Explain to me the art of the claybar

E

Eagle fan

New member
Hey guys, just joined this site yesterday and I am already impressed with all the "know how" out there. I just bought a 03 Dark Shadow Gray Mustang Mach I, she is being treating like a baby, but I before I bought her I had never heard of clay baring a car. The question I have is clay baring only for show cars; how is the actual process done; how does it help the finsih, etc.? If anyone could give me any advice or point me in the direction of a good website, maybe with some example pics, it would be greatly appreciated?



Thanks for the help,



Chris Tucker
 
Would a brand new car have picked up enough grit to warrant clay barring? They're usually covered with that plastic in transit.





Nice car, bamaMACH, I've read some nice reviews of it.
 
bamaMACH- Welcome to Autopia! Your Mach 1 could possible benefit from claying even though it's new and pampered, and it's not just for showcars. While you're waiting for the e-book to download, try the "cellophane test". With your car nice and clean, put some cellophane (in less PC days I'd say the wrapper from a pack of smokes) over your fingers and gently run it over you paint. If you feel bumps/uneveness or hear "scraping" sounds, it's from imbedded contaminants in/on the paint rubbing against the cellophane. Claying will remove them.



Clay is good for removing all kinds of stuff, including tar, etc. It's a good product to keep around. Used gently, it's nice and safe.
 
I think a lot of us keep forgetting about this, but on the left side of the main forum page there is a Past Article titled "Removing surface contamination (grittyness) by clay" Try reading that. Claying is not really hard to do.
 
I have to disagree with claying a brand new car. I for one don't like claying, and for some reason I never find it necessary.



I would recommend that you just get a good paint cleanser, like the P21s GEPC and then apply the wax - you should be set.



Just my $0.02.



- Anthony
 
Although the car may be new, it still had to be shipped from the factory. While the cars are in transit, they are prone to rail dust and any other contaminents, just like any other car. I think since the car is new, that warrants all the more reason to clay it. If you clay it now, it will be that much easier next time you clay it. Try the baggie over your fingers trick and feel your paint. I'd bet any money that you're going to feel some contaminents.



Claying may not be absolutely necessary but it makes polishing/waxing that much easier.
 
RedSled91SC said:
Would a brand new car have picked up enough grit to warrant clay barring? They're usually covered with that plastic in transit.



My brand new, off the lot, Dodge Conversion Van needed claybarring. Ya never know and some wouldn't believe what can happen to a vehicle's finish while it sits on the lot. It was done hours after I took delivery of the vehicle by a private detail shop, not the dealers (the dealer paid for it). Water spots and grittiness was the justification for claying. The results were phenomenal.



I bought a used/neglected TAURUS about a month ago, and just clayed it the other day. Now it's smooth as a babies a$$. Clay works, its easy. I'll never hesitate to use it!!!



One company calls the stuff "CLAY MAJIC." I think it should be renamed "CLAY MIRACLE."
Click to expand...
 
if you're going to use SMR or a similar produt..no point in claying right? wont the slight polishing remove that layer with the contiminants on it??
 
evilplan said:
if you're going to use SMR or a similar produt..no point in claying right? wont the slight polishing remove that layer with the contiminants on it??
Click to expand...



I think you want to use the clay bar first, if you feel any grittiness. Imagine that some of those contaminants come out while using SMR. They will be rubbed around and will probably cause scratching or micro marring.
 
I had to do a quick detail on my mom's new Infiniti I35. Didn't have time for clay & polish steps. Went from wash straight to Z2.



That car needed both clay and polishing. I was a bit surprised how dirty the applicator got.



I've detailed lots of brand new cars. I've never seen one that did not need some polishing and claying. Maybe if you grabbed it off the assembly line and put it into an enclosed trailer, unloading it into an enclosed warehouse....then I'd think you could skip clay & polish.
 
Claying is so easy and quick, and cheap for that matter, that unless I designated that the dealer keep the plastic on and I had special ordered it, I'd clay. Besides, it's bonding time. You can't appreciate the looks of your car by driving alone.



Claying is as easy as it sounds. Some people think it's bad, though they are in the severe minority. If you choose to clay, you'll notice a difference as you pull the rail dust and whatnot out.



Clay Magic is $10 at most places. My 94 Miata didn't seem like it had ever been clayed and used up nearly the whole bar (I cut it into about fifths, only dropped one). But your car shouldn't have that much.



Claying isn't totally essential. It's just a measure of how much you want to do for your car. I mean, honestly, notice that most people out there think washing the car is an option.
 
Hey bamaMACH I also live in Birmingham,AL and am a huge University of Alabama football fan. I clayed my new truck and did get a lot of dirt off the surface. Made my truck nice and smooth afterwards. During the train ride, cars do pick up a lot of rail dust and dirt. It made my Zaino layers go on smoother as well. Roll Tide!
 
Don’t be afraid of claying!



It’s easy! It’s quick! It’s safe! It’s necessary!



Even a new car has made a long trip from its assembly point to your house and it’s been exposed to a lot of “stuff� that can become embedded in the paint. Doing a “baggie test� will show you just how much “stuff� is on or in the paint! Put your hand in a thin sandwich bag (not a Zip-Lok) and run your hand lightly over the paint. If you feel any bumps, then you need to clay.



Buy a good quality clay bar; Blue Magic’s and Zaino’s are excellent. Stretch it out and cut it into smaller pieces. Zaino’s get cut in half, so you end up with four pieces. Blue Magic is larger. It will help to put the clay in warm (not hot) water for awhile to soften it.



Put an ounce or so of your favorite car shampoo in a spray bottle and fill with water. This is as good a lubricant as the dedicated spray lubricants, and much less expensive. Use plenty of lubricant!



Wash your car before claying to remove any surface stuff! No need to dry after washing.



Use a fairly light pressure, don’t scrub! Use plenty of lubricant! Practice on a window to get the feel of the clay. Then move to an inconspicuous area on the paint and practice some more. Check your work with the baggie test. Frequently check the clay for debris pickup - stretch and fold to get a clean surface as needed.



Now move to the rest of your paint. Work on a small (maybe 2’x2’) area before moving to the next area. Use plenty of lubricant. Rinse off frequently so that the soap doesn’t dry and leave a film.



CAUTION! If you drop the clay on the ground, then throw it away! Use plenty of lubricant and a light touch! Stretch and refold frequently!



You should be able to do the claying job in about an hour or so. When you’re finished your paint is ready for a close inspection for swirls and micro-marring. The key to an excellent shine is an excellent foundation!
 
Yeah, just to add, I was totally confused about the concept sliding an incredibly sticky bar of synthetic clay properly, but when you lubricate the panel you're working on, the bar of clay will slide on it as if it's a melted ice cube...you'll feel some roughness or bumps where there is dirt, but it eventually get taken up by the clay the more times you slide across it. Then, when you can't feel any roughness at all, you go on to another panel. I'm pretty certain you never apply any pressure other than to keep it from falling and to slide it across.
 
Thanks guys for the great information. Now I have another to go along with this topic...Is there a certain brand that I should stay away from? And what you guys think about Clay Magic (its available locally where Zanio's would have to be oredered and shipped)?



Thanks,



Chris
 
Clay Magic is my personal favorite, with Z-18 running a very close second. Be sure to get the blue clay - the red is more harsh. I suggest that before using it you stretch out the 200 gm bar and cut it into four pieces. Form these into nice little "cookie" shapes. With four pieces you're not dead if you drop one.
 
Clay Magic is one of the best, get it, quick!:D



...About "baggie test"... do not run the plastic bag over your paint! The proper way to do it is to lay the plastic bag or a piece of celophane foil flat on the paint and then run palms of your fingers over it making sure that plastic doesn't slide over your paint, you will minimize posibility of scratching this way.
 
Mothers clay kit is another favourite, and sometimes easier to get. It also comes with a full bottle of the Showtime QD that's mentioned in that recent "favourite QD" thread.



The only (generally) unliked clay seems to be Meguiar's.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top