Which brand of Chamois is the best?

[Benny]

I made the switch to microfiber about a year ago. I found it absorbed water much better, quicker and cleaner than my regular leather chamois (1m x 1m from a leather shop). The only trouble was that being microfiber, everything that wasn't microfiber clung to it making it near impossible to safely use again. If you drop it then there's no way you can use it again. I have since moved back to my leather chamois. It takes a bit longer but the end result is pretty close to perfect. Perhaps the microfiber chamois is best stored in a glad bag where no grit and other contaminants can embed themselves into the weave. This is how I keep all my car cleaning gear now.

In the 5 years or so that i have been using microfibre chamois, I've never had that problem.
I just wash it and shake it and it gets rid of all the dirt on it.

[PT]

I use a waffle weave towel: http://www.waxit.com.au/products.asp?cat=17

Me too - I've tried em all, but this is the only one I'll use now.

[miata]

Meguiars have changed their tune, they used to say avoid chamois at all costs as they can hold particles of grit. I've stuck with that recommendation and still use nothing but very good quality terry towelling, washed without fabric conditioner and dried in a dryer. I still have never seen anything that comes close to doing as good a job. As for chamois, I've never seen a synthetic one that did a decent job and real chamois is quite difficult to maintain.
I'll stick with terry towel.

[TieNN89]

I use a waffle weave towel: http://www.waxit.com.au/products.asp?cat=17

yep me too

I use a waffle weave towel: http://www.waxit.com.au/products.asp?cat=17

thats expensive! $35, is it really that much better? I guess if it is its worth it

yep they are

I have like 3 of them

1 should do the MX-5 fine

[pcmx5]

I bought two microfibres from Waxit and they were "unfit for purpose"; they didn't absorb they just spread the water, no matter how I tried to use them. Not sue that they were Waffle though!1

However others obviously have not had that sort of issue and Waxit were very good in coming to the party with compensation.I buy heaps from them and have found them to be great to deal with but cannot recommend the microfibres.

I am back to using a synthetic chamois, Oates, and it does a really good job.

Peter.

[hks_kansei]

I bought two microfibres from Waxit and they were "unfit for purpose"; they didn't absorb they just spread the water, no matter how I tried to use them. Not sue that they were Waffle though!

the waffle weave is a specific chamois (drying towel they call it )

Normal Microfibre cloths are not designed to soak up liquid, they are designed to pick up dust and sh*t.


normal Microfibre cloths are great for applying and buffing spray waxes.

[Mr Morlock]

I think all the products do a good job. Keep your products clean and discard at right time. Modern automotive paints are fabulous - they are exposed to the full environment and most paintwork reasonably treated will last the life of the car. Pampering the paint is somewhat over stated by some.

[pcmx5]

I bought two microfibres from Waxit and they were "unfit for purpose"; they didn't absorb they just spread the water, no matter how I tried to use them. Not sue that they were Waffle though!

the waffle weave is a specific chamois (drying towel they call it )

Normal Microfibre cloths are not designed to soak up liquid, they are designed to pick up dust and sh*t.


normal Microfibre cloths are great for applying and buffing spray waxes.

I have been using microfibre cloths for a long while and think they are great for the tasks you describe.

Mine were microfibre drying cloths, totally different look, almost like s synthetic chamois, but just didn't work, you would have to have gone over the car about 4 times to do the job and even then there were fine water marks left,,the synthetic is a one go job.

Peter

[Benny]

I bought two microfibres from Waxit and they were "unfit for purpose"; they didn't absorb they just spread the water, no matter how I tried to use them. Not sue that they were Waffle though!

the waffle weave is a specific chamois (drying towel they call it )

Normal Microfibre cloths are not designed to soak up liquid, they are designed to pick up dust and sh*t.


normal Microfibre cloths are great for applying and buffing spray waxes.

I have been using microfibre cloths for a long while and think they are great for the tasks you describe.

Mine were microfibre drying cloths, totally different look, almost like s synthetic chamois, but just didn't work, you would have to have gone over the car about 4 times to do the job and even then there were fine water marks left,,the synthetic is a one go job.

Peter

Funny, but I have found the exact opposite.
The microfibre chamois pick up far more water for me that any synthetic chamois I have ever used, and are also better than real chamois.
A microfibre chamois is not the same as a microfibre cloth.

Another thing Miata, I have always found that any fabric put in a dryer with fabric softener starts to repel water, rather than soak it up.
Ever tried using fabric softener on a towel?
You can dry yourself faster just using evaporation!

[pcmx5]

Mine were Aquatouch Microfibre Chamois; I should have bought the waffle one obviously!!!!

I use the microfibre wash from Waxit with great success, brings the pile back to like new on all my polishing cloths and avoids what Benny describes.

Peter

[Tezzax5]

Another thing Miata, I have always found that any fabric put in a dryer with fabric softener starts to repel water, rather than soak it up.
Ever tried using fabric softener on a towel?
You can dry yourself faster just using evaporation

I also use Terry Towel on my cars and while you are 100% right about fabric softener but i get the feeling Miata is using a little white vinegar in the final rinse(thats what the hotels do for soft fluffy towels )
Something else that everyone here seems to be overlooking is the difference in hardness of water across the country.
As for knowledge on the subject,i was employed by CUB to test and run the demineralisation plant for the brewery when it was in Fortitude Valley.
1...Water Hardness
2..Strength of detergent
3..Residual detergent (on car and Chamois)
4..How well has the drying equipment been looked after (towel,Chamois,etc)
There really is no one best method or product just the one that works for you..

let the flaming begin

tezza

[grazza]

I use one of these, a squeegee, nice and quick, $18 at SuperCheap Auto:



http://www.turtlewaxuk.com/prod.asp?Partcode=FG4746

Wow, I screwed up with this one.
Having used it a couple of times I really cant recommend it anymore - its crap.
I made a bad assumption and recommended it based on another, similar squeegee I used, which worked well as it had 2 channels to grab the water, which I have now gone back to. With just the single blade the Turtle Wax one leaves too much water behind.

This one does work well, with a cloth to finish off:

[Benny]

Did you know that you can use water, yes, WATER to dry your car?
And it does a pretty good job too.

It only works if you have wax on the car though.

What you do is to wash and rinse your car as normal, then, take off the hose head and starting from the roof, let the water go smoothly over the bodywork avoiding any spraying.
You will see the water running off the roof and coagulating together and running off the body work, leaving a dry surface behind it.
The surface tension of the water is what is doing the work by gathering up all the little droplets and turning them into a river which leaves a dry surface behind it.
You'll still need to go over it with a good chamois or towel afterwards, but the water will do about 90% of the job for you.

[pcmx5]

Benny's right on the money there, that is the way all the apprentices are taught to prepare for the final finish at the TAFE I used to work for.Only problem is that in Geelong( and Melb., I think) you can only wash at commercial washes and I cannot do this like I used to do at home.

By the way, Benny I have purchased a waffle towel on the forums advice and await a trial!!

Peter

[Steampunk]

Just washed my car and the brand I have is Aion and the chamois is called "Plas Chamois" and its synthetic (made in Japan).
Perhaps not the best, but I have no complaints whatsoever. Can't remember how much it costs from either Autobarn or Supercheap years ago.

Used a cheap Kenco and threw it away after 5 or so uses. The top-of-the-range Kenco ones looks the goods though.

Used a good leather one ages ago and it was great for several uses, but as Benny states, it dries up and becomes useless after a short time.