Help me pick the right clay

B

Beason

New member
Which clay bar is better? The price evens out to be about $10 dollars a bar. If anyone else knows of a place where you can just get claybars with no lube let me know. I got tired of buying Clay Magic Clay and ending up with about 5 bottles of lube. I just want the clay bar it self. Here are two i have found. Which one? or any others?



Pinnacle PolyClay or Meguiar's Overspray Clay
 
I have used Meguiar's Overspray clay before. I don't care for it. It does its job, making the surface smooth but smudges and leaves behind residue that I can see (white residue on finishes that are not light.) Avoid this clay if possible.



I have not tried Pinnacle's clay. So no comment.



Clay Magic makes 200 gram bars of their blue clay or if you need it red clay, but the blue colored clay is what I recommend the red clay leaves a good haze. www.tacscar.com sells Clay Magic in 200 gram sizes.



I know Mother's packages their clay in 6 ounce sizes I think, contact forum member forrest for more info.



I have Zaino's clay up on the chopping block tomorrow. I will post results, the size is 160 grams in two bars (5.6 ounces.) Reminds me of Mother's 80 gram bar X2.



Jason
 
I too have been frustrated that you can't buy many clays without the lube.



Hey, DavidB, weren't you planning to sell the clay separate from the Glide-Block-Waffle kit?
 
I like 3M clay. It works well and is a nice size block. The Mother's is nice too, but I find it too small. I have never tried Clay Magic.



The most popular here seem to be Mother's, Clay magic and Autopian block found here: Clay Linky
 
Lynn said:
I too have been frustrated that you can't buy many clays without the lube.



Hey, DavidB, weren't you planning to sell the clay separate from the Glide-Block-Waffle kit?
Click to expand...



The funny thing is with clay magic is you can buy a 100g block with the lube from most autoparts stores for under $10, but a 200 gram block without the lube goes for $24. Plus I've only seen the 200g block in the web, so add in shipping.



I've only used clay magic and haven't really been compelled to try another. Cheap, redilly available, works well and doesn't dry out if you store it in a baggie.



Michael
 
Hi Beason,



There are actually different grades (aggressiveness) of clay you may want to take into consideration. Usually they are differentiated by color. Some variance between vendors who market and sell clay. But these are usually the standard colors of clays that you can find in the stores or professional detailing shops.



purple or red - most aggressive (body shop - bad overspray)

light blue - aggressive (normal - fall out, light overspray)

light grey - least aggressive (ideal for black cars - minimizes scratches)



The trick to using a clay bar is making sure that the clay bar is gliding across the paint surface. So make sure the paint surface is well lubricated.



I believe there are only 1-2 manufacturers that actually produce the clay on a grand scale for Clay Magic, Clear-Brite, ProWax, and others.



With Aloha,

Ranney :)
 
Beason, if you are looking at those two, I would get the Pinnacle. Stay away from Meguiar's clay...I can't stand that stuff. Clay Magic is good, but I really like the Pinnacle. 3 bars for around 25 bucks is a pretty good deal too. If I don't have Pinnacle around then I reach for the Clay Magic.
 
Mother's Clay!!!!! :D



Seriously, the Mother's clay kit is nice for ~15. I love their Showtime QD (~$5-6 by itself) and the clay bar is good.

I've used claymagic on 5 cars and the clay bar works well. However, I'm not a fan of the claymagic lube...had some issues with it a while back and I now wash & clay at the same time anyways.
 
Check out 3M site for their blue clays. It's similar to ClayMagic (i.e. nice soft clay that's easy to work with (in fact, I think it's the same clay, but don't know for sure). You get 3 bars for $21. I don't know the size of each clay because 3M gives the weight in ounces and not in grams. Also, I don't know if one has to buy 6 cases at $21 per case or if each case can be purchased individually. Maybe some Autopians can get together to purchase a bulk order of 6 cases? :)
 
I have used only two.



Mothers and mcguires.



Mcguires was terriable and stained my paint, Mothers was great.



Bob

Stockton Ca
 
GreenArrow said:
Check out 3M site for their blue clays. It's similar to ClayMagic (i.e. nice soft clay that's easy to work with (in fact, I think it's the same clay, but don't know for sure). You get 3 bars for $21. I don't know the size of each clay because 3M gives the weight in ounces and not in grams. Also, I don't know if one has to buy 6 cases at $21 per case or if each case can be purchased individually. Maybe some Autopians can get together to purchase a bulk order of 6 cases? :)
Click to expand...

OK, I checked out the site and called to confirm. It's 6 jars (each with a 200g bar) per case. You must order a whole case, but it's only $21....and free shipping.



If it's just as good as clay magic, at this price I might have to buy some.



Michael
 
I recently used the Zaino clay for the first time. I was apprehensive being that it was my first time ever claying a car. The process went smooth and left my paint smooth. I'd recommend Zaino's clay although it was rather pricey compared to other's.
 
mpauly,



Thanks for the follow-up. I think i'm now less confused about 3M's pricing of their clays. The only thing I fully understand is the free shipping. :p



So help me out again: Is it $21 per case (which contains 6 jars and that each jar contains a 200g bar)?



I read at VWVORTEX that ClayMagic and 3M bars are exactly the same. Here's a quote from DetailingDude, posted 1/10/03 from the Ultimate Clay Guide:



"The Blue Clay Bar:

I recently tested 3M's and ClayMagic's clay bar and have the same one that is imported from Japan (even has the same exact patent numbers on them, LOL). However, there is a tremdous price variation between the two with 3M's being around $5.00 less. I have found the 3M one for around $18. My Rating: Very Good. "



(Sorry if I'm not allowed to quote posts from another board, but I have included as much info in order to give proper credit. :up )
 
GreenArrow said:
So help me out again: Is it $21 per case (which contains 6 jars and that each jar contains a 200g bar)?

Click to expand...



Yup, you got it right, 6 - 200g bars for $21 shipped. Anybody want to split a case? I don't think I need 6 right now.



Michael
 
mpauly, I would, but I'm stuck on Zaino Z18 clay, looks like mothers, smells like mothers, performed like mothers, is it mothers? one difference I noticed with the Z clay, didn't grab the paint if very little lube was used, slowed down but didn't stop completely and stick to the paint like the Mother's clay did. Both performed exceptionally well. I now prefer Mother's or Zaino clay.



$21 shipped, 600 grams of clay! Thats one sweet deal. Let me know if you want to split a case, I think I can spare $15, or how far is Montclair from Old Bridge?
 
Don't forget, there are several "grades" of clay for auto use.



Red is mostly more aggressive.

Blue is a moderate aggressive

Grey is a light aggressive



Grey is somewhat hard to find, and made by several companies, Clean-Brite and Schlegel (yes buffing pad Company).



All work well for what level of problems you may have.



I've used Zaino's (yellow), don't know where it fits in the scheme of aggressiveness. But workes well for me!



Too many people forget this step and start polishing right after washing. All that does is get the surface dirt pushed into your nice finish by the polish, which has lubricants for the abrasives, help push it further into the finish as the lubricants cannot break it down as it can with the abrasives. Bottom line is clay first, polish second after washing.



Regards,

Deanski
 
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