claybar, how long and how much?

[WhiffySpark]

First of all, congrats on digging up a 6 yo thread...believe it or not, due to the dynamics of the community, the general skill level has improved quite a bit in the last 6 years.







I almost always just use car wash soap, but there are prominent detailers on here who use just water for lube, and state that it works better--less slickness means less tendency for the clay to cut instead of slide over contaminants.







That really depends on the clay and the conditions. Some clays tend to stick no matter what you do, while others don't.

Whoops... I had clicked one of the quick link topics on the bottum :laugh:

 

[Setec Astronomy]

Whoops... I had clicked one of the quick link topics on the bottum :laugh:

No problem...I think people still take 2 hours to clay, which is ok, not everybody needs to be a speed demon...we have members who are pro detailers and members who just do it for the enjoyment, so it's all good.

 

[Showroom Shine]

If it takes 3 hours to clay, you're doing something wrong in my opinion. What I like to do is wash,rinse leave the vehicle wet. Spray on the clay lube, and go at it. Add lube as needed,until the whole vehicle is done. Wash and rinse again,then dry. This is a sure fire way to prep the surface for whatever process you want to do next. Correct, Wax, Sealant , Glaze, etc!

 

[Flawless Image]

i also use a drop of car soap and the rest is water.. works just fine for me..

 

[David Fermani]

If it takes 3 hours to clay, you're doing something wrong in my opinion.

I'd have to agree unless there's something on the paint like overspray. At any rate, someone should be able to judge after doing the 1st 2 panels (usually the worst 2) what and how long it will take to complete the whole car. If claying is taking that long, step up to stronger clay, sandpaper and/or a decon wash.

 

[Accumulator]

I find that claying *can* take quite a while if I'm dealing with significant contamination while also trying to *not* induce any new marring.



If I'm gonna do signifcant correction anyhow, then yeah...something like Sonus gray can can work fast, especially if you don't mind the contaminants turning it into sandpaper between kneadings.



But if you're working with milder clay and kneading/replacing it after every few inches worth of contact the job can take a long time. Claying a contaminated vehicle without inducing any marring (even something very light) can be quite a challenge no matter *how* much time you spend.