Are "good" microfiber towels truly worth it?

07 z-oh-6 said:
Yes, absolutely, bar none, yes!
Click to expand...

:whs: See, there are alot of ppl who will use nothing but microfibers ^

I just can't afford to spend $900 on microfibers trying to figure out which ones work, and which ones don't


Mark,

What is your most favorite brand of the following two microfibers?


1) Polish removal

2) Windows
 
If you spend 30 hours or even 10 on polishing the paint you have invested hundreds if not thousands of dollars worth of your time. At that point is it worth it to spend 4$-8$ per towel on the best MF towels to not ruin your work? I think so.

I think I spent about 2$ per towel lately on "good" mf towels that I now use on most cars.
 
Wow, different answers than I was expecting. What about Griot's 100% Cotton Buffing Cloths? Doesn't seem AG sells them though.
 
CGs has a new Cotton/MF blend towel that is supposed to be the best of both worlds. I haven't tried them yet, but I will once I need to buy new.

I have discovered the hard way that those really plush (similar to the new Chinchilla towels) ...are more likely to scratch than the really short nap ones. I know the logical thinking is the more plush a towel is, the better it is for your paint. NOT so because they hold onto much more of the bad stuff that can potentially scratch the paint.

Also, what is a "good" MF towel anyway? Your question suggests that the more you spend, the better the MF towel must be (are they "worth" it?) Cost has nothing to do with worth.

I think you need a variety of towels, just as you do polishes, pads, etc. Each type has its pros and cons. Cleaning windows, wiping off wax, doing a waterless wash, doing the "final" wipe...all these are examples of things that will not work well with just one type of towel.

I really like the CGs monster blues, the Cobra WWs and plush blues with rolled edges, Mother's short nap MF, and for final wipe down, I have an Adam's plush MF towel that I've used for a few years. They all seem to have a place and a job to do.

I'd love to have one towel that does it all...ain't happening.
 
I'll chime in and actually answer the OP's question as I was in the same boat just a very short time ago.

In a nutshell, YES good MF towels do make a difference and are worth the money.

Not too long ago all my MF were either purchased from Autozone, walmart or came in a package with some other product (I have a couple Mothers, Meguires & Turtle Wax cloths) The towels that came with my clay, wax or polish were always nicer and better at wiping off waxes or spray detailers/waxes than the cheap MF.
A few weeks ago I placed my first order from AG and got a good selection of MF. I've only used everything a couple times so please keep that in mind.
Chinchilla MF: I started off using these to remove Meguires ULW, but I think these are better suited for use with spray wax or detailers. Definitely, better than any cheap MF
Cobra Delux JR: I got this as a freebe... and it's huge, but fantastic for removing wax! Going to order a couple more in a smaller size come spring
Cobra Gold: Great for quick wax/detailers and removing wax/polish
Cobra glass: Absolutely the best glass towel I've used. I will be buying more
Mango Breeze: These are closer to the towel I'm used to using. They are a step up in quality from the typical towel you find in retail stores and are probably on par with the Mothers or Meguires towels I've used. These are great for buffing or wax removal, and general cleaning. Just use a good MF for your final wipe down and you'll be happy.

I think I want to try the Cobra Miracle towel for wax/polish removal work. I don't have a garage or polisher so everything I do is done by hand and outside. Anything I can do that will get me the same or better outcome for less time and effort is well worth my money. Trying out my new MF last time I detailed my car brought me a lot of joy, and it also took less time and effort with better towels.
 
I've been using bulk-bought MFs (Costco, Walmart, Simoniz) for general-purpose car care for years, and they are ideally suited to that. I won't bother with a linting cotton towel for rims, door jambs, trunk lips and other areas, because my time is money (even though it's just a hobby for me). MFs seem to "grab" dirt better than any cotton (terry, WW or flat) I've used, and I don't have to go back over the surface to de-lint.

But once you've had the enrapturing pleasure of using a good-quality plush MF for removing finishing polish or LSP, there is no turning back.
 
I would say yes good quality towels are worth it.... but dont confuse expensive with quality... think about all the "designer" clothes celebs wear that keep their unmentionables falling out..... as much enjoyment as we all get from the laugh was her "good" dress "worth" it??
 
MF towels are far superior than cotton towels because the MF "fingers" pick up residue. This residue can be dust/dirt or wax/sealant that you are trying to remove.

In the case of dust or dirt, MF's are superior because it not lifts the particulates, but pulls them up and into the MF fingers, away from the paint surface. This reduces the chances that these particulates will scratch/marr/swirl your paint. Cotton towels, because of their "fingerless" nature, will have a harder time picking up and lifting up dirt... so you end up pushing the particulates around your paint, therefore causing swirls/marring/scratches.

In the case of wax/sealant/polish removal, MF's are superior because the MF fingers, again, remove and lift the residue off of the paint. This results in removing residue quicker, with less swipes of the towel. If using cotton towels, sometimes you'll notice that you tend to not really remove the wax residue, but moreso "move it around" and creating a haze and never really removing it.

There you have it. So yes, MF's are SUPERIOR to cotton towels, in that sense.
 
07 z-oh-6 said:
For polish removal, pakshak silver surfers.

For windows, dragon fiber glass cleaning cloth.

:props:
Click to expand...


which silver surfer? There are two.

Have you tried the Cobra waffle weave glass mf to compare to the dragon fiber one?
 
The Silver Surfers look a lot like Megs Ultimates.
 
soloz2 said:
which silver surfer? There are two.

Have you tried the Cobra waffle weave glass mf to compare to the dragon fiber one?
Click to expand...
The edgeless silver surfer.

Yes, I like the dragon fiber a lot better.
 
I use Costco Yellow MF towels on rims, interior and other surfaces.

Cobra MF towels for detail spray, wax, polish and compound removal on DD and customer cars

Adams MF towels on my GT500 (very soft and plush)

Peak MF glass cleaning towels
 
^ I use cheaper/older MF's for non-paint applications as well (tires, interior, etc.)

btw, nice GT500... grabber blue?
 
What is the TRUE definition of a "good" microfiber towel?

My (protracted) definition:

I don't have the "insider's information" just exactly how the two Japanese scientists' "invention" of:
Combining the two man-made synthetic materials, polyesters/polyamides, into what would evolve into being known as "microfiber miracle material"....fell into the hands of:

First, the Swedes/Norwegians, whose microfiber products (including car-care microfiber "towels) inundated the European market (before it became 'popular' in the USA, and other countries around the world.). That increased 'popularity' was mostly due to:

Secondly, the South Koreans. And they seem to have, nonetheless than: The patent for; the wherewithal to corner the production of; and marketing rights to...Microfiber Towels. (Except for the Swedish manufactured, that is).
[They produced at the time in history what was, and is still, considered The Best (Good) Microfiber Towels...TBDMFTITW. More on that later.]

Back to the previous point.
Perhaps it was due to the fall of the Japanese stock market/yen devaluation, when the sell-off of technology may have been in the best interest for the overall Japanese economy, as determined by the Japanese government...Perhaps not. (Royalties...maybe?) Whatever it really was, it happened.

Note that might be of interest:
Almost all of the machinery that enables the "correct manufacturing processes" of producing microfiber products is German made. That equates to expensive machinery...Meaning...that not all microfiber towel manufacturers will have this machinery for various reasons

Fast forward to today.
With the rising world-wide demand for these miracle towels, the Koreans that owned the correct processing/manufacturing equipment decided to outsource....to different sites in their homeland and China, among others.

Referencing the "correct processing/manufacturing equipment" again:
The quality (Goodness, as it were) of Microfiber Towels has seemed to decline since the onset of the above outsourcing...

Sourcing (and I hate like he!! to say this): Genuine made in Korea; from the Korean manufacturers that possess the actual, correct equipment; and, from the Korean: "beginning-to-the-end-processes...will yield the best of the "good" Microfiber Towels.(More than likely they even 'source' their own homeland's chemicals in producing polyester/polyamide microfibers!)

Are these "good" microfiber towels truly worth it? Yes. Are they more costly? Yes. You get what you pay for!. {There's nothing like paying $25.00, or more, (wholesale) for a "good" perl weave microfiber towel to set the heart and wallet a-thumping! :D}

Are there different microfiber towels for different uses. Sure there are several 'weaves' (terry, perl, waffle, etc.); several weights; but, most importantly, AFAIK, the dernier---should be less than 1.00---the best is around 0.5.


IMO, then: These "Korean" microfiber towels are the "good" microfiber towels for: Paintwork and other delicate surfaces. And I say for those vehicle areas:
-Accept no substitutes.
-Accept no inferior microfiber products.

Sure...Because of their price point...I will utilize the CostCo, Sam's (and others of the same ilk) types of microfiber towels for the grunge tasks. After such use I may: Throw them in a soap-bucket to soak-swish around some, wring them out, then line dry them for use again on grunge tasks; or simply toss them away. They will never 'see the sights' inside the household's washer/dryer.

For my personal vehicles:
I'll use the "special" paper towels (used by many high-end paint & body shops) for after both: Machine/hand polishing/buffing/LSP/QD/etc. applications....Or:
"The 100% Korean" microfiber towels for the same above processes...And especially for what Mr. Phillips has referred to as: The Final Wipe.

And I still have some very "good" 100% all cotton towels, from the "old days" that I'll use from time to time...They still remain as some of the best ("good") for me.

:)

Bob
 
FUNX725 said:
What is the TRUE definition of a "good" microfiber towel?

My (protracted) definition:

I don't have the "insider's information" just exactly how the two Japanese scientists' "invention" of:
Combining the two man-made synthetic materials, polyesters/polyamides, into what would evolve into being known as "microfiber miracle material"....fell into the hands of:

First, the Swedes/Norwegians, whose microfiber products (including car-care microfiber "towels) inundated the European market (before it became 'popular' in the USA, and other countries around the world.). That increased 'popularity' was mostly due to:

Secondly, the South Koreans. And they seem to have, nonetheless than: The patent for; the wherewithal to corner the production of; and marketing rights to...Microfiber Towels. (Except for the Swedish manufactured, that is).
[They produced at the time in history what was, and is still, considered The Best (Good) Microfiber Towels...TBDMFTITW. More on that later.]

Back to the previous point.
Perhaps it was due to the fall of the Japanese stock market/yen devaluation, when the sell-off of technology may have been in the best interest for the overall Japanese economy, as determined by the Japanese government...Perhaps not. (Royalties...maybe?) Whatever it really was, it happened.

Note that might be of interest:
Almost all of the machinery that enables the "correct manufacturing processes" of producing microfiber products is German made. That equates to expensive machinery...Meaning...that not all microfiber towel manufacturers will have this machinery for various reasons

Fast forward to today.
With the rising world-wide demand for these miracle towels, the Koreans that owned the correct processing/manufacturing equipment decided to outsource....to different sites in their homeland and China, among others.

Referencing the "correct processing/manufacturing equipment" again:
The quality (Goodness, as it were) of Microfiber Towels has seemed to decline since the onset of the above outsourcing...

Sourcing (and I hate like he!! to say this): Genuine made in Korea; from the Korean manufacturers that possess the actual, correct equipment; and, from the Korean: "beginning-to-the-end-processes...will yield the best of the "good" Microfiber Towels.(More than likely they even 'source' their own homeland's chemicals in producing polyester/polyamide microfibers!)

Are these "good" microfiber towels truly worth it? Yes. Are they more costly? Yes. You get what you pay for!. {There's nothing like paying $25.00, or more, (wholesale) for a "good" perl weave microfiber towel to set the heart and wallet a-thumping! :D}

Are there different microfiber towels for different uses. Sure there are several 'weaves' (terry, perl, waffle, etc.); several weights; but, most importantly, AFAIK, the dernier---should be less than 1.00---the best is around 0.5.


IMO, then: These "Korean" microfiber towels are the "good" microfiber towels for: Paintwork and other delicate surfaces. And I say for those vehicle areas:
-Accept no substitutes.
-Accept no inferior microfiber products.

Sure...Because of their price point...I will utilize the CostCo, Sam's (and others of the same ilk) types of microfiber towels for the grunge tasks. After such use I may: Throw them in a soap-bucket to soak-swish around some, wring them out, then line dry them for use again on grunge tasks; or simply toss them away. They will never 'see the sights' inside the household's washer/dryer.

For my personal vehicles:
I'll use the "special" paper towels (used by many high-end paint & body shops) for after both: Machine/hand polishing/buffing/LSP/QD/etc. applications....Or:
"The 100% Korean" microfiber towels for the same above processes...And especially for what Mr. Phillips has referred to as: The Final Wipe.

And I still have some very "good" 100% all cotton towels, from the "old days" that I'll use from time to time...They still remain as some of the best ("good") for me.

:)

Bob
Click to expand...

Wow, great write-up Bob! :buffing:

What are the "special" paper towels you speak of?
 
I really like Adam's single soft micro fiber towels, different than any other towel I have used.
 
^^^You should see and use their double softs...great towels!
 
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