Softest microfiber available?

I don't know much but that is correct.
I guess that sort of settles it, which brings me to my next question. Lets say I'm doing a wipe down with a quick detailing spray and there is some residual product haze in a couple spots, should I not wipe it off dry? Referring to a clear plastic.
 
I'm I correct then in saying there are no towels than can be rubbed on a dry soft surface without creating swirls?

Correct. I never take a dry MF to paint, regardless on how ~premium~ it is.
Depends on task at hand, but I will give it a quick spritz it with water

Back on WW days, I would literally PRIME the towel by getting it wet , wringing and then use.
 
Correct. I never take a dry MF to paint, regardless on how ~premium~ it is.
Does this mean I should not be removing polish/compound with a dry towel? Should be using a rinseless or waterless to remove these?

On the softness topic, I'm not sure it's just the fiber type. As somebody else mentioned, I suspect it's the weave as well. I have some 800 70/30 towels that feel much softer than my 400 70/30 towels. Softness should be about the same, but my guess is the 800 feel softer because there are more fibers. I have some long pile towels that feel less soft to my hand than the medium pile 800 70/30. But I don't know which one is softer on paint.

And I'm not sure how accurate an instrument is to measure softness since fibers get caught in all the micro-cracks and crevices in my skin, which paint doesn't likely have after being polished and LSP'd. Would be great if somebody with a microscope or other instrument could test the marring left by different MF on paint. Thanks to whoever does that and posts results. I can owe you a coffee or a beer.
 
And I'm not sure how accurate an instrument is to measure softness since fibers get caught in all the micro-cracks and crevices in my skin, which paint doesn't likely have after being polished and LSP'd. Would be great if somebody with a microscope or other instrument could test the marring left by different MF on paint. Thanks to whoever does that and posts results. I can owe you a coffee or a beer.

We used to do the "CD test" where you took a writable CD and rubbed it with a towel, because it was a "swirlable" surface and easy to see the swirls. There were arguments about whether it was softer or harder than paint, and therefore how transferable the data was, but if you rubbed one brand of towel on it with no swirling, and another that swirled it, it was pretty hard to argue that one was more "abrasive" than the other.

I want to say someone did this recently as part of a wash media review.
 
Now that you mention this I recall it. I could try this and use a magnifying glass to see. All the towels that don't show scratches to the naked eye may not be the same. And I have no idea what the hardness difference is between CD plastic and different clear coats. I can try to take a look later.
 
Does this mean I should not be removing polish/compound with a dry towel? Should be using a rinseless or waterless to remove these?

That is going to be paint dependent. On most paints, it should not be an issue. But, if you find yourself installing micromarring when wiping them off, then start spraying with a QD, rinseless or waterless wash. I've found this necessary with very sensitive paints (this may be due to color or softness of the clear). When this happens, I try to consider the synergy of the products; for instance, finish with OPT hyper polish and use a towel soaked on ONR to remove residue, then another towel to remove residual water. This specific combo has been very effective with lexus obsidian black and porsche black.
 
In all the Mike Phillips I've ever seen where I see him remove polish or even wax residue, I can't recall him ever using anything but a clean, quality (dry) microfiber towel. Personally, I've never used a QD (or WW) to prime a microfiber towel prior to removing wax or polish residue and have never experienced any marring. Now, I don't think there's any reason to rub a dry towel across the paint unless you are removing some type of residue. And I certainly wouldn't do it on a dirty car.
 
None that AG sell. Just my opinion.
In your arsenal of MF which do you think is the softest? In the world of professional detailing I'm thinking guys that are serious players would have a certain affinity for a particular MF, although I do understand different tasks require different go to towels, wondering if a particular manufacturer is heads up above the rest.
 
I think Eagle edgeless (my rinseless towels) are super cuddly and soft but I wouldn't want to use them for polish or sealant removal.

That's where I still like my Super Plush Juniors 16 x 16.
I pick Korean towels, not distributors. Oh yeah, the $$ matters.
So some I get from AG and some from the interwebz, depending on the intended use.
 
Softest does not necessarily mean the best. Griots PFM towels actually feel a bit stiff to the touch but they are the best towels I've tried. Absolutely zero linting and super absorbent.


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