Someone mentioned to me that a squeegee is made for drying the body of the car - this didn't sound like a bad idea. Does anyone use one for this purpose and if so, where did you purchase it?

Thanks...

 

I have used them... when you use it you will be scared. Rubbing the paint with the squeegee and it makes noise as it rubs. Its not bad but I have seen it leave marks in the paint if you dont keep it totally straight. And of course car body panels are not always straight. When the rubber gets older it gets a little harder too. Scham wows are better

 

Great for Suburbans, buses, and large vehicles. Removes a lot of water quickly, especially on cars that you don't care much for the paint. As long as the squeegee (water blade) is clean and you don't get unlucky to have some contaminant get caught on the rubber blade as you dry and scratch your paint.

Honestly, a good waffle weave drying towel or two is safer and just as easy as a blade for any MINI (Clubbie or not)

Richard

 

california blade? you can get them at most autoparts stores, walmart, etc.

i dont use it but some folks do.

i have a Griot's foam blade i use to use. works great for dd's. never on my hobby cars though.

 

OMG, don't even get me started.... SCAM Wows are better????

 

a plain old clean chamois works well for me.

 

the hell's happening to our once highly rated detailing forum?

scam wows and chamois? damn, we took a huge step back into the 1990's or something.

 

I was recommended a waffle weave towel. I ordered one on amazon and it works great! I am pretty sure it is this one: http://www.amazon.com/Viking-Microfi.../dp/B001Q8DMA0

 

Waffle weave for the win. Squeegees only go on glass...

 

yah, sheet water off first just using a hose (without nozzle), then use waffle weave MF and blot dry. compressed air is also good to push water out of the nooks.

 

I hose off with no nozzel so the water sheets off ..... then follow with an Absorber synthetic chamois .... then follow with a waffle weave micro-fiber towel.

I LOVE my Absorber and they last a very long time when properly stored "damp" in their container... and they come in many colors.

 

 

I used to be with you on the chamois, but the new waffle microfiber towels are some much better I would recommend trying them. I even have two almost new chamois I let my sons use because I never use them any more.
Just my $.02

 

I used the squeegee for the longest time and it worked well. I started using it because I was buying cheap microfiber towels that didn't work at all.

I now have a nice waffle weave towel for drying. I haven't picked up the squeegee since.

 

I saw my dealer using squeegies to dry Minis after being washed. I bought one at Pep Boys and love it. With the squeegie in one hand and a cloth in the other for touch-up, drying is really quick and easy.

 

And people wonder how their cars seem to get scratches after having been at the dealer for a quick fix.... It's not always about quick and easy. Just be nice to your paint.

 

Large Micro-Fiber towels found at any auto parts store. I have 2 and use them several times, then put them in the wash. Mainly for water spots on windows if you don't towel her down!

 

I've had good luck using these as step 1 in drying, but am also very careful to make sure both the car and squeegee are free of any grit or debris before using. I fill my clean wash bucket up with water and shake the squeegee around under water several times before and during the drying process. I use almost no pressure, just trying to get the masses of water off the flat surfaces, then I use a Griot's large drying microfiber to finish up.

Ken, I see you have the Griot's foam squeegee, which I also currently have. I find it's not nearly as effective as my old silicone California Water Blade was. Do you have experience with both, or any technique you use with the foam blade that works well? It works alright, but I was hoping it would be as good or better than the CWB.

 

http://www.calcarduster.com/autoOrig...Waterblade.asp
We have crud filled water where I live so after washing, I use my California blade(squeegee) to get most of the water off. I then fill up my bucket with filtered water from my sink which is fed by a line that also has a filter so I guess you can say the water is double filtered. I then dip my waffle weave drying towel, I got from OctaneGuy, in the water and wring the heck out of it. I then dry my car, redipping and wringing as necessary.

 

Dude, don't let all the detail freaks (no insult intended) scare you away from the squeegies. Just be sure to get a good one. The California Car Duster brand Jelly Blade (www.calcarduster.com) is what you want. Yes, it will be a few bucks more than the ones at Autozone or Walmart, but there's a reason for that. The C.C.D. brand Jelly Blade is made of a softer material that holds up longer. I have owned both (Walmart version and C.C.D. Jelly Blade) and my Walmart one harded-up after one long hot summer.

Anyway, as with any detailing product, the key is often in how you use it. You have to make sure your car is clean before you use the jelly blade. If it isn't you'll be dragging small particles of dirt across your clear coat and leaving fine scratches. While using a jelly blade, keep a clean towel in one hand to wipe the blade off after each stroke - just in case. Also a good flick of the wrist will clear the excess water of the blade.

If you drop the blade NEVER use it on the car until you clean it thoroughly! It is very soft plastic and will pick up dirt when dropped. Then you WILL scratch your car.

I've been using a jelly blade on my black show car for 3 years. I've never scratched my clear coat with it. I'm careful. I make sure the car is clean and the blade is clean before I use it. It saves a ton of time and effort.

All that said, compressed air works really well too. But it's not always available.

 

OK - this weekend is my new Hot chocolate Mayfair MINI's first real bath. Help! Chamois, microfiber, water, soap - I don't know what I'm doing! Advice, please!

 

"With the squeegie in one hand and a cloth in the other for touch-up, drying is really quick and easy."

+1 California Dry Blade for $9.99 at Kragen's. My cloth of choice is waffle-weave. It is hardly damp when finished. Without the dry blade, I had to wring it out before I could finish.)

+1 on how you use it. I'll have to try sheeting the water with the hose. I wouldn't have expected that to work on waxed paint.

 

Octane,

I stopped using chamois years ago and switched to micro-fiber cloths.......but I'm curious what you mean by "waffle weave" (just wondering if there is something out there that is better than what I use)

 

Microfiber towels come in all different forms...from very tight weave glass cloths that don't feel soft, to very long nap plush microfibers like the Prima Monster Fluffies. The waffle weave towels look just like waffles. These cups hold water and makes them very highly absorbent. Using a non waffle weave microfiber towel isn't very effective for holding water...though they work fine for wiping and cleaning actions.

I have a new towel that I call the SCD Belgian Waffle Weave because the cups are extra deep and thus a single towel holds as much water as two normal waffle weave towels. But the drawback of deep cups is they tend to catch on sharp emblems and wipers.



Richard

 

Thanks Richard, I figured that's what you meant. I need to switch towels