I'm getting ready to do my first clay treatment on my Tacoma which needs it pretty badly. I'm going to use a medium clay, but is there any benefit to following the medium clay with finer clay - similar to the way you gradually go to finer grit on sandpaper when you want the smoothest finish?
Claying in stages??
- Thread starter CroMag
- Start date
It's a fair question, but ask a similar question.... if you wash your vehicle well and dry it, would there be significant benefit in immediately washing and drying it again?
If you do a good job with the medium clay, my $.02 is that you would see little/no benefit in claying again with a finer clay.
Btw, be prepared to be amazed at all the contaminants that washing leaves behind AND how well clay removes them. (I sure was) It's the road to a much cleaner surface to then polish and 'wax'.
What will you use for your LSP or final finish product?
If you do a good job with the medium clay, my $.02 is that you would see little/no benefit in claying again with a finer clay.
Btw, be prepared to be amazed at all the contaminants that washing leaves behind AND how well clay removes them. (I sure was) It's the road to a much cleaner surface to then polish and 'wax'.
What will you use for your LSP or final finish product?
Hadn't thought of it that way....so if a medium clay will pick up everything a fine clay will and more - why would anyone just use a fine clay? Wouldn't you always want to remove as many contaminants as possible? Is it because the medium clay is potentially a little more harmful to your paint? I'm not doubting your response - just trying to understand.
My original plan for post clay will be to follow with Meguiars #7 and then NXT (black paint BTW). Although I have been wondering if #7 is a decent choice since I'll be doing it by hand.
My original plan for post clay will be to follow with Meguiars #7 and then NXT (black paint BTW). Although I have been wondering if #7 is a decent choice since I'll be doing it by hand.
Eliot Ness
Active member
If I was going to clay in stages it would be starting with a finer clay and then switching to a medium clay if the contaminants in an area were more than the fine could easily handle.
A fine clay is less apt to remove as much of your existing LSP (if done gently). And yes, the more aggressive the clay the greater the chance that it will leave some marring.
Below is a good thread about clay that you might find interesting. Note the reply by Accumulator, who I consider to be the "Autopia Clay Guru":
http://autopia.org/forum/showthread.php?t=76366
A fine clay is less apt to remove as much of your existing LSP (if done gently). And yes, the more aggressive the clay the greater the chance that it will leave some marring.
Below is a good thread about clay that you might find interesting. Note the reply by Accumulator, who I consider to be the "Autopia Clay Guru":
http://autopia.org/forum/showthread.php?t=76366