my mom lost her only remote to her car and now is temporarly in the garage 24/7. now i get to park underneath the trees where it gets shitten on by birds. i just washed it off lastnight and its been raining ever since this morning. :biglaughb

Get a good cover and a California Car Duster.

Cover the car anytime it's not going to be driven for anything more than an hour or two. Use the California Car Duster on the car before you cover it EVERY TIME! The insides of car covers can cause microscratches when you're putting them on and removing them.

That's what I do, at least. Luckily I'm in a garage all night.

been pitching that car cover and CCD quite a bit recently eh Ben?

Eh, I use what works best, and I calls 'em as I sees 'em.

um... never use a car cover and never use a duster.. :nono :nono both are harmful to your cars' paint . ben already stated why not to use a cover.

the duster.. well that's just plain sense :12:

Originally posted by phatfarm
um... never use a car cover and never use a duster.. :nono :nono both are harmful to your cars' paint . ben already stated why not to use a cover.

the duster.. well that's just plain sense :12:

DUDE! That is some GOOD sh*t you're smoking!

Where did you get that info? Yes, a car cover *can* make microscratches in your paint *if* there is dirt in either the cover or on the paint, or both. That's why you use the CCD first.

Have you researched the California Car Duster or what? Many, many, many, many professional and enthusiast detailers I know and talk to use it, and if used properly it will NOT harm your paint. By using it properly I mean both as far as technique goes, and as far as knowing what kind of dirt it can be used safely on.

Did I say that MANY professional detailers I know use it? Oh, actually, I think I did...

Here's a direct quote from a gentleman on Autopia.org who knows his stuff:

"I'll cast another vote for the "dirtier it gets the better it works" side. I'm sure there is a point where it stops working, but mine continues to work great and it looks awful. I continue to watch very, very carefullly in good light to see if it adds any scratching and I've never caught it doing so - not even once. That is more than I can say for any other detailing step that touches the car with anything. (I've seen a microscratch go in while QD'ing with a clean MF after a fresh wash and wax - just by encountering a microscopic particle - may have fallen out of the air - and dragging it along. ) But I've never seen the CCD scratch."

For what it's worth, words cannot describe his cars. He keeps them so incredibly clean you'd be amazed. He owns a 2001 Porsche 996TT, and a 2000 M5.

Just stand with a gun under the tree and watch out for the birds ;)

Ben, that's all well and good, but I tend to believe that the duster may scratch the paint. Maybe not more than any other process, but by its nature dragging a silicone edge over the paint is bound to grab particles of abrasives.

stjobs

Originally posted by stjobs
Ben, that's all well and good, but I tend to believe that the duster may scratch the paint. Maybe not more than any other process, but by its nature dragging a silicone edge over the paint is bound to grab particles of abrasives.

stjobs

You're getting the California Car Duster (CCD) confused with the California Water Blade (CWB).

Originally posted by Ben Carufel
Here's a direct quote from a gentleman on Autopia.org who knows his stuff:

"I'll cast another vote for the "dirtier it gets the better it works" side. I'm sure there is a point where it stops working, but mine continues to work great and it looks awful. I continue to watch very, very carefullly in good light to see if it adds any scratching and I've never caught it doing so - not even once. That is more than I can say for any other detailing step that touches the car with anything. (I've seen a microscratch go in while QD'ing with a clean MF after a fresh wash and wax - just by encountering a microscopic particle - may have fallen out of the air - and dragging it along. ) But I've never seen the CCD scratch."

For what it's worth, words cannot describe his cars. He keeps them so incredibly clean you'd be amazed. He owns a 2001 Porsche 996TT, and a 2000 M5.

Nice work Ben, I was gonna quote the same guy from autopia myself, but I see you had the right idea! :wave:

Ben is absolutely correct, IF you know how AND when to use a CCD, it will NOT scratch your paint. Trust me... This comes from the most anal of cosmos black M3 owners....quite possibly the most unforgiving color ever painted on a car. I use a CCD and QD as a regular part of my summer wash routine.