Paul,Can you tell me about Scratch-X and Zymol?

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Jul 05, 2005 6:11 pm

Link must've been down earlier. Works perfectly now.

They are showing about five or six different cloths. The microfiber and the terrycloth I would stay away from. I notice they have cotton flannel ones. These are similar to the factory RIC cloths in construction (without the logo and without the chemical treatment). They also have four-ply and one cloth with terry on one side and shear on the other. These are all good!

I'm going to evaluate microfiber cloths; haven't used them yet but my paint supplier is raving about them. Word in a couple of weeks.

redvette · Post by **redvette** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 3:46 am

Paul -- I am a car detailing hobbyist and I can tell you that the right microfiber cloths are far better than any towel or diaper for leaving a clean and "un swirled" surface.

I use microfiber on everything, but ESPECIALLY on delicate surfaces like guitars and basses. MF is the only thing to use on sunglasses or specs.

Try one of the car detailing websites or forums and can find what to look for in microfiber to get the best result.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 5:56 am

Thanks very much, Richard.

Well, you've heard it from someone who knows!

I'm going to try microfiber and probably switch over.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:03 am

I meant to mention--one of the things about diapers that is a big plus is the fact that you can load them up in a small area with compound when you're rubbing out and detailing a surface, leaving the surface absolutely scratch- and swirl-free.

I just completed a JG refinish last night (David Blair's), using my usual method of rubbing with compound, Scratch-X and then Zymol. The result was a perfect (and I mean perfect) wet look; like a black mirror. It sheds fingerprints and when they do happen they wipe away easily: no stickiness or greasy residue.

My point here is that if a microfiber cloth can do this too, then it's great. You can't get better than perfect. So I'll also be seeing if a microfiber cloth can be loaded up with compound as well as a diaper. It's always great to have two methods on hand.

kalimusic · Post by **kalimusic** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:30 am

Paul,
what's your (favorite,cheap) source for SrcatchX and Zymol?

kalimusic · Post by **kalimusic** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:34 am

PS. I like diapers much better than MF for various, including moral, reasons. And they do work very well on sunglasses and my reading spex, too. And you can blow your nose in them, and you can wipe up spills with them and you can wash them, etc., etc.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 6:37 am

Murali, so far the cheapest and easiest for these items is the Automotive Department at Target. They're about a dollar cheaper than the auto chain stores like Pep Boys and Kragen or Trak Auto.

redvette · Post by **redvette** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 11:41 am

Paul -- most detailers would not use MF for application of polish, etc. The MF are saved very guardedly for the hand buffing step. They are always washed and dried separately so they don't pick up any cotton lint.

One way to judge MF is the famous "CD Test". Take one of the AOL CD's (that you save for these purposes) and rub it quite hard with your MF. A good MF towel will not scratch a CD.

kalimusic · Post by **kalimusic** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 12:12 pm

UHhhh, you can WASH MF cloths? I didn't know they are reusable. That removes my moral objection. How are they on the nose?

oreca · Post by **oreca** » Wed Jul 06, 2005 2:26 pm

I know the microfiber sunglass bags that are standard with Oakley sunglasses can be washed with your regular load of clothes...

I really need to get Scratch X and Zymol, my 370 isn't as shiny as I know she could be!
I'm not even sure if I can buy them in stores here...

redvette · Post by **redvette** » Thu Jul 07, 2005 3:47 am

You can wash MF towels any way you want to, but if you are a really serious detailer, you wash and dry them separately to avoid contamination. There are people who will not even let the edge binding on the towels touch the surface they are working on. You can take anything to an extreme!

I have found MF towels to be the best polishing cloths that I have tried. Far better than cotton terry cloth and infinitely better than diapers.

clearblue · Post by **clearblue** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 5:11 am

So what is the definitive (brand) MF cloth for polishing? Meguiars has some.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 6:23 am

Like most stock items of this sort, a single manufacturer will make runs of the exact same item and brand it proprietarily. So you con't go wrong just sticking with name brands on this one--they will be similar or the same and backed by a responsible name.

I did try a MF cloth finally on Thursday--gave it a thorough workout. It's very good for polishing, but only as a dry or detailing cloth. They do not work very well to hold compound or waxes, as Richard noted.

I spoke to a very good old friend, who paints million-dollar show cars for a living, and he verified my findings. He only uses them for one thing--wiping down a car with detailing spray.

So I'm adding them to the polishing arsenal, but sticking to the diapers for everything else. The issue of edge binding touching the surface is a valid one. The rolled and stiched edge concentrates pressure and can seriously scratch a perfectly glossy surface, necessitating re-buffing. In this case, I don't think it's extreme to cut these bound edges off with pinking shears.

(I just completed filming a segment of my online finishing class in which I yak yak yak about exactly this topic. The camera crew told me I must have a diaper fetish. I responded that if they'd changed as many diapers as I in their lifetimes, fetish would be the furthest thing from their minds...)

admin · Post by **admin** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 9:24 am

I guess that pretty much gets to the bottom of things Paul.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Jul 09, 2005 10:59 am

No butts about it.