Is Sonüs SFX Ultra-Fine green clay really LSP-safe?

[doc-rice]

I only have experience with Clay Magic. However, I would like to have a clay which I can use every 3 - 6 months that doesn't harm the LSP (P21S, Zaino, or KSG) and this clay claims to be so light in its aggressiveness that it won't hurt the paint's icing on the cake. I know many people here use it, but is that LSP-safe claim an exaggeration or do you guys find that it really won't do much to rub off the wax or sealant? I just find it somewhat difficult to believe that something like clay won't affect LSP.



Also, I know that the Glyde Clay Lube is recommended on the store site, but what other lubricants have you guys found that doesn't break the green clay down? Based on the searches here, I understand that the Sonüs green clay breaks down when used with some lubricants.



Does anyone know if there's a difference between the Sonüs green clay and the Danase fine grade clay?

 

[David Fermani]

I find it interesting that Sonus advertises their clay as "The only clay that removes contaminants, NOT your wax". I find that wrong and misleading. It's probably just a marketing sceem to differentiate their product from the others. Blue Clay Magic will not remove it either. Funny thing is that their clay is a hybrid of Clay Magic. If you're claying every 3-6 months, there's a good chance you'll also need to LSP again too.

 

[Paulie Walnuts]

I find it interesting that Sonus advertises their clay as "The only clay that removes contaminants, NOT your wax". I find that wrong and misleading. It's probably just a marketing sceem to differentiate their product from the others. Blue Clay Magic will not remove it either. Funny thing is that their clay is a hybrid of Clay Magic. If you're claying every 3-6 months, there's a good chance you'll also need to LSP again too.

I beg to differ on blue clay magic not removing LSP. How do you verify that claim?

 

[willtothewong]

i've used both the glyde clay lube and soap water (in my case, Ultima wash) and for some reason when i used the ultima wash+clay one day, the clay seemed fine. But later on, using the same clay, i used glyde clay lube and for some reason the clay seemed to like fall apart.



Not literally like break apart into pieces but like when i would fold the clay over to get a clean surface, the edges of the clay where i fold like break and flake, its kinda of hard to describe. I just know that "normally" the clay folds with nice smooth folds, but after the combination of ultima shampoo one day and glyde the other, it like broke down the clay. I dont know what to do with the clay now. i guess i could use it for windows

 

[David Fermani]

I beg to differ on blue clay magic not removing LSP. How do you verify that claim?

*Since it's introduction back in the early 90's Auto Magic says it doesn't

*Rick Schmidt (Director of Training for AM) says it doesn't

*I've clayed 100's of freshly waxed vehicles(including mine) and haven't noticed any loss in gloss or beading (especially marring)



Do you have info to verify it does?

 

[JasonD]

i've used both the glyde clay lube and soap water (in my case, Ultima wash) and for some reason when i used the ultima wash+clay one day, the clay seemed fine. But later on, using the same clay, i used glyde clay lube and for some reason the clay seemed to like fall apart.



Not literally like break apart into pieces but like when i would fold the clay over to get a clean surface, the edges of the clay where i fold like break and flake, its kinda of hard to describe. I just know that "normally" the clay folds with nice smooth folds, but after the combination of ultima shampoo one day and glyde the other, it like broke down the clay. I dont know what to do with the clay now. i guess i could use it for windows

This is actually quite common, and is the reason why it is recommended to only use the specific lubricant that the type of clay you are using was designed for.



You never know what soaps will break down clay until its too late, and not all will break it down. I use my clay with car wash shampoo all the time, and have never had any fall apart, but I've heard stories like yours many times.



In regards to the original topic, *how* you use your clay is more important than what type of clay you use. If you use a generous amount of lubricant, and are also *very* gentle with claying process, you can preserve your lsp fairly easily.

 

[willtothewong]

This is actually quite common, and is the reason why it is recommended to only use the specific lubricant that the type of clay you are using was designed for.



You never know what soaps will break down clay until its too late, and not all will break it down. I use my clay with car wash shampoo all the time, and have never had any fall apart, but I've heard stories like yours many times.



In regards to the original topic, *how* you use your clay is more important than what type of clay you use. If you use a generous amount of lubricant, and are also *very* gentle with claying process, you can preserve your lsp fairly easily.

i shall give an update by the end of the week to see if the ultima car wash really does break down the sonus clay bar or if it was my own mistake using the ultima car wash as lube one day and using glyde lube the next day on the same piece of clay.

 

[paul34]

Although I know it doesn't address the main topic, I feel I should contribute to the secondary topic that sprung up in this thread (hehe) that I use ONR at QD strength (which is actually twice the clay lube recommended strength) with Sonus Green clay a few times with no ill effects.



This is actually impressive, as my Meg's clay kind of tended to leave residue behind (not fall apart, but just leave some of itself behind in the form of adhesive) with the ONR QD.



I know that its probably due to the strength of the ONR solution. What happened was that I originally intended to use it as a QD, but wasn't impressed with it in that regard, and so had a gallon of mixed solution I still had.



So I just use it as a clay lube. Works very well. ONR wash is useless with clay (feels like water, no lubrication or at least not enough for caly), but it magically becomes amazing for use with clay at the proper strength. I suspect that had I used the 3:1 ratio that you're supposed to use for clay (rather than the 6oz:1gal I think QD is for) , the Meg's clay wouldn't have started to fall apart.



Oh well. The sonus clay, while not as "aggressive" as the gentle OTC Meg's clay, still doesn't fall apart, and that's ok. It does get a little gummy in the Florida summer humidity, but then again, it says that that may the case right on the label. As long as it works and doesn't create a mess, I'm ok with it.



I'm happy with my Sonus green clay.

 

[NickelPlated.45]

i've used both the glyde clay lube and soap water (in my case, Ultima wash) and for some reason when i used the ultima wash+clay one day, the clay seemed fine. But later on, using the same clay, i used glyde clay lube and for some reason the clay seemed to like fall apart.



Not literally like break apart into pieces but like when i would fold the clay over to get a clean surface, the edges of the clay where i fold like break and flake, its kinda of hard to describe. I just know that "normally" the clay folds with nice smooth folds, but after the combination of ultima shampoo one day and glyde the other, it like broke down the clay. I dont know what to do with the clay now. i guess i could use it for windows

You know i had the same problem. Then Tort mentioned i might be kneading too much lube into the clay. So i started wiping off the excess lube before i kneaded the clay and the problem went away.