proper use of a clay bar

[klc317]

Can someone give me some tips? I'm kinda leery of rubbing that hard clay on my paint. I do know that I'm supposed to keep the area lubed with quick detailer, but it still makes me a little nervous. Also, I assume that the car will need to washed after claying it, before waxing it, right? I'm dying to try out my new Zaino products and I've never used a clay bar before.

[SC/T02]

my advice is to not start. It is hard and not what needs to be done for great paint. If you do, follow the directions carefully. I think you mist the area rub lightly and even. I think it is like using a rubbing/polishing compound. If you buy Meguiars pretreat then the 3 step follow it with Zymol wax (Wal-mart sells it). That works better than a clay bar. It will eat your clearcoat if you do it wrong. And that will not be good on the paint.

[iceman]

* DO NOT * use a claybar on a hot car surface.. Get out of the sun, the surface needs to be cool. Also make sure it is well lubed, car wash soap mixed with water in a spray bottle works great. If you see your paint start to get cloudy, then the clay is coming off on the paint because the surface is too hot and not well lubricated.

For hard to reach spots, I've used Meguiar's paint cleaner (I think that's what it's called).. It is the first step in one of their multi-step thigns.. I'd call it a liquid clay bar alternative. It works well in taking the contaminants off the paint.. But just make sure you always use 100% cotton towels, clean, white whenever you do anything with your paint surface.. This stuff will also take off any mistakes you made with the claybar not being lubricated..

Just remember the few steps if you are going to clay...

First I highly recommend washing the car twice, and for soap, use dawn hand/dish soap. Don't worry, it won't harm paint or anything, but what it will do is eat off all of your old wax/polish. Once you are washed, rinse off the car.. no need to dry really since you will be claying directly after. Do your claybar, wash again with car wash soap this time, try it, and get on with the polishing.

There are some really good detail tips at www.zainobros.com and www.hcvind.com under zaino.. It's fine and dandy to use your polish of choice just substitute that when you are complete with their car preparation instructions.

[99GrandAMSE]

... with a car so new, I wouldn't bother with a Clay Bar ... a simply 'hand buff' or 'rotary buff' would most likely suffice!!

[iceman]

definitely not.... you'd be amazed the amount of junk on paint on even a new car. Rotary buffers / etc are just gonna swish that around and make some nice swirl marks :)

[99GrandAMSE]

Originally posted by iceman
definitely not.... you'd be amazed the amount of junk on paint on even a new car. Rotary buffers / etc are just gonna swish that around and make some nice swirl marks :)

... gonna 'agree to disagree' on this one bud as I have seen results of clay bar over the years which are generally no better than the ones I can produce by hand or with a rotary/orbital buffer :)

[99GrandAMSE]

Not intended to sound like I'm bragging, but, if you want a 'red' car to shine any better than this, you are expecting too much ...

[iceman]

Originally posted by 99grandamse
... gonna 'agree to disagree' on this one bud as I have seen results of clay bar over the years which are generally no better than the ones I can produce by hand or with a rotary/orbital buffer :)

Fair enough :agree:

[klc317]

Well, I guess I could try a spot on my old Ranger (its an '88 that is silver with black along the bottom 2-tone) The paint on it is still in pretty good shape, but I'd rather try on it than I would on my new GA. I'll try it out tomorrow...its supposed to be nice here. The Ranger needs a good coat of wax anyway, the GA has a fresh coat.

[Artic]

I clayed my car this past weekend it turned out great.As most of ya know my car is white.The winter is not very kind at all to me :lol:So thru the week I washed it a few times scrubbing it more each time.Then the weekend came I washed it twice pulled it into the garage let it dry and cool and clayed it.It turned out just as shiny as it was when I got it last year I was really amazed!I'll have pics up soon with my 17" enkei's and it all clean.