Product Review: Speedy Surface Prep Paint Decontamination Towel

[Todd@RUPES]

The Speedy Surface Prep Towel is a new take on paint decontamination. In the not-to-distant past, detailers and body shops used to grind off paint contamination with aggressive compounds, lacquer thinners, and other "aggressive products". Anybody who has tried to grind off contamination knows not only how inefficent this process is (and the fact you are creating necessary follow up polishing steps) but also how much paint or clear coat is needlessly being wasted.

Enter Detailing Clay, which first introduced in the 1980s, which offered a new, less aggressive, and more focused take on paint decontamination. Clay, because it floats above the surface, focuses its abrasion on the contamination itself.

The Ultima Elastrafoam Paint Cleaning system (and subsequent copies) replaced clay with a abrasive rubber coated foam block, which, much like clay, cleaned off contamination when rubbed against the paint. Compared to clay, this foam had several advantages.

• You could rinse it off after dropping
• It could be used over and over again
• Longer effective life then most clays

That new take on paint decontamination technology has led to our latest offering, the Speedy Surface Prep towel.



More Than Meets The Eye

At first glimpse the towel appears to be nothing more than a soft microfiber that has been sprayed by some type of rubberized coating like plasti-dip. But this would be like saying that detailing clay is no more engineered than Play-Doh.

The black coating is actually engineered with polymerized rubber technology that, much like clay, focuses on abrading and lifting the surface contamination.






Procedure

Always inspect your finish first. Wash and dry your vehicle thoroughly. Then using either your bare hand or your hand placed in a plastic baggy lightly feel the paint. Using a plastic bagging will increase your tactile sensitivity. This allows you feel even the most minute contamination and can scare you if your paint hasn`t been cleaned before.




Use a high quality lubricant. The Speedy Surface Prep Towel can be purchased separately or in a Detailer`s Kit which includes the always amazing Detailer`s Pro Series Universial Clay Lubrciant. In our evlaution we found that the Speedy Surface Prep Towel works well with every popular clay lube. I used BLACKFIRE Clay Lubricant.

As expected, the back of my Mazda exhibited the most amount of bonded surface contamination. A few light squeezes of the easy-pull trigger coated the surface in sufficient lubricant.




Now wipe the towel across the paint with the coated side down. You can feel the towel work immediately as the rough surface created by the bonded contamination is quickly smoothed. This towel works FAST! Work lightly over the surface until it is completely smooth and free of surface contamination.




Dry with a soft microfiber towel such as my personal favorite: The Supreme 530.




The Speedy Surface Prep Towel certainly reduces the time needed to clay the paint as it quickly and efficiently removes contamination compared to most medium grades of clay.

No Marring


While the Speedy Surface Prep Towel reduces `clay time` considerably, does it create surface scratches and marring (as some professional grade aggressive detailing clay bars do)?

Here is a picture of my hood, which is mostly swirl free, prior to using the Speedy Surface Prep towel.




Misted with an adequate amount of BLACKFIRE Clay Lubricant...




The towel in action... I used considerable pressure during these photos in an attempt to gauge marring potential.




Wiping up the residue with a Supreme 530 Microfiber Towel




The end result was absolutely ZERO new surface scratches or marring marks.




The Speedy Surface Prep towel is a professional grade tool, even in the `fine` version sold at Autopia. You should always test an inconspicuous area first to make sure that surface marring doesn`t occur. This is true of detailing clay as well. The following tips will help you to prevent marring:

• Always break in a fresh (new) Speedy Surface Prep towel by using it first on glass, such as your windows. This will knock down any high spots that could cause marring.
  
• Keep a rinse bucket of water near-bye. If you feel any contamination build up or drop the towel, rinse it immediately before continuing to clay. Vehicles with heavy contamination will require more frequent rinsing.
  
• Use an adequate amount of high-quality clay lubricant.
  
• Rinse the towel and allow to air dry before storing.

The Speedy Surface Prep Towel is a new take on surface cleaning of bonded paint contaminants. With proper use it could save you time, money (each one is said to be good for 100 cars), and frustration.

[Reality33]

Thanks very much for the great review Todd!

I really can`t wait to give these a shot as it feels with these towels, with Iron X before hand, prep time will certainly be cut down quite considerably!

[RaskyR1]

Nice review Todd.

Any word on whether folding it has an effect on the lifespan ( I know you`re not supposed to wring it out)? I found it easier to work with when folded twice (giving 4 surfaces). I will flip it back and forth as I go around the car but that just felt more comfortable to me.....anyone else have thoughts on this?

Cheers,
Rasky

[mjlinane]

Thanks Todd!! Mine is on its way.

[landshark]

...Mine is on its way.

Of course it is. How many orders this week?
Can the Mods change your title to "Imelda Marcos of Detailing?"

I keed, I keed. I`m going to order one of these right away as well. Thanks for the review, Todd!

[ca.detailchick]

Thanks for the reveiw Todd.

Im not sold yet till someone uses it on a soft Honda or Toyota paint ,preferably black with no marring !

Thats what Im looking for.

[mjlinane]

Of course it is. How many orders this week?
Can the Mods change your title to "Imelda Marcos of Detailing?"

I keed, I keed. I`m going to order one of these right away as well. Thanks for the review, Todd!

Too true!!

[Pats300zx]

Can`t wait to try this. Thanks for the review Todd.

[tropicsteve]

if it makes claying easier, i like it !

[C. Charles Hahn]

Nice review Todd.

Any word on whether folding it has an effect on the lifespan ( I know you`re not supposed to wring it out)? I found it easier to work with when folded twice (giving 4 surfaces). I will flip it back and forth as I go around the car but that just felt more comfortable to me.....anyone else have thoughts on this?

Cheers,
Rasky

It shouldn`t have any effect on the lifespan as long as you don`t leave it folded with the polymer against itself while storing the towel. I use mine the same way, folded into quarters.

[Todd@RUPES]

Nice review Todd.

Any word on whether folding it has an effect on the lifespan ( I know you`re not supposed to wring it out)? I found it easier to work with when folded twice (giving 4 surfaces). I will flip it back and forth as I go around the car but that just felt more comfortable to me.....anyone else have thoughts on this?

Cheers,
Rasky

It comes folded. I would imagine that as long as it allowed to dry before storage and folded (not creased) that there should be no effect on performance.

[Addicted2Bling]

Great review! Got this on my wish list...

[triplejumper18]

Definitely an interesting product that may turn out to be great for those that clay cars often. Thanks for the review.

[Todd@RUPES]

Great review! Got this on my wish list...

When you get it you`ll have to let us know what you think!

[Yellowblaze2011]

I see a few people got this in the unboxing section, has anyone tried it yet?