The old California Duster! Questions from client

[Setec Astronomy]

My duster must be magic. It hasn't turned my paint into a sandblasted hellscape. They have a time and place. I get grain dust on my car daily and a duster cleans it off quite well. If it rains on the dust its another story.

Mike Phillips had an article...it might have been back on MOL, about dust that you can clean off, vs. dust that has been "glued down" by dew. Oh wait..here it is, and he even talks about the California Duster: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...r-remove-light-dust-fingerprints-smudges.html

 

[Whitewater25]

The big one with the wood handle is good to wack someone in the head with if they try and use a CA Duster on my car.

That thing looks like it belongs on Sesame Street not used on cars!

 

[scuff]

I just ordered some 420GSM towels so maybe I will offer to sell him a few and he can use that himself instead.

Show him how all of the kool kids wrap high test MF towels around their dusters, and use them to wipe down a car using "duster spray". All those microfibers are just mini-dusters, after all. Make sure he knows this is a secret technique known only to a few outside of Bowling Green, and is referred to in hushed tones as ... the Kentucky Duster.

 

[danh52]

Ok, full disclosure. I'm an old guy with a duster I bought many years ago at a car show. I also recently bought a C5 Corvette to use as a track toy so 2 strikes down.

I live in the country and have a 1200' long gravel driveway that is a dusty hellhole this time of year. What can I do to get rid of the dust that clings to the car after driving down the gravel road? Mostly I don't worry about the dust as I bought this car to drive, not park and look at, but sometimes it's nice to start a day out with a clean car.

 

[Eldorado2k]

Ok, full disclosure. I'm an old guy with a duster I bought many years ago at a car show. I also recently bought a C5 Corvette to use as a track toy so 2 strikes down.

I live in the country and have a 1200' long gravel driveway that is a dusty hellhole this time of year. What can I do to get rid of the dust that clings to the car after driving down the gravel road? Mostly I don't worry about the dust as I bought this car to drive, not park and look at, but sometimes it's nice to start a day out with a clean car.

The California Duster works best for cars that spend most of their time in the garage aka the kind of cars you park and look at... It's not advised to take a California Duster to a car in your situation.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[scuff]

Ok, full disclosure. I'm an old guy with a duster I bought many years ago at a car show. I also recently bought a C5 Corvette to use as a track toy so 2 strikes down.

I live in the country and have a 1200' long gravel driveway that is a dusty hellhole this time of year. What can I do to get rid of the dust that clings to the car after driving down the gravel road? Mostly I don't worry about the dust as I bought this car to drive, not park and look at, but sometimes it's nice to start a day out with a clean car.

I'd look into gravel road dust control options for your area. They make a big difference in dusting, and are beneficial to road maintenance, too. You may be able to get a discount if you can get some neighbors to go with the same contractor.

Dust: Don't Eat It! Control It!

 

[Hoytman]

I'd look into gravel road dust control options for your area. They make a big difference in dusting, and are beneficial to road maintenance, too. You may be able to get a discount if you can get some neighbors to go with the same contractor.

Dust: Don't Eat It! Control It!

That's about the most useless bit of information posted on car detailing forum, ever. The reasons are so obvious they shouldn't need explaning...but for the sake of the other detailing nuances created by using such products, not to mention labor/application/maintenance costs related to using all sorts of those products. The persons writing and backing such journal don't know diddly about true autogeek detailing as is obvious they failed to tell anyone the effects that calcium chloride has on metal in the form of accelerated rusting. Besides, beet juice and calcium chloride aren't the only products used to keep dust down...all, not potentially, but all will have detrimental side effects for car detailing maintenance.


Blah, blah, blah(Lignin Sulfate), "is the glue that holds three rings together". It does what? It holds three rings together? LOL! What type of rings? LOL! Wow! Some DOT Maintenance manager that's never had a rake or shovel in his hand, operated any HHW equipment, or let alone done a days work in his life must have wrote that. LOL!!! College degree or road maintenance experience doesn't necessarily translate to auto detailing knowledge, but at least the gap is narrowed a bit now.

Sorry to have to be so blunt, but there it is.

To be sure, by rebuttal of the information you posted is not a personal attack on you by any means.

 

[Crispy]

I use my duster all the time to remove dust. I use my Detailer to remove dirt and dust film. I can't see how using the duster over a dirt film can possibly damage the paint. The film would be the barrier.

 

[Rsurfer]

I have a client that currently has a 2015 Corvette and 1966 Corvette (he bought NEW) and religiously uses the duster. I worked on the new Vette and told him they aren't the best choice, however he does not want to wash the car himself, he will be doing maintenance with me for periodic washes, but between, what options does he have? He sweats by the Duster, his paint tells him not to use it. He even said he heard the museum uses them. The one duster he is using is atleast 10 years old. I suggested we at least wash them periodically. He read the label, and the dirtier the better they say!Can someone please explain to me how getting something dirtier is better? I guess I shouldn't wash my mf towels anymore. Please, for the love of God, help me on this!

rops:

 

[Rsurfer]

For you guys that love the duster..try dragging it over your windows and see how streak free it gets. Same results on your paint.

 

[Eldorado2k]

For you guys that love the duster..try dragging it over your windows and see how streak free it gets. Same results on your paint.

It's unrealistic to expect perfect results from the California Duster unless your garage queen is in immaculate condition and you're only dealing with a very light layer of dust. But what it can do is safely knock off the majority of the dust, making it a breeze to safely use a quik detailer afterwards. That way quik detailing isn't such a tedious task.

 

[Rsurfer]

It's unrealistic to expect perfect results from the California Duster unless your garage queen is in immaculate condition and you're only dealing with a very light layer of dust. But what it can do is safely knock off the majority of the dust, making it a breeze to safely use a quik detailer afterwards. That way quik detailing isn't such a tedious task.

What your saying makes sense to me, but a lot of guys just drags the duster and call it a day.

 

[Eldorado2k]

What your saying makes sense to me, but a lot of guys just drags the duster and call it a day.

Thanks.. There's actually a Junkman video where he describes that method of using it. I know there's alot of varying opinions about his advice and beliefs, but if there's 1 video that I can agree with it's that 1.

 

[Hoytman]

Pollens, organic "fuzz" (think dandelion seed carriers, cottonwood fuzz, milkweed seed carrier fibers, soybean fibers at harvest time), organic soils in the form of sands/silt/dirt/gravel dust, rail dust, brake dust, industrial fallout...all have varying degrees of particle size making it dang near impossible for the human eye to see and mind to determine what, when, and how to use certain products. They're called variables. We have wash options as well as options for products for the washing to further complicate matters.

OCD in car cleanliness is certainly a wallet killer. Touching the paint too often is a showcar shine killer.

KISS

Flooding the paint with water and a cleaning solution via proven techniques is still the king of the showcar shine and a swirl free finish, whether it's via a traditional wash or a rinseless wash and in that order. In the meantime, there are endless other wash options and products for in-between maintenance IF you deem it necessary. Choose wisely!

 

[danh52]

I'd look into gravel road dust control options for your area. They make a big difference in dusting, and are beneficial to road maintenance, too. You may be able to get a discount if you can get some neighbors to go with the same contractor.

Dust: Don't Eat It! Control It!

Not an easy solution, 4 families live on 800 feet of the drive so all have to agree on any costs related to the road. It's like herding cats!

 

[Hoytman]

Even if they agreed to the associated costs those dust reducing products mentioned would cause you an entirely different set of problems when it comes to detailing. Calcium chloride...rust...beet/corn/pine tar/sap bi-products, etc., all seem to find there way onto and into indoor flooring surfaces of the home from walking on treated gravel, not to mention the tires kicking that crap up and onto the paint surfaces of the vehicles. Like I said, useless information as it pertains to dust related detailing issues. Try going to a camp ground where some old bitty with OCD so bad you could eat off of her floors in her camper or mobile home and ask her if she'd rather contend with the dirt and dust from the gravel on her flooring or that crap they sprayed on the gravel to keep the dust down. IF she's lucky at least they didn't chip seal the gravel with actual tar and more gravel. In our fish camp alone we have 6 neighbors, not counting my mother and myself, who are PO'd about them spraying dust inhibitors on our gravel roads just because a few people want to drive faster so they don't kick up dust.

If you're not the type to worry about keeping anything clean and your only worried about dust from the roads getting stirred up, then knock yourself out and by all means coat your gravel road. Just stay the heck off of my road. LOL! In fact, if your the type that doesn't keep anything super clean you should worry about any little bit of dust. I know that sounds strange when you're concerned about your car being cleaned and live on a gravel road or lane, but trust me...those dust inhibitors won't fly either...unless you want to take a two week vacation or longer. By then most of the sticky stuff should be nice and stuck to the gravel and won't much get on your paint...that is until it rains the first 3-4 times and you have puddles of that crap everywhere. Joy, joy! Before dealing with the joys of side issues from coating your gravel you have the pleasure of trying to herd the cats too. LOL!!!

By now you should clearly know that I'd rather contend with the dust than coat my gravel with some icky...sticky...or rust causing substance. LOL!

 

[scuff]

Even if they agreed to the associated costs those dust reducing products mentioned would cause you an entirely different set of problems when it comes to detailing. Calcium chloride...rust...beet/corn/pine tar/sap bi-products, etc., all seem to find there way onto and into indoor flooring surfaces of the home from walking on treated gravel, not to mention the tires kicking that crap up and onto the paint surfaces of the vehicles. Like I said, useless information as it pertains to dust related detailing issues. Try going to a camp ground where some old bitty with OCD so bad you could eat off of her floors in her camper or mobile home and ask her if she'd rather contend with the dirt and dust from the gravel on her flooring or that crap they sprayed on the gravel to keep the dust down. IF she's lucky at least they didn't chip seal the gravel with actual tar and more gravel. In our fish camp alone we have 6 neighbors, not counting my mother and myself, who are PO'd about them spraying dust inhibitors on our gravel roads just because a few people want to drive faster so they don't kick up dust.

If you're not the type to worry about keeping anything clean and your only worried about dust from the roads getting stirred up, then knock yourself out and by all means coat your gravel road. Just stay the heck off of my road. LOL! In fact, if your the type that doesn't keep anything super clean you should worry about any little bit of dust. I know that sounds strange when you're concerned about your car being cleaned and live on a gravel road or lane, but trust me...those dust inhibitors won't fly either...unless you want to take a two week vacation or longer. By then most of the sticky stuff should be nice and stuck to the gravel and won't much get on your paint...that is until it rains the first 3-4 times and you have puddles of that crap everywhere. Joy, joy! Before dealing with the joys of side issues from coating your gravel you have the pleasure of trying to herd the cats too. LOL!!!

By now you should clearly know that I'd rather contend with the dust than coat my gravel with some icky...sticky...or rust causing substance. LOL!

There may be a dust control measure that works better for someone other than you. I suggested that danh52 look into local options; the link I provided was meant to be a starting point, not the definitive source of all knowledge on the subject.

 

[VAS]

I own one, I only ever use it as the car shows with my chevelle. The car is always like hours off from just being detailed for the show. I use it when I get there , and every few hours I use it to gently catch anything. I don't want to be that guy out there that's misting the car with quick wax, and wiping it down with a microfiber for 15 minutes, every 15 minutes. That takes the fun out of the show. The car is black, sealed, waxed, and I don't see it causing any harm at all. I also have plenty of high solid clear on there. It's probably an 8.5/10 on the hardness scale. It's going to take a bit more than a few pieces of yarn and dust to scratch it.

I have to be be fair though, I don't really condone it, but at least it's not running it through a dirty car wash.

 

[Hoytman]

I look at it like this...

If you are aware of the chatter concerning the use of this product, then you're either apt not to use it, or to use it correctly with at least a moderate, if not a high, amount of caution during use. Either is a plus to not paying attention to dust particle size/amounts and just simply and haphazardly using this product on your paint.

At car shows if you start out with perfect paint, then I would think that if you're going to use this product it would benefit and behoove you to learn of its proper use and then use it often and frequently during a show and NOT allowing too much dirt and dust to accumulate.

That said, I still don't like or approve of the idea of allowing it to get so dirty that dust accumulation on the fibers is visible. They can be washed and any janitor supply has products to put the wax back onto the fibers. However, now a car enthusiast has to worry about the wax product sprayed back onto the fibers giving off enough shine. These tools are simply too much to worry about in my mind, but luckily we have much better options to this tool.

There's always this best option below...

Carrand Microfiber MAX Pure Shine Car Duster, auto duster, microfiber duster

...and during use the above product and/or the paint can be misted with your waterless/rinseless/detailer of your choice. Problem solved! Why/how? I can wash this product after every use to ensure it has zero visible traces of dust/dirt particles. With good technique and a super light touch this is the best option if light dust is a concern, plus it's super fast and the ultimate in paint safety. Cost is cheaper as well making it easy to own several.

 

[Eldorado2k]

There's always this best option below...

Carrand Microfiber MAX Pure Shine Car Duster, auto duster, microfiber duster

...and during use the above product and/or the paint can be misted with your waterless/rinseless/detailer of your choice. Problem solved! Why/how? I can wash this product after every use to ensure it has zero visible traces of dust/dirt particles. With good technique and a super light touch this is the best option if light dust is a concern, plus it's super fast and the ultimate in paint safety. Cost is cheaper as well making it easy to own several.

You would actually trust that cheapo knockoff of the original? It sounds pretty bad.. Reviews are bad as well.
Misting the paint with with quik detailer prior to using it sounds like a recipe for disaster too.. Can you imagine how tempting that would make it to go ahead and try to rub out titbits of dirt and spots that don't come off easily.. Cheap is the last thing I'd be looking forward to if I was seriously looking to purchase a duster.. I'd want the absolute best, the original.