Need advice on "breaking-in" a new duster. I had a small one and a larger one for my MINI I bought in 2004. Used them for 4 years--they worked great. I still have the old larger one-used it during pollen season on my 135. Good idea to start with new dusters with the much anticipated arrival of my '11 JCW? They seem to work better the "dirtier" they get. Looking for experienced users opinions. Thanks. Nick

 

Anything that is dry has a chance to scratch the finish. I use mine on the interior of the car only.

 

With a new duster sometimes they come with too much 'wax' so it is a good idea to lay it on newspaper for a day or so.
The newspaper will soak up some of the extra 'wax' or whatever it is on the duster.
I love the California Duster for my BRG MCS. No problems with the finish using the duster as designed. Just my $.02

 

I've never liked dusters..one of my MINI customers swears by them..I saw his finish and it was all swirled out and micromarred..not something everyone can see nor recognize as a problem--he obviously couldn't see this and he was perfectly happy with his duster.

 

Dusters are great for the inside of the car, picking up the dust, lent, etc from the dash. But no way I'd ever drag one around the outside of the car.

 

Dusters are great for show cars covered with pollen or dust, but not for street driven cars covered with real dirt.

 

This is correct IHMO. I see many many owners pull one out at car shows (and many of these guys have paid $5000 or more for their paint job), but they don't expect it to clean a dirty car, use it to lift dust or pollen from a well waxed and clean car. That's how I use mine!

Used this way, a dirty duster works 'best'

check the CD web site and faq's

http://www.calcarduster.com/faq.asp

but if you must clean it: http://www.autogeek.net/caldus.html

problem with washing is the active ingedient is the wax, and washing removes the wax . . .

Mine is about 5 years old now and works great, but is used only on the '79 which qualifies for the clean classic with some road dust or pollen label.

 

Not a fan of them. I agree with OctaneGuy they are a very good way to swirl your paint.

 

I've had mine for almost 10 years and wouldn't do without it.

I think some of you already hit on the most important point though. They are not intended to clean your paint with.

I keep my Mini very clean and well-polished. I use the California Duster to remove pollen that settles on it overnight or very fine dust from diving into the parking lot at work. It glides over the surface without a trace of stiction and I would never drag it over an object sitting on the paint (like a seed pod from a tree or dead bug)

So, that's why it's called a duster and not a cleaner. It's for dusting off a clean car, not cleaning a dirty one.

 

If you are happy with it then by all means stick with it.

For me it makes me shudder to think of that dust grinding into the paint. I do not have a high tolerance for swirl marks, others do.

 

They don't leave swirl marks. You don't apply any pressure with these dusters--at least you shouldn't.

If the finish on my car was so soft that some pollen on a piece of cotton yarn was going to scratch it, I'd have to question the competency of the people who built it.

And if that's all it took to mar the paint, every flying insect I hit at night would permanently damage the paint. (but they don't)

 

OK you win dust away!

 

Thanks. I will.

But very carefully.

 

how do you create a swirl

with a tool you use to sweep?

 

I guess swirl is a generic term for micro scratches. Linear of circular scratches be scratches.