Kotsios
New member
Are they safe for a fine paint finish or am I asking for trouble?
California duster?
- Thread starter Kotsios
- Start date
Dan
Well-known member
Just as safe as a tunnel wash. If there is no dirt on your paint or on the duster you won't get scratches. Otherwise you will be dragging dirt on paint. Some people do OK with them but you will likely cause marring. Lots of previous threads discuss this to death.
togwt
The Old Grey Whistle Test
It’s been so long that the search button has been used on a detailing forum that it’s a candidate for an endangered species list, someone should post a ‘How-to’ to explain its function
Using a California (or other) Duster to remove light surface dust is a lot like Marmite, some love it, others will not touch it ;-)
Removing Dust from a Paint Surface
These methodologies / products would apply to most forms of dust (Pollen, Sand, Ash, etc) Road dust or just the accumulation of dust from storage needs to be removed safely to avoid imparting scratches to the paint surface.
Dust will settle on your paint, if your vehicle is driven, dust is a fact of life that’s unavoidable. However if your paint is properly cared for, and the correct removal methods are used it will look better than any vehicle that is neglected
One of the first rules of paint care (especially noticeable with dark colours); the less you touch the paint surface; the less you’ll scratch it. Use an open-ended hose and rinse with capacious amounts of clean water and blot dry surfaces with a waffle weave towel. You may need to follow with a clean micro fibre towel and a detail spray (QD) and gently wipe off any streaks
It important to use these methodologies only for the removal of dry surface dust, don’t use if surface has condensation or dew, or if the vehicle has oily road film, road tar, damp pollen or dust, etc in these instances the vehicle surface should be subjected to a conventional wash or Optimum (OPT) No Rinse Wash™ & Shine New Formula (ONR) car washing process
If you don’t have time for a two-bucket wash, then use a 1:20 Optimum (OPT) No Rinse Wash™ & Shine New Formula (ONR) / distilled water solution in a fine mist spray bottle.
The surfactants it contains encapsulate dry surface dust, pollen or light dirt particles making them virtually non-abrasive and it can be used without causing scratches. Apply with a long nap 100% cotton micro fibre towel using very little surface pressure, dusting with long strokes in one direction only
Heavy Dust
To remove heavy dust use Optimum (OPT) No Rinse Wash™ & Shine New Formula (ONR) a quick ‘wash’; formulated with surfactants to keep dirt in suspension, avoiding surface contact, it also provides surface lubrication, thereby avoiding surface marring. Alternatively use Optimum Instant Detailer - this formulation penetrates and encapsulates light dust (including pollen) dirt, and grime, allowing for their removal without scratching or dulling the surface. As soon as is practical, thoroughly rinse the vehicle with a hose and clean water to ensure all the pollen is removed.
Light Surface Dust
To remove light, dry surface dust without causing scratches apply very little surface pressure, use a California Ultimate Premium Car Duster (this duster uses 100% cotton fibres impregnated with paraffin wax to collect dust) this product is like Marmite, you either love or hate it, I've been using them for ten years or more without any paint surface problems (including Concours d’élégance events); having said that it’s all in the method you use.
Or the Zymol® Natural Wool Duster (that uses static to attach the dust to the fibres to assure that dust is lifted and removed, not just pushed around) or long nap micro fibre towel and Optimum (OPT) No Rinse Washâ„¢ (which uses a surfactant to encapsulate the dust and polymers to ensure surface lubrication) to ensure the dust lifted from the paint surface will remain in the nap or fibres and not on the towel surface thereby avoiding surface marring.
Methodology
Using long strokes, maintain very light surface pressure and use in one direction only, this ensures that any dust is removed not just pushed around. Shake the duster occasionally to ensure any particles picked up will drop out rather than come to the surface while you’re using it.
Do not use these methodologies on a wet, damp or hot paint surface (soon after driving) as this will cause streaking?
Anti-Static - Static [the process causes electrons to be pulled from the surface of one material and relocated on the surface of the other material]
Static (friction) electricity is an occasional annoyance in seasons of low humidity, but is usually caused when certain materials are rubbed against each other. Using products that do not contain oils will help by not retaining dust. (this is exacerbated by the use of polyester (nylon) Microfiber) resulting in dust attraction to the paint surface. A 100% cotton micro fibre towel is inherently anti-static; as opposed to the static build-up caused by using a polyester Microfiber towel on a polythene clear coat
For reduced dust attraction use Finish Kare #425 - Ultra Slick Polywipe, they contain polymer for lubricity, anti-corrosive agents, UV inhibitors and patented anti-static agents that gently remove fingerprints, smudges, and other light contaminates and reduced dust attraction.
Use a long nap micro fibre towel or a California Duster to ensure the dust lifted from the paint surface will remain in the nap and not on the towel surface thereby causing surface marring. Shake the towel occasionally to ensure any particles picked up will drop out rather than come to the surface while you’re using it.
Using a California (or other) Duster to remove light surface dust is a lot like Marmite, some love it, others will not touch it ;-)
Removing Dust from a Paint Surface
These methodologies / products would apply to most forms of dust (Pollen, Sand, Ash, etc) Road dust or just the accumulation of dust from storage needs to be removed safely to avoid imparting scratches to the paint surface.
Dust will settle on your paint, if your vehicle is driven, dust is a fact of life that’s unavoidable. However if your paint is properly cared for, and the correct removal methods are used it will look better than any vehicle that is neglected
One of the first rules of paint care (especially noticeable with dark colours); the less you touch the paint surface; the less you’ll scratch it. Use an open-ended hose and rinse with capacious amounts of clean water and blot dry surfaces with a waffle weave towel. You may need to follow with a clean micro fibre towel and a detail spray (QD) and gently wipe off any streaks
It important to use these methodologies only for the removal of dry surface dust, don’t use if surface has condensation or dew, or if the vehicle has oily road film, road tar, damp pollen or dust, etc in these instances the vehicle surface should be subjected to a conventional wash or Optimum (OPT) No Rinse Wash™ & Shine New Formula (ONR) car washing process
If you don’t have time for a two-bucket wash, then use a 1:20 Optimum (OPT) No Rinse Wash™ & Shine New Formula (ONR) / distilled water solution in a fine mist spray bottle.
The surfactants it contains encapsulate dry surface dust, pollen or light dirt particles making them virtually non-abrasive and it can be used without causing scratches. Apply with a long nap 100% cotton micro fibre towel using very little surface pressure, dusting with long strokes in one direction only
Heavy Dust
To remove heavy dust use Optimum (OPT) No Rinse Wash™ & Shine New Formula (ONR) a quick ‘wash’; formulated with surfactants to keep dirt in suspension, avoiding surface contact, it also provides surface lubrication, thereby avoiding surface marring. Alternatively use Optimum Instant Detailer - this formulation penetrates and encapsulates light dust (including pollen) dirt, and grime, allowing for their removal without scratching or dulling the surface. As soon as is practical, thoroughly rinse the vehicle with a hose and clean water to ensure all the pollen is removed.
Light Surface Dust
To remove light, dry surface dust without causing scratches apply very little surface pressure, use a California Ultimate Premium Car Duster (this duster uses 100% cotton fibres impregnated with paraffin wax to collect dust) this product is like Marmite, you either love or hate it, I've been using them for ten years or more without any paint surface problems (including Concours d’élégance events); having said that it’s all in the method you use.
Or the Zymol® Natural Wool Duster (that uses static to attach the dust to the fibres to assure that dust is lifted and removed, not just pushed around) or long nap micro fibre towel and Optimum (OPT) No Rinse Washâ„¢ (which uses a surfactant to encapsulate the dust and polymers to ensure surface lubrication) to ensure the dust lifted from the paint surface will remain in the nap or fibres and not on the towel surface thereby avoiding surface marring.
Methodology
Using long strokes, maintain very light surface pressure and use in one direction only, this ensures that any dust is removed not just pushed around. Shake the duster occasionally to ensure any particles picked up will drop out rather than come to the surface while you’re using it.
Do not use these methodologies on a wet, damp or hot paint surface (soon after driving) as this will cause streaking?
Anti-Static - Static [the process causes electrons to be pulled from the surface of one material and relocated on the surface of the other material]
Static (friction) electricity is an occasional annoyance in seasons of low humidity, but is usually caused when certain materials are rubbed against each other. Using products that do not contain oils will help by not retaining dust. (this is exacerbated by the use of polyester (nylon) Microfiber) resulting in dust attraction to the paint surface. A 100% cotton micro fibre towel is inherently anti-static; as opposed to the static build-up caused by using a polyester Microfiber towel on a polythene clear coat
For reduced dust attraction use Finish Kare #425 - Ultra Slick Polywipe, they contain polymer for lubricity, anti-corrosive agents, UV inhibitors and patented anti-static agents that gently remove fingerprints, smudges, and other light contaminates and reduced dust attraction.
Use a long nap micro fibre towel or a California Duster to ensure the dust lifted from the paint surface will remain in the nap and not on the towel surface thereby causing surface marring. Shake the towel occasionally to ensure any particles picked up will drop out rather than come to the surface while you’re using it.
Bill D
Hooked For Life
With all the very recent, rapid advancement in detailing product technology, I'm really surprised no one has come up with a "better mouse trap" car duster. The streaking and marring fears would be better addressed so using the currently available one doesn't have to be analogous to being very skilled at playing a musical instrument in order for it to be safe.
My methodology so far is doing my utmost to barely touch the paint with it while at the same time still whisking away the dust. One direction only for sure and I *only* use it in the garage *only* on the very lightest dust. I wish I didn't have to do it so gingerly because it could be an even more time saving, efficient, and effective tool.
My methodology so far is doing my utmost to barely touch the paint with it while at the same time still whisking away the dust. One direction only for sure and I *only* use it in the garage *only* on the very lightest dust. I wish I didn't have to do it so gingerly because it could be an even more time saving, efficient, and effective tool.
Dan
Well-known member
Bill, you brought up a great issue. For dust, its likely fine. For dirt, probably not a good idea.
Bill D
Hooked For Life
Definitely avoid for dirt 
I'm going to revisit that wool Zymol duster eventually. I had forgotten about it. I'm still surprised there really isn't that big of a selection of "technologically advanced" dusters to choose from these days.
I'm going to revisit that wool Zymol duster eventually. I had forgotten about it. I'm still surprised there really isn't that big of a selection of "technologically advanced" dusters to choose from these days.Accumulator
Well-known member
Regulars here know where I stand on any such "touching the paint between washes", so this is just me being me...but anyhow, here are a couple of good-natured :boink: at my pal Bill's posts:
-Hard to perfect the realization of a concept that's flawed in the first place :think:
-If it's not causing marring, then there's no need to bother with "one direction only" :grinno:
Yeah, I know, people love the things, and "hey, it doesn't mar *my* paint!" etc., etc. And sure, you can get away with it right up until you don't. But IMO it's only a matter of time before there's an "oops!" that could've been avoided by simply not touching it between (regular) washes. What's your preference, a dustless car or an unmarred finish? How lucky to you feel? OK, cool, whatever works for ya....
Bill D. said:
-Hard to perfect the realization of a concept that's flawed in the first place :think:
-If it's not causing marring, then there's no need to bother with "one direction only" :grinno:
Yeah, I know, people love the things, and "hey, it doesn't mar *my* paint!" etc., etc. And sure, you can get away with it right up until you don't. But IMO it's only a matter of time before there's an "oops!" that could've been avoided by simply not touching it between (regular) washes. What's your preference, a dustless car or an unmarred finish? How lucky to you feel? OK, cool, whatever works for ya....
Bill D
Hooked For Life
Accumulator, I dusted the A4 before I even shaved and showered this morning.:nana: :chuckle: 
Accumulator
Well-known member
Bill D- Heh heh, why does that not surprise me?!? :chuckle:
OK, OK, I did the Tahoe's windshield right after bfast.
OK, OK, I did the Tahoe's windshield right after bfast.
Bill D
Hooked For Life
Had to check the Battery Tender on the deVille too. Eek ,it's been so humid lately, attempting to successfully clean windshields here has been fighting a losing battle. 
:chuckle:Accumulator
Well-known member
Bill D said:
Aw jeeze, I oughta put mine back on the S8..thought I might actually drive the thing but something always makes another vehicle seem like the better choice.
If I *WERE* a CCD/etc. user, that car might be the one to use it on; it just sits here clean but dusty until I wash it again for some little outing, then rewash and [repeat].
Bill D
Hooked For Life
It's in the very best of hands since its owner is the inventor of the non-marring wash technique! Gotta love an Air Wand, Master Blaster, etc-- sure cuts down on the drying!
Dan
Well-known member
Hey, that humidity can work to your advantage. I did 3 windshields with one Aquapel applicator yesterday, almost did 4 but felt I might be pushing my luck!
Bill D
Hooked For Life
That's pretty impressive, I normally can only get a windshield and a rear window and often have to use 2 applicators if I want to do a whole car. Of course, the humidity returned almost on cue a few days right *after* I reapplied the Aquapel.
Dan
Well-known member
Well, if it makes you feel any better, it was a smeary mess to get off. I probably used 1/2 a roll of paper towels.
Brad B
New member
Dan said:
That's pretty much my mantra as well. I have one and use it on occasion for garage dust, nothing more. Never a problem with a light touch.