thug_law

I heard california duster leaves very fine scratches on black paint. Can anyone confirm this, because I stopped using the duster.

etenn

Geeeeez....I hope not because I just started to use one.

I saw good posts on the detail forum about it. I was always reluctant to use one because I thought it would scratch.

Whats the word???

ctouhey

I've had one for three months and never used it. A couple weeks ago I again set it aside as I dug out my Vac 'n Blo to detail the inside. I thought that perhaps I'd try it in the coming week.

That same day I got an e-mail from jposhea3 telling me he scratched his new E500 using it. Mine's still in the bin, and it'll probably stay there...

etenn

I posted over on the detailing forum...I'll wait to see what they have to say over there.

Ed

mike_fern2001

amazing- I was going to purchase one today. If u have black what else can u use?????

I have been contemplating buying the feather duster that Zymol has for -$50.00-looks safe enough-

or just lightly use a Microfiber towel

mwillems

Mike,

I have owned several black cars. In my experience, NOTHING stops a black car from scratiching. You look at it,. it is scratched. I think you just have to accept that as part of the price you pay for driving a sleek black automobile.

Mike

etenn

I agree...but I have had my car since November (1800 miles) and somehow have avoided scratches and swirls (except for a damn cat )

I read all the good posts on the California Duster in the Detail Forum and autopia. Thought I must be wrong about it scratching so I bought one. Now I suppose I can't take a chance.

Ed

mike_fern2001

very true- we buy black? its like pain- but done right? In my humble opinion- it looks awesome

I was so tempted to go with the silver- just couldnt do it!

jposhea3

i've been thinking abt my scratches, and the more I think of it I suspect that I did it during an attempt to Z6 the hood after just *rinsing* the car. Dumb. Didn't hassle with the buckets, shampoo - just hosed it down a lot and fairly strong, then I figure I dragged some stuff across the hood.

I checked the rest of the car and I think its mostly cool, so I'm wondering how much of it was careless cali-Duster use and how much was what I was doing by not *shampooing* the car.

I'll get more of an opinion from AlBoston this weekend at Westwood, MA's detailing demo.

etenn

James...be sure and let us know what the consensus of opinion on the duster is. I won't use it until it gets another clean bill of health.

It really is convenient and saves a lot of unneeded washings.
Sorry to hear about your scratches...but happy to hear that maybe it was not the California Duster.

Give us your version of the detailing "party".

Ed

Blocktrader

Duster works pretty good for the interior. The scratches it leaves on the outsideare only swirl mark sized, so unless you are the type to really polish the car, it will likely have these marks after six months or so, just from routine washing and daily driving. If you are the type polish the car to the extreme, I would not use it.

BTW, I got a few of these tiny scratches out with some #7 Meguires by hand and some patience.

Carnaught

the CCD now for a few years on multiple (new and expensive)cars, and I haven't seen any signs that it is scratching the cars. I am very sensitive to the issue since owning a car in the 80's and observing fine swirl marks after running it through an automated car wash (urgh!). Although I have no experience with it on black cars (Iwill not own one since my black SL, which I could never keep clean), it's worked flawlessly on white, silver, red, and blue cars. The dirtier the CCD gets, in general, the better. You have to initially "cure" it to get the resins and waxes coated. Another secret is to use it VERY lightly along the car surfaces to remove dust, not firmly to remove baked-on or deep dirt, bird poop, sap, etc. The latter mandates a wash . Also with light touch, you may want to go over places more than once, possibly reversing your orientation each time. If these conditions are met, IMO, you avoid wax swirls ( especially when the car-duster is new) and the car shines like it was just washed.

mleskovar

Everything scratches to some degree. I use the Ca. Duster on my black c320 with no problem. When the scratches get too numerous and distracting I polish them out and start over. These are very fine scratches that can be polished out....like swirls. Black and scratches are ying and yang.

CopperDesigno

I have a copper colored car and I use the CA Duster almost every morning before the top goes into the trunk. However, I have a good coat of wax on the car and it gets washed at leats every other week. I shake the hell out of it after each wipe on the car.

RJC

Black cars need "water" on them before letting anything touch the paint, a duster should not be used unless its used right after you just waxed the car and want to remove any left over lint/fibers, but a micro fiber cloth is better.

Guest0001

you guys use your dusters on the exterior paint?

isnt it ony supposed to be used for interior use?

i might buy one shortly

mleskovar

I use it on exteroir paint....black. It was made for exterior use, but works well on interior.

E55AMG99

Great for dusting the interior and removing lint from the paint right after waxing. No matter what anyone tells you, never use it to remove dust from your paint, especially black and dark colors. Dust is dirt and you would be grinding it into the paint. I know it is supposed to lift the dirt away without scratching but everyone (I know) who's tried it ends up having to polish WAY more often than I do. Most of them have stopped using it when they realize the damage they are doing.

On light cars, you just don't see the scratches as much bu they are still there.

JimB

on any car as long as you wipe the finish dry using california duster, especially on black car. I have Black Opal and a Red bordeaux so far it's swirl free. I used clay bar every six months or so, it's a PITA but I'm happy with the result.

Kar don

Jim... swirl marks CAN be prevented. I have 0 swirls on my c320 since i have owned it since may. Follow my techniques in the detailing forum...