To "Blade" or not "To Blade that is the question

[BIRMA]

I have been using the same procedure for years using the Chemical Guys blade. It is obvious that if you don't clean your car properly in the first place by using snow foam and letting it dwell for a time then blast off the water a microscopic bit of grit could cause damage if a dry blade went across it.
All I can say is that I've been using the same method for many years on two black cars (one of which won an award for shiniest car) and the guy who does my detailing has never once said there are scratches on your car caused by the use of a blade.

 

[Malamum]

We tend to towel, actually ditched the old blade we had (it had been sitting in the shed for a few years by the looks of it). I am sure the last time we used it was when we had the MG.

 

[tbourner]

I have been using the same procedure for years using the Chemical Guys blade. It is obvious that if you don't clean your car properly in the first place by using snow foam and letting it dwell for a time then blast off the water a microscopic bit of grit could cause damage if a dry blade went across it.
All I can say is that I've been using the same method for many years on two black cars (one of which won an award for shiniest car) and the guy who does my detailing has never once said there are scratches on your car caused by the use of a blade.

It can be done as suggested earlier, but you have to be super careful: make sure the car is completely clean, make sure no dirt has dropped on it between cleaning/rinsing and blading, make sure you wipe the blade after each sweep of the bodywork - that kind of thing. For most people it's just safer to use a loose cloth.

 

[Jimmas]

Microfibre and a detail spray

 

[whitenemesis]

Microfibre and a detail spray

I use Meg's X-Press spray wax on the wet panels to help lubricate the microfibre and give a wonderfully slick and deep gloss finish on the ceramic coating

 

[MancMike]

I bought a super thick (it’s nearly an inch thick) microfibre towel for drying. It does the work of several regular cloths, although changing between multiple cloths is probably sensible too.

 

[JDL60]

It’s all about removing as much if not all the dirt before even putting anything near your paint...
Pressure wash
Snow foam
Rinse
Clean with ph neutral shampoo/sheepskin mit or microfibre, using 2 buckets with grit guard
Rinse off, either with pressure wash through water filter , or rinse then THICK microfibre towel
NO NO NO to blade or Chamois
+ quick detailer or similar when needed

 

[WOODYTHEWISE]

Get a suitable female to talk to the car for a few minutes. The hot air dries it a treat.

 

[stephenmercedes]

I've bladed my cars for over 40 years, ever since seeing how professional 'detailing' places did it whilst staying in the USA as a teenager (I'm quite old!). You just have to make sure that the blade is spotless, and every few swipes, just wipe the edge down with a cloth. I would not have the patience to dry a full car with just a cloth. And I've been using 'towelling' cloths as well for almost the same duration, as in the USA, they laughed at the use of an old fashioned chamois! (All that wringing out just isn't natural!). I now use Meguiars drying cloth which is nothing short of excellent...

Meguiars Water Magnet Microfiber Drying Towel

 

[wu56Shoozz]

Get a suitable female to talk to the car for a few minutes. The hot air dries it a treat.

So also does a Madras or Rogan Josh.. but its working in the smell that's the killer...