California Duster Usage
02-06-2024, 11:29 PM
#1
California Duster Usage
Hello everyone! New and first time Vette owner. Does anyone have any prior experience using the California Duster to remove “fine” dust/dirt off of your Vette? Is it ok to use, or will it leave scratches? Thanks in advance for your inputs.
Popular Reply
02-07-2024, 07:23 PM
Le Mans Master
Detailer and paint correction person here... Yes, it causes microscratches on your paint. If you think it doesn't, pull your car into a dark garage and look closely at the paint with an LED light. Think about it. You have strands of wax-soaked strings literally dragging across the surface of your paint, dragging the dust and dirt off as you move it across the panels. The dust and dirt is not being loosened and lifted off, it is being dragged off. Then, the next time you use it, you are dragging the previously-collected dirt across the paint. It is ridiculous. Since the invention of detail sprays and microfiber towels, there is no reason to use a California Car Scratcher. Ask any professional detailer why they don't use them.
02-07-2024, 12:15 AM
#2
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02-07-2024, 05:17 PM
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I have been using one for decades and never scratched the paint, and also after 15 years, throw it away and buy another, do not wash it.
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CBNeflas (02-07-2024)
02-07-2024, 07:23 PM
#4
Le Mans Master
Detailer and paint correction person here... Yes, it causes microscratches on your paint. If you think it doesn't, pull your car into a dark garage and look closely at the paint with an LED light. Think about it. You have strands of wax-soaked strings literally dragging across the surface of your paint, dragging the dust and dirt off as you move it across the panels. The dust and dirt is not being loosened and lifted off, it is being dragged off. Then, the next time you use it, you are dragging the previously-collected dirt across the paint. It is ridiculous. Since the invention of detail sprays and microfiber towels, there is no reason to use a California Car Scratcher. Ask any professional detailer why they don't use them.
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CBNeflas (02-07-2024)
02-07-2024, 08:51 PM
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Detailer and paint correction person here... Yes, it causes microscratches on your paint. If you think it doesn't, pull your car into a dark garage and look closely at the paint with an LED light. Think about it. You have strands of wax-soaked strings literally dragging across the surface of your paint, dragging the dust and dirt off as you move it across the panels. The dust and dirt is not being loosened and lifted off, it is being dragged off. Then, the next time you use it, you are dragging the previously-collected dirt across the paint. It is ridiculous. Since the invention of detail sprays and microfiber towels, there is no reason to use a California Car Scratcher. Ask any professional detailer why they don't use them.
with all of this. I don't think there is a debate about does a California Duster create scratches, ...I think the debate is can you live with the scratches it causes. In other words how methodical are you about your paint preservation and would you notice small micro imperfections and/or do you care? No right or wrong answer to that question, but something to think about. Full disclosure, I used one years ago until I started to really studying car care and realized how certain products I grew up using were not the best back then and/or there are much better alternatives now. 
02-07-2024, 08:53 PM
#7
Le Mans Master
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02-09-2024, 05:42 AM
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Bless me father for I have sinned. I must confess to using these in the past. At the end of the day, you are rubbing something dry over dirt and dust on your paint. It will cause scratches. Better to wash or spray detail.
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02-09-2024, 10:53 AM
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I told a story in another similar post about an old friend who had the duster for as long as he could remember and swore that it (and I quote)... "The duster works best when its gets dirty and the longer you have it the better and better it works."
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02-11-2024, 08:05 PM
#12
02-11-2024, 08:06 PM
#13
Detailer and paint correction person here... Yes, it causes microscratches on your paint. If you think it doesn't, pull your car into a dark garage and look closely at the paint with an LED light. Think about it. You have strands of wax-soaked strings literally dragging across the surface of your paint, dragging the dust and dirt off as you move it across the panels. The dust and dirt is not being loosened and lifted off, it is being dragged off. Then, the next time you use it, you are dragging the previously-collected dirt across the paint. It is ridiculous. Since the invention of detail sprays and microfiber towels, there is no reason to use a California Car Scratcher. Ask any professional detailer why they don't use them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAoQR0LB0dw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAoQR0LB0dw
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FYRARMS (02-11-2024)
02-11-2024, 08:07 PM
#14
with all of this. I don't think there is a debate about does a California Duster create scratches, ...I think the debate is can you live with the scratches it causes. In other words how methodical are you about your paint preservation and would you notice small micro imperfections and/or do you care? No right or wrong answer to that question, but something to think about. Full disclosure, I used one years ago until I started to really studying car care and realized how certain products I grew up using were not the best back then and/or there are much better alternatives now.
02-11-2024, 08:08 PM
#15
If we are all going to be really honest I can promise several of use can share stories of things we used to do that we would shake our heads at now.
I told a story in another similar post about an old friend who had the duster for as long as he could remember and swore that it (and I quote)... "The duster works best when its gets dirty and the longer you have it the better and better it works."
I told a story in another similar post about an old friend who had the duster for as long as he could remember and swore that it (and I quote)... "The duster works best when its gets dirty and the longer you have it the better and better it works."
02-14-2024, 11:23 PM
#17
02-25-2024, 03:35 PM
#19
Burning Brakes
California Duster Usage
I always blow off the dust with my air compressor after my Bride of 53 years and I take our daily ride along beautiful Lake Erie and before using the California Duster.
I never thought about blowing off the duster but will try it.
In the past I just dipped the duster into a bucket of warm water to rinse the dust off / out. No soap to remove whatever the strands are treated with. Then air dry. Seemed to work for me.
I never thought about blowing off the duster but will try it.
In the past I just dipped the duster into a bucket of warm water to rinse the dust off / out. No soap to remove whatever the strands are treated with. Then air dry. Seemed to work for me.
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CBNeflas (02-25-2024)
