Do you clay without polishing afterwards?

[TiredNGrouchy]

I have always found that if a finish needs claying, it needs polishing too, so I've never clayed without hitting the paint with some FPII afterwards.

Do you ever clay an entire car without polishing it afterwards? This is one of the problems I have with Zaino's instructions. Claying without polishing seems like inadequate surface prep for most cars that need claying.

 

[Brenton]

IMO, it is about:
1. the grade of clay
2. the finish quality of the paint

With a fine detail clay and a decent finish, I can move from clay to LSP, usually. With a medium clay, I usually need at least a KAIO or PB's PP or other chemical polish or light buff.
If a dark, esp. black paint, is poorly kept, sometimes there are clay marks even with fine clay, lots of lube, no dripping, etc. These are often cars I might have to wax twice in any case.

So, to answer your question: Y&N.

 

[detailz]

With a fine detail clay and a decent finish, I can move from clay to LSP, usually. With a medium clay, I usually need at least a KAIO or PB's PP or other chemical polish or light buff.

So, to answer your question: Y&N.

I agree.

 

[mgm2003]

IMO, it is about:
1. the grade of clay
2. the finish quality of the paint

With a fine detail clay and a decent finish, I can move from clay to LSP, usually. With a medium clay, I usually need at least a KAIO or PB's PP or other chemical polish or light buff.
If a dark, esp. black paint, is poorly kept, sometimes there are clay marks even with fine clay, lots of lube, no dripping, etc. These are often cars I might have to wax twice in any case.

So, to answer your question: Y&N.

Well stated. I agree.

 

[TrueDetailer]

Yes and no.

If i'm doing a wash and wax i'll do a light claying and go ahead apply a coat of wax. Theres no way i'm polishing someones car if they are not paying for it, even if it needs it. If all they want is wax thats all they are getting

On my personal truck when i clay i'll do a quick hand polish to remove any light defects. thats if i'm not doing a full exterior detail to it.

Other than that i always polish when i clay.

 

[LikeaRock]

Yes and no.

If i'm doing a wash and wax i'll do a light claying and go ahead apply a coat of wax. Theres no way i'm polishing someones car if they are not paying for it, even if it needs it. If all they want is wax thats all they are getting

On my personal truck when i clay i'll do a quick hand polish to remove any light defects. thats if i'm not doing a full exterior detail to it.

Other than that i always polish when i clay.

X2

 

[GearHead_1]

I can certainly see where the answer to this question will be different depending upon whether someone does this for a living or not. I wouldn't do anything that a customer isn't willing to pay for if I were a professional. When you're in the business if it costs you time it costs you money. That said, for the most part I believe that a clay and polish go hand in hand. There may be times that I polish and don't use clay but not the other way around. I've never actually seen a finish that required clay that didn't have some sort of marring, etching, staining or webbing to go along with it. I prefer to remove the problem where possible as opposed to filling it. I'm sure that using an LSP with fillers may fit this bill nicely for customers that are price sensitive but that isn't the situation for the vehicles I work on. Since I'm not making a living doing this I always set the time aside to do both a clay and polish even if the polish is only a chemical cleaner and this is frequently the case.

 

[dr_detail]

Maybe on a white or beige vehicle I might be able to skip the polish step -- usually though, the vehicle will need to be polished. On vehicles that were in good shape prior to claying, I'll set-up my rotary with a fine "finishing" pad & using a liquid wax or glaze, I give it a quick once over folloed with something like Megs #34 to remove any residual product. Like mentioned above though, it really depends on the vehicles color, condition and the desired final results.

 

[Beercan31]

IMO, it is about:
1. the grade of clay
2. the finish quality of the paint

With a fine detail clay and a decent finish, I can move from clay to LSP, usually. With a medium clay, I usually need at least a KAIO or PB's PP or other chemical polish or light buff.
If a dark, esp. black paint, is poorly kept, sometimes there are clay marks even with fine clay, lots of lube, no dripping, etc. These are often cars I might have to wax twice in any case.

So, to answer your question: Y&N.

Ok am I reading in to this to much?
I fully understand the "time is money" thing but
if the clay has the potential to leave surface marring on black/dark colors, poorly kept or not..... would it not do the same on lighter colors?

If the clay did mar and you went to your LSP then you just covered it up and not correct it. which in turn is the reason you'd need 2 coats of LSP.

(IMHO) if your going to Clay, going with out a polish step is a rookie short cut...not saying you have to do an extream polish but something to rid the surface from micro maring from the washing, claying and washing again steps.

 

[TrueDetailer]

(IMHO) if your going to Clay, going with out a polish step is a rookie short cut...not saying you have to do an extream polish but something to rid the surface from micro maring from the washing, claying and washing again steps.

Look at it this way. If your only being paid for a wash and wax special. Are you going to spend an extra 45 minutes getting out your gear and polishing,etc? Just to throw a coat of wax on a car you'll probably never see again for months.

It might be rule number 1 for weekend detailers. But for us who make a living doing it 7 days a week. You can't always be the nice guy detailer. I will sometimes explain to the customer they will get better results from a deep polishing for a extra fee. If they don't want to pay me for it, theres no way in hell they are getting a polishing just cause.

This is why pro detailers IMO are getting a bad rep. Cause there are weekend (anal) detailers out there who will treat a customers car like their own. You get people expecting these services for practicly nothing. I can't make a living charging 40 bucks for a wash&wax special that includes a polishing.

I mean if you people will polish just cause, after claying than why not shampoo carpets after vaccuming them? Its the same concept?? You won't will you? Because time is money.

 

[Beercan31]

Ok first off as for you comparing my tag line to your services, you get what you pay for I chose to give more... you don't.
your throwing stones as I just did and this is not what it's all about. we are here to help in own best way to become better at detailing.... nothing more nothing less.

This is why pro detailers IMO are getting a bad rep. Cause there are weekend (anal) detailers out there who will treat a customers car like their own.

Secondly... why would you clay in a "wash & wax" job.... it's your money do what you want.

Look at it this way. If your only being paid for a wash and wax special. Are you going to spend an extra 45 minutes getting out your gear and polishing,etc? Just to throw a coat of wax on a car you'll probably never see again for months.

I'm trying to keep this on topic.

Thirdly , I'm sorry, can't help you on that, wish I could...

You get people expecting these services for practically nothing. I can't make a living charging 40 bucks for a wash&wax special that includes a polishing

I at no uncertain terms wanted to call you out on your services or your performance. I just needed clarification on your statement. seems you took it personaly.

If a dark, esp. black paint, is poorly kept, sometimes there are clay marks even with fine clay, lots of lube, no dripping, etc. These are often cars I might have to wax twice in any case.

 

[TrueDetailer]

I was in no way trying to make it personal beercan, i'm sorry if some of my statements looked that way. I wasn't trying to pick at your detailing skills either. Just stating my opinion on the topic.

Where did that last quote come from too? I don't think i ever said that.

 

[Beercan31]

10-03-2006, 06:17 AM #2 (permalink)

IMO, it is about:
1. the grade of clay
2. the finish quality of the paint

With a fine detail clay and a decent finish, I can move from clay to LSP, usually. With a medium clay, I usually need at least a KAIO or PB's PP or other chemical polish or light buff.
If a dark, esp. black paint, is poorly kept, sometimes there are clay marks even with fine clay, lots of lube, no dripping, etc. These are often cars I might have to wax twice in any case.

So, to answer your question: Y&N.