Speedy Prep Towel Torture Test

[y8s]

This video speaks for itself.
Make sure to have some sound on while you watch.
You can also view it in HD on youtube.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dTYHxcqj1s]Speedy Prep Towel (fine) on Neglected Paint - YouTube[/video]

That is the sound of a new fine grade Speedy Prep Towel and lots of clay lube doing a hell of a job removing a decade and a half of outdoor parking contamination.

When I first slid it across the paint, I was horrified. It sounded like I was dragging 60 grit around on there.

A few passes and rinses and more passes and it eventually took away all the crap on the paint. Or should I say IN the paint.

Note: I had just washed and soaked the car in TRIX to get a leg up on decontamination. Jeebus!

Here's the unfortunate test spot from the same car:
You can see the DEEP etching and clear coat damage from mother nature's unchecked assault.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-UTdW38P0kRo/ULpkm_4ncUI/AAAAAAAAQ1E/iPEDGnsil1M/s1024/20121201_151111.jpg

50/50. vertical line where the tape is divides the left (8 passes of poli-seal on a white pad) and the right (20 passes of Compound II on microfiber + 8 of Polish II on white + 6 of Poli-Seal on white)
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-V9xw60uembk/ULpkIhp5qXI/AAAAAAAAQ0U/6dCIWJnglkM/s1024/20121201_150959.jpg

The lack of significant difference from adding a bunch more passes means this car will get a nice, easy one-step.

There IS a difference... but I'm not sure it's worth it. Maybe I'll do a quick compound pass just to remove 80% of the swirls...

poli seal only:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-L_oSwwITadQ/ULpkcwkWpbI/AAAAAAAAQ0s/jkBd4opv4N4/s1024/20121201_151030.jpg

multi-step:
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-2HlE5o95idI/ULpkfVhEJgI/AAAAAAAAQ04/fU3O1fkCreE/s1024/20121201_151036.jpg

Can you even tell the difference left to right of the tape?
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-F9Us0QUBg3Y/ULpk6x-rp2I/AAAAAAAAQ1Q/VPY2WcZrMvY/s1024/20121201_151145.jpg


Matt

[Chris@AutoCleanse]

Excellent video, write up and I like the sound effects. I am glad you posted that because if I bought a speedy prep towel and it sounded like that I would have thrown it in the trash. Do you prefer clay or speedy prep towel now that you have used both?

[KillaCam]

I love my speedy prep towel. Makes claying soooo much faster. Even the fine grade does an amazing job of removing tough contaminants. Worth every penny.

[Chris@AutoCleanse]

I love my speedy prep towel. Makes claying soooo much faster. Even the fine grade does an amazing job of removing tough contaminants. Worth every penny.

Do you wash it out at the end of the whole car or after every panel? Can you use it with any clay lube?

[Johny B]

Thanks for the video.

[RMM]

Quite impressive! :eek:
The sound difference between the beginning and the end is remarkable.
Thanks for sharing.

[primo spaghetti]

haha...it sounds like corduroy pants!!

[y8s]

It took a LOT of passes to get the paint "quiet". It also took a lot of rinsing out of the Speedy Prep.

Ultimately I went ahead and applied some more firm downward pressure to speed things up. I might not do that on good paint but on this car, a little marring would not make things worse. It's all eventually going to be followed by swirl removal anyway.

Italian Guy:
I definitely prefer the convenience of the speedy prep. There's just so much less that can go wrong and the technique is much simpler. Squirt, wipe, rinse, repeat, done. Clay is a big hassle.

Matt

[KillaCam]

Do you wash it out at the end of the whole car or after every panel? Can you use it with any clay lube?

Any clay lube works, I use ONR.I fold it into fours and use each square for an area about half the size of a car door. Then I switch to a clean side. After all four sides are used I rinse it in my wash bucket with just water and a grit guard. Then after the car is finished I rinse it in warm water for a while per instructions on the back of the towel package.

[primo spaghetti]

ill have to look into one of these towels..seriously.

i just about ruined my personal black truck with an elastrrofoam block...somehting has embedded under teh rubber and i cant find it...i had my ipod going when i "clayed" and didnt hear or see a thing until too late...

[fenderpicks]

Does these towels do a better job than traditional clay bar?
I still got tons of bars left but lately there r so many new invention for claying.

[Vegas Transplant]

...Clay is a big hassle.

Matt

Claying is my most favorite part of the detail :)

[y8s]

Claying is my most favorite part of the detail :)

I meant specifically dealing with the clay. It's very fiddly for me and I'm either worrying about dropping it on the ground or reshaping it to some workable shape.

I still have some clay and it may be relegated to wheel duty.

[esv5454]

How often are you guys rinsing the towel off when using it? Also, is it possible to rinse the towel in a bucket with clean water to save time instead of rinsing with a hose or in a sink?

[Vegas Transplant]

I meant specifically dealing with the clay. It's very fiddly for me and I'm either worrying about dropping it on the ground or reshaping it to some workable shape.

I still have some clay and it may be relegated to wheel duty.

That's why I use the yellow Speed Clay. It can be soft and messy if I don't lube my blue nitrile gloves as I'm lubing the paint, but it folds and shapes rather easily. One of my must haves for detailing.
Great review, top notch video btw :props: