The differences between MF's

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imported_pdsterns

New member
I often read about this or that MF and how people like them or don't but my question is how can you tell them apart? People call them cheap, is there a $$ amount that needs to be spent before it is any good. I bought 2 for $5 at the local parts store, they are blue, 16 x 16 inches and nice and soft. They are a little thinner than a normal wash cloth with 1/8 inch nap on both sides.
 
I often read about this or that MF and how people like them or don't but my question is how can you tell them apart? People call them cheap, is there a $$ amount that needs to be spent before it is any good. I bought 2 for $5 at the local parts store, they are blue, 16 x 16 inches and nice and soft. They are a little thinner than a normal wash cloth with 1/8 inch nap on both sides.
 
This is a great question because with microfiber catching on, people can pretty much go to any store now and find microfiber. Does this mean it's good quality? Not always. Usually, and I stress usually, low quality microfiber towels will be 12 by 12 in size or somwhere in that range. While they feel very soft new, they don't after numerous washings. Here's a little test that I've done, and you can do it too:



Take your microfiber towel and get it wet with water. Ring it out until it's damp and hold it up to a light source being a window, a flashlight or whatever. Look to see how much you can see through the towel and compare this with other towels. It has been my experience that the cheaper the towel, the more you can see through it. This tells me that cheaper towels have less thread count, or are not as plush as the better made towels.



When I first started buying microfiber I really had no clue what it was all about. I started using microfiber from Walmart. While it worked ok, I noticed marring and linting from the towels. I began to research more about microfiber and I realized that not all microfiber is the same. I would say that if you go with pretty much any quality vendor, you will have good quality microfiber. Does this mean that you can't get good quality from a local store? No, but be careful.
 
This is a great question because with microfiber catching on, people can pretty much go to any store now and find microfiber. Does this mean it's good quality? Not always. Usually, and I stress usually, low quality microfiber towels will be 12 by 12 in size or somwhere in that range. While they feel very soft new, they don't after numerous washings. Here's a little test that I've done, and you can do it too:



Take your microfiber towel and get it wet with water. Ring it out until it's damp and hold it up to a light source being a window, a flashlight or whatever. Look to see how much you can see through the towel and compare this with other towels. It has been my experience that the cheaper the towel, the more you can see through it. This tells me that cheaper towels have less thread count, or are not as plush as the better made towels.



When I first started buying microfiber I really had no clue what it was all about. I started using microfiber from Walmart. While it worked ok, I noticed marring and linting from the towels. I began to research more about microfiber and I realized that not all microfiber is the same. I would say that if you go with pretty much any quality vendor, you will have good quality microfiber. Does this mean that you can't get good quality from a local store? No, but be careful.
 
I have narrowed my choices down to three vendors as follows:



Wayne's Towels for great inexpensive ultraplush towels.



ExcelDetail for mitts and edgless removal towels.



PakShak for high quality polishing and interior towels plus glass cleaning (ww) plus drying towels (ww).



I keep trying mainstream towels but I only have succeeded when I went to Sam's or Costco for cheapies. Sam's has some great blue cheapies.
 
I have narrowed my choices down to three vendors as follows:



Wayne's Towels for great inexpensive ultraplush towels.



ExcelDetail for mitts and edgless removal towels.



PakShak for high quality polishing and interior towels plus glass cleaning (ww) plus drying towels (ww).



I keep trying mainstream towels but I only have succeeded when I went to Sam's or Costco for cheapies. Sam's has some great blue cheapies.
 
I have a large MF collection , mostly Cobra MF products , love them they seem to hold up very well. From what I have read where the MF comes from (ex. China, Korea) has a lot to do with the quality, take a look at pinnacle site, they have new satin WW MF that I just ordered. Cant wait to see them.
 
I have a large MF collection , mostly Cobra MF products , love them they seem to hold up very well. From what I have read where the MF comes from (ex. China, Korea) has a lot to do with the quality, take a look at pinnacle site, they have new satin WW MF that I just ordered. Cant wait to see them.
 
As with most things, you get what you pay for, but there are some exceptions. Some of the vendors just charge a ridiculous amount for pretty much the same towel that you might get for much less elsewhere. Some of these suppliers may have more of a satisfaction guarantee which could offset the higher price. I think once you throw out the ridiculous prices, you really get what you pay for, no free lunch.



To get back to your original question, pdsterns, $2.50 buys a decent towel from a number of suppliers. Whether those you got locally compare--it's possible, or they could be completely inferior. You certainly didn't get a $4-quality towel for 2.50. The quality of the towels available at WalMart is continually improving; they have Microtex Professional Detailing Cloths that I would kind of equate to a $2.50 towel, but I don't know how they hold up to repeated washing. I think these are going for $1.50-1.67 each, I don't exactly remember.
 
As with most things, you get what you pay for, but there are some exceptions. Some of the vendors just charge a ridiculous amount for pretty much the same towel that you might get for much less elsewhere. Some of these suppliers may have more of a satisfaction guarantee which could offset the higher price. I think once you throw out the ridiculous prices, you really get what you pay for, no free lunch.



To get back to your original question, pdsterns, $2.50 buys a decent towel from a number of suppliers. Whether those you got locally compare--it's possible, or they could be completely inferior. You certainly didn't get a $4-quality towel for 2.50. The quality of the towels available at WalMart is continually improving; they have Microtex Professional Detailing Cloths that I would kind of equate to a $2.50 towel, but I don't know how they hold up to repeated washing. I think these are going for $1.50-1.67 each, I don't exactly remember.
 
In addition to the nap, hand, or thickness of the towel, you may want to check two other items:

1. The edges of the towel...I have seen some that were fairly rough and would probably scratch paint if any sort of pressure was applied.

2. The presence of a tag. If there is one, see if it looks easy to remove.
 
In addition to the nap, hand, or thickness of the towel, you may want to check two other items:

1. The edges of the towel...I have seen some that were fairly rough and would probably scratch paint if any sort of pressure was applied.

2. The presence of a tag. If there is one, see if it looks easy to remove.
 
The ones you get at a discount retailer are usally crap and do nothing but install swirls in your freshly polished paint. They are okay for interior use but most totally suck for paint. I've noticed the cheap towels have a completely different feel from the ones that run $2.50+ each. That doesn't mean that the expensive towels at the local parts store are good either, I've spent $5 per towel when I first started getting serious about my paint and they were just as bad as the buck a pop multipacks (3M I'm looking in your direction).



The suggestions Billy made are a good start, everyone has their preference but most of them will agree that the majority of "microfiber" towels at the retail stores aren't worth it. I'm partial to Pakshak. They offer a nice discount to autopia members and they have top notch service, ask Ranney at [email protected]



Things I look for...

Plush, and stays that way after repeated washing.

Good stiching & soft edges

Reputation of dealer

How well it removes product some are a little too fine to remove it efficently.
 
The ones you get at a discount retailer are usally crap and do nothing but install swirls in your freshly polished paint. They are okay for interior use but most totally suck for paint. I've noticed the cheap towels have a completely different feel from the ones that run $2.50+ each. That doesn't mean that the expensive towels at the local parts store are good either, I've spent $5 per towel when I first started getting serious about my paint and they were just as bad as the buck a pop multipacks (3M I'm looking in your direction).



The suggestions Billy made are a good start, everyone has their preference but most of them will agree that the majority of "microfiber" towels at the retail stores aren't worth it. I'm partial to Pakshak. They offer a nice discount to autopia members and they have top notch service, ask Ranney at [email protected]



Things I look for...

Plush, and stays that way after repeated washing.

Good stiching & soft edges

Reputation of dealer

How well it removes product some are a little too fine to remove it efficently.
 
III said:
Take your microfiber towel and get it wet with water. Ring it out until it's damp and hold it up to a light source being a window, a flashlight or whatever. Look to see how much you can see through the towel and compare this with other towels. It has been my experience that the cheaper the towel, the more you can see through it.
Click to expand...



Well I've got alot of wet MF's now (LOL). You can see a difference and the cheapos almost look like wet paper. The $2.50 ones from Meguair's seem pretty good even compared to the super plush ones from Autopia. I bought the grey ones from them awhile back, the ones that were seconds because they had 3 round corners and one square corner. I've noticed that the better they look after coming out of the dryer is a little clue. Those $1 ones end up all curled in the corners.
 
III said:
Take your microfiber towel and get it wet with water. Ring it out until it's damp and hold it up to a light source being a window, a flashlight or whatever. Look to see how much you can see through the towel and compare this with other towels. It has been my experience that the cheaper the towel, the more you can see through it.
Click to expand...



Well I've got alot of wet MF's now (LOL). You can see a difference and the cheapos almost look like wet paper. The $2.50 ones from Meguair's seem pretty good even compared to the super plush ones from Autopia. I bought the grey ones from them awhile back, the ones that were seconds because they had 3 round corners and one square corner. I've noticed that the better they look after coming out of the dryer is a little clue. Those $1 ones end up all curled in the corners.
 
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