Auto Detailing and AppearanceTips and tricks on how to make your Third Gen shine! Get opinions on products or how something looks on your Chevrolet Camaro or Pontiac Firebird.
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__________________ www.TheFOAT.com/92GTA 1992 Trans Am GTA SLP: GMPP optioned "SLP Performance Parts Package" GTA, 210K Miles, Dark Jade Gray Metallic, LB9, 4L60, T-Tops, and Gray Leather. Documentation includes Window Sticker, Factory Invoice, Etc. Added a few tasteful mods. Owned for 10 years since 69K miles. 2nd place trophies. - Currently undergoing restoration to brand new condition with as many NOS parts as I could find!!! -
I just bought new one at K-Mart for 19.99 about an hour ago I've been using it for quite a while now, don't know what I'd do with out it, probably use a leaf blower
so the Cal water blade doesn't damage the paint all? I'm a little wary about running a "blade" down my paint with all the dirty particles (correction: possible dirt particles) still on the surface... *scraaatch?*
I'm using my Absorber syntehtic chamois... works great but still time consuming, I'd say a good 20mins to dry off the whole car cleanly including all possible puddles like behind the tailights! heh... which ends up dripping all over the bumper when driven, which mixes with the exhaust dust collecting on the bumper = nastiness after a car wash if u neglect to soak up the puddles nex to the rear taillights... heh. ok, 'nuff rant there.
The water blade is great for most of the car. I prefer a synthetic chamois like the Absorber over a natural one. They last much longer, don't cost as much, don't go to **** if they dry out, and generally absorb water much better.
ok guys the water blade will scrath the paint if you dont watch out and drag some dirt across the finish. i Detail cars everyday at a body shop. and when we wash it we dont get every minute dirt particle. and we use the water blade, and i have scratched about 3-4 cars in the last 7 months. but nothing deep enough that we had to repaint. i just buffed the scratch out.
so there is still that chance.
and i would rather use a Synthetic Chamois than a natural. cleans up much better.
__________________ Jarrad
United States ARMY Reserves Military Police Officer 339th Division to be an SMP cadet soon!
Professional Detailer now Student at Western Ill U
formerly owned:
1990 IROC-Z L98
Dupont Flame Red
13.83s-99.7mph
My vote gots for the absorber. I'm planning on getting a california blade for the flat spots, but the absorber would still be my choice if I could have only 1. The absorber can hold so much water, that you can do almost half of a car before you squeeze it out. I used to wash and dry a car in 20 minutes when I detailed them. The absorber is FAST when you're in a hurry.
Natural chamois is known to take off wax and scratch clearcoat so use synthetic if any chamois at all. I recommend just using a towell from the bathroom. Dont laugh, I know how to keep a car lookin good. See?
__________________ 98 Camaro SS M6 #1761 - Red with gray cloth - Y2K Vette wheels - Powerstop slotted/drilled rotors with Hawks pads - SLP Flopac with K&N - LS6 intake manifold - ported TB - Pacesetter headers - TSP off-road y-pipe - SLP dual/dual catback - 3" cutout - NGK TR6 plugs @ .034 - Walbro 340 (255lph) Fuel Pump - Horsepower House Dynotune - UMI Lower Control Arm Relocation Brackets - Hotchkins Strut tower bar - Textralia OZ700 clutch - "Z" Disc - Textralia Billet Steel Flywheel Roselock 18lbs - Hydraulic Drill Mod - Pro 5.0 shifter - Lou's short stick - Hurst Knob - Caspers PnP Hotwire Fuel Pump Harness - T-Tops - Monsoon Stereo w/ CD
88 TransAm GTA - WS6 - Red with gray cloth - all options except digital dash and leather - Hooker Aerochamber exhaust - K&N filters -TDS Wonderbar - TPIS airfoil - Nitto NT 450 - Poly transmission mount - Pioneer/MTX stuff
What's the difference between a dirt particle with the blade and a dirt particle trapped in a towl or chamois. Either way the dirt is dragged across. At least the blade is a smooth finish right, instead of all the friction of a towel or chamois.
Mark Shields has a good point. I beleieve the best thing to use is high air pressure. If this is not an option, then use the silicone "water blade" this is what I use. If you just washed the car then any microscopic dirt is negligable. IMO
I'm inclined to agree with all thouse who recommend the Absorber. I find it easier to use then any other solution and one of the safest to use. I'm VERY pleased with it.
__________________ '84 5.0 H.O liter v8 Z28 Camaro (L69 Engine)
'94 3.1 liter v6 Grand Am SE
I have been using the Absorber for about a year and haven't been highly impressed. I do use the water blade first, but find the absorber just drags remaining water and really doesn't aborb very well. For Christmas, I got a new chamois that I really do like and it works great. It's from Wizards. http://www.wizardsproducts.com/products3.html
I used it last night after washing my truck. I decided to use the absorber instead of the new one on my door jambs and I ended up putting the absorber away and using the new one. My vote goes for the new chamois. I highly recommend trying it!
Last edited by scottmoyer; 12-28-2001 at 02:02 PM.
Do not use anything but a 100% USA cotton white towel to dry your car off with. I learned that the hard way. I used to use a very good chamois to dry the car off with until I started noticing new scratches. I consulted a good friend of mine that details Ferrari's, Lamb's, and such and he said my problem is the chamios. It doesn't trap any dirt in it. All it does is pushes it all over the area you are drying. Using a towel the dirt will be trapped in the fibers of the towel which lifts it off of the paint surface resulting in a scratch free dry. I started doing this after I buffed the scratches out of the car and to me amazement it actually worked. But this is my opinion. I highly recommend useing the towel if you own a dark color car.
props to the leaf-blowers! haha'... I've noticed the Absorber producing a very fine every now and then... but usually very light that comes off with a good wax over... which is always done with Meguires Gold Class! Not Zaino you say? yep that's right, IMHO, Gold Class is right up there with Zaino and less harsh on the thinning wallet.
I went through the neighbourhood's new "touchless" carwash a couple of weeks ago. My car was really dirty, like it can only get in nasty, slushy, freezing weather. I didn't expect it get it clean.
Anyway, this wash is automated and doesn't use any brushes at all, only high pressure water and soap, then a blow dryer. Well, I've never seen such high pressure water in a car wash!!! It was coming in through the T-tops' weatherstripping joints like a ruddy shower.
I felt like that kid in Holland who was running out of fingers and thumbs to keep the dike from bursting.
Well, it didn't come perfectly clean but I was pretty impressed. That dirt was on really thick on the rocker panels and it got 90% of it off.
Of course, it got quite cold that night and my door lock froze.
But what was clean was clean as a whistle, and shiny, too
I would have to say I would go with the CWB(California Water Blade)Me and one of my buds decided to have a little friendly competition.My CWB versus his Absorber.I dried my ride in half the time it took him to dry his and after it was all said and done,my black car actually looked better than his black car.His Absorber left behind tiny droplets of water,my CWB left nothing.Your choice man.
Aha'... but you see my friend... you must drag the absorber slowly and evenly across the surface and it will be bone dry and shiney just like the CWB does heh... just my two cents! it IS possible that the Absorber is nevertheless superior! heh heh
I've been using it for quite a while now, don't know what I'd do with out it, probably use a leaf blower
*scraaatch?*
heh... which ends up dripping all over the bumper when driven, which mixes with the exhaust dust collecting on the bumper = nastiness after a car wash if u neglect to soak up the puddles nex to the rear taillights... heh. ok, 'nuff rant there. 
heh... just my two cents! it IS possible that the Absorber is nevertheless superior! 
