Meguair's Drying towel leaves scratches/spyderweb.

[ClearlyCoated]

I've used Meguiars water magnets for years without issue, but I always blot dry as opposed to dragging the towel across the paint. I fold the wm into quarters and gently palm-blot the towel against the vertical surfaces. For long flat horizontal surfaces like the hood and roof, I unfold the towels and lay them length-wise across the surface, and continue the blotting motion.

[Meticulous-Detail]

I would say ease up on the pressure and try using detail spray when drying.

I use an electric leaf blower to dry cars and then a waffle weave towel for the left over.

Could it be that any fillers or polishing oils in the products you are using are being removed by the wash and dry with the towel?

[ffboy]

I would say ease up on the pressure and try using detail spray when drying.

I use an electric leaf blower to dry cars and then a waffle weave towel for the left over.

Could it be that any fillers or polishing oils in the products you are using are being removed by the wash and dry with the towel?

Good point. Fillers could have been present before the car wash and wipe down, and "light pressure" is a relative term. Light to others may actually heavy to some, to minimize any need to wipe, I also use the flood rinse to make drying faster then spray the panels (even while wet) with a quick detailer. Doesn't necessarily have to be megs, but doing so makes drying faster and adds a bit more shine. Sometimes even very light pressure can still inflict those swirls or marks.

[wifpd4]

No recommendations from me. I use several Meguiar's, but no problems even on my own Lexus which is very soft clear coat.

I did glance at your web page and you can see some befores that look similar. Escalade 10-11-12 of 31. Nice work on the afters by the way!

Oh no, Escalade came to me like that (before pictures is when I got the car, before I washed it) and those are rotary buffer trails on hood and some sides and of course some are from towel or whatever they used to wash it with.

Yep, I understand the befores are before you started. Is it possible the defects are not being completely removed in your process or that one of your products is hiding the defects and washing exposes those defects? Did you use an IPA wipe down before waxing? Obviously not required, just helpful revealing defects not removed in the buffing process.

From what I see in the photographs, the marks are 1/8 to 1/4" wide with swirls running perpendicular to the direction of travel of the marks. Seems like a buffer trail. If the towel was making the marks, wouldn't the swirls be parallel to the direction of travel? Of course I wear bi-focals!!

As I said, the afters look nice.

[kenji815]

either your paint is extremely soft or there is dirt on the towel. other than that there is no way a microfiber towel would mar up paint like that.

[turbo_911]

either your paint is extremely soft or there is dirt on the towel. other than that there is no way a microfiber towel would mar up paint like that.

To tell you the truth, that towel is like super hard, it is not soft at all, and doesn't look like microfiber towel.

I used other off brand microfiber towel that's a lot softer and here's what I got






There were no scratches after I washed it, I checked it. They appeared after I wiped the car off.
I wasn't pressing too hard and you can see some really really tiny scratches from towel. I guess clear coat on my car is just super soft

[Blue Apollo IV]

I decided to give a try to Meguiar's Water magnet drying towel, and to tell you the truth, at first I liked it but then not really. Once it gets wet, it doesn't absorb water and leaves streaks.

This water magnet is one of the worst products by Meguiars...I bought two of them a while back based on all the ranting about how great they are...I used it once and it was terrible. I threw them both in the trash at the local car wash and went back to the absorber. That product is quality!

[Sandiegonick]

Does anyone besides me use cotton? I have been using plush cotton bath towels for drying for many years, never have had a problem.

[Blue Apollo IV]

Does anyone besides me use cotton? I have been using plush cotton bath towels for drying for many years, never have had a problem.

I use big microfiber towels...along with the absorber for my drying purposes.

[turbo_911]

What do you think about Uber towels? Also what kind of absorber do you use?