Drying a car

GodStang · 02-25-2003, 12:46 PM

After washing your car what is the best way you have found to dry it. Towels always leave streaks for me.

GhettoPop · 02-25-2003, 02:12 PM

The absorber works wonders! It's bout 10 bucks, lasts forever, and does not streak!

http://www.absorber.com/

I use towels on the bottom of the car so I don't get the absorber dirty.

If you want wax, I really like Mothers carnuba cleaner wax paste, its great! If you want to spend some time, they also have a 3 step liquid wax system (cleaner, seal and glaze, wax), its amazingly good, but takes a lot of time, like waxing your car 3 times. I applied it to my 72 Challenger, the is car garaged and covered, driven on some nice summer days, and the wax is still on there after a year and a half! Just take the cover off, wipe off the dust, and your good to go!

project 5.0 · 02-25-2003, 02:14 PM

i always just try and find a dry towel and use that, always seemed to do a fine job to me

ChunkFunky · 02-25-2003, 03:24 PM

I have to admit, that absorber thing is nice... it's very strange feeling but it does a good job...I have one... it works well for me...
-as

lx5091 · 02-25-2003, 05:10 PM

honest to goodness? I do 80+ on the highway! HAHA

sn95gt19 · 02-25-2003, 05:53 PM

i use the squeegie thing, then just touch it up with regular bathroom towels. if you get most of the water off with the squeegie it works great.

i might have to try that absorber thing

dustang90 · 02-25-2003, 08:16 PM

I would definitley use the Absorber, I own one and it is amazing how well it dries. You can get those at Auto Zone

Stang_Crazy · 02-25-2003, 09:23 PM

This is only my opinion but I would never use the Absorber on my stang. I use it on my daily driver and I don't like how it 'grips' the paint. If there are any contaminents in or on your paint, the Absorber will just drag them across it. Also, it doesn't have any nap so there is no where for contaminents to go. They just get pushed around the surface. Don't get me wrong, it works great on my daily driver because I don't have to worry about scratches and I just want to get it washed and dried asap but I would never use it on my Mustang. With that being said, this is what I do to dry my car.

After I'm done washing, I always take the nozzle off the hose and let the water sheet off the car. You can continue 'feeding' the sheet at it moves down the car. This will get almost all the water off without even touching the paint. To get what's left, I use a 100% cotton bath towel and blot the paint. After blotting with the 100% cotton towel, I swipe over the paint with a microfiber towel. Using this method, I'm only rubbing the paint once per panel which results in no scratches or micro-marring plus the microfiber towel is alot softer than any cotton or terry towel. Check it out if you want more details. THIS PROCESS WORKS GREAT! No more scratches or swirls after you're done washing. http://www.autopia.org/forums/showth...?threadid=5120

sn95gt19 · 02-25-2003, 09:28 PM

im sure glad i dont own a black car......darn black paint shows every dam swirl

Stang_Crazy · 02-26-2003, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sn95gt19
im sure glad i dont own a black car......darn black paint shows every dam swirl

It shows every swirl, every little piece of dust, everything. A pain in the butt to keep clean but when you do it right, nothing looks better

dustang90 · 02-26-2003, 01:59 PM

With the absorber, if you wash your car right, you won't have and piece of dirt on your car. I am not saying that you don't wash your car right. I have had a black mustang and I used it all the time and there was never a scratch on it. I work in a body shop and the porter/detailer uses the Absorber. That shows our trust in it if we use it on fresh paint. Just keep the Absorber clean and make sure all dirt is off the car and you will be just fine

GhettoPop · 02-26-2003, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by dustang90
Just keep the Absorber clean and make sure all dirt is off the car and you will be just fine

Agreed. When I use the absorber, I always rinse it while drying, and always rinse it before storing it away. The only way it would scratch your paint is if your car was not washed properly.

Anyone have experience with Mothers clay bar system?

Stang_Crazy · 02-27-2003, 02:43 AM

I just don't like the fact that it 'grabs' the paint and it doesn't have any nap. I'd use the absorber to blot the paint but never to rub it across. Just my opinion and what has worked and what hasn't worked for me thus far.

GodStang · 02-27-2003, 11:06 AM

I was going to use the clay bar for the first time yesturday but it got to cold and rainy so I will do it this weekend. HOpe it works.

5.0 Pony · 03-01-2003, 12:31 AM

I use the Mother's Clay Bar system. It is freaking awesome. I love it you can totally FEEL the difference when your done with it. I dry my car with the California water blade and a good clean towel. Definitely recommend the clay bar.

UglyFast88 · 03-01-2003, 10:44 AM

C'mon guys-

You can wash your car right and still have dirt on it. You can wash your car by hand from new 3x a week, and in a few months you'll have contaminents embedded in the paint. The claybars reveals that. I think that the best technique is the sheeting method- gets almost all of the water off of the paint before you touch it.

But I still wouldn't own another black car...

Still reminds me of a funny story-

My neighbor just bought a new Camaro Z28 in '95 and was late for our 4th of July party at the hangout, and the car had a light dust on it, and he wanted to rinse it off before leaving.
Well, he laid the wash mitt over it and just lightly waved it over the car to loosen the dirt up, to rinse it off.

Would have worked okay, except he thought that he didn't need any soap...

Omigod- you should see the scratches he had on the 3 day old turd...

HA!

02-25-2003, 12:46 PM	#1
GodStang College Stanger Join Date: May 1999 Location: Aiken,south carolina, usa Posts: 1,097	Drying a car After washing your car what is the best way you have found to dry it. Towels always leave streaks for me. __________________ 2003 Sonic Blue Cobra

02-25-2003, 02:14 PM	#3
project 5.0 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Louisiana Posts: 10	i always just try and find a dry towel and use that, always seemed to do a fine job to me __________________ 94 mustang gt :_3:73's , flowmasters w/no cats, 2"lowering springs,bbk fenderwell cai, bbk pullies_:

02-25-2003, 03:24 PM	#4
ChunkFunky Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Tustin, CA Posts: 465	I have to admit, that absorber thing is nice... it's very strange feeling but it does a good job...I have one... it works well for me... -as __________________ '89 GT Convertible: TFS TW Heads, TFS Street Intake, TFS Stage 1 Cam, FMS 1.6 RRs, 24# Injectors, Pro-M 75mm MAF, No Name CAI, 3.73s, O/R H-Pipe, FlowMasters, AOD w/ Trans-Go Shift Kit

02-25-2003, 05:10 PM	#5
lx5091 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Fall River, MA Posts: 467	honest to goodness? I do 80+ on the highway! HAHA __________________ '02 Explorer XLT 4.0L --Nice Vehicle '97 Saturn SL1--Soon to be ditched for a Ford!

02-25-2003, 05:53 PM	#6
sn95gt19 motors done......woohooo Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 799	i use the squeegie thing, then just touch it up with regular bathroom towels. if you get most of the water off with the squeegie it works great. i might have to try that absorber thing __________________ 95gt lazer red (98 cobra clone) Rice Haters Club Member #116

02-25-2003, 02:12 PM	#2
GhettoPop Gimme a Drink! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: NYC Posts: 694	The absorber works wonders! It's bout 10 bucks, lasts forever, and does not streak! http://www.absorber.com/ I use towels on the bottom of the car so I don't get the absorber dirty. If you want wax, I really like Mothers carnuba cleaner wax paste, its great! If you want to spend some time, they also have a 3 step liquid wax system (cleaner, seal and glaze, wax), its amazingly good, but takes a lot of time, like waxing your car 3 times. I applied it to my 72 Challenger, the is car garaged and covered, driven on some nice summer days, and the wax is still on there after a year and a half! Just take the cover off, wipe off the dust, and your good to go!

02-25-2003, 08:16 PM	#7
dustang90 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Blue Springs Mo Posts: 39	I would definitley use the Absorber, I own one and it is amazing how well it dries. You can get those at Auto Zone __________________ ~(Dustang90)~

02-25-2003, 09:23 PM	#8
Stang_Crazy It's never clean enough! Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Shaler, PA Posts: 1,542	This is only my opinion but I would never use the Absorber on my stang. I use it on my daily driver and I don't like how it 'grips' the paint. If there are any contaminents in or on your paint, the Absorber will just drag them across it. Also, it doesn't have any nap so there is no where for contaminents to go. They just get pushed around the surface. Don't get me wrong, it works great on my daily driver because I don't have to worry about scratches and I just want to get it washed and dried asap but I would never use it on my Mustang. With that being said, this is what I do to dry my car. After I'm done washing, I always take the nozzle off the hose and let the water sheet off the car. You can continue 'feeding' the sheet at it moves down the car. This will get almost all the water off without even touching the paint. To get what's left, I use a 100% cotton bath towel and blot the paint. After blotting with the 100% cotton towel, I swipe over the paint with a microfiber towel. Using this method, I'm only rubbing the paint once per panel which results in no scratches or micro-marring plus the microfiber towel is alot softer than any cotton or terry towel. Check it out if you want more details. THIS PROCESS WORKS GREAT! No more scratches or swirls after you're done washing. http://www.autopia.org/forums/showth...?threadid=5120 __________________ ~Dan 2001 SVT Lightning 89' GT : Taking up garage space and waiting for a buyer... Rice Hater's Club - Member #11

02-25-2003, 09:28 PM	#9
sn95gt19 motors done......woohooo Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 799	im sure glad i dont own a black car......darn black paint shows every dam swirl __________________ 95gt lazer red (98 cobra clone) Rice Haters Club Member #116

02-26-2003, 01:59 PM	#11
dustang90 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Blue Springs Mo Posts: 39	With the absorber, if you wash your car right, you won't have and piece of dirt on your car. I am not saying that you don't wash your car right. I have had a black mustang and I used it all the time and there was never a scratch on it. I work in a body shop and the porter/detailer uses the Absorber. That shows our trust in it if we use it on fresh paint. Just keep the Absorber clean and make sure all dirt is off the car and you will be just fine __________________ ~(Dustang90)~

02-27-2003, 02:43 AM	#13
Stang_Crazy It's never clean enough! Join Date: Jan 1999 Location: Shaler, PA Posts: 1,542	I just don't like the fact that it 'grabs' the paint and it doesn't have any nap. I'd use the absorber to blot the paint but never to rub it across. Just my opinion and what has worked and what hasn't worked for me thus far. __________________ ~Dan 2001 SVT Lightning 89' GT : Taking up garage space and waiting for a buyer... Rice Hater's Club - Member #11

02-27-2003, 11:06 AM	#14
GodStang College Stanger Join Date: May 1999 Location: Aiken,south carolina, usa Posts: 1,097	I was going to use the clay bar for the first time yesturday but it got to cold and rainy so I will do it this weekend. HOpe it works. __________________ 2003 Sonic Blue Cobra

03-01-2003, 12:31 AM	#15
5.0 Pony Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Nebraska Posts: 127	I use the Mother's Clay Bar system. It is freaking awesome. I love it you can totally FEEL the difference when your done with it. I dry my car with the California water blade and a good clean towel. Definitely recommend the clay bar. __________________ 1988 Mustang 5.0 LX Convertible -Mac Cold Air Intake -K&N Cone Filter -9mm FMS Spark Plug Wires -Hedmann Headers 2.5" O/R H-Pipe -Flowmaster 40 series 2.5" Catback

03-01-2003, 10:44 AM	#16
UglyFast88 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Fordland Posts: 117	C'mon guys- You can wash your car right and still have dirt on it. You can wash your car by hand from new 3x a week, and in a few months you'll have contaminents embedded in the paint. The claybars reveals that. I think that the best technique is the sheeting method- gets almost all of the water off of the paint before you touch it. But I still wouldn't own another black car... Still reminds me of a funny story- My neighbor just bought a new Camaro Z28 in '95 and was late for our 4th of July party at the hangout, and the car had a light dust on it, and he wanted to rinse it off before leaving. Well, he laid the wash mitt over it and just lightly waved it over the car to loosen the dirt up, to rinse it off. Would have worked okay, except he thought that he didn't need any soap... Omigod- you should see the scratches he had on the 3 day old turd... HA! __________________ '88 Speed Density LX 1998 Explorer motor 1.7 Roller Rockers GT-40 lower ported & polished Cobra upper intake MAC CAI Aluminum Pullies FRPP P-Shortys Cop car cam (to insult) Competition Engineering F/R adjustables Flowmasters New black carpet and... '84 Racin' Tempo seats! Cars' best run in 2002 with stock 150,000 mile 302 with pullies, exhaust and roller rockers only... 13.27 at 101.5 mph