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RX-8 Show and Shine Discussion of car care products and techniques

California Water Blade

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Old Apr 3, 2004 | 04:12 PM
  #1  
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From: Calgary, Canada
California Water Blade

I have been using this for 6 months now, and it's great.

However, when I pull my 8 out of the wash and park it for drying, nobody asks what the heck I'm using. And I've never seen another Blade owner. It's always chamois or terry towel.

Are people too timid to ask? Or am I a geek? Or is there something I don't know that they do?
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Old Apr 3, 2004 | 04:32 PM
  #2  
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From: hawaii, hilo
blade? how about i take a stab at it picture or even explaining what it is would help?

is it like a window wash thingy, you know the ones at the gas station.
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Old Apr 3, 2004 | 04:44 PM
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http://store.gaugemagazine.com/index...ROD&ProdID=302
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Old Apr 3, 2004 | 09:11 PM
  #4  
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I am sold. I am going to see if I can buy one of these locally. Very cool. I never heard of it before.
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Old Apr 3, 2004 | 10:52 PM
  #5  
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I use one too and love it. However, you have to be really **** about making sure you clean every inch of your car, and keep the blade itself free of any debris while you're using it. If you're not careful, you could scratch your finish.
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Old Apr 4, 2004 | 12:45 AM
  #6  
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i use it for other cars. Its awesome. But im scared to use it on my black since it might scratch and I dont wanna risk it. I also use the absorber. That thing is so awesome. Its amazing like the blade. If theres dirt or the spot is already dry, the cali blade will scratch. Kinda did it on my mom's accord, but i waxed it out. But FYI, its on sale at murrays for 10 dollars. I got mine for 17 at sears. JIP!
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Old Apr 4, 2004 | 06:45 AM
  #7  
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I use the california dry blade. It has a T thingy that is supposed to be more scratch resistant. I also use a microfiber drying towel. They work great together.
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Old Apr 4, 2004 | 06:54 AM
  #8  
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From: in the moment
Leaf blower and MF rag for cleaning up the various drops left over seems to work best for me.
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Old Apr 4, 2004 | 07:12 AM
  #9  
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I use one... works great for getting the majority of the water off.
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Old Apr 4, 2004 | 08:20 AM
  #10  
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From: New Jersey
Right now I use a Leaf Blower , chamois, Z6 (cut with 50% distilled water), terry cloth. Takes 10 minutes. There is so little water left after the leaf blower, I just hold the chamois by two corners and drag it across. After the Z6 it looks like it had the whole zaino treatment.

I would like to try the blade, even if I just use it for the windows until I can convice myself I'm not going to scratch the clear coat
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Old Apr 4, 2004 | 12:55 PM
  #11  
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From: b f e
i use mine all the time auto zone sells them they sell the 14'',wal mart sells the 10'' which i found is easier to use on the 8 because of all the curves. cuts dring time in half but still need to use a towel to get the spots the blade cant' .and always rinse the blade before you use it it makes it alot easier
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Old Apr 4, 2004 | 05:18 PM
  #12  
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I use the blade. You don't have to be **** about getting ALL the water off. As long as you get plenty of water off (especially on the hood, roof, rear deck, and windows), it makes it easy for me to use JUST ONE towel to go over the car and get it almost dry. I then let the car sit in the sun for LESS THAN 5 minutes before going over it with a second towel to dry completely.

The blade allows me to use fewer towels for drying and spend less time letting the car sit under the sun to dry. Most times, I actually don't even have to sit the car in the sun at all before drying completely with the second towel.

Don't be **** with the blade. Use it with light pressure and a light touch. You don't have to get every bead of water off with the blade. If you try too hard with the blade, you'll end up scratching the car.
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Old Apr 4, 2004 | 05:52 PM
  #13  
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From: Tampa, FL
I have the California Wiper Blade as well as the California Duster, they both work great. I'm worried that I scratched my paint previously with the Wiper Blade so I now just use a chamois.
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Old Apr 5, 2004 | 01:04 PM
  #14  
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From: b f e
it is sergical plastic it will not scratch your paint as long as your car is clean just rinse the blade before you use it .if it starts too drag rewet the blade
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Old Apr 5, 2004 | 08:18 PM
  #15  
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I have been using mine (blade) for over two years now. It is great. I follow up the blade with the microfiber towel and then I break out the leaf blower to get the water out of the nooks and crannies. I then touch up the whole car with the microfiber towels again.
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Old Apr 5, 2004 | 10:15 PM
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Hmm I just use the gas pedal. Once you hit 100 or so there usually isn't a drop left on the car. Especially if you stop fast and do it again.
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Old Apr 5, 2004 | 11:12 PM
  #17  
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From: Under my car
Originally posted by Potent
Hmm I just use the gas pedal. Once you hit 100 or so there usually isn't a drop left on the car. Especially if you stop fast and do it again.
And the wet nooks and crannies of your car are then filledwith a nice road debris mud pack.
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Old Apr 5, 2004 | 11:28 PM
  #18  
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From: Carmel, IN
I used to use the blade. To may times on my previous car I would ding the body with the handle trying to get water off smoothly. Patience isn't one of my stronger virtues. I now use the absorber (mentioned above) and then a micro fiber towel.
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Old Apr 9, 2004 | 08:51 PM
  #19  
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I agree this thing does rock. I bought it before I got my 8.... sad, I know I have had a few people come up to me and ask what the heck it was. Once I show 'em that it is completely dry in one pass, they're hooked. I was so impressed that I went and bought both the small and large California dusters. Which, by the way, work outstanding for REMOVING not just moving dirt/dust.
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Old Apr 18, 2004 | 07:55 PM
  #20  
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My girlfriend bought me the interior dash duster, and the exterior duster for my birthday. Like the blade, I can't say enough about the dash duster (haven't used the other one yet).

It's a great tool for getting dust off the interior, and not just the dash... with its pointy front, it goes into the speedo consoles easily. It's also good for the front console.

Last edited by Literatii; Apr 18, 2004 at 07:58 PM.
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Old Apr 30, 2004 | 05:41 PM
  #21  
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I use the blade and both dusters. They work great! Both of my cars are black. Just make sure the blade is clean and you wont have any problems.
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Old Apr 30, 2004 | 05:56 PM
  #22  
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I use two microfiber towels. One will almost completely dry off the car, but not quite because by then it's very wet and they don't ring out well.

So I use two and it's dry as can be. Takes about 5 mins to wipe it clean. The microfiber towel picks up all the water on the first pass, so I'm not going over and over the car repeatedly.

BTW, I picked up the largest size microfiber that my local walmart had, they're $6.99 or so each. I plan to get a third - that way I can dry with two, and use the third for the zaino gloss.
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Old May 3, 2004 | 10:34 AM
  #23  
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i tried the blade this weekend... it just kept sqeeking as i was using it.... i couldnt shake the feeling that it wasn't good for the car... i think i'm gonna return it, i already have a chamois, i might try the absorber next
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Old May 3, 2004 | 12:46 PM
  #24  
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From: Nashville, TN
I bought one over the weekend and used it for the 1st time. I really liked the way it did the windows and the roof, as well as most of the car. I did have a problem in the spoiler area on the top of the trunk. I did also notice the noise. I'm hoping this is a break in sound.
BTW after 3 coats NXT, and several coats of NXT spray way, after the water blade and a touch up with a large microfiber, my Sunlight Silver has never looked so good.
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Old May 3, 2004 | 12:56 PM
  #25  
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I just bought the blade today..I'm going to try it out tis'afternoon and will post on what i thoght too!
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