Drying.....
12-03-2004, 05:40 AM
#1
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Drying.....
I had been having such a great time using my new big blue II drying towel over the p21s that I tried something new....
A few months back I had started using the free flowing water method after rinsing to aid in the drying process. It worked great of course and the big blue was almost still dry afterwards.
So last week, it was a little cold out, so I decided to skip the free flowing water step so as to avoid all the extra water laying about, and so my feet would be less wet. And well, hell, I figure big blue would have no trouble anyway since it handled it drying the whole car in stride withoout any help before.
Well low and behold, after the hood, trunk lid and roof she was pretty much done. I also found that although the towel was saturated/heavy with water, it didnt wring out very well and essentially became ineffective. Out came the p21s drying towel to finish the job.
I couldnt help but wonder if this was normal or not.
Under normal cicumstances, I still like the big blue over p21s, but I may need to stick to p21s during the winter months as the free flowing water option will not be available to me when I start using diy joints.
A few months back I had started using the free flowing water method after rinsing to aid in the drying process. It worked great of course and the big blue was almost still dry afterwards.
So last week, it was a little cold out, so I decided to skip the free flowing water step so as to avoid all the extra water laying about, and so my feet would be less wet. And well, hell, I figure big blue would have no trouble anyway since it handled it drying the whole car in stride withoout any help before.
Well low and behold, after the hood, trunk lid and roof she was pretty much done. I also found that although the towel was saturated/heavy with water, it didnt wring out very well and essentially became ineffective. Out came the p21s drying towel to finish the job.
I couldnt help but wonder if this was normal or not.
Under normal cicumstances, I still like the big blue over p21s, but I may need to stick to p21s during the winter months as the free flowing water option will not be available to me when I start using diy joints.
12-03-2004, 08:36 AM
#2
I use the Griots drying towel, essentially the same as Big Blue- - ->
but it has pockets for your hands...
I have two and both are just as effective.. What did you wash them with? If you put them in with towels that had, say Speed Shine, or wax, it's possible the water repellant propoerties of these products was transferred to your Big Blue.
Wash these types of towels seperately and don't us fabric softener..
I have two and both are just as effective.. What did you wash them with? If you put them in with towels that had, say Speed Shine, or wax, it's possible the water repellant propoerties of these products was transferred to your Big Blue.
Wash these types of towels seperately and don't us fabric softener..
12-03-2004, 09:08 AM
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I Always
was big blue completely alone and with just a little bit of Woolite. extra rinse and then tumble dry with no heat, no fab softener and no dryer sheets.
like i said, she worked great when I free flowed the car with water but not when the car was beaded with all the water.
p.s. I have beer with your name on it. when we hooking up?
Tony
like i said, she worked great when I free flowed the car with water but not when the car was beaded with all the water.
p.s. I have beer with your name on it. when we hooking up?
Tony
12-03-2004, 10:19 AM
#5
My process...
<center><img src="http://www.fototime.com/E1B3BF42267033D/standard.jpg"></center><p>I have basically a two step process, but it's VERY fast.
"Sheeting" the water off as nynyaudia4 explained is always a great start and I do this automatically. My first step is to use an Absorber and quickly walk around the car and LAY it on the surface, picking up the majority of leftover water beads. I do this very quickly. Please note, I do NOT DRAG the Absorber. I lay it down and pick it up. It takes a second. I even slap it up against the sides of the car. This takes about one minute to circle the car and gets about 85% of the water beading off the car.
(You never drag am Absorber because they have no means to hold debris away from the paint and can scratch.)
Then I take a quality waffleweave microfiber and fold it in half and drag it from front to back across the panels of the car. Never circles. Always folded flat. Barely more than the weight of the towel is needed to completely dry the surface because it is almost completely dry already from the previous step.
Finally, I will take my air compressor and blow the air out of the cracks and small areas and wipe this down with a second smaller waffleweave that I use exclusively for this purpose and the sills, trunk, etc.
A lot of marring and swirls are caused during the drying process and come gradually over time. Be cautious!
"Sheeting" the water off as nynyaudia4 explained is always a great start and I do this automatically. My first step is to use an Absorber and quickly walk around the car and LAY it on the surface, picking up the majority of leftover water beads. I do this very quickly. Please note, I do NOT DRAG the Absorber. I lay it down and pick it up. It takes a second. I even slap it up against the sides of the car. This takes about one minute to circle the car and gets about 85% of the water beading off the car.
(You never drag am Absorber because they have no means to hold debris away from the paint and can scratch.)
Then I take a quality waffleweave microfiber and fold it in half and drag it from front to back across the panels of the car. Never circles. Always folded flat. Barely more than the weight of the towel is needed to completely dry the surface because it is almost completely dry already from the previous step.
Finally, I will take my air compressor and blow the air out of the cracks and small areas and wipe this down with a second smaller waffleweave that I use exclusively for this purpose and the sills, trunk, etc.
A lot of marring and swirls are caused during the drying process and come gradually over time. Be cautious!
12-03-2004, 11:59 AM
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Here's my process...
1) Use low volume water from the hose to "sheet" the most of the water drops off the car. (This is relatively easy because I use Zaino.)
2) Blow off the rest with a Toro leaf blower (215 MPH blower). This removes about 99% of the water and blows the water out of the cracks. It does a great job of drying off the wheels and tires at the same time.
3) Use a folded blue waffle weave towel to BLOT the few remaining drops of water. (This takes less than a minute.) There is so little remaining, I could probably do it with a hankie!
Besides being fast, at NO time do you drag anything over your paint! (I'm **** about that issue.)
I keep my Toro on a hook beside the garage door and have a 50' extension cord (already plugged in) just below it. That way I can have it hooked up and drying the car within 45 seconds. It's also nice for quickly blowing off the driveway.
Regards,
2) Blow off the rest with a Toro leaf blower (215 MPH blower). This removes about 99% of the water and blows the water out of the cracks. It does a great job of drying off the wheels and tires at the same time.
3) Use a folded blue waffle weave towel to BLOT the few remaining drops of water. (This takes less than a minute.) There is so little remaining, I could probably do it with a hankie!
Besides being fast, at NO time do you drag anything over your paint! (I'm **** about that issue.)
I keep my Toro on a hook beside the garage door and have a 50' extension cord (already plugged in) just below it. That way I can have it hooked up and drying the car within 45 seconds. It's also nice for quickly blowing off the driveway.
Regards,
12-03-2004, 01:09 PM
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My problem exactly
I wasn't hip to the freeflowing water bit, and just couldn't get the BGDT to do a good job. And you're right, it's very hard to wring out and get dry enough to keep going.
I have no problems with my Absorber and continue to happily use it, even as it shreds and falls apart. I've sent Santa a note.
I have no problems with my Absorber and continue to happily use it, even as it shreds and falls apart. I've sent Santa a note.
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