Hard or soft?

[Accumulator]

Ever try red clay magic?

Heh heh, you got me there! I was leaving overspray/other aggressive clay out of the discussion. There was even a production run of Sonus Gray that was *really* abrasive, I couldn't use that stuff without marring up even the hardest clear!

But regarding regular "decontaminating clay"-

Originally Posted by Oldfordisbetter I would love to clay a car and not cause any marring. Someone tell me how to do it! I guess put no pressure on the clay? And use lots of lube. Would like to skip polishing for people who know nothing about good looking paint, but so far I always polish because most times the paint looks worse after claying.

Claying the way I do is so labor/time/clay-intensive that I bet most people simply won't do it like that, but:

-yeah, virtually zero pressure, just enough to keep the clay where you want it (obviously, that means more pressure on vertical surfaces)
-plenty of lube and use a good one (I prefer Sonus Glyde over everything else I've tried)
-nearly constant kneading/replacing of the clay; the instant it picks up some abrasive contamination it turns into sandpaper, so this can mean only claying an inch or so at a time

See why people consider my claying technique and say they'd rather just mar it up and polish?!?

AND...perhaps most importantly IMO, if a vehicle is really contaminated, *don't clay it*. Decontaminate it via chemical means use as ValuGard's ABC (again, working very gently). Works better than clay as it gets into the pores/microfissures of the paint, and you avoid the "clay instantly turning into sandpaper"-effect if you get most of the abrasive [stuff] off with the chemicals instead.

 

[Accumulator]

Completely disagree..[that "proper" claying won't mar up the paint]...

While experiences will vary, why do you "completely disagree"?

I clay a *LOT* without marring up the paint, only get significant marring if I make a mistake. Hence my experience-based opinion.

The clay shouldn't touch the paint, so no marring from the clay itself [EDIT: overspray/aggressive clays can cut through the lube-film; IMO that's why they always seem to mar]. Moving dirt (stuck in the clay) across the paint under enough pressure to cause marring is something I'd consider a mistake. So the marring only happens when I make a mistake.

IMO *no* detailing process short of wetsanding/etc. should ever mar the paint. "First do no harm" and marring the paint is harming it IMO. So to me, marring the paint is the result of a mistake.

Not trying to be contentious, even though the above kinda reads like that..just discussing it and I'll readily admit that I'm a fanatic about not damaging stuff in ways that can affect the long-term condition of the vehicle (i.e., primary goal is to keep the original finish looking good indefinitely).

EDIT: sheesh the above really *does* read contentious to me Reworded some of it, but still....But if people mar up the paint when they clay (or do anything else) that must lead to a lot of polishing (hence a lot of clearcoat removal). Only so much clear/paint to work with over the life of a vehicle, and I don't want to repaint every few decades.

 

[JustJesus]

Ever try red clay magic?

Heh heh, you got me there! I was leaving overspray/other aggressive clay out of the discussion.

Haven't tried the red, but have tried CG's black (as wells as their others). The black one is serious business. How serious? It tore my black nitrile gloves at the fingers where I held the clay! Sticky stuff. I used it to remove some black rubber transfer on a red 370z I detailed. That black stuff marred. I polished that spot to clean it up.

Claying the way I do is so labor/time/clay-intensive that I bet most people simply won't do it like that, but:

I just might NOT be one of those people. My mouth drops when I hear how fast some people take to clay a car. I take my time and use very, very light pressure.

The only time(s) I've left any marring behind was when I myself made a mistake. Much like how Accumulator pointed out. I know one time, i made the mistake of not using enough lube. I was running low and was trying to stretch it out. Another time, i made the mistake of applying too much pressure. Lessons learned :redface:

AND...perhaps most importantly IMO, if a vehicle is really contaminated, *don't clay it*. Decontaminate it via chemical means use as ValuGard's ABC (again, working very gently). Works better than clay as it gets into the pores/microfissures of the paint, and you avoid the "clay instantly turning into sandpaper"-effect if you get most of the abrasive [stuff] off with the chemicals instead.

I really wish I would have stepped up to chemical decon much sooner. That red Z I mentioned earlier, that sucker would drive from LA, CA to Arizona every weekend. He drove through the elements, and hardly ever washed his car. Thunder storms, hail, dust storms, etc.
Claying that car took me into "entire day" territory.