Few general questions

[Dirty]

What do you guys use to dry your car? I heard the water magnet works good, is there anything else I should use with that to get the car dry because I tend to have major trouble with water spots and once I can work that out I can really get my car clean.

Also, with the clay bar kit, I got a cleaner/wax "sample", is there enough wax in it to do the whole car once, then move on to 7 or 9 next time I poilsh? or should I just get 9, get the paint clean and then use 7 as polish after that, using 26 as my wax full time.. advice would be very much appreciated.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Few general questions

What do you guys use to dry your car? I heard the water magnet works good, is there anything else I should use with that to get the car dry because I tend to have major trouble with water spots and once I can work that out I can really get my car clean.

There's multiple ways to get the water off the car and what you want to do is find a way that you'll use each time so that means you have to like the process you decide on. I'll share how I dry our cars, it's simple and effective and that makes it easy to do each time the car needs washing.

After washing, get most of the standing water off using our Soft Touch Microfiber Chamois. It absorbs well, it's soft to the paint and it's easy to wring out so it's easy on your hands.





Now that you've gone around the car and removed most of the water, because the above chamois is wet as you're doing this it will tend to leave little tiny drops here and there, (all drying cloths that are wet will do this), so after using the STMC I'll go around the car and blot-off any residual water droplets with our Water Magnet® Microfiber Drying Towel. Because this is dry it will remove the little droplets without leaving any behind. The result is a dry car with not water spots which is usually the goal.



You can also follow this with a wipe down of the paint using any quality quick detailer to restore a just detailed look. For example, Quik Detailer or Ultimate Quik Detailer.

There are a lot of ways to get the water off the car, this is just one way that works for me, I'm sure others will chime in with their favorite way like using the water sheeting technique, or a leaf blower, or a water blade, or a leather chamois, or a fill in the blank.

The important thing is that you find a system that you like and works for you and your cars.

Also, with the clay bar kit, I got a cleaner/wax "sample", is there enough wax in it to do the whole car once, then move on to 7 or 9 next time I polish? or should I just get 9, get the paint clean and then use 7 as polish after that, using 26 as my wax full time.. advice would be very much appreciated.

That sample of A12 Cleaner/Wax liquid is a 4 ounce bottle and probably not enough to do an entire car, maybe the hood and another panel. Depends upon the condition of the paint and how thin you apply it.

Cleaner/waxes are usually used more on the heavy side because you want to use the liquid chemical cleaners to break-up and loosen built-up contaminants unless you're using it as a "Maintenance Wax" to maintain a finish in good to excellent condition.

Does that help?

[rhino1834]

Re: Few general questions

What soaks up more water the water magnet

or Soft Touch Microfiber Chamois.

[Wolf-Strong]

Re: Few general questions

What soaks up more water the water magnet

or Soft Touch Microfiber Chamois.

That was the first thing I tested when I first got them! Loaded them up with water, and rang them out in a container. The Microfiber Chamois filled up about half a drinking cup, while the Water Magnet filled up the whole cup, and then some. Mike is right about the Microfiber Chamois being easier to ring out though, which is why I use a chamois to initially dry off the car, than use a microfiber and quick detailer of choice to finish it up.

[Dirty]

Re: Few general questions

Okay so far this is a help. Thanks Mike and all. I will have to buy a cleaner/wax for my car because I want to get as many contaminants/swirls out of the paint and have it be very clean before I go about using #7, I want to use that when my car is already looking good and just needs a quick polish/wax. I do have a bottle of that QD to go over it with after.

I really don't understand the whole chamois thing.. I tried one and I just didn't get it, it took some of the water off but it streaked and rubbed in the paint, maybe I just **** at using it? I am very new to this... I can wash the car easily and I know I can do a fine job polishing/waxing, I will enjoy that, but drying is eating me alive.

[Murr1525]

Re: Few general questions

I generaly just sheet the water off the car(no nozzle on hose, low pressure, and let the water flow off), then follow up with Water Magnets. Once your car is waxed and maintained, there should only be a little water left from sheeting, and a few Water Magnets takes care of the rest. Even a couple little smears will be taken off with an UQD follow-up.

[Derrick]

Re: Few general questions

I generaly just sheet the water off the car(no nozzle on hose, low pressure, and let the water flow off), then follow up with Water Magnets. Once your car is waxed and maintained, there should only be a little water left from sheeting, and a few Water Magnets takes care of the rest. Even a couple little smears will be taken off with an UQD follow-up.

sheeting works great and after there is almost no water to dry. Then i use a high plush micro fiber drying towel

[rhino1834]

Re: Few general questions

I agree with Murr1525. I do the same thing works great.

[EAT HEMI]

Re: Few general questions

sheeting works great and after there is almost no water to dry. Then i use a high plush micro fiber drying towel

Me too - except I use two towels. One in each hand. One gets the majority of the water, and the other assures no moisture remains. Then the wetter towel goes on double duty, wiping down the door, trunk, and hood jambs.

[Kooz]

Re: Few general questions

I don't really like the drying step either. Wash with Gold Class wash & shampoo and it will allow most of the water to sheet off, even on an unwaxed car. As Murr1525 said - no nozzle on hose, low pressure, and let the water flow off.

After sheeting the water off I use The Absorber and then follow that with a "waffle weave" type of drying towel like the water magnet or another brand's knock-off.

Presto...dry car.

[Dirty]

Re: Few general questions

Thanks for the advice guys, I'll be at it soon.