Waterless detailer
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 97
Likes: 1
From: Georgetown Texas
Very dusty here in Austin, TX. I can't believe it's possible to use waterless detail and not induce swirl marks. I can wash my car and have a light, sandy grit on the car in a couple of days out where I live. I would think wiping anything on the car with that grit in the slurry would make for an extended detailing session with the porter cable. What's wrong with my thinking here?
Also a 'duster' is used nearly every time the vehicle is returned to the garage before putting the cover on it.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 21,325
Likes: 3,841
From: small town in S.E Pa. PA
St. Jude Donor '03-'04
One of the reasons my car looks so good and the paint is flawless is that I do NOT use a California duster... Nice Idea, but its counter productive... here is why.. your out all day,, the car gets road grime and silica.. the stuff you see in your radiator, its everywhere.. silica is sand. when you draw the California duster over the finish is drags the dry silica across it too... all that way in the California duster does not protect the paint, it just attracts the silica. turns the dirty fibers into sand paper.. but in a much more refined way.. there is no lubricant on the finish . what I do is mist the car with a hose ( Water spray )... this adds lubricant and moistens all the grime. this is like adding the lubricant when claying. using a California duster (DRY) is like claying without lubricant. once the car is sprayed I simply blow dry it with my leaf blower. this pushes all the silica off the car without rubbing anything in... once the car is dry I simply quick detail it.. takes about 15 minutes tops.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 97
Likes: 1
From: Georgetown Texas
One of the reasons my car looks so good and the paint is flawless is that I do NOT use a California duster... Nice Idea, but its counter productive... here is why.. your out all day,, the car gets road grime and silica.. the stuff you see in your radiator, its everywhere.. silica is sand. when you draw the California duster over the finish is drags the dry silica across it too... all that way in the California duster does not protect the paint, it just attracts the silica. turns the dirty fibers into sand paper.. but in a much more refined way.. there is no lubricant on the finish . what I do is mist the car with a hose ( Water spray )... this adds lubricant and moistens all the grime. this is like adding the lubricant when claying. using a California duster (DRY) is like claying without lubricant. once the car is sprayed I simply blow dry it with my leaf blower. this pushes all the silica off the car without rubbing anything in... once the car is dry I simply quick detail it.. takes about 15 minutes tops.
Where I'm coming from is watching my neighbor take care of his ten year old Volvo. He takes it to the $6 car wash whenever he thinks it needs it and uses his California duster using no pressure on the paint surface each time he goes out. The paint is flawless - it's a dark maroon color.
I do go one step further when using the duster. That is I blow off the duster and vehicle before starting the process and blow both several times again while completing the cleaning. Also use a small soft paint brush to clean around the recessed tail lights, etc. along with the compressed air which is always applied at a low pressure.
The wheels/brakes do get the leif blower treatment along with dusting with a second smaller California duster.
I bought a Porter Cable random orbital polisher six months ago and its still in the box. Maybe it'll get used this winter when Ole Blue sits for long periods of time during bad weather.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,028
Likes: 33
From: GRAYSLAKE IL
Oldtimer
St. Jude Donor '13
I've had good results using "BUGSLIKE" www.bugslideusa.com "Easily Removes Bugs, While Cleaning & Polishing" Spray a little on microfiber cloth wipe & buff w/dry side of cloth.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,855
Likes: 78
From: Sammamish WA
WA Events Coordinator
One of the reasons my car looks so good and the paint is flawless is that I do NOT use a California duster... Nice Idea, but its counter productive... here is why.. your out all day,, the car gets road grime and silica.. the stuff you see in your radiator, its everywhere.. silica is sand. when you draw the California duster over the finish is drags the dry silica across it too... all that way in the California duster does not protect the paint, it just attracts the silica. turns the dirty fibers into sand paper.. but in a much more refined way.. there is no lubricant on the finish . what I do is mist the car with a hose ( Water spray )... this adds lubricant and moistens all the grime. this is like adding the lubricant when claying. using a California duster (DRY) is like claying without lubricant. once the car is sprayed I simply blow dry it with my leaf blower. this pushes all the silica off the car without rubbing anything in... once the car is dry I simply quick detail it.. takes about 15 minutes tops.
Another thing in your favor, Corvettes use notoriously hard paint, as any detail shop, they take more aggressive pads and cutters compared to something like a BMW..
Last edited by JETninja; Jul 28, 2013 at 12:31 PM.
Racer
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 356
Likes: 1
From: AL
I think some of you guys are confusing detail spray with waterless car wash. A detail spray, like Griot's Speed Shine is simply that....a detail spray to spot clean bug splats, wipe off light dust, etc. A true waterless car wash like Griot's Spray-On Car Wash is for removing road grime, etc. I hope you guys are not putting a Cali Duster to your cars for anything other than to dust it off.....using detail spray or a Cali Duster on a car contaminated with road grime would be a huge NO NO...lol
Here is a good vid explaining the difference between detail spray and waterless car wash
http://www.griotsgarage.com/text/con...rays_diff.html
Here is a good vid explaining the difference between detail spray and waterless car wash
http://www.griotsgarage.com/text/con...rays_diff.html
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,671
Likes: 1,245
From: Southern Ca
I've heard that before, but my car proves your wrong, at least in my case. I have used them for years. You lightly run them across the surface, no pressure so your not sanding anything. I'll let anyone look close at my MY paint and dare them to find any swirls or small scratches. If that was true, you'd be sanding your car every time you drove in those places that have silca blowing in the wind. (only happens in a serious sand storm where you get large particles of sand/silica at high velocities!)
Another thing in your favor, Corvettes use notoriously hard paint, as any detail shop, they take more aggressive pads and cutters compared to something like a BMW..
Another thing in your favor, Corvettes use notoriously hard paint, as any detail shop, they take more aggressive pads and cutters compared to something like a BMW..
I think you do more harm using your leaf blower , it blows dirty particles onto your car. My car is 15 years old and it can compete with any newer car paint job in looks. I always use a duster ..
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,671
Likes: 1,245
From: Southern Ca
I think some of you guys are confusing detail spray with waterless car wash. A detail spray, like Griot's Speed Shine is simply that....a detail spray to spot clean bug splats, wipe off light dust, etc. A true waterless car wash like Griot's Spray-On Car Wash is for removing road grime, etc. I hope you guys are not putting a Cali Duster to your cars for anything other than to dust it off.....using detail spray or a Cali Duster on a car contaminated with road grime would be a huge NO NO...lol
Here is a good vid explaining the difference between detail spray and waterless car wash
http://www.griotsgarage.com/text/con...rays_diff.html
Here is a good vid explaining the difference between detail spray and waterless car wash
http://www.griotsgarage.com/text/con...rays_diff.html
Good vid. I use Adams products and Griots .
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