSM that are meant for cleaning wheels and things that require abrasive agitation. NEVEr EVER. Always use no less than 350GSM. Rule of thumb if the MF sticks to the callouses on your hand, it's junk. Its now a wheel cleaner or shop towel.

https://a.co/d/jeywwYd

These are 500 GSM but you can get away with 300 GSM but since I am meticulous I wont go lower than 500.

ALL MF have a life expectancy. I replace mine once per year and buy a different color per year as to not confuse them. Then they become shop towels for oil changes or nasty jobs.

These towels from TRC are also great to remove waxes when you choose to polish or wax your vehicle.

Meguiars drying aid that is also a good but weak protectant.
https://www.autogeek.net/d156-bottle...AaAtiPEALw_wcB

Carpro ceramic drying aid
https://www.carpro-us.com/wash/carpr...er-500ml-17oz/

Tons of great advice from you in several threads today, thank you very much
A related qq, have your tried Adam's graphene detail spray as drying aid? If yes, any comments on it?

[DaveC113]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

Tons of great advice from you in several threads today, thank you very much
A related qq, have your tried Adam's graphene detail spray as drying aid? If yes, any comments on it?

I'm no pro, but a friend works for the company that makes Adams products, so I use their graphene lineup and have been happy. I use the shampoo followed by the detail spray for drying, and the CS3 for touchups and light dust. I applied the full-on coating on my BMW, works very well but I hesitate on the Camaro as it'll make satin vinyl a little glossier. Also, if you wash the car and use the CS3 fairly often it's redundant.

[arpad_m]

Originally Posted by DaveC113

I'm no pro, but a friend works for the company that makes Adams products, so I use their graphene lineup and have been happy. I use the shampoo followed by the detail spray for drying, and the CS3 for touchups and light dust. I applied the full-on coating on my BMW, works very well but I hesitate on the Camaro as it'll make satin vinyl a little glossier. Also, if you wash the car and use the CS3 fairly often it's redundant.

I see, thanks for the feedback.

My usual wash technique is no-touch (car has a full ceramic coat, including wheels), but occasionally it gets too dirty in some spots and soap plus power washing isn't enough. I'm hoping not to install more swirls by using this detail spray as a lubricant.

[DaveC113]

Originally Posted by arpad_m

I see, thanks for the feedback.

My usual wash technique is no-touch (car has a full ceramic coat, including wheels), but occasionally it gets too dirty in some spots and soap plus power washing isn't enough. I'm hoping not to install more swirls by using this detail spray as a lubricant.

I think swirls are unavoidable on modern paint without using PPF, but I try to keep things to a level where you won't notice without inspecting the paint with a light up close. And once you look that close the orange peel dominates anyways, so while I tend to be a perfectionist I've mostly given up on keeping a show-car quality finish as the paint isn't even close anyways. The only modern paint I've seen that was really good was on a McLaren, and the paint job was a $115k option, lol.

So it's hard to judge how much swirl you find acceptable, but I think with a clean cloth and the Graphene detail spray, you are unlikely to add any significant swirls. Ceramic coating helps a bit but it's nowhere near PPF, my friend explained the hardness rating "9H" is actually comparing it to pencil lead and not the absolute hardness scale, so there's some fancy marketing going on there.

[DeuceCam]

Originally Posted by Val Walkinshaw

Hobbyist and professional detailer checking in.

Waffle weave towels to initially get the bulk of water but do not use as a final dry.

https://theragcompany.com/products/d...41402390118583

Then you should use a drying aid. Meguiars, carpro both makes excellent products. you spray them on while wet to create lubrication because any DRY towel will create micro swirls. It is recommended to also spray the drying polish towel (500GSM) once to help. NEVER DRY A CAR WITH A DRY towel. Always at least 1 squirt to aid in lubrication which reduces swirls, scratches and dull paint.

After you have sprayed the drying aid damp you should use 350 or higher 70/30 GSM towels to both remove the dying aid (wax or ceramic based). One wipe to spread the product and one wipe to "buff off the remaining. This will provide you with protection both from swirls and offer mild protection as a LSP (last step protection) if you are not applying a coat of wax/sealant or ceramic. I use about 5 towels per vehicle. Most come ina 4 or 5 pack for $20.

I highly recommend TRC. Make sure you take care of your towels,, NEVER WASH ANY MF in tide/ fabric softener or anything that has an additive. They are absorbent and if you use those products you will clog the absorbent pores and your rags will become useless. They will smear and not absorb anything. NEVER DRY on high or even medium heat. MF are plastic and anything but low or air-dry will cause it to become hard (as plastic fibers do when they get hot and melt). THis will damage your paint.

NEVER USE CHEAP MF from big box stores. they are a low GSM that are meant for cleaning wheels and things that require abrasive agitation. NEVEr EVER. Always use no less than 350GSM. Rule of thumb if the MF sticks to the callouses on your hand, it's junk. Its now a wheel cleaner or shop towel.

https://a.co/d/jeywwYd

These are 500 GSM but you can get away with 300 GSM but since I am meticulous I wont go lower than 500.

ALL MF have a life expectancy. I replace mine once per year and buy a different color per year as to not confuse them. Then they become shop towels for oil changes or nasty jobs.

These towels from TRC are also great to remove waxes when you choose to polish or wax your vehicle.

Meguiars drying aid that is also a good but weak protectant.
https://www.autogeek.net/d156-bottle...AaAtiPEALw_wcB

Carpro ceramic drying aid
https://www.carpro-us.com/wash/carpr...er-500ml-17oz/

Great info. I'll have to give their MF's a try.
Regarding your comment about replacing your MF's once a year, how often would you say you're using them during that time period?