California Duster
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,690
Likes: 2
From: Washington State
E-500
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???
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???
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 468
Likes: 0
From: Houston. TX
2013 S550
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...
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...
Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 108
Likes: 0
From: CT
2000 audq a6
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
I have been contemplating buying the feather duster that Zymol has for -$50.00-looks safe enough-
or just lightly use a Microfiber towel
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 314
Likes: 0
From: Oakville, Ont., Canada
2009 ML320 CDi Bluetec
Black
Originally posted by mike_fern2001
amazing- I was going to purchase one today. If u have black what else can u use?????
amazing- I was going to purchase one today. If u have black what else can u use?????
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
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,690
Likes: 2
From: Washington State
E-500
Re: Black
Originally posted by 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
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
)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
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Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 296
Likes: 0
From: New York
2003 E500
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.
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.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,690
Likes: 2
From: Washington State
E-500
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
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
Member
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 232
Likes: 1
From: Boca Raton, FL
2003 E55,2005 Ferrari F430 Spider, 2005 Corvette 427 TT, 2005 Range Rover
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.
BTW, I got a few of these tiny scratches out with some #7 Meguires by hand and some patience.
Member
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: USA
2007 E350 Sport
I've been using
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.
Last edited by Carnaught; Jan 29, 2003 at 06:04 PM.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,854
Likes: 197
From: Huntington Beach, Ca.
'17 Jaguar XF
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.
Member
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
From: Warwick, RI
SLK230
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.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,061
Likes: 326
From: 2000 ft over the FL coast in a B-17
Various
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.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 3,445
Likes: 3
From: WOT somewhere in the Bay Area
1951 Caterpiller D6
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.
On light cars, you just don't see the scratches as much bu they are still there.
Senior Member
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 310
Likes: 1
From: SoCAL,:-))
2000 ML320/'03 C320WZ
IMO nothing can stop the swirl mark
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.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,640
Likes: 11
From: GMT -8 hours
Mercedes-Benz
Re: IMO nothing can stop the swirl mark
Originally posted by 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.
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.
