My first experience with the Original California Water Blade™ came while participating in the New England 2000 vintage rally, courtesy of Mercedes-Benz (ec, 01/01). Among the unforgettable characters I became acquainted with was Stephens Dunne, who drove a 1964 Lincoln Continental stretch limousine--suicide doors, warmed-up big block, adjustable-height air suspension and all.
Part of the daily ritual, after driving an average of 250 miles on New England's rainy back roads, was to wash the cars. About the third day, as Stephens and his crew were wringing out cotton towels in a valiant effort to dry the vast expanses of black paint and vinyl roof, the Porsche guys walked over and said, "Here, we want you to have this. It's from all of us." One of them extended an Original California Water Blade, as a lifeguard extends a pole to a drowning swimmer. I helped with the washing with and without the Water Blade, and I knew it was something I must have. Dave Coleman, Engineering Editor of sister magazine Sport Compact Car, also has a black, slab-sided car and washes it often. He is jealously protective of his Water Blade.
The Original California Water Blade isn't a complete substitute for conventional drying methods, but when used in combination with them, drying a car takes about one-third the time. Instead of using the chamois as a squeegee, wringing it out continually, it is used to touch up around the edges and in the cracks that are missed by the Water Blade. The car is dried by wringing the chamois once or twice. Since the chamois has to absorb a lot less water, it can be moved across the car faster, too.
The Original California Water Blade is made of medical-grade silicone, an extremely soft material, and will not scratch even the finest paint. However, if there is any grit left on the car after washing, the blade may pick it up and drag it across the paint, the same as a towel or chamois would. Also, the Water Blade must be protected when not in use. If it is crushed in storage, the edge may take a set and leave a stripe of water on the car. The Water Blade comes with a protective plastic case; I kept it for storage.
Like any tool, the Original California Water Blade does require a little bit of technique and practice. The first few times I used mine, it tended to chatter on the surface, resulting in incomplete drying. It turns out this is eliminated by using just the right angle and pressure on the blade. Smoothness can also be affected by the surface condition of the paint (wax, oxidation, etc.) and any coating, such as mold release, that might be on the Water Blade itself.
The Original California Water Blade is made by the same people responsible for The Original California Car Duster, which most people are familiar with. Any automotive photographer who gets to the shoot without a Car Duster kicks himself, because he has six between the office and his garage. The Car Duster has been a powerful tool in the hands of those whose end is car prettiness. Now there's another one.
