An Idea for consumers on clay bars

K

Knight

New member
I hope to share an idea on clay bars and QD.



I use to use the QD that came with the clay bar. However it got expensive to keep buying this QD every time I wanted to clay. 1 bottle lasts like 5 clayings on cars. I started to use car wash soap with great results and used my QD for better things as every day use for touching up recently waxed vehicles.







Some guidelines for testing what is safe for the car and clay.





For instance, one of the clay bars out there is attacked by alcohols and another bar is attacked by mineral spirits.



Many soap type products will contain alcohols

and

many detailing products (QD) that you might use for bar lubrication may contain mineral spirits.



It is always a good suggestion to utilize the lubricant that is recommended by the bar manufacturer....or pretest your bar by letting a piece soak overnight in a small amount of the liquid you want to use. If the balls dissolves or begins to dissolve...avoid that liquid.





Another advantage to using car wash soap besides the cost is the area you can cover.



Slop some soap on the hood with a mitt and clay quickly. It is much faster than spraying the mist on the area little by little. I also noticed that the QD dries much quicker causing you to use more when claying; car wash soap does not act this way. Some would say that the surface feels cleaner with the QD but, maybe it's just the wax they are feeling?





not to mention you can quickly rinse the section your doing and dry the surface quick. Instead of buffing the QD in the paint.







I believe the soap feels slicker as well.



overall



cheaper, faster, safer.







on that note, does anyone have a suggestion for feeling for contaminents?



I noticed using a cellophane rubbing on the surface actually puts scratches in the surface. Anyone notice this when feelings for these defects? Even a plastic bag with the lightest touch.



Any suggestions for feeling the surface that will surely not scratch? I am trying the max MF towel. Any other suggestions?







:up
 
It isn't really a new idea to use car wash solution as a lube. :confused: Many people already suggest this instead of QD because it is more economical. I also haven't heard of soap containing alcohol and QD having solvents in them. QD is mostly water with maybe 1% alcohol at the most.



You might not have to rub the cellophane or plastic bag over the paint. You can probably just put it in one spot and move your fingers over that spot. It's not like you have to feel every square inch of the car to decide if it needs claying or not anyway. Also be sure the surface is dust free and clean before inspecting it. Personally I just use my bare fingers - the bag method isn't mandatory, it's just an aid.
 
I was just letting everyone know that it is a better idea to use car wash soap instead of QD. With those guidelines you can test car wash soaps with clay bars to see if you can use that type of wash.





I just did not want people to think that all they had to use was the QD. It is good stuff, the QD. It serves far better purposes than claying.







Just an alternative for those trying to be more efficient.









:up
 
dengsxr said:
If you were going to use a car soap what kind of ratio is best?
Click to expand...



Its kind of a guesstamation. Using car soap as a lube isn't an exact science. Just pour some in a bottle with the water already 2/3 filling it. You don't want the bottle to be totally full of suds. If you think that its grabbing a little too much then add a little more soap. I've used straight water before when I had no other choice. The ratio isn't really important. Using the right clay is the important part. I've never heard that one lube or another makes the clay perform any better or anything like that.
 
Juat a tablespoon per 16 oz bottle will be fine. Don't need too much.



Oh, and most all QD's have alcohol and silicone in them. That's why you need a good clay, they'll hold up over several clay sessions.
 
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