The Absorber is better than a Waffle Weave

K

KITT

New member
Before I got into detailing my own car, I heard the waffle weave is the way to go. However I bought both and it doesn't dry a car like the Absorber does. The Absorber dries the car to a squeak while my Meguiars Waffle Weave just leaves wet streaks on the car.

Anyone else have the same experience? Or maybe my waffle weave just sucks.
 
I like the absorber, but many others prefer waffle waves. The only thing that kind of scares me about the Absorber is the possibility is that if the car isn't perfectly clean it seems like it would be more likely to scratch. THat being said, I still use my Absorber every wash, but I doubt you'll find many others who do.
 
How many WW do you use? I used the Absorber and hated it. I flood the vehicle and then wipe with one WW and then follow up with a second to catch the rest of the water.
 
As PVA sponge "chamois" go, I don't care for The Absorber, too much drag for me. I do have some "dimpled" ("waffled" if you will) PVA sponge "chamois" that I do like.



I still prefer WW mf. I haven't had any streaking problems with Meg's Water Magnet.





PC.
 
Devoted absorber user. I've been using it for over 10 yrs and one has lasted just as long, only reason i replaced it was because they came out with those cool new colors. Absorber works very nicely on inside of the windows even more so if you have a tint on the windows. doesn't scratch and you don't need to use any chemicals, wipe down with the absorber then follow with a towel --- no streaks, no window cleaning chemicals wofting onto your dash or other interior parts --- it's great. I do still use towels for door/trunk/hood jams etc.
 
Well, everyone has their favorite products. Personally I used the Absorber for several years until just last year when I decided to try a WW and I can definately say I will never go back to the Absorber. Using the nozzle off the hose method of final rinse, I can dry the whole car with WW no problem. My biggest gripe with the Abosrber was it always seemed to leave just a little bit behind.
 
I have used the absorber since forever, and never had any problems at all with it. I have mine since around '98, and still working as new!! And before that one, my mom use to have another one that lasted well over 20 years!!!! I don't think that will happen with a MF...
 
bjmiga said:
Well, everyone has their favorite products. Personally I used the Absorber ..[then]..decided to try a WW and I can definately say I will never go back to the Absorber...My biggest gripe with the Abosrber was it always seemed to leave just a little bit behind.
Click to expand...



Same with me.
 
KITT said:
Or maybe my waffle weave just sucks.
Click to expand...



:werd:



I've got the Absorber and all the Absorber look-alikes. I'd never go back to using them. After using my 1st WW, I was hooked!
 
I have both and teh longevity of the waffle weave seems to be a problem. Is it just me or does it seem like waffle weave catch threads easily?

The thing I like about the absorber is that when I'm done it goes back in the container and I don't have to dry it like waffle weave towels. Also the absorber is easier to keep clear of embeded debris.

Put I just bought a poorboy's waffle weave so I might use the absorber on the less delicate areas like my canvas convertible top and the bumpers.
 
A high quality Waffle weave that is relatively new blows away the Absorber IMO. Used to be an Absorber user.



However, since WW towels do not wring out as well, you may need 2.
 
I used the Absorber for many, many years. One time with a WW and I was hooked. WW's are WAY more absorbent. I use one to do my whole car without wringing it out once. Plus, I don't have to worry about scratching like I would with the Absorber.



Also, I have three different WW's. They are the Megs Water Magnet, Cobra Ultimate Guzzler, and the Griot's Garage WW drying towel. The Cobra Guzzler is definitely the best of the three. It's the most absorbent and the softest. Plus, it has silk-like MF edging and hand pockets on the corners which make it easier to handle. The Megs WW is definitely my least favorite of the three and IMO the least absorbent of the three towels I own.
 
I use the Absorber... never used waffle weave... don't see the need because I love the Absorber... but maybe I'll try one day :)
 
When the Absorber first came out, it was marketed by Speedo as a drying towel for comtetitive swimmers.:) That was at least 20 years ago.

Here's my problem with the Absorber: If you happen to miss some dirt or pick something up in it, the spongeness (is that a word?) of it pushes the dirt back onto the paint. At least with a waffle weave it can by drawn up into the weave of the towel. I use to use an Absorber years ago and now cringe when I think about how dirty it would get and I would just keep on dryin'.



An interesting test would be to dry one half of a car with an absorber, the other half with a WW and then take the towels and rub them on CDs to see if they scratched. My (limited) common sense opinion is that scratches would be more likely from an Absorber.
 
lawrencea said:
IMO the Water Sprite is better than the Absorber.
Click to expand...



I can't say I noticed any functional difference between the Absorber, the Water Sprite, and the Griot's ones (early and late versions) :nixweiss Kinda surprised me as I figured the different textures would make a big diff.



Some of my WWs *will* snag sorta easily, but I still haven't had to replace any of them yet and I bought 'em when they first came out.
 
Squeaking paint is not good! That usually means whatever protection was there is gone.



I much prefer waffle weaves. Products like The Absorber have no nap so there is no place for any dirt to go except back into your paint.



What you might want to try is after washing your car is to remove the nozzle and flood the surface with water out of the end of the hose. Most of the water will then sheet off, making drying a lot faster. Fold the waffle weave over 3 times so you can keep refolding it to dry section. I also use a second regular mf towel to get anything the ww leaves behind. Try that and see if it work better. :)
 
I am definitely a WW user. I have tried the Absorber and find it functionally great at "absorbing" water but the zero nap scares me. I have several Meguiar's WW due to their low price but I find their performance only to be average. They just do not compare to the extremely high quality of my Guzzlers (or probably any other premium WW). I highly recommend that you try other brands before you give up on WW.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top