claybar, how long and how much?

S

shyne

New member
i've claybared before and it takes me toooo long i think. I clayed a 1991 lexus LS400 (4-door sedan), last time it took maybe around 2hrs with a wash. Even when it was done there was still some surface contamination.



how long does it take you guys to claybar an entire car?



how much do you guys use? i used half of my bar on my whole car, but i guess i need more since my car was real gritty?



ive been thinking of just doing sections of my car with the claybar each time i wash, and then another pannel next time and so on to reduce the long hours i usually spend trying to do the whole thing.
 
it's never taken me that long...are you sure you're using enough lube? Especially when you say there's some surface contamination left - unless it's REALLY delved into the paint, clay should pull it.
 
shyne,

For a 12 year car, you did a great job!! :xyxthumbs

Last time I did the entire car it took me an 1 1/2 hour just to clay. I cut my bar into 3 pieces and was able to do my car (about the same size as yours) with 1 piece. I was able to fold it numerous times.

What kind of contamination ? If it didn't come out with clay, did it come out with your polisihing phase ?

As far as doing it in sections, I don't think it's a problem. I had some pollen/sap build up and did only the windshield forward. I'm toying with the idea of splitting my car into 3 sections and doing the exterior during different days/weeks. (wash, clay, wash, polish, seal, wax). And then do the middle and rear on differen days, weeks.

It would be nice to spend a week straight on a car, but most of us can't do that :(
 
Shyne,



I've got a 97 Lexus LS400 and don't have the garage or the back-to-back hours to go full out from start to completion on a full detail job. My solution has been to use Quick and Easy Wash on a couple panels at a time and then clay and apply products (klasse twins) when I've got a spare hour or two. Doing the car piecemeal works for me, then once all the products are applied I just do a regular wash once a week until it's time to apply product again (2-3 months later). Type in QEW to the search function if you need more info on the product.
 
Doesn't take me 3 hours...mayb 45 minutes. The one thing I find difficult is the folding...the clay bar (Pinnacle) doesnt' seem to stretch very easily. I also cut it into 3 peices, but often a whole forms (tear) when I stretch it...frustrating..
 
To answer your question of "How Long", I clay until all the contaminant are gone. The key is to use lots of lube, very little pressure and just keep moving over the panel until it's smooth. Remember to constantly check the clay and fold as necessary.



I keep my car pretty clean with either a good layer of carnuba or some sealant, so most dirt washes right off and doesn't get imbedded in the paint. I only spot clay once in a while as I wash and I'd say it only adds 10-15 minutes to the wash. I may do the whole car once or twice a year and that usually adds 30 minutes to the wash.



If it's the first time doing a really dirty car that doesn't get regularly washed or waxed, there will most likely be lots of contaminants to pull off. It's reasonable that it might take you an hour and a half or so. The key is to be thorough and carefull, so as not to add swirls or scratches.



The grungier the paint the more passes you need to make, the more crap gets into the clay, the more you have to fold it, the more time it takes.



Michael
 
My claying comments are basically like those of mpauly, except I spot clay with every wash and full-clays take me longer. Yes, there have been times when I spent HOURS claying. It just takes as long as it takes to get all the contaminants off/out of the paint. If it ALWAYS takes a very long time (on the same car), maybe you oughta clay more often. But generally, it's like asking how long it takes to wash, some of us take HOURS, some take minutes; no one's right or wrong.
 
I've only used the Zaino clay bar and I have no complaints about it. I clay my 02 extended cab Silverado with a hard tonneau cover in about 1.5 to 2 hours, no including the wash time. I use plenty of Poorboys Spray and Wipe as my lubricant.
 
It takes me about two hours to clay a medium sized car (Acura CL or TL-S) but I usually just do it in pieces as others have suggested. I also cut my bar into three pieces and then discard it after using it for say one claying job on a car.
 
thanks for all the replys. i''m probably gonna try claying 1 pannel each time i wash untill the entire car is done. my paint is relitively smooth except for the scratches and swirls. i do rub the clay untill the claybar runs smooth over it, but when i look at the paint there are some contaminats left. i probably didnt notice there were alot of contaminats left since i coulndt really see it. thanks!
 
I'd probably go over it with professional wax and tar remover....the stuff they use prior to painting. PPG calls it #440 or #330...I think. The contaminants you are seeing may not come off with clay and just need a strong solvent to get them off.
 
Hmmm. Am i doing something wrong? I clay my car in 20 minutes or so. I just spray the lube on, go over the section until it feels smooth (dont hear that sound of it picking struff up) then wipe away the lube. I cant see how it would take someone hours to do this!
 
Nick Robinson said:
Hmmm. Am i doing something wrong? I clay my car in 20 minutes or so. I just spray the lube on, go over the section until it feels smooth (dont hear that sound of it picking struff up) then wipe away the lube. I cant see how it would take someone hours to do this!
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Contra-wise, I'm wondering if I'm doing something wrong! :p I can't see how anyone can get this job done in less than an hour. I take hours to do it, especially on light coloured cars where you can see a lot of specks. IMO this is the one area where having a black car makes things easier! :lol
 
I'm with 4DSC on this. It takes me at least two hours, going all-out, to clay the Jag. I do it in a slow, careful, contemplative mode. Maybe when I have the level of experience of the veteran Autopians, I'll get faster. But I don't think there's anything wrong with takin' your sweet time. Claying is a bonding experience. :D
 
it took me 2 hours to clay a heavily contaminated Benz last weekend.. I was wondering the same thing.. how do people do it in 30 minutes or so? even on a car that doesnt have that much contamination, how do you lube, clay, and wipe clean in 30 minutes?? I cant see how..



Here is my process..

1) wash vehicle

2) dry

3) clay entire vehicle (wipe excess lube and contaminants off along the way)

4) wash again

5) dry again

6) use air tool to dry out all water from hiding spots

7) continue on with the compounding/waxing process



Am i doing too much, or not enough?
 
While we're talking about clay, what happens if you just use straight water as your lubricant? I started wondering that as I usually cut the clay lube bottle 2 or 3 times before i start a new one .... surely by the 3rd time it's almost all just water, so what happens if I just wash the car, leave it let, then use the hose and spray with hose, clay, spray with hose, clay, etc....?
 
the clay will stick to the car...you can use water and car soap but its not quite as good as the actual clay lube
 
WhiffySpark said:
Way under an hour 90% of the time.



2 hours to clay a car? I wonder how you guys are working
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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.



efnfast said:
While we're talking about clay, what happens if you just use straight water as your lubricant? I started wondering that as I usually cut the clay lube bottle 2 or 3 times before i start a new one .... surely by the 3rd time it's almost all just water, so what happens if I just wash the car, leave it let, then use the hose and spray with hose, clay, spray with hose, clay, etc....?
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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.



zack.s said:
the clay will stick to the car...(if you use just water as a lube)
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That really depends on the clay and the conditions. Some clays tend to stick no matter what you do, while others don't.
 
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