My dad is overly-paranoid about me using a chamois to dry my car (afraid of scratches), yet I have a black car so the water spots are very visible once the water has dried. Any good alternatives? My dad suggests a squeegee but that always seems to leave streaks where I did the squeegeeing.

You could get a lot of opinions on this Taylor. For myself, when mine gets caught in the rain, I take most of the water off with a synthetic chamois without pressing hard, then do the final drying with cotton towels. Works for me.

Compressed air or a leaf blower works nice.

A thing called a California Water Blade (i thinK) works absoute wonders. Takes all the water off without hurting the paint. Basically a squeegy, but still works well.
Chris

the absorber..its great...

Taylor,

I can vouch for the California Water Blade Chris spoke of as well. Works great. A fellow at CB03 showed me how good it worked on his '68 and I got one for myself when I got home.

I usually get rid of 95% of the water with this thing and then follow up with a 100% cotton towel just to get the bit left over...

...another "trick" someone told me about: I thought it was bull, but turned out to be right: don't use a spray on your hose when washing your car but rather just let the water flow out of the end of the house when rinsing off the car. It leaves far fewer water spots [or none at all if it's not too hot out].

Mike O'H

I use the absorber also- I love it because as soon as i'm done with it- I fold it back up- and it goes back in the little plastic tube, ready for the next use- Doesn't dry out and crack, and get stuck to itself and rip like Chamois do...

I also have about 5 giant, thick, Egyption cotton Towels that i bought at costco(i think they were like $10 each)- After i have waxed my car, i only use those towels to dry off the car for the next couple washes.

The Iowa State Fair has many great things to spend your money on.It is the only place I can get a discount packet of what are called SUPER CHAMMY's I have been using them for many years and to me they are great!!!Even on a Black Car...It does take awhile for them to get broke in,you can speed up the process by putting them in the washer a few times(dont give up on them because they work better every time you use them!)and they last for a couple years easy if you take care of them.10 Bucks apiece for the large size(car size) and maybe 2 bucks for postage

The Company is called UNIQUE PRODUCTIONS, 6740 N. OCEAN BLVD, OCEAN RIDGE,FL 33435

Maybe a fellow TCer could post a telephone no. because my order form does not have it listed

(I will not leave home without one) DANO

Another for the cali water blade. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Steve- Your car is looking :cool: AWESOME!!!! :cool:
Are you really a couple weeks away from final paint??? Man that thing is looking SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! graemlins/thumbsup.gif graemlins/thumbsup.gif graemlins/thumbsup.gif
Did you get the Front Fender thing figured out?

I use nothing but 100% cotton terry cloth towels (that's what Meguiars recommends) on the Chevelle because the BC/CC paint isn't baked on and doesn't seem as hard or scratch resistant as modern factory finishes. The theory is that any dirt or foreign objects will collect between the tufts of the terry. I use the Cal water blade on the "civilian" vehicles only right after washing. I can't help but think what can happen with any dirt or grit on the surface, like right after rain, when using the water blade.

Originally posted by von:
I use nothing but 100% cotton terry cloth towels (that's what Meguiars recommends) on the Chevelle because the BC/CC paint isn't baked on and doesn't seem as hard or scratch resistant as modern factory finishes. The theory is that any dirt or foreign objects will collect between the tufts of the terry. I use the Cal water blade on the "civilian" vehicles only right after washing. I can't help but think what can happen with any dirt or grit on the surface, like right after rain, when using the water blade. Im with Von. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

If it doesn't get wet you don't have to dry it :rolleyes: Been over 2 years since I finished my car and haven't gotten wet yet (knock on wood). Good to know what you Guy's are using though, for when the inevitable happens.

Thanks to all who replied, and a bigger thanks to the ones who reccommended the California Water Blade. I picked one up today...and used it immediately. It was only $20 but now I think I would have forked over $50 for it if I had to...one of the better investments I've made in car products.

Originally posted by Mike O'H:
Taylor,

water flow out of the end of the house
If water is flowing out of the end of your house, you need to call a plumber Mike.
smile.gif

I bought one of thoses California water blade thingys but it ain't all that great except to remove about 80% of the water off the hood and trunk maybe.
I think the absorber followed by towels works best myself.