Chemical Guys clay bars?

D

danforz

New member
The website doesn't mention how strong the stuff is. It'll save me a lot of money and time if I can purchase it... anyone ever give it a try? Any good?
 
It looks like its just regular source clay. I could be wrong though, because almost all clays look the same.
 
Coupe said:
Arent all clays made by automagic now?
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Most all if not all are. However that doesn't mean all clay is equal. Automagic can build clay to your specs. They will change whatever you need if you have the money that is. You have to buy so much for them to consider it for you.
 
I spoke to one of the guys from the shop... he insisted its mild, from "chemical source", and of higher quality then megs.
 
This is one area where everyone and everything I read is to vague for beginners like me. I have no idea what clay I should get!

Is there some form of color coding or is it different for all manufactures?

How can someone new to all this make a logical choice? I have seen clay for $5.00 up to over $20.00, but have no idea how to decide on which one is proper for my need. I am sure it must be related to the paint hardness, how else would it make a difference? But, how do you figure it out?

Changeling
 
Changeling said:
.......Is there some form of color coding or is it different for all manufactures?........
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There aren't too many standards in the color coding of clay, but most of the blue clays I have used are what I would call the mild clay.



A more aggressive clay like the Clay Magic red will remove more containments, like heavy overspray, but are more likely to mar your finish. That might not be a big concern if you are going to polish when you're finished with the clay.



A very fine clay, like the Sonus SFX Ultra Fine Detailing Clay is very gentle on your LSP and paint, but won't be strong enough for a heavily contaminated car. It is great for spot work after a wash if your finish has been prepped and is in good condition.



A medium/mild grade clay sort of strikes a middle ground between the two, and that is what most members tend to use.



Most, if not all of the clay is now made by Auto Wax (Clay Magic) since they have the patent rights and have recently sued all of the competition out of business. They do make custom formulations and colors for various manufactures, but there is no strict color standard that I know of.



The best thing you can do is to read reviews from members who have used a type of clay that you are considering. If you stick with a popular brand like Clay Magic blue, etc. then you should be OK. Since you'll be polishing your truck you don't need to be too concerned, but if you clay a couple/three months later you'll want something that won't induce marring so you won't have to polish again any sooner than needed.



Those lawsuits have really messed up the clay business for a lot of us, because many of the clays we used to use are now a different type, or not available at all. The Clay Magic brand hasn't changed, so their blue clay that has been popular (and often available locally) is still around. It is the plastic or elastic clays that many of us loved that have been forced off of the market. The only place I know where you can still get some is the Autopia link I posted in your other thread.
 
Eliot Ness said:
There aren't too many standards in the color coding of clay, but most of the blue clays I have used are what I would call the mild clay.



A more aggressive clay like the Clay Magic red will remove more containments, like heavy overspray, but are more likely to mar your finish. That might not be a big concern if you are going to polish when you're finished with the clay.



A very fine clay, like the Sonus SFX Ultra Fine Detailing Clay is very gentle on your LSP and paint, but won't be strong enough for a heavily contaminated car. It is great for spot work after a wash if your finish has been prepped and is in good condition.



A medium/mild grade clay sort of strikes a middle ground between the two, and that is what most members tend to use.



Most, if not all of the clay is now made by Auto Wax (Clay Magic) since they have the patent rights and have recently sued all of the competition out of business. They do make custom formulations and colors for various manufactures, but there is no strict color standard that I know of.



The best thing you can do is to read reviews from members who have used a type of clay that you are considering. If you stick with a popular brand like Clay Magic blue, etc. then you should be OK. Since you'll be polishing your truck you don't need to be too concerned, but if you clay a couple/three months later you'll want something that won't induce marring so you won't have to polish again any sooner than needed.



Those lawsuits have really messed up the clay business for a lot of us, because many of the clays we used to use are now a different type, or not available at all. The Clay Magic brand hasn't changed, so their blue clay that has been popular (and often available locally) is still around. It is the plastic or elastic clays that many of us loved that have been forced off of the market. The only place I know where you can still get some is the Autopia link I posted in your other thread.
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John thanks for the explanation, it make a little more sense now. I am still going to try and find the blue clay locally before I order any.

Because the truck hasn't been clayed ever I expect it will be loaded with trash!

How much clay should I get, will one regular bar do it?

Changeling
 
Changeling said:
...... How much clay should I get, will one regular bar do it?

Changeling
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I would think so. Just break it into 3rd's or 4th's (whatever seems the best size for you to handle), that way if you drop a piece (it's easier to do than you might think when it is all lubed up!) you don't waste the whole bar.



If your truck is really bad you might wind up using more than one bar..... it's always better to be safe rather than sorry when you're just getting used to something new like claying, plus if it is kept sealed up it will last almost forever.



The Autopia Guide to Detailing has a pretty good section on using clay if you haven't checked it out already.
 
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