i use a leather chamois...

Planter91C2 · 06-22-2002, 07:48 AM

hi, my name is daryl and i use a leather chamois...

can't stop it although i tried...

nothing dries better...no water spots..a nice dry shine.

it agonizes me that i may be putting very fine scratches in my paint, so much so that drying time is always accompanied by alcoholic beverage consumption..

please help me see the light...

chuckr · 06-22-2002, 10:09 AM

Have you ever tried the Absorber ??
I used to be a chamois junkie till I got hold of an Absorber, the more you use it the better it works, I will secretly admit to keeping one in my trunk for "emergencies"

Brian993 · Brian993's Garage

Nothing beats the ABSORBER.

epbrown · 06-22-2002, 05:05 PM

Never heard of the Absorber, but...

The big weakness of a chamois is that using one over the entire car means you'll likely pick up grit or dirt and rub it into the paint because you use it on the entire car. If the Absorber works the same way, you've got the same problem. Thorough washing and constant rinsing can eliminate most of the risk, but using multiple towels is the safer bet. Especially you, BigB - you're going to be discovering the joys of owning a black Porsche

Emanuel

Brian993 · Brian993's Garage

BigB - you're going to be discovering the joys of owning a black Porsche - epbrown

Emanuel, I already know believe me. I keep a bottle of Mequires quick detail handy as well as a California duster. I have washed her twice already. Its ok though I enjoy it. Kinda an extra workout. Hey the absorber works good, if the car is freshly cleaned I dont think there is to much to be concerned about. I have been using one repeatedly for years with 0 problems.

Langers · 06-23-2002, 01:10 AM

Does a chamois actually create any more scratches than any other drying product which is used all over the car? Or is the only problem picking up dirt from one place and moving it to another?

kenny · 06-25-2002, 02:06 PM

I think the key is to make sure the car is really clean first so the drying sheet/towel/etc doesn't get dirty in the first place. You can never get all of it, but you can get nearly all of it.

Next I use a silicone squeegy to remove the bulk of the water -- it is so soft and gentle -- I wish someone would use it on me!

I use the absorber too. I was using a natural chamois but I could never get the greasy crap out of it that came in it to preserve it -- no matter how many times I tried and I always seemed to get lint on the car with a towel (though that ain't a problem now as the car is white). You can wash the absorber after each use if you want to and I have absolutely no regrets about going synthetic on the drying towel -- it is however, the only synthetic thing I use on the car

OH yeah -- except the soft synthetic sponge that came with my wax -- it seems pretty smooth too -- whos to know!

Langers · 06-25-2002, 03:38 PM

Thanks for the help Kenny

epbrown · 06-25-2002, 05:18 PM

Kenny's right - making sure the car is clean is the key. My routine is to get to the wash bays early (last Saturday, I was there at 5:30 a.m., after my morning run) and wash the car by hand twice just to make sure I get everything. I still prefer to use one different towels for different areas to play it safe, but by then the car is clean enough to be risk-free :-).

Emanuel

kenny · 06-26-2002, 04:58 AM

the other tip is (same for washing) is to do the car from top to bottom. Generally the top of the car gets less dirty than the bottom. I, whether washing or drying, start with the roof, then the windows/top of the car, hood, top-half of the door, front-top, back-top, front-bottom, side bottoms, and then back bottom. I do the wheels last -- repeat for drying (after squeegy). This way if you do move any dirt it is lateral rather than all over the car.

Oldporsche · 06:08 PM

I have used a lot of products over the years.

I used to use Dupont car wash, but now almost any of the products on sale at wal-mart, or pep boys is ok by me. I would like to use soft water too.

I rinse the car knocking loose all of the dirt and grit I can with the stream of water from the hose.

After throughly rinsing the car, I wash the top of the car first using a chinele mit. I continue down to a horizontal line somewhere above the bottom of the car door. From there on down I use a super-soft washing brush. (I learned this when working at a gas station) I do not dip the chinele mit back into the water after I start using the brush.

I have been using the a new silicone rubber wiper that recently appeared on the retail shelves. I use a chamois also. You can purchase them at the leather hobby shops at the right price. Locally, Tandy sells non uniform ones for $2-3 apiece.

To make it last longer, Tandy sells a conditioning oil also. They also sell supplies to restitch the steering wheels. (another story)
I also don't use it below the imaginary line mentioned above.

The california duster should be used prior to putting the car cover on.

Good luck,
David Duffield