Shammy good for drying?

Hi, I've been detailing cars for about a year and a half now, and my friend who taught me how to detail has always told me to use a shammy to dry the car, however I've seen videos of people like Paul Dalton and other detailers who use microfibers and towels rather than shammys, what do you guys think?

 

i like thick MF towels .. due to the fact if THERE is minor dust and dirt, it piles into the weave of the MF towel .. where as the shammy might not grab and trap the dirt/dust as well as the MF would .. my method of drying is using the flooding method, follwing up with a mini blower and MF towel

some people use both, some people just use shammy. some people just use MF .. its up to you

 

Not a fan of shammys, I personally like Microfiber, many others like waffle weave. It seems to be either Waffle Weave or Microfiber.

 

Waffle Weave Drying Towel. If you like, the sumptuous Drying towels are also available from PolishedBliss or Rubbishboys. Gloss-it has them as well, albeit a little more expensive.

 

I don't like them, but if you want to use one, the best is the P21S one.

 

I still have them. I use them to dry the tires so my mf's don't get black and occasionally the wheels as well although I do have a smaller drying mf for that purpose. An inexpensive, yet very good drying mf is the vroom from target. Once you use it and see how it holds water, you will never go back to a shammy again.

 

Chamois Leather:
Genuine chamois leather is a unique and natural product, which is extremely soft, flexible, and absorbent. Typically chamois leather is used to dry off surfaces after washing; this is due to the absorbency and softness of the leather, the particles are held within the hollow fibre of the leather, eliminating abrasion.

The chamois needs to be damp, but not wet to work, it is made by splitting the skin into two pieces; the selected sheepskins are 100% cod oil tanned to give the luxurious, golden, soft finish that can absorb six times its weight of water. Place the damp chamois flat on the paint surface and pull towards you

A Micro fibre chamois (woven in a very similar texture) is a machine washable alternative that you don't have to soak before use and it releases dirt, brake dust and stains much easier that natural chamois (Groit's Micro fibre Synthetic Chamois) doesn't dry hard, is very absorbent, easier to wring out and it will not `shed' and lasts longer and is less expensive than its natural counterpart.

The inherent problem of any flat weave drying towel; is that it breaks the surface tension to ‘lift’ the water from the surface along with any protective wax. Modem synthetic materials have gained ground and the use of chamois is being replaced by Micro fibre waffle weave technology as they hold more water (approx. 5 times more water, therefore require wringing out less often) and will not `pull' wax from a paint surface as the ‘dimpled ‘pattern of the towel allows air pockets that do not allow ‘lift’ like a flat towel surface

An extract from “Automotive Detailing Inside & Out; a Knowledge Base for the Perfectionist” © TOGWT ™ Ltd Copyright 2002-2008, all rights reserved​

 

I still use chamois to dry the car. I tot it was durable since my AG chamois it is still going strong after 100+ drying with extremely simple maintenance. May not be the best or safest out there, just my preference..

 

+1. Actually, +4 as I have four of them.

 

I just use the California Water Blade

***waits for it***

 

Awesome. :worship2:

 

Here's a tip for you I learned about years ago and have kept my chamois in good shape as well as ready to go at any time. When you're done with it (after cleaning it if you had to) wring it out really well and then put it in a zip lock bag. This will keep it supple. I have never had a problem with it getting moldy either. That way, next time you go to use it, you don't have to soak it and get it pliable.