Does anyone here (besides me) not use grit guards?

StuDLei

StuDLei

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I've been ONRing my car for at least seven years. Occasionally I will spray it down at a do-it-yourselfer when the car is absolutely filthy in the winter. Other than that, which is maybe once or twice a year, I ONR it only. My car is a nonmetallic black 350Z. Not only do I not use a grit guard, but I only use one bucket. Years ago, before I really got into detailing, my car was a swirled out mess. In 2009 I bought a Flex, some pads, 105, 205 and the rest is history. I got my car swirl free and it requires a fine polish once a year (SF4500) to make it perfect again. The car is a DD, so in my opinion, it's only going to be perfect for so long. In any case, it has never come close to what the car looked like in 2009. For the most part it stays fairly swirl free.

I guess my point is, is I really wonder how much a grit guard actually helps. With all the large orders of stuff I've made on here over the years, for some reason it never even crosses my mind to purchase grit guards. I started using a rinse bucket at one point, but then stopped shortly thereafter. I just didn't feel like it was worth it or that it would really make a noticeable difference over time. (I could be wrong).

Does anyone else not use grit guards? One bucket only?

I'd love a Spotless system someday, so I can go back to a traditional wash, but that's not going to happen for some time.
 
I've never really seen the point of them if you're using a two-bucket method. That being said, I did just purchase one this last weekend, so we'll see.
 
I have use the grit guard as a 2 bucket method for a rinseless wash.
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Was it like this?

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I have not detail my Z yet but soon. I am moving to a new house. I have only practice at my job. I take my 3401 to work and practice because my job has a Rotary mikita

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If you use multiple microfibers and do not reintroduce the dirty towels back in the solution you will not need a Grit Guard or two buckets, but most already know this info
 
Guys its insurance, and for 10 dollars to ensure dirt staying at the bottom it is 100000000% worth it. And it does work.

If your mit and car is dirty and you put it in the wash or rinse bucket it is floating around ready to stick back on your wash media, no questions asked 100%

The grit guard ensures its not going to be floating around and getting on your wash media. So it is ideal to have it in both buckets.
 
Real Riders said:
If you use multiple microfibers and do not reintroduce the dirty towels back in the solution you will not need a Grit Guard or two buckets, but most already know this info
Click to expand...
Your doing a good job.

I would still use it just in case the micro fiber towel has a few dirt that it pick up. That's my opinion but other than that your doing a good job.

Keep it shining pal

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I read through this post fast I kinda lost my self.

Well my car is swirl up bad because I've been doing everything wrong before I found out about the AG way. I became a believer with the rinseless wash and detailing the right way.

Real rider has a point about the multiple towels. I would still use a grit guard but that's opinions if using multiple towels. I'll use it just to be super safe but that's my opnion

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I will always use them, but mainly because I still do a two bucket wash, but I don't see a point if someone is using a rinsless with multiple towels. If dirt isn't being reintroduced to the soap bucket I don't really see a need.
 
I also still use them and use 2 rinse buckets with a foam gun to wash. I have a black car so i have adopted many habits to reduce as much as i can from scratching. I can't quantify a difference they make however always see what is left at the bottom of each rinse bucket when i'm done. With regard to ONR washes, i use them in both buckets as well and see quite a bit left below the "rinse" guard as well. I just like the additional method of safety on my black vehicle.
 
Puckman said:
I also still use them and use 2 rinse buckets with a foam gun to wash. I have a black car so i have adopted many habits to reduce as much as i can from scratching. I can't quantify a difference they make however always see what is left at the bottom of each rinse bucket when i'm done. With regard to ONR washes, i use them in both buckets as well and see quite a bit left below the "rinse" guard as well. I just like the additional method of safety on my black vehicle.
Click to expand...

I own 2 black cars as well, both never get swirled. I still can't get past not doing a traditional foam pre wash then two bucket. Plus call me weird but I still find it fun. And with the pressure washer I can get under the car and inside and around the wheels.

Maybe in the cold I can do the rinseless Gary Dean method of some kind in the garage but I have yet to fully give up the old fashion way and adapt to the "waterless".

And let's all be honest, it's far from waterless with the amount of towels that need to be machined washed after every use lol
 
I think you're crazy not to use a grit guard, it's just cheap insurance. I've had mine for a dozen years.

There are some issues that you potentially have to work around with rinseless as far as the amount of solution required to get above the grit guard.
 
2 buckets and 2 grit guards should of been your first purchase...

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For a "Traditional Car Wash"...
[Hose, Two (or more) Buckets, Car Wash
Shampoo, Wash Mitt/(Media?), etc.]...
Sure, I use Grit Guards.

However, IMHO:
I don't really need any Grit Guards when doing
RWs/WWs...especially by using Michael Stoops'
........."straight line wiping method".........
(never letting a MF-towel's dirty edge make
contact with the paint); and never putting
dirty towels back in the RW/WW-solution bucket.


Of course: YMMV


Bob
 
I have two and will use them in the rare event I do a traditional wash. That's rare though. Even then I've never seen any real "grit" at the bottom of the bucket that wasn't at some point suspended in the water anyway. Anything that is heavy enough to sink and stay below the grill guard would mean that the car is covered in sand or rocks and likely swirled and scratched to heck anyway. Overall I think it's more about peace of mind and insuring you don't actually have a sponge or media sink to the bottom by accident.

Rinseless with Uber and about 5-6 good 480GSM Edge-less Towels is way better IMO. As already noted, just fold the towel so that it provides 16 full clean passes slightly rolling the edge as you wipe across each panel so as to limit/eliminate any dirt caught on the towel from actually touching the paint as you wipe. I never introduce anything but a clean towel to my 1-1.5gals of clean solution so no gaurd needed.

TL;DR Cliffs: IMO Rinseless > 1 or 2 bucket method even with Grit Guards and my pure black Audi is proof of that. No swirls and nothing but shine.
 
I usually use the two bucket system and never really used a grit guard but I was looking at a milk crate the other day and decided to make one. May not be as good as ones you can buy but it does the job
 
I have a grit guard for both the wash bucket and rinse bucket and I rarely ever see dirt at the bottom of the bucket after a wash.

Maybe my car doesn't get dirty enough for there to be visible dirt?
 
Check out ammo nycs car wash video and see how much dirt is in the bottom of the bucket, it is alot and it should be noted how much you prevent your car from swirling
 
Every time I wash mine it's black at the bottom, no different than Larry's video. Forget about the winter months.
 
Gasp, I dont use the two bucket method or grit guards either. I always strongly hose my car off. If I go over a panel that is really dirty, I rinse the sponge off before I place it back in the bucket. I am using a really good microfiber covered sponge not sold at AG. My car remains mostly swirl free. Light scratches make their way onto the paint from time to time, but overall this method has worked for me.
 
Traditional wash - I use 3 buckets, 2 with grit guards

Rinseless - I use 1 bucket and no grit guard but I do a pre-rinse first
 
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