Optimum Opti-Eraser review

Thank you for the review. I like to use the Opti-Eraser with rubber or nitrile gloves for my feedback...as I do with clay. I made the same observation as you while beta testing...but, the gloves are a good idea with this and with clay because you can feel more with them than you do just depending on the clay bar.

Regarding the "grippy" feel...it's noticeable if you aren't using a slick lube...but, not so much when you are. I prefer to use Opti Clean over ONR clay lube for this reason. The different "feel" is honestly just learning to use a new product and not a con. It has more to do with the flat bar creating suction when not lubed well. Just like the adjustments we had to make when learning to use microfiber pads.
 
WRXINXS said:
ihaveacamaro, I did not mean to jack your thread by asking Mark that. Just wondering if other people were experiencing the same thing (a concensus). Great video, makes me really reconsider!
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Not at all, ask all the questions you want to anyone in my thread. The last thing you would want is to buy a product and not be satisfied. I have been in your shoes many many times :props:

Chris@Optimum said:
Thank you for the review. I like to use the Opti-Eraser with rubber or nitrile gloves for my feedback...as I do with clay. I made the same observation as you while beta testing...but, the gloves are a good idea with this and with clay because you can feel more with them than you do just depending on the clay bar.

Regarding the "grippy" feel...it's noticeable if you aren't using a slick lube...but, not so much when you are. I prefer to use Opti Clean over ONR clay lube for this reason. The different "feel" is honestly just learning to use a new product and not a con. It has more to do with the flat bar creating suction when not lubed well. Just like the adjustments we had to make when learning to use microfiber pads.
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I actually was using nitrile gloves as I agree with your point with that. You can even see me wearing them in the video.

And I'm not sure I agree with you on your second paragraph. I used UWW+ in clay lube form which is very slick. And considering how cheap it is, I always use lots of lube. Having done that, I still felt that the bar was grippy.

I do concede the point that with a new products you have to make adjustments. However, in my testing, albeit on only two cars, the block refused to not feel grippy.

I tried spraying the face of the block so much that clay lube was streaming (not just dripping) off the face and spraying a ton on the surface. It still did not change anything. I don't know what else to do.

Honestly, I feel bad, as I love the Optimum Line and have more OPT products in gallon batches than I do in other quantities. I just can't get to liking the eraser.
 
+1 for Clay Bar

Theres a saying that goes "dont try to re-invent the wheel"

Very insightful review dude, I love watching your videos.
 
ihaveacamaro said:
Not at all, ask all the questions you want to anyone in my thread. The last thing you would want is to buy a product and not be satisfied. I have been in your shoes many many times :props:



I actually was using nitrile gloves as I agree with your point with that. You can even see me wearing them in the video.

And I'm not sure I agree with you on your second paragraph. I used UWW+ in clay lube form which is very slick. And considering how cheap it is, I always use lots of lube. Having done that, I still felt that the bar was grippy.

I do concede the point that with a new products you have to make adjustments. However, in my testing, albeit on only two cars, the block refused to not feel grippy.

I tried spraying the face of the block so much that clay lube was streaming (not just dripping) off the face and spraying a ton on the surface. It still did not change anything. I don't know what else to do.

Honestly, I feel bad, as I love the Optimum Line and have more OPT products in gallon batches than I do in other quantities. I just can't get to liking the eraser.
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I totally understand. When we were developing the Eraser, I was given a towel version, a flat two sided version (no foam in the middle), and the foam block version. I went through many of them in testing and definitely had to get used to the "feel".

I'm pleased that I can decon without marring on most cars, like that they aren't ruined when dropped, and with two sides they are pretty darn economical. I get the same "feel" with the speedy prep towel but its less noticeable because of the way you apply pressure vs the Opti Eraser block.

Thanks again for your review and remember that we have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. So if you are not satisfied, you should return it. You might also try the mild version. As Mike Phillips is always saying "Use the least aggressive means to get the job done." You may find that you didn't really need the aggressive one and the feel may be more to your liking.
 
Chris, Roshan (ihaveacamaro) noted there were some visible changes to the surface of the Eraser from use; will the product continue to break in and possibly change it's "grippiness" over time?
 
EDIT: I'm not taking away anything from Roshan. Good guy, good review. :dblthumb2:


This is EXACTLY why you can't ALWAYS go by someone else's review. To really tell if you like a product, you must try it yourself. Roshan doesn't like the opti-eraser, I do. I find it MUCH easier and quicker than traditional clay.
 
Roshan, I know you have the speedy prep towel but are any of your clay alternatives in clay block form like the eraser? I'm trying to figure out if this dragging feeling is specific to the opti eraser or is a inherent characteristic to all clay blocks due to their shape and suction like Chris said.
 
CM8 6MT said:
+1 for Clay Bar

Theres a saying that goes "dont try to re-invent the wheel"

Very insightful review dude, I love watching your videos.
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I actually don't use clay bars anymore ;) If you every get your hands on a Speedy Prep Towel, you will feel the same way!

An thank you, I thoroughly enjoy your reviews as well! Don't get fooled by me not responding in them, I read every word :dblthumb2:

FivePoint.0 said:
EDIT: I'm not taking away anything from Roshan. Good guy, good review. :dblthumb2:


This is EXACTLY why you can't ALWAYS go by someone else's review. To really tell if you like a product, you must try it yourself. Roshan doesn't like the opti-eraser, I do. I find it MUCH easier and quicker than traditional clay.
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Haha no worries bud, I actually agree 100% with you. It's always best to make your own opinions on products although reviews can give you an idea on what to expect :xyxthumbs:
 
FivePoint.0 said:
Agreed!

However, when there's such opposite opinion of products, that makes if very difficult for people who may be interested. :laughing:
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The nice thing about Opti-Eraser, in comparison to the other clay alternatives, is that it is priced a lot more competitively - makes the decision to "try and find out for myself" a lot less difficult.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
Chris, Roshan (ihaveacamaro) noted there were some visible changes to the surface of the Eraser from use; will the product continue to break in and possibly change it's "grippiness" over time?
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Opti Eraser didn't change or need to be broken in. You won't find two sides that are exactly the same. They all have a little different texture from the manufacturing process. Speedy prep is the one that has stippling and needs to be broken in. Most likely the light marring Roshan observed was from using the aggressive version where the mild would have been a better choice. The grippiness is very manageable by regulating your downward pressure and lube.
 
umi000 said:
The nice thing about Opti-Eraser, in comparison to the other clay alternatives, is that it is priced a lot more competitively - makes the decision to "try and find out for myself" a lot less difficult.
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Yes, and don't forget it's dual sided unlike other decon alternatives. It's like a BoGo...and who doesn't like a good BoGo?
 
Chris@Optimum said:
Opti Eraser didn't change or need to be broken in. You won't find two sides that are exactly the same. They all have a little different texture from the manufacturing process. Speedy prep is the one that has stippling and needs to be broken in. Most likely the light marring Roshan observed was from using the aggressive version where the mild would have been a better choice. The grippiness is very manageable by regulating your downward pressure and lube.
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When I started I saw that both sides were flat. After working with only one side, I saw that one side was a little dimpled. If it doesn't need to break in, what is going on here? The texture of the side that I used did change.
 
vman said:
Roshan, I know you have the speedy prep towel but are any of your clay alternatives in clay block form like the eraser? I'm trying to figure out if this dragging feeling is specific to the opti eraser or is a inherent characteristic to all clay blocks due to their shape and suction like Chris said.
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I don't sorry. However, swanicyouth has the Chemical Guys version and he reviewed it, and as far as I remember, he did not note any grippyness. I believe that this feeling is unique to the Opti-Eraser. For whatever it means, apparently there is an acrylic resin doing the work instead of other alternatives where there is a rubber polymerized coating. Couldn't tell you what that means if you put a gun to my head though.
 
ihaveacamaro said:
When I started I saw that both sides were flat. After working with only one side, I saw that one side was a little dimpled. If it doesn't need to break in, what is going on here? The texture of the side that I used did change.
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I haven't experienced that. What did you use for lube?
 
ihaveacamaro said:
Ultima Waterless Wash Plus Concentrate at clay lube dilution.

Check out 1:02 to 1:20 in the video and I show what I'm talking about.
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Ok. That's not strong enough to deteriorate the block. I saw the difference you showed, but I have received them new like that. I'm not sure how to explain that if you experienced a change from smooth to textured.
 
IMO, I hadn't considered buying it at all until reading Chris' posts in this thread, now that changed my mind and I'll be picking up at least one to try out. Chris, you're exactly what a product support specialist should be.
 
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