Ty
05-03-2009, 11:05 PM
A sound understanding of the proper technique and the correct process will produce excellent results even with a mediocre product. A quality product used without the proper surface preparation or application technique will never obtain a satisfactory result. Using the proper methodology (surface preparation, using a quality product, along with the correct application technique) will ensure an excellent result.
Skill Level / Experience
Some methods described may be beyond the capabilities of the average detailer or enthusiast; in this case we strongly encourage the reader to consult a professional detailer or body shop concerning the matters discussed herein.
Liability
The writer assumes no responsibility, expressed or implied, due to misuse or misinterpretation of the information or methods used, or for any vehicle damage or injury that may occur due to the suggestions and information offered.
Product Quality and Technique
Proceed with this in mind; the products you use constitute a very small factor in the equation. Methodology and technique constitute 95%; the reasoning behind the choice of quality products is to eliminate any limiting factors, thus enabling you to place emphasis on technique used.
Aesthetics
The aesthetics- of a vehicles appearance is very subjective to say the least, the only best wax or sealant that really matters is what looks 'best' to you. In the final analysis it all come down to; 85% preparation, 5% product, 7% application methodology and the balance is in the ‘guy’ of the beholder
A Revolutionary Product
It’s a revolutionary product that’s not causing a revolution. By now, 15 years after a debut in Sweden and success throughout Europe, micro fibre cleaning textiles should have replaced most of the household chemicals that smear, powder, spray, and infuse almost every inch of the American home. Micro fibre cleans surfaces mechanically, not chemically, by scraping them with microscopic precision. And you don’t throw the products away, but keep renewing them with machine or hand washing.
“It’s one of the greenest products out there. From the research we’ve done, micro fibre cleans and removes dirt and bacteria with water alone. You do not need chemicals,” says Judy Klein, director of retail cleaning for Newell Rubbermaid, the $6.4 billion Corporation that in 2007 introduced a consumer line of micro fibre cleaning products.
For the most part, though, disbelief has stunted micro fibre’s proliferation. The claims of chemical-free cleaning are too vast to trust and too complex to understand for the average consumer and the products are too expensive to risk taking the chance. Because the term “micro fibre or Microfiber” is not regulated, quality products share the same labelling with much lesser quality ones, exacerbating the problem of trust.
Micro fibre definition
Micro fibre by definition (very small; involving minute quantities or variations) is not a fabric; but a yarn, that’s spun into thread, which is then used to weave a terry fabric. These ultra-fine yarns (twice as fine as silk and 100 times finer than a human hair) are made from various sources, they can be made from many different materials, such as a 70% polyester/30% polyamide or a natural material such as cellulose, a plant carbohydrate.
There are currently two countries that manufacture and export micro fibre towels, Korea and China. The quality of these products is dependent upon the quality assurance (if any) programs employed. More so than many car care products - you'll (usually) get the quality you pay for. Purchasing them from a reliable vendor is the safest bet.
Its scratch resistance has a lot to do with the way the fibres are processed and spun, there are too many factors to be able to say conclusively that natural fibres will not cause scratches and artificial fibres will. However, natural fibres are far less likely to scratch, flannel or cotton flannel is a very tight weave and it could scratch as it mats down easily, always try to stay with a terrycloth weave.
The first material used to produce micro fibre was a combination of two DuPont fibres, polyester and polyamide, which is used as the core and polyester as the outer fibre. No matter how soft it feels, polyester, being a plastic will scratch a paint surface on a microscopic level, which shows up as towelling marks, longer scratches than the usual small swirl marks or micro marring (to check for polyester content see burn test below).
The nature of this yarn is that it is an absorbent; the reason polyester appears to absorb liquids is the many thousands of micro fibres that collectively are encapsulating a lot of water. Once they become coated with detergent, polish or fabric softener, etc. they lose their absorbent ability.
The smaller the diameter of the yarn, the softer the fabric will feel, however this does not mean that it's non-abrasive and will not cause scratches (this softness can also be chemically induced).
Most micro fibre that originates from Asia and the Far East is fabricated from polyester or nylon by-products. Because the label says micro fibre is no assurance that the material is safe to use or that it is non-abrasive. The most important criteria for any fabric used on a vehicle surface is its quality and scratch resistance.
Regardless of material type or quality, a dirty micro fibre, or a 100% cotton towel will both scratch, micro fibre has attractant properties (that is dirt, dust, and various other substances cling to it), which is one of the reasons that it works so well, but it is also a reason why you need to be extra careful when using towels on your paint.
E-Cloth (Micro fibre)
Each cloth is made from multi-stranded fibres that actually absorb dirt and bacteria, locking them into the fabric of the cloth, giving far better cleaning performance in that they pick up more than ordinary cloths combined with chemicals which, rather than absorbing soil and grime just push them around the surface, leaving a residue that in turn attracts more dirt.
Machine washable over 300 times; dependant upon use, this should give a ‘life’ of three plus years of superior cleaning performance. Better for the environment as you don’t need harsh chemicals when using the e-cloth system saving you money by not having to use sprays and chemicals etc a whole new way of cleaning
Construction - micro fibre towel boarders – the of the advantages of a silk/satin edging is that they won't unravel when washed several times like a non edged towel nor will they cause marring of the paint surface, it also means that they will not snag.
Size - available in various sizes 16 -inch x 16 / 18 / 24 -inch, drying towels 25 -inch x 16 -inch being a usable size
Towel density - is a measure of fibres per square inch of fabric. The range for quality micro fibre is 90,000 to 225,000 fibres per square inch. The higher the fibre count the more absorbent.
Ratio - of polyester and polyamide blend; 80% polyester and 20% polyamide is typical (80/20) a 70/30 blend will absorb water faster. As polyamide is much more expensive than polyester, you can expect to pay more for a 70/30 blend.
Thickness - some manufacturers are rating the thickness of there towels by weight; expressed in grams per square meter or g/m2. The ratio of polyester and polyamide usually remains the same.
Things to look for in a micro fibre towel -
How many times the fibres are split - a higher split ensues you get a more effective cleaning towel. Splitting the fibres creates millions of edges that trap dirt and dust that bonds to the fibres and is not released until the towel is washed in hot water. Therefore, the dirt is not re-deposited on the paint surface.
How many times can you wash your micro fibre towel - the more times you can wash it the more durable the towel
Does the towel come with a guarantee? - This says the company is prepared to stand by its product.
When choosing micro fibre quality is very important, as a lack of quality inspection will result in variable results i.e. towels that will cause surface scratches, leave a trail of lint, etc. Micro fibre quality is very often reflected in the purchase price, best advise, use only high quality micro fibre towels from a reputable source. As with most things, you'll get what you pay for.
A good quality towel may cost more, but it will last longer. The most important thing to remember is that a good quality micro fibre towel will provide better cleaning results that ordinary towels or cloth.
Types and Uses for Detailing Towels:
General Purpose - a micro fibre towels with a standard terry cloth weave, a medium thick nap and an 80/20 blend of polyester and polyamide. Used for buffing paint, glass, vinyl, plastic and leather. Ideal for quick detailing (QD) this will be the most frequently used towel.
PolyFiber2 - DF Concours micro fibre towels, are very soft while having more bite and polishing ability than traditional micro fibre, it's 25% more absorbent using a 80/20
Polyester/Nylon micro fibre mix woven in Brazil with no generic polyamide (typically referred to as a Nylon by-product).These towels are finished and inspected in the USA under the strictest quality control standards.
Skill Level / Experience
Some methods described may be beyond the capabilities of the average detailer or enthusiast; in this case we strongly encourage the reader to consult a professional detailer or body shop concerning the matters discussed herein.
Liability
The writer assumes no responsibility, expressed or implied, due to misuse or misinterpretation of the information or methods used, or for any vehicle damage or injury that may occur due to the suggestions and information offered.
Product Quality and Technique
Proceed with this in mind; the products you use constitute a very small factor in the equation. Methodology and technique constitute 95%; the reasoning behind the choice of quality products is to eliminate any limiting factors, thus enabling you to place emphasis on technique used.
Aesthetics
The aesthetics- of a vehicles appearance is very subjective to say the least, the only best wax or sealant that really matters is what looks 'best' to you. In the final analysis it all come down to; 85% preparation, 5% product, 7% application methodology and the balance is in the ‘guy’ of the beholder
A Revolutionary Product
It’s a revolutionary product that’s not causing a revolution. By now, 15 years after a debut in Sweden and success throughout Europe, micro fibre cleaning textiles should have replaced most of the household chemicals that smear, powder, spray, and infuse almost every inch of the American home. Micro fibre cleans surfaces mechanically, not chemically, by scraping them with microscopic precision. And you don’t throw the products away, but keep renewing them with machine or hand washing.
“It’s one of the greenest products out there. From the research we’ve done, micro fibre cleans and removes dirt and bacteria with water alone. You do not need chemicals,” says Judy Klein, director of retail cleaning for Newell Rubbermaid, the $6.4 billion Corporation that in 2007 introduced a consumer line of micro fibre cleaning products.
For the most part, though, disbelief has stunted micro fibre’s proliferation. The claims of chemical-free cleaning are too vast to trust and too complex to understand for the average consumer and the products are too expensive to risk taking the chance. Because the term “micro fibre or Microfiber” is not regulated, quality products share the same labelling with much lesser quality ones, exacerbating the problem of trust.
Micro fibre definition
Micro fibre by definition (very small; involving minute quantities or variations) is not a fabric; but a yarn, that’s spun into thread, which is then used to weave a terry fabric. These ultra-fine yarns (twice as fine as silk and 100 times finer than a human hair) are made from various sources, they can be made from many different materials, such as a 70% polyester/30% polyamide or a natural material such as cellulose, a plant carbohydrate.
There are currently two countries that manufacture and export micro fibre towels, Korea and China. The quality of these products is dependent upon the quality assurance (if any) programs employed. More so than many car care products - you'll (usually) get the quality you pay for. Purchasing them from a reliable vendor is the safest bet.
Its scratch resistance has a lot to do with the way the fibres are processed and spun, there are too many factors to be able to say conclusively that natural fibres will not cause scratches and artificial fibres will. However, natural fibres are far less likely to scratch, flannel or cotton flannel is a very tight weave and it could scratch as it mats down easily, always try to stay with a terrycloth weave.
The first material used to produce micro fibre was a combination of two DuPont fibres, polyester and polyamide, which is used as the core and polyester as the outer fibre. No matter how soft it feels, polyester, being a plastic will scratch a paint surface on a microscopic level, which shows up as towelling marks, longer scratches than the usual small swirl marks or micro marring (to check for polyester content see burn test below).
The nature of this yarn is that it is an absorbent; the reason polyester appears to absorb liquids is the many thousands of micro fibres that collectively are encapsulating a lot of water. Once they become coated with detergent, polish or fabric softener, etc. they lose their absorbent ability.
The smaller the diameter of the yarn, the softer the fabric will feel, however this does not mean that it's non-abrasive and will not cause scratches (this softness can also be chemically induced).
Most micro fibre that originates from Asia and the Far East is fabricated from polyester or nylon by-products. Because the label says micro fibre is no assurance that the material is safe to use or that it is non-abrasive. The most important criteria for any fabric used on a vehicle surface is its quality and scratch resistance.
Regardless of material type or quality, a dirty micro fibre, or a 100% cotton towel will both scratch, micro fibre has attractant properties (that is dirt, dust, and various other substances cling to it), which is one of the reasons that it works so well, but it is also a reason why you need to be extra careful when using towels on your paint.
E-Cloth (Micro fibre)
Each cloth is made from multi-stranded fibres that actually absorb dirt and bacteria, locking them into the fabric of the cloth, giving far better cleaning performance in that they pick up more than ordinary cloths combined with chemicals which, rather than absorbing soil and grime just push them around the surface, leaving a residue that in turn attracts more dirt.
Machine washable over 300 times; dependant upon use, this should give a ‘life’ of three plus years of superior cleaning performance. Better for the environment as you don’t need harsh chemicals when using the e-cloth system saving you money by not having to use sprays and chemicals etc a whole new way of cleaning
Construction - micro fibre towel boarders – the of the advantages of a silk/satin edging is that they won't unravel when washed several times like a non edged towel nor will they cause marring of the paint surface, it also means that they will not snag.
Size - available in various sizes 16 -inch x 16 / 18 / 24 -inch, drying towels 25 -inch x 16 -inch being a usable size
Towel density - is a measure of fibres per square inch of fabric. The range for quality micro fibre is 90,000 to 225,000 fibres per square inch. The higher the fibre count the more absorbent.
Ratio - of polyester and polyamide blend; 80% polyester and 20% polyamide is typical (80/20) a 70/30 blend will absorb water faster. As polyamide is much more expensive than polyester, you can expect to pay more for a 70/30 blend.
Thickness - some manufacturers are rating the thickness of there towels by weight; expressed in grams per square meter or g/m2. The ratio of polyester and polyamide usually remains the same.
Things to look for in a micro fibre towel -
How many times the fibres are split - a higher split ensues you get a more effective cleaning towel. Splitting the fibres creates millions of edges that trap dirt and dust that bonds to the fibres and is not released until the towel is washed in hot water. Therefore, the dirt is not re-deposited on the paint surface.
How many times can you wash your micro fibre towel - the more times you can wash it the more durable the towel
Does the towel come with a guarantee? - This says the company is prepared to stand by its product.
When choosing micro fibre quality is very important, as a lack of quality inspection will result in variable results i.e. towels that will cause surface scratches, leave a trail of lint, etc. Micro fibre quality is very often reflected in the purchase price, best advise, use only high quality micro fibre towels from a reputable source. As with most things, you'll get what you pay for.
A good quality towel may cost more, but it will last longer. The most important thing to remember is that a good quality micro fibre towel will provide better cleaning results that ordinary towels or cloth.
Types and Uses for Detailing Towels:
General Purpose - a micro fibre towels with a standard terry cloth weave, a medium thick nap and an 80/20 blend of polyester and polyamide. Used for buffing paint, glass, vinyl, plastic and leather. Ideal for quick detailing (QD) this will be the most frequently used towel.
PolyFiber2 - DF Concours micro fibre towels, are very soft while having more bite and polishing ability than traditional micro fibre, it's 25% more absorbent using a 80/20
Polyester/Nylon micro fibre mix woven in Brazil with no generic polyamide (typically referred to as a Nylon by-product).These towels are finished and inspected in the USA under the strictest quality control standards.