JaredPointer
COME AT ME BRO
To save a little time when doing a full detail, I like to wash & clay at the same time. I know it's not for everyone, but it's a nice (and inexpensive) way to help yourself be more efficient when detailing. This is a quick little line or two for claying while you wash that works for me. It is by no means the only way to clay, and I am taking into account that whoever reads this already knows a little about claying.
1) After mixing your wash solution and making all the necessary preparations for the wash, begin to wash a panel as you normally would. Use light, non-circular motions on the panel.
2) With the panel now clean and still "sudsy" take your piece of clay and gently rub it over the finish in light back and forth motions. The car wash that is on the panel will act as a very good lubricant. Don't be afraid to add a little more "suds" to the finish - it's better, IMO, to have too much lube instead of not enough.
3) After you have finished claying the panel, rinse the soapy water off. The surface should be clean and smooth.
4) Continue to wash & clay the entire car this way until you are finished.
This will add a few extra minutes to your wash overall, so you want to be sure and keep the vehicle rinsed to avoid water spotting. Try and wash out of the sun (i.e. in the shade, under a canopy) to keep the suds and water from drying on your paint.
Doing it this way has saved me some time in the past, and I feel that it saves me from having to repeat the wash process a second time. It also saves clay lube for later QDing use. I know it may sound kind of "hokey" to do it this way at first (like I thought it was when I first read about it), but after doing it this way, I don't think I will be going back. Hope this helps someone!!
Some other points to make about claying in general:
1) After mixing your wash solution and making all the necessary preparations for the wash, begin to wash a panel as you normally would. Use light, non-circular motions on the panel.
2) With the panel now clean and still "sudsy" take your piece of clay and gently rub it over the finish in light back and forth motions. The car wash that is on the panel will act as a very good lubricant. Don't be afraid to add a little more "suds" to the finish - it's better, IMO, to have too much lube instead of not enough.
3) After you have finished claying the panel, rinse the soapy water off. The surface should be clean and smooth.
4) Continue to wash & clay the entire car this way until you are finished.
This will add a few extra minutes to your wash overall, so you want to be sure and keep the vehicle rinsed to avoid water spotting. Try and wash out of the sun (i.e. in the shade, under a canopy) to keep the suds and water from drying on your paint.
Doing it this way has saved me some time in the past, and I feel that it saves me from having to repeat the wash process a second time. It also saves clay lube for later QDing use. I know it may sound kind of "hokey" to do it this way at first (like I thought it was when I first read about it), but after doing it this way, I don't think I will be going back. Hope this helps someone!!
Some other points to make about claying in general:
- Always replace clay with a new piece if you drop it on the ground.
- Cut the large clay bar up into several smaller pieces. This will save you the grief of having to chunk a whole bar. I learned the hard way.
- Constantly knead your clay to keep contaminants away from the vehicle finish.
- On heavily tarred or contaminated areas, you may want to pre-clay before you begin the wash with one piece of clay, then grab a new piece when you begin the wash.
