Very basic question about drying with MF Towels

Desertnate

Desertnate

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 5, 2013
Messages
6,191
Reaction score
237
When you dry a vehicle with a MF waffle weave towel, do you use it dry or damp (drying aids not included)?

I've found lengthy discussions on drying technique and media, but couldn't find this answer anywhere. I've been using an Absorber for as long as I can remember and it is now starting to loose it's drying ability, so I figured it was a great time to make the switch.
 
I prefer dry. I've never gotten the technique of using damp microfibers personally. But I would say if you are doing a traditional wash you should sheet rinse to the max extent possible first.
 
If I do a 2 bucket, I'll use a damp WW then go over it with that thick dry me crazy towel
 
In my experience, a damp MF absorbs water better and faster than a dry one (think of an old-fashioned chamois). It also helps with water spots in areas that dried before you could get to them.

I also sheet the rinse water off like AF90 said and I have started using Megs Ultimate Quick Detail as an assisting drying agent because I have found that at least on my car, once the water has sheeted off, the remaining beads dry too fast for me to get to them before light water spots have formed.
 
•I take into consideration the following:
-Water is a polar molecule
-Microfiber towels are hydrophilic
-Capillary action (wicking)

•Which means, to me, that:
-Starting the vehicle drying-process with a slightly damp MF towel will facilitate more efficient absorption of liquids.

•Hence:
-Waffle Weave MF towels are my favorite "drying towels".


Bob
 
I sheet water first and then start with dry MF WW towels. They do get better at removing wet once they get damp from the first few passes but once too wet, i grab another clean, dry towel.
 
Thank you for all the inputs.

I always two bucket wash and sheet as best as I can when finished,

I was surprised to see the majority of the responses in favor of wetting the towel first. Doesn't that in itself cause streaking or leave behind really tiny water spots?
 
Desertnate said:
Thank you for all the inputs.

I always two bucket wash and sheet as best as I can when finished,

I was surprised to see the majority of the responses in favor of wetting the towel first. Doesn't that in itself cause streaking or leave behind really tiny water spots?
Click to expand...

When I say damp, I mean very slightly damp. And in my case I wring out the towel every few passes or so to prevent the towel from getting too overloaded with water. I do sometimes get the really small beads of water behind the towel, but when I use UQD as an aid, there are no water spots left on the paint.
 
I hate to point out the obvious, but if you have a dry towel and start using it to dry your wet car, the towel becomes damp very quickly. Therefore, I don't need to puzzle over whether dry or damp works better, since there is no way to keep the towel dry while simultaneously using it for drying.
 
Setec Astronomy said:
I hate to point out the obvious, but if you have a dry towel and start using it to dry your wet car, the towel becomes damp very quickly. Therefore, I don't need to puzzle over whether dry or damp works better, since there is no way to keep the towel dry while simultaneously using it for drying.
Click to expand...

I only asked because many years ago I used terry cloth towels to dry my cars. Once they got a little water in them they were of very little use in drying. That was one reason I moved on to chamois or Absorber like products. For those you have to wet them or they don't work right.

I read about people using small-ish MF towels for drying entire cars, which seemed counter to my experience in the past with towels. I began to wonder if those WW towels performed more like my dearly departed Absorber than a fabric towel. I.e. wring out the excess water and keep going.

Also, when I use the gold MF towels sold here for waterless washes, they are useless once they get wet...lots of streaks and no absorption at all once they get more than slightly wet.
 
Yeah, i'm with Setec on this i.e. I don't "pre dampen" my MF's before starting to dry the vehicle. As i mentioned earlier, they get dampened immediately and i keep going.
 
Adding to Bob`s post, I use WW towels to dry and Chemical Guys Wolly mammoths. I dry the windows first then move to paint.
 
I do mostly rinseless washes, so no sheeting is involved. I'll always follow my wash step with a regular MF towel to absorb the heavier stuff, continually wringing it as I go, then finish with a dry WW or plush MF drying towel. If I'm using a drying aid, such as OCW or DGAW, the intermediate step just seems to make the whole process go smoother.

Bill
 
Setec Astronomy said:
I hate to point out the obvious, but if you have a dry towel and start using it to dry your wet car, the towel becomes damp very quickly. Therefore, I don't need to puzzle over whether dry or damp works better, since there is no way to keep the towel dry while simultaneously using it for drying.
Click to expand...


:dblthumb2::buffing: We have a winner! :buffing::dblthumb2:

FWIW, I tend not to 'wipe' any type of towel on the surface when drying. Reason being... I don't like the lack of lubricity. Considering I'll blow dry everything, (sheeting or not) there isn't that much water left. So with that, it's more about placing (not rubbing) a towel on the surface and gently rubbing/patting the back of it with an open hand to get whatever water is left on the surface.

Now after all that I'll likely go back with a spray wax/sealant on a slightly damp towel and wipe till I'm happy, happy, happy. :D
 
Setec Astronomy said:
I hate to point out the obvious, but if you have a dry towel and start using it to dry your wet car, the towel becomes damp very quickly. Therefore, I don't need to puzzle over whether dry or damp works better, since there is no way to keep the towel dry while simultaneously using it for drying.
Click to expand...

I do start with the glass first and the do the paint. I have tried to avoid additional drying aids since I do not want anything in the towels. If I want to perk up the paint I will do it as an added step.
 
Bunky said:
I do start with the glass first and the do the paint. I have tried to avoid additional drying aids since I do not want anything in the towels. If I want to perk up the paint I will do it as an added step.
Click to expand...

Ditto, glass first when the towel works the best, and who wants to make their expensive WW's hydrophobic? And spray wax after drying, if I do it.
 
I also start with the glass first. This allows me to get the MF damp. After the bulk of the car is dry I do a wipe down with IUDJ. Looks awesome after.
 
slightly off topic: anyone else here think waffle weaves suck after using a Dry Me Crazy or similar? i can't imagine going back to a waffle weave towel at this point.
 
cardaddy said:
:dblthumb2::buffing: We have a winner! :buffing::dblthumb2:

FWIW, I tend not to 'wipe' any type of towel on the surface when drying. Reason being... I don't like the lack of lubricity. Considering I'll blow dry everything, (sheeting or not) there isn't that much water left. So with that, it's more about placing (not rubbing) a towel on the surface and gently rubbing/patting the back of it with an open hand to get whatever water is left on the surface.

Now after all that I'll likely go back with a spray wax/sealant on a slightly damp towel and wipe till I'm happy, happy, happy. :D
Click to expand...


My process also.......blot, blot, blot. I'll also add I do use ww towels in this process.

Let me add that it really depends on what I'm doing.....if polishing is going to be involved I don't even bother with the drying process, after the wash it's right into the shop wet and start claying.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top