Enlighten Me About the Clay Bar

[llll1l1ll]

I'm planning on leaving the country for a while (11 months) to go to the Motherland and see my car's parents. However, she needs a good thorough cleaning, and it seems as though a lot of pros use a clay bar to remove that extra bit of dirt and give the car the shine that it deserves.

Anyway, how does this clay bar thing work? I know not to get the liquid kind, of course. But, where and when do I use it? How do I use it? Before or after I wax the car? Do I wax the car before, then after? I know to clean the car first, but then use the clay bar while the car is still wet?

How does the clay bar even work, and is it even worth it?

I figured I'd ask the only trustworthy people out there...

[JasonC]

Why is Germany called the Motherland now? I thought it was the Fatherland? Anyway i took a clay bar to my black car. I did this, wash, clay bar, cleaner wax, then polishing wax. It's nice and smooth and has a deep shine to it.

[llll1l1ll]

Hmm... okay. Seems easy enough. I'll probably skip the cleaner wax, unless it is absolutely necessary.

There is not enough time to be washing and waxing here in NC because it is sunny, hot and humid 23hrs per day, leaving me one our of good, not-really-too-sunny and dry weather to wash and wax my car. I also do not have a garage.

Anybody else have any tips?

[td325ic]

Clay is amazing. It makes your paint feel as smooth as silk.

Read this:

http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-clay.html

Then download the autopia Guide to Detailing for other really good info on how to clean your car

http://www.guidetodetailing.com/articlenoheader.php?articleId=58

[Van Westervelt]

With the clay bar you need lube, lots of it. Usually like a spray on Quick Wax etc. Just dont let that dry. You dont have to push it really hard either. Wear some latex gloves, makes life easier.

Wash and dry your car.
Clay Bar your car, drying it with microfiber towels.
Polish
then Wax
or us a sealant type polish/wax

[juscool]

I use the claybar while washing my car. I soap one part of the car then use the clay on that area of the car and so on. Clay takes out slight marks, dried bird due, and elements embeded into the paint. Now after all that you can wax it.
Save money and clay your car instead of going to a detail shop.

[thereisnoyun]

Muhammad Ali

on the topic of clay

- clay was the invention of the japanese that had them win all the detail shows. Its basically a soft sticker that takes all the grim out of all the tiny holes on the paint work.

So this is the procedure

- WASH YOUR CAR - wash your car real good, you dont want your clay to to dirty the first 2 sec... oh and use a microfiber wash mitt, don't use a towel... and dry with microfiber towel as well...

- The Clay - dont clay too dry and dont clay too wet.

- Paint work cleaner - buff with paint cleaner

- polish - heavy grade to light polish

- finally wax - there is million different type of stage of wax, but for the average joe, lets just keep it general carnuba with a relatively reputable brand.

You absolutely need to get good wax, because after claying you are exposing fresh surface, some may have deep microscopic guages that you can't feel or see. If you let the weather do its thing, it will fuck up your paint more and more everytime. So you have protect it after claying.

But remember

Clay = remove surface contaminates
Paint Cleaner = cleans of the surface blemish for polish
Polish = remove scratches to swirl marks, and gives the final smooth surface.
Wax = protect your now clean and naked surface from the weather.

Detail shops charge enormous amount of cash for the work, but if you dont have the expertise and experience or the tools, your job would be very subpar.

[atomic]

It's a ancient chinese secret on how it works :p But they work awesome too !!!!

[llll1l1ll]

Hmm, well I read that first article, and I feel a little more confident. At first, I was thinking that I'd probably mess up my car. However, if I can wax my car correctly, I can clay my car correctly.

I guess it's just sort of "one more thing" you do before you wax the car. I suppose a sealant wax would be idea--then again, aren't they all sealants?

With a polish wax, is it necessary to use a buffer? I'm talking about a power-buffer here, and not my hand.

[DarkWing6]

Here is a quick run down of proper application of clay

1: Wash and dry car
2: Break off a piece of clay and work it into a patty about the size of the palm of your hand
3: Mist a little quick detail product onto the clay and onto about a 2'x2' area on your car
4: Rub clay back and forth and up and down (cross-hatch pattern) about 3-4 times over the area misting with additional quick detailer if it starts to dry out (you do not need to apply pressure to the clay, just guide it)
5: Pick up clay and fold contaminated surface into the center of the clay working out a fresh surface
6: Start back at step 1 in a new area unless a second pass is needed (if you saw a lot of contaminents on the clay after making the first pass a second may be necessary)


This process seems long and drawn out, but it is easy to do and should only take about 30-40min your first time and if you do it often it may only take about 25min.

[StereoInstaller1]

I find the clay works better if you make it into a gargoyle first.

Like this:

[llll1l1ll]

K, I'll break out my urn.

[thereisnoyun]

its true, but

gargoyle? I always make my into a t-rex.

good quality wax I all sealant wax, I wouldnt get low quality anyways.
Just make sure you clay very very well - if you try to polish without hte surface being very clean, you will be grinding the microsopic stuff into your paint.

for better protection try glanz wax.

OH and ALWAY USE A BUFFER - your hand is worthless, in terms of trying to do a professional job, its just not even and consistent enough.

This is all kind of a mood point for many... my bro is a professional detailer, so things are kind of black and white for me. You might be okay with a okay job, but just my 2 cents.

[mtechnik]

I luv zeee clay.!!

Have had good experience with the MOTHER's (brand) Clay kit.
Meguiar's aint bad too.

Good luck with "meeting the parents" :D

[DarkWing6]

Mothers clay is small and hard. PITA to work with IMO.