Good article.

Re: California Duster?
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There is a guy here in San Diego that details exotic cars for Concours shows and big $$$$ clients. I've picked his brain a few times and learned quite a bit. He showed me something that blew my mind. He took a digital camera and photographed the hood of a Ferrari that I thought was in pristine condition. He kept blowing up that image and after a few enlargements you could see the swirl marks which I believe he called "spydering". The owner of the Ferrari which was red, used a California Duster.
When I mentioned California Duster he freaked out and said "never use those things".
As he explained it to me using the duster just takes the dirt and spreads it across the car adding fine scratches to your paint. Remember that duster is dry and has no lubricant, kind of like low-end sand blasting. Now this is the part that really got my attention, I watched this guy send over two hours with a Porter Cable buff out 1/4 of the hood on the Ferrari. He then took another photograph and blew it up on his laptop....swirl marks were gone. I saw this myself this wasn't a infomercial on TV.
You may not see the scratches at a glance but if you look closer you'll see them. Get
yourself a magnifying glass and try the same thing, it might scare you.

Now are some of us **** enough about our cars to do that, YES? But for us show car
guys who are always looking for a leg up it's just something to be conscious about.

To sum it all up use Adams Detail Spray and a microfiber cloth.
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Very interesting, I use the California Duster in addtion to detail spray and a microfiber towel. I have been led to believe that if you use the duster properly, and under the right conditions it is fine. That being a very light almost invisible layer of dust, and just gently running the duster over the top of the car applying no pressure. I am no expert but I do not see any swirl marks or scratches on my finish. I mean they have sold millions of these dusters and I am sure there are as many opinions. I appreciate your sharing what you learned.

 

whoaa.... i'm glad i don't go around looking at my car through a magnifying glass. i've been using the calif duster for at least twenty years and will keep on using it.... i would imagine that if you magnified anything enough you'll finally get down to the ugly part of it..

 

O well, I guess after using a CA Duster for the last 10 or so years, I'd best stop!

 

Totally! Get an electron microscope and paint looks downright scary!

 

No offense, but maybe he can show you pics of car that uses his process for while. I guess that I'm just not that ****, I get compliments about my paint all the time. To each his own.

 

no offense taken... i'm sure he could show proof of it, but like you, i'm not that **** either.... to the "naked" eye my car looks just fine...

 

My bad

 

He is right and I have said it all along that the California Duster is not a good idea.
When you think about it, that thing just keeps on picking up dust and dirt particles over time and you keep rubbing that s#*t over your paint again and again.
When I need to remove a fine coating of dust I use a disposable Swiffer Duster with the extension handle. When I'm done going over the paint I use it to remove the brake dust from the wheels then I toss it.
Less chance of scratching since you are using a fresh one every time.
That concludes todays detailing tip.

 

I have been using the dusters for at least 15 years. That covers 3 Vettes and a show 91 454SS pick up. If used right they are fine.

 

All my cars are black. I've been a careful user of the Calif. Duster for at least 10 years and I think it's a great tool. No way I'm giving it up!

 

you need to use the ca duster bye going in one direction only not back and forthy?

 

No possible way "swirl marks" come from a duster, unless you don't know how to properly use one. Sounds like something in the way he washes to me. I've used them on all my Black vehicles for years and it's never been an issue.

 

I just used mine after having very light road salt residue on the car and now I think the duster is toast! Used it and was spreading more residue all over the car! Can't wash them either, I believe?

 

Salt is an abrasive, not a good idea to use one for that.

 

The California Dusters are meant to remove dirt via static electricity,not be used to drag across the paint. When used gently and properly they work well,and I too have been using them for years before I put on my car cover each day at work. Any microscopic scratches that might be caused as mentioned above are easily removed using a Porter Cable,and are far outweighed by the potential damage from UV and bird droppings on sunbaked paint! Happy detailing!

 

They can be washed, but if you misedused it to push salt around I would get a new one. The dusters have a form of Parefin <sp> in them and I would think the salt residue will never FULLY come out.

 

California Dusters work great when used properly, but that dosen't mean they could never leave minor surface scratches on the Clear coat. Even though I can't see any scratches, I assume they are there and I go over my cars at least once a year with a buffer using 3M products. And yes, throughout the year I use spray detail and a microfiber regularly.

 

I figured that out all by myself.Haven't used the one in my garage in a couple of years.It sits there...gathering dust!

 

I will never use a california duster ever again on a black car. Speaking from my personal experience. Maybe it wasn't responsible for the fine scratches, maybe it was. I doubt it helped.