I was in AutoZOne the other day and I saw somehthing called the "California Water Blade" which is supposed to be used for drying one's car. It looks like a specialized squeegee.

Does anyone here have any comments on it good or bad? I'm mostly concerned about preventing scratches/swirl marks, and I think a chamois or "The Absorber" may cause swirls.

------------------
Red 2002 Trans Am WS6
Red 1994 Probe GT
Red 1986 Fiero 2M4
Member, Michigan Fiero Club (www.michiganfieroclub.org)

 

Yes, it has been discussed here many, many times (use the search function) I have one and do not like it on the paint, but I do use on the windows. To me it makes too much friction on the paint, makes an awful screeching sound when I used it, I could not stand the sound. If you are a very good car washer and make sure you get ALL the dirt and dust off the car, you can use The Absorber with out marring the finish. I use The Absorber and sometimes an electric leaf blower to blow water out of tight places.

------------------
96 Black Impala SS
Authorized Zaino Showcar Polish Distributor
www.zainobros.com
Remember #3

 

My personal opinion is that IT SUCKS!! It does a lousey job and if you're not totally carefull, you'll get some crazy scratches on your paint. Stick with towels man, that's my $.02.

------------------
2001 Camaro Z28
Black on Black

M6

Front & rear sway bars
Subframe Connectors
Flowmaster Exhaust w/ Cut-out
Clear corners
Head/taillight blackouts(Copicers don't like these)
Air lid
Free Ram Air
Limo tint on the back window
Eibach Pro-kit lowering springs
Ripper Shifter
White Face Gauges

 

I love it although you have to make sure you wipe it with every pass or so with a towel. You also have to end the drying with a towel to get off the rest of the water. A Leaf blower is better but not always handy

------------------
***Authorized Zaino Bros' Show car Polish distributor***
george13@adelphia.net

 

I love it! I use it everytime I wash my car. It works really good at getting 75% of the water off. After that I go back over the whole car with an absorber. I've never had any problems.

 

Ditto what Tom said! I love the WB, used it for a couple years now and never have any problems with it. Great product overall, much like their Duster!

------------------
*Mike's 1992 Camaro RS 25th Anniv.*
Dark Red Metallic (ext.) / Flame Red (int.)
Flowmaster Crossflow, K&N, 20% 3M Panther Black Tint
JL Audio 3 10", PPI PC2100, Kenwood eXcelon KRC-953H/U, Kenwood / Pioneer speakers
Shine by ZAINO! - Special Thanks to Sal Z!

 

I'm with Kevin on this one, it's great for glass, but I don't really trust it on my paint.

Jeff


------------------
1996 Black Z28 M6; Stock.
1994 S10 4X4.

My Site

 

Me too. I found this to be the easiest, fastest, and safest way to dry the car. I "squeege" it off, get all the remaining spots of water with absorber or chamois, and then walk around the car for a few minutes after, and get the drips coming out of the lil crevises with a soft towel. I have a BLACK car, and I don't drive it with water spots or until its all the way dry.
It takes me about 30 minutes to wash, clean rims, and dry it off. Without the blade, I would have to take it to the carwash



------------------
TONEZ28 - 97 Black z28 A4
K&N FIPK-Flowmaster-TB Bypass-Airfoil-160 stat-cutout-

Best 60' : 2.187
Best 1/4 : 13.88@98.98 mph (with K&N only)

 

Same as Tom, Mike, and sfGi8nt. Yes, my Z is white which can hide a lot of evils, but do the same thing on other dark-colored cars I have with zero scratches. Water Blade works best on the flatter (top) portions of a vehicle, though.

------------------
30th Anniversary Z28, T-Tops, A4

Modifications:
JET PCM, GMPP CAI, 1LE intake belows, G2 air foil, BMR CM STB

[This message has been edited by 30thAnnivZ28 (edited March 27, 2002).]

 

it is good for gettin most of the water off he car quickly, but i still had to go back over the car with a chamois to get it really good.

------------------
**Onyx Black 2001 Z-28 w/ Ground FX**
Performance Mods:G2 air lid, MAF, skip shift eliminator, Hypertech 160 Powerstat, free ram air mod,k&n filter, SLP Hi flow Bellows kit, SLP Air Temperature Module, Lou's Short stick
Chassis/Suspension Mods: G2 SFC's, G2 3pt STB
Appearance Mods: RK sport carbon fiber letters/Z28 overlays & Nose Badge, Street Glow Accent Neons(green).
My Z-28

 

Using the Waterblade with an Absorber seems to be the best combo to me. I tried the leaf blower with so-so results. I tried using white cotton towels and got a bunch of fibers left on my car. Yeech!

I'll stick with the waterblade. I leave it in my trunk so I can use it after rainstorms and such too!

------------------
Chris™
<A HREF="http://www2.gvsu.edu/~stigersc/lakepics.htm" TARGET=_blank>'97 Cutty - "Pull Me Over" Red & "Gimme a ticket" Yellow
</A>