Just clayed my car...

[cleanerupper]

So I heard about this stuff called clay which has supposedly been around for awhile with professional detailers but only recently has become available in auto stores. It is supposed to be used in between washing and waxing to remove surface contaminants and caked on dirt. This makes surface super smooth to prep for a wax job.

So I picked up a Meguiar's clay bar kit at the auto store. It comes with detailing spray which is used as a lubricant. After washing, I proceeded to apply liberal amounts of the detailing spray and went over the whole car a couple times with the clay bar, including the windows. It made the paint squeaky clean and the window glass super duper glossy.

After claying I washed it once more then did the wax. The wax went on so effortlessly, and absolutely no dirt was picked up onto the wax pad. The clay completely removed all dirt. When done waxing the car was looking like it was right off the dealer's lot.

All in all I'm very happy with this stuff. One thing I must say though is that clay is a mild abrasive, like polish, and must be used with caution. Use plenty of lubricant (or detailing spray) and only do it 2-3 times a year.

Anyone else have similar experiences?

 

[aphex]

i'll pay ya $50 to do my car

 

[Triumph]

Absolutely, clay bar is the best kept secret in the car detailing biz. For your average condition car (i.e. not heavily swirled or having the clearcoat nearly gone), you really only need two things to bring back the showroom luster: clay bar and polish. Wax is supposed to only be a protective topper, the polish is really what makes it shine (although wax can give it depth). Try polishing after claybaring next time and you'll get rid of alot of scratches and other marks that you thought were permanent.

 

[cleanerupper]

Originally posted by: aphex
i'll pay ya $50 to do my car

hmmm :light:

Originally posted by: Triumph
Try polishing after claybaring next time and you'll get rid of alot of scratches and other marks that you thought were permanent.

I would but the only thing is my car is still semi-new and I heard most polishes are pretty abrasive, so I think polish should be reserved as a last resort. Is this correct?

 

[Tommouse]

Yea I spent most of this past Sunday washing, claying, polishing, glazing, and waxing. Looooooks faaaantastic but it took forever!!! Definitely took a while and will only happen a couple times a year.

I highly recommend clay barring welcome to the club

 

[ballmode]

Where can I get some good clay at a retail store?

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: cleanerupper

I would but the only thing is my car is still semi-new and I heard most polishes are pretty abrasive, so I think polish should be reserved as a last resort. Is this correct?

There are different levels of abbrasion in car polishes. I don't feel like searching for it, but over at Autopia they did a test where they polished a car every day for a month and there wasn't a measurable difference in the paint thickness.

 

[ohtwell]

I've never used those clay bars, though I have been tempted to!


: ) Amanda

 

[AdamSnow]

I've clayed my cars for about 5 years... It works great, but it's a time killer...

 

[Baked]

I need to pickup a clay bar kit this weekend.

 

[91TTZ]

The clay bar has abrasives in it also, just like polish does.

I bought the Autopia Porter Cable kit for my Z. And their wash kit.

 

[cleanerupper]

Originally posted by: ballmode
Where can I get some good clay at a retail store?

You can get it a Pep Boys, they have the Meguiar's kit and Mother's kit. Both of them are pretty much the same thing: clay, detailing spray, and a small bottle of cleaner wax. The kits are $20.

 

[Conky]

Clay?

Why not go with old fashioned polishing compound?

I'm gonna do the polishing compound and wax thing on my truck this week. It's an annual ritual that keeps "old blue" looking sharp.

 

[MazerRackham]

I first read the topic as "I just clawed my car" and I was like wtf?

 

[NaOH]

mother's clay bar, meguiar's professional series polish, meguiar's gold class and nxt synthetic wax ftw

 

[QED]

TTIWWP

 

[cleanerupper]

Originally posted by: QED
TTIWWP

I'll post some boobies if you want.

 

[Conky]

Originally posted by: QED
TTIWWP

Please lend me your decoder ring

 

[Trikat]

Unless you really care about your car, clay isn't worth it as it takes a whole bunch of time and is expensive if you get it done "professionally."
I'd just go with a wash and then a wax, but it won't matter within a week as the car will be dirty again.

 

[ruffilb]

Never heard of this "clay" stuff before. Thanks for the PSA OP.

Originally posted by: Crazyfool

Originally posted by: QED
TTIWWP

Please lend me your decoder ring

This Thread is Worthless Without Pics.

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: Trikat
Unless you really care about your car, clay isn't worth it as it takes a whole bunch of time and is expensive if you get it done "professionally."
I'd just go with a wash and then a wax, but it won't matter within a week as the car will be dirty again.

If you wash and wax right, just rinse the car off and it'll look like you just waxed it.

 

[Yzzim]

Originally posted by: ruffilb
Never heard of this "clay" stuff before. Thanks for the PSA OP.

Originally posted by: Crazyfool

Originally posted by: QED
TTIWWP

Please lend me your decoder ring

This Thread is Worthless Without Pics.

Detailed info on clay

I picked up the Meguiars at CarQuest for $20. Worked great.

 

[SZLiao214]

Originally posted by: Crazyfool

Originally posted by: QED
TTIWWP

Please lend me your decoder ring

this thread is useless without pics?

 

[cleanerupper]

Originally posted by: Trikat
Unless you really care about your car, clay isn't worth it as it takes a whole bunch of time and is expensive if you get it done "professionally."
I'd just go with a wash and then a wax, but it won't matter within a week as the car will be dirty again.

Meh, it took me about 20 minutes to do the whole car. Sometimes it's necessary to remove the stuff that washing doesn't. You don't want to seal dirt in to your paint with wax.

 

[hzl eyed grl]

I want to see before and after pics. Ooooh, maybe pics of the process too. It's interesting.