Use the compressed air or a handheld blower. I just started doing this and it works great. Also you should have a good coat of wax on before you sheet the water. The Megs Ultimate Detailer is great use it over the wax and you will have no trouble. I use this on a black truck.

 

Interesteing.....

Mine is black to is a BITCH to keep from spotting up using MF towels.

Takes me like 8 good size MF towels to get all the water off.....

I have a handheld leaf blower, do you have any special techniques you recommend?

 

I often use the leaf blower to blow out water in the cracks, & the thick spots on the hood & roof, those areas always hold the most water. Make sure when you leaf blow it, you dont blow it at any other angle than downward on a clean surface ( parked on grass, or a clean paved driveway ) and you want all of the water to go south.

When towel drying I use a 12" rubber squeegie & wipe a panel with it, then take the towel over it, gets rid of the water, and saves your towel from getting soaked.

as far as hosting pictures, photobucket is the best, create and account over there, upload your images, then use the [img] code link & paste in a forum

 

Just my personal opinion here.

By driving it on the freeway or anywhere for that matter to dry it you are really making matters worse. Any number of things can get on the paints surface, then you go home whip out your polish/wax and grind it into the paint. Try this sometime, drop a spot of water on your kitchen counter then put a bit of flour on it. The flower absorbs(dry) the water but the flour is still on the counter, point being is that airborn dust is more easily trapped on the surface of the truck since it is wet.

I use the waterblade, followed by a waffle weave MF to get the areas I can't get with the blade, then compressed air(leaf blower) for the rest. Open all doors wipe down sills, pop hood and wipe edges. In about 15 min I can get the car/truck just as dry as doing 70mph for 5 min and I don't risk getting more contaminents on the paint.

 

very good point.

 

http://www.autogeek.net/x2000.html Are you useing one of these or a regulat MF? Sheet the water off with the hose works geat if the paint is slick. Is the pic of your truck if so have you leveled it.

onto another how do you get the images onto the threads with trucks and other stuff.

 

No kidding. Raining every day here, not to mention I live on a dirt road that is flooded right now.

 

Trust me go get a waterblade

http://www.autogeek.net/calwatblad.h...WID=8703047021

On a truck with pleanty of flat surfaces you could get 99% of the water off in under 5 min with the waterblade, then take an extra 5 min with a MF towel to get anything you missed. I also found that a wet MF towel acctually removes more water than a dry one, when they are dry they just spread the water around once wet they absorb it. I wouldn't use 8 towels just use one and keep wringing it out when it gets overloaded with water. Another good product I have used for years is the Absorber

http://www.autobarn.net/absydrch27x1.html

I used to dry 3 and 4 cars back to back with that thing, just wipe until it starts leaving water trails, wring it out, continue drying. The only thing you have to watch is don't drop it, thoroghly hose off both sides of it prior to use and before you put it up to make sure there are no dirt particles trapped in it to scratch the paint.

 

NO!!! Think about this: A water blade has NO place for any little fragment of a contaminant to hide. There is ZERO nap, thus if your paint is not surgically clean, it WILL find some straight line scratching after ONE use. As much as you think your are washing fine, just be aware that you cannot get it perfectly clean unless in a sealed room-- static free and dust free.

Do a search on the California Jelly Blade or something like that. It has been discussed here several times before.

BTW-- RP and I share the same opinion on this, so before you ask him, theres your answer.

 

LOL I was not going to run to RP and ask his opinion on the issue but its pretty clear to see who's opinion you rely on. j/k

For the waterblade, I have heard the stories for years and I keep using it. While you are correct that you can not get every little particle off the vehicle when washing I have never noticed any straight line scratches in my paint even under hallogen lighting.

Here is something else to consider, when using MF towels, contaminents get cought in it and stay in it through the entire drying process. The more you wipe the more you drag thoes particles over your paint. The only difference is that when drying with a rag you seldom do straight strokes so any scratches that are induced with it you would just chalk up to swirls or whatever. When I use the waterblade I keep a MF rag in my other hand and wipe the blade clean after every pass I make. So my method with the blade vs a rag, the waterblade has less potential for causing damage to a big area of the car. Unless you use a clean MF towel for each wipe then you have the ability to pick up a particle and rub it over the entire car before you realize it.

 

I was hoping that this thread would go away b/c it makes me crazy to see these things used on paint.

The duster and the blade will never be in my arsenal of products. I am just too **** about how I dry vehicles. I never use air compressors or blowers. I think using a blower does the same thing as driving down the highway to dry. Using compressed air will introduce rust to the paint. Ever drain your compressor on a humid day? You will see water and rust. Again, no thanks.

Anytime you increase the air flow that is not filtered you are introducing micro partials including oil in the air.

Sorry to bag on this thread and I don't mean to dog pile or disagree but there are many ways to skin a cat...I just don't like short cuts.

Now where did I put that soap box..............

Properly cared for MF towels should never have debris in them. If they do, throw them away.

 

RolllingRock how did you place your truck and the green lettering over it?

 

I am a wiz in photoshop.

Professional Photographer. I got game.

 

OK i am looking around an can not find anything or is it just a newbee Thing.

 

do you have a picture of your truck?