What Advice
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From: 41-33 Cry it out Koko!!!
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
I have found that using a small batt. pwr'd leaf blower is the best thing ever to dry my car. I can blow the water out of the mirrors, tailights, sidemarkers, door jams, etc. - NO SWIRLS from towels.
I also use a "California Blade" to squeegee the water off first.
Wife says I give the 'Vette a shampoo, massage and a blow dry.
I also use a "California Blade" to squeegee the water off first.
Wife says I give the 'Vette a shampoo, massage and a blow dry.
If you get a piece of dirt that settles from a breeze you'll drag it along your paint on that stroke!
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Heel & Toe
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From: Scottsdale AZ
Team Owner
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From: Spacecoast Florida
However, the towel has a neutral charge and niether repels or attracts particles. It's great advantage for cleaning smooth surfaces is it's large amount of surface area. It can absorb alot of water - and grit. The grit will stay in embedded in the towel and act as it's own little piece of sand - as in a sheet of sand paper.
I respectfully submit to you, an argument based on physics, that a "California Blade" squeegee is superior in expelling grit than a plain towel...
Le Mans Master
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From: West Burbs of Chicago IL
-Park in BFE...you'll get great excercise, and won't have to worry about the jacka** next to you putting a ding in your door.
-Don't pull all the way up to a parking bumper. Your front air dam (black piece of plastic that hangs down under the nose) will hit it if you are lucky...if you are not you will grind your painted nose over the coarse concrete bumper. Not fun.
-Approach steep driveways or streets on an angle, not straight in.
-DO NOT TAKE IT THROUGH YOUR LOCAL GAS STATION CAR WASH...EVER. You are asking to drag your under side, scratch your rims (on the metal tire guides) and they will drag indoor-outdoor carpet over your beautiful paint finish. Find a local drive-in / do it yourself car wash.
If you are not sure, go there on a nice weekend, and ask someone. Being a girl in a vette, you will get all kinds of help. Not to mention respect for driving the vette, and washing it yourself.
-Don't pull all the way up to a parking bumper. Your front air dam (black piece of plastic that hangs down under the nose) will hit it if you are lucky...if you are not you will grind your painted nose over the coarse concrete bumper. Not fun.
-Approach steep driveways or streets on an angle, not straight in.
-DO NOT TAKE IT THROUGH YOUR LOCAL GAS STATION CAR WASH...EVER. You are asking to drag your under side, scratch your rims (on the metal tire guides) and they will drag indoor-outdoor carpet over your beautiful paint finish. Find a local drive-in / do it yourself car wash.
If you are not sure, go there on a nice weekend, and ask someone. Being a girl in a vette, you will get all kinds of help. Not to mention respect for driving the vette, and washing it yourself.
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From: 41-33 Cry it out Koko!!!
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
Going back to my college classes in hydrodynamics I must disagree to the point that a blade is less likely to collect a piece of dirt/grit than a towel. While the same amount of dirt can exist for both the blade (the Cali Blade) and towel. With the "Blade" , the dynamics of static electricity and the viscosity of H2O force particles away from a non-static surface and into a charged viscous suspension.
However, the towel has a neutral charge and niether repels or attracts particles. It's great advantage for cleaning smooth surfaces is it's large amount of surface area. It can absorb alot of water - and grit. The grit will stay in embedded in the towel and act as it's own little piece of sand - as in a sheet of sand paper.
I respectfully submit to you, an argument based on physics, that a "California Blade" squeegee is superior in expelling grit than a plain towel...
However, the towel has a neutral charge and niether repels or attracts particles. It's great advantage for cleaning smooth surfaces is it's large amount of surface area. It can absorb alot of water - and grit. The grit will stay in embedded in the towel and act as it's own little piece of sand - as in a sheet of sand paper.
I respectfully submit to you, an argument based on physics, that a "California Blade" squeegee is superior in expelling grit than a plain towel...
I will use that practical argument and tell you my advice to you comes from a man that owns 30 detail shops on the eastern seaboard. He has cleaned more priceless cars than your physics class has laid eyes on. If you use new 100% cotton towels with no dye(softer), the particles go deep into the nap away from your paint. The squeege will collect that particle by force against the edge of the blade which is touching your paint. With no where to go it will stay there until you sweep it off your car.
drinks on me
Last edited by ZeusC6; Apr 6, 2007 at 12:52 AM.
Le Mans Master
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From: Hope, Arkansas - '07 LMB Coupe
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
Best advice is plan a road trip in your Vette. Do as much of the simple maintenance that you feel comfortable doing, it's very rewarding. Keep an eye out on your clutch fliud if you have a manual tranny and change it out every year at least (it's cheap stuff).
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C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
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From: Farmingdale NY
St. Jude Donor '06
Congratulations! Just enjoy the car!The leafblower is a great way to dry your car, just make sure it is an electric or battery powered one. Do not use a gas blower, it will blow soot all over your car.
Always use the two bucket method to wash your car.
I would hesitate to use a blade for drying. Too much chance of scratching the surface.
Be careful with care covers too. Never use a car cover unless you are putting it on a absolutely spotless car. If the car is dirty or dusty when you cover it, the covers can cause scratches.
