Alternative to Clay 'Bars'

S

Shftup

New member
Hey guys, i was looking for something does the same thing as a clay bar, but not a bar, like: http://www.properautocare.com/dispcl.html



Are they any 'other' solution out there. Or what would be considered a beginners clay bar - ie. something that you can use easily and have no or very little chance of ruining your paint?
 
Well, I'm a complete detailing n00b, and bought and used my first clay bar today.



I can't rave enough about the experience, nor the result.



It was incredibly easy to handle and use. I was a little anxious at first, but the process is very little effort, and just following a few simple rules.



I bought the Meguiar's kit - it was what my local auto shop had.



I used it on my dark blue 2003 Mirage (Australian model). Here was the process I went through:



1. A good wash (I used a Meg soft gel wash) with a MF mitt. Dried with a MF chamois.



2. Clay bar application. I only did my roof and bonnet, for fear of difficulty on vertical surfaces. Now I wish I'd done the doors too ;-). I had a few minor clay smears from where I hadn't used enough lube - but these all came out with the rest of what followed.



3. Meg's Paint Cleaner (called 'Deep Crystal' here in .au). Applied with a foam pad, removed with an MF cloth.



4. Meg's Polymer Sealant (also branded 'Deep Crystal'). Applied as cleaner, but with new pad and cloth.



I just went with the Meg's gear for consistency, and because I've been happy with their products so far.



I can't rave enough about how good my paint work is looking now. It's got a mirror-like finish, and is reflecting much more light back than it was. It also feels like clean glass to the touch; my hand glides over the paintwork effortlessly.



I can understand your anxieties about using clay for the first time, but I also can't rave enough about my first experience using it. Give it a go, I think you'll be blown away :-)



Cheers!

John
 
I also found clay to be extremely easy to learn how to use. I think that, once you give it a shot, you will never regret it! Megiuars, Mothers, and Clay Magic all make great kits that are available OTC.



I should also add that a lump of clay usually lasts me 4 full cars, while this product is advertised to do only two average-sized cars.



The "scrubber sponge" also seems like a potentially dangerous thing for your paint. I can easily see it marring your finish.
 
In case you're new to the world of car care, clay bars are the hottest new product to hit the market in nearly a decade.
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Clay has been on the market for a decade. They make it sound like it was just invented.
 
If you use the search function, I'm sure you will finds loads of posts that will put your mind at ease. If you are really concerned with claying, use a fine clay such as Sonus SFX Ultra Fine Detailing Clay. There are other options, chemical based decontamination systems such as Finsh Kare and The ABC system by ValuGard.
 
I've only clayed once (noob) - I used Sonus Xtra Fine Clay to start off with and was absolutely blown away with the results. I wouldn't go any other way now! I tried just washing and then Klasse AIO without claying on a few panels and the results were ordinary compared to those I clayed.



Did a small spot on my folks car to show them the other day (their hood feels like sandpaper)and they were blown away too...



TRY IT!
 
Clay is very easy to use. The things to remember is to knead the clay after each panel to get the contaminants away from the surface to prevent scratching. Also make sure to keep the surface wet or the clay starts to come off the bar. Other wise it's a piece of cake to do. Try it once and you'll be hooked, guaranteed.
 
I've used diamodnite spray clay before and there is nothing special about it. This product gives you more cleaning to do than polymer clay. I had many troubles trying to get the foam to sray consistently out without clogging up, this is more so as the foam runs low. You know that there is yet more product, but it's not atomizing into foam hence you can't get it out. I've had to throw out many cans that I cannot get the product. Really sloppy manufacturing of the dispensing system. The yellow sponge is abrasive and you can see on a black car marrings it leaves behind. The product however, does work. The cost is prohibitive when you compare it to how many uses you get out of poly clay. Poly clay requires minimal clean up, so clay fast which saves you time...and money in the process. I will not recommend this product to anyone.
 
-Lebowski- said:
Dude clay is easy just use lots of lube. You have nothing to worry about that as long as the surface is clean
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And make many passes, the biggest mistake people make is that they think one pass will magically erase all that built up contamination, NOT. Think of it like an eraser, it takes a few swipes. Having said that I have tried everything from decontamination kits and this

foam" clay, and nothing works for me like plain ol' clay magic, it's a detail in a bar.
 
Slickery said:
And make many passes, the biggest mistake people make is that they think one pass will magically erase all that built up contamination, NOT. Think of it like an eraser, it takes a few swipes. Having said that I have tried everything from decontamination kits and this

foam" clay, and nothing works for me like plain ol' clay magic, it's a detail in a bar.
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Totally, I always reach for the blue clay magic, never let me down yet.
 
How many details do you get out of a 200mg clay magic bar? I get at least 10, and that's if the cars are bad and I toss the bar. Most of the time I get closer to 20, but I get one from the speed clay and it's a mess afterwords. Sometimes we shouldn't be trying to build a better mouse trap, simple is good.
 
The speed clay is my fav clay lube, used it yesterday on my 94 hilux daily hack at a self serve wash bay/servo but with a red clay magic bar as it's white paint (clay after washing with car still wet)

Everyone was looking at me like I'm using some out of this world product



Got out the pakshak WW towel and had it dry within 30 seconds, more people in awe

I'm the same, don't like the sponge and the kit on it's own makes the paint feel smooth but you can still feel some grit so I recommend that as a lube only



other alternatives to clay are ABC decon and FK1 plus other industrial manufacturers and their acid based fallout removers

Have to wear gloves and some soften the clearcoat and make it easier to scratch and can damage trim and bleach any uncoated metals

Then you have to polish afterwards with some and it's no faster overall really



The only thing I can think of that would be best is a quality shampoo/conditioner with speed clay type ingredients in it that clays as you wash without needing to polish afterwards



if you use the speed clay on glass, mask up or really be careful near trims, I have accidentally faded and dried out mine when I first experimented with the product

Thank god for VM
 
A note on the "how many uses" Q:



I tear my clay into small chunks. That way if I drop one (and you will) it's no big loss. Also, I don't like the idea of refolding the clay a lot of times; I worry that some abrasive contamination will work its way back to scratch my paint. After a little use I get a new chunk of clay and save the used ones for things like wheels that aren't too delicate.



Yeah, I go through a bit of clay, but I consider it to be a renewable resource (unlike my paint ;) ).



Also, if you suspect your contamination is abrasive I'd inspect/knead the clay frequently, I sometimes do it after *every* stroke. If it picks up something really abrasive it'll turn into sandpaper ;)



Oh, and I find the ABC decontamination system to be far more efffective than clay for ferrous contamination and the resulting rust-blooms.
 
I picked up a clay magic kit and will be doing my first clay when it finally stops raining around here....



I'm not anxious about it in the least. just don't be stingy on the lube and knead frequently. Doesn't sound like it takes a rocket scientist.
 
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