How long does the clay bar last?

K

krutoydude

New member
How many times could you use your clay bar? Can you tell if it it time to throw one out? Also, right now I use Mothers clay bar; are there any recomendations which brand clay bar I should get in the future? Thank you for your responses in advance.
 
Golly! Simple questions to ask; hard to answer. I'd suggest you do a little background reading as a starter; look at these first:



DavidB’s “Cleaning with Clay� article



AlBoston’s “Removing surface contamination (grittyness) by clay�



Nick’s unsolicited claying tips and tricks



Claying is a high sacrament in the detailing world. Nothing quite like it for getting a good slick base on your paint.



My personal favorite is a tie between the Mother's kit and the Autopia Glide, Block & Waffle kit.



Many of us cut the clay bar into smaller sections for use. As it starts to get grit embedded, throw it out. We're dealing with cars valued at many thousands of dollars. It makes no sense to scrimp on a $10 clay bar that, if dirty, could cause scratches.



Do a little reading, then ask more questions, and you'll get a ton of helpful tips.



And :welcome to Autopia. The fact that you even know clay exists puts you out ahead of the pack.
 
I've found 2 easy ways to tell:



1) when a gold or yellow bar turns brownish on color, it's time to get rid of it.



2) when a clay bar no longer sticks to your hand easily, it's time to go.



Of course, that doesn't take into account any large paticulates which may have become embedded in it, which can damage the paint.
 
I have used all of the major brands and have come to the conclusion that

1. Clay gets hard when cold. So during cool weather I use Clay-Magic.

2. Clay gets soft when warm. So during warm weather I use Pinnacle Clay.



Always lube well. I use a mixture of Gold Class car wash or PS21 Auto Shampoo in a spray bottle. Both work great. Some people clay while washing.

Bob
 
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