Limitations of Spray and Wipe

J

JeffM

New member
I am trying out Spray and Wipe without much success.



My car was washed 2 days ago, but it sits at a dusty place at work, off a dirt road, during the day.



The dust isnt really horrific, but there was a layer.



Anyways, with a big plush MF towel i went over my car. It seems to have left very faint scratches that will most likely come out with some Light Cut or SSR 1 or something.



I should have just done the hood, but it was getting late, and i didnt think the car was terribly dirty.



I made sure i used quite a bit too. About 2 oz for a 4 door, i assume thats about right.



Anyways, what are the circumstances when a product like this would be best suited?
 
I dont see a problem with it being dusty. In fact I believe thats what its mostly made for. I have used S&W when it has been past dusty with great success. 2 oz for an entire car is about the right amount. The only thing I can tell you why the scratches occured would be the towel. You definitely need to use about 3 towels to do an entire car. I dont think the S&W is what scratched your car especially if it was just dusty. But like I said check the towels as thats most likely your case.
 
Thanks for the reply.



I was using a huge drying MF towel from Walmart. The big blue one.



It doesnt scratch when i dry the vehicle?



I folded to a fresh side like 4 times for the car. I also started on the hood, on the right side, there is very faint scratches in it. Is it possible that i scratched into the 4 layers of UPP ?
 
Sounds to me that with your paint type and methods you were on the verge of needing a QEW or a traditional wash. IMO, it will take a while before you figure out your limitations with a product like S&W. Some people claim to use it when the car is filthy without marring, I am not one of them.



Using multiple towels helps tremendously. ALWAYS using a clean side of the towel on paint.



I think S&W is a great product, but it is all about using it correctly and knowing the limitations of the product in relation to your paint.
 
Let me say that I'm not familiar with S&W, so take this for what you think it's worth...



It's not the S&W and it's not the towel. It's the dirt being harder than the paint and the dirt getting moved across the paint without sufficient lubrication/encapsulation.



IMO there's just no way you can use a product like that to get abrasive dirt off paint without some kind of marring once ou're past the *very* light dust stage. And even then if it's the *right* (or should I say "wrong") kind of dust you're still gonna mar it. Once you press the dirt against the paint and then move it you're gonna scratch the paint. The dirt/dust/stuff just doesn't migrate up into the MF away from the paint before this happens.



Most people have enough trouble doing a *regular* wash without marring their paint....
 
I tend to agree Accumulator. I think the dust i pick up off the dirt road is different than the dust people get on their cars while going into the office.



I will try it again on an easily buffed area, but this might have to be for my wifes mostly garaged car or as a QD. But i have the spray and gloss to lol, what to do ....



On a side note but related, the trim restore is very nice :)
 
JBM said:
Thanks for the reply.



I was using a huge drying MF towel from Walmart. The big blue one.



It doesnt scratch when i dry the vehicle?



I folded to a fresh side like 4 times for the car. I also started on the hood, on the right side, there is very faint scratches in it. Is it possible that i scratched into the 4 layers of UPP ?
Click to expand...



I am not an expert but I think it is your towel. I wouldn't use a drying towel to pick up dirt. I have those great PakShak WW but I can't see them pickup up and encapsulating the dirt in those shallow fibers. Mabye just enough to catch what might be left over after a wash but that's about it.



I have used S&W with the original Eurow MF and now with the Micropak UltraPlush towels without any noticable marring. I use just two light sprays per panel (less is more). Let it set for 15 seconds or so and then wipe with a fresh part of the towel. A carnuba topped surface usually just takes about 2-3 MF. A sealant only topper seems to require more.



Aloha,

Robert
 
Actually the towel is the problem...I have bought them and tested them, and they tend to drag the dirt and Spray and Wipe around where a better mf cloth will absorb the dirt and S&W right into the towel and the towel should be turned frequently with little or no pressure at all. :) 2-3 oz is average for a car, but first time users do tend to use a little more until they learn a technique that satifies them.
 
Hmm, ok then, i will try one of my smaller towels that are better.



Thanks for the help, i really want to figure out this product :)
 
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