Just purchased a clay bar today. b4 I use it any tips and things I should really look

S

sheltem

New member
Hi guys, I just bought my FIRST clay bar today :D



Anything that I should really look out for b4 I start using it and damaging the paint ...



Any tips? :D



I have read a few articles on its use and how to use it. Just wanted to see if there are anything I left out.



Thank you for any help given.



By the way how big a area will you guys do at a time? 2X2 means 2inch by 2inch?



Do you all rub back and forth or in 1 direction only? Should be with light pressure only right? and of course lubrication which I plan to use car soap + water mix in a bottle spray.
 
Lolz..yar as easy as washing my car :D



Wonder where I heard horror stories of people scratching their car with claying ;p



Thx man for that article. Will go read it now. :D



Anyone else with any tips ;p
 
horror stories of people scratching their car while claying:



well , you can if you want to:

drop the claybar and keep on using it

clay an unwashed car

never stretch & fold while claying

no use of lube



what I'm trying to say is : use it as described and you'll be fine:xyxthumbs



Christiaan
 
I was a bit frightened too at first, but a nicely dawn washed car, followed by plenty of lube and following directions, and I was amazed at what came off of my "clean" '96 Cobra....it really does wonders, and makes polishing and waxing so much easier. I use ClayMagic from autozone.
 
No need to be afraid of clay! Christiaan’s post listed all of the potential causes of problems except using too much pressure.



If you practice on your windshield you’ll learn the “feel� of the clay (and get a very clean windshield) without any risk. Wash the glass first to minimize debris pickup by the clay.
 
How long do you use a piece of clay for? How would you determin that a clay cannot be used any more and have to throw it away .. I understand that we always have to fold the clay so that the "dirty" side will go into the clay exposing the clean side...



By streching the clay .. is it the same as moulding it into a ball and reforming it again?
 
Length of use depends on how much debris was on your paint and how anal you are about your paint. Being very conservative I seldom use it more than 3-4 times.



Stretching the clay: While claying be careful to use only one side of the clay. When it has started to get visible debris, the stretch it evenly into a rectangle twice the original size by pulling on opposite sides - - then fold so the dirty side is now the inside of the clay. If you mould it into a ball and then flatten it you’ll end up with debris on the surface much sooner.



Tip: Before the first use stretch the clay out and cut it into smaller pieces. You’ll have backup pieces in case one gets dropped (throw it away) and the smaller size gives you more “feel� for the surface that you’re working with. I cut 200 gm (7 oz) bars like Clay Magic into four pieces.
 
Guys I would like to check something.



As before claying we would wash our car with DAWN to get rid of all the wax and dirt, and after that the car will be wet ...



Do we Dry the car after washing before I want to clay?



Because when claying we will still spray lubricant over the area and wet the car again ....



Kindly advice :D thank you.
 
Rinse to get rid of soap film from the Dawn, but no need to dry. Any water spotting will me very minor and come off easily with the clay.
 
Personally I don't do the stretch-then-fold thing, quite often just because the clay has spread out and become bigger just from being pressed lightly by my fingers. I just fold it in half (folding the dirt into the center) and reshape it roughly back into a rectangle. I end up with a weird effect of dark layers of dirt. I figure this is better than kneading it and spreading the dirt evenly throughout. This way I feel I'm always getting a fresh, clean face of clay.



How often to fold the dirt in is a judgement call. I use the yellow Mothers clay so I fold it over when it's starting to look decidedly darker and brownish. You could keep going until it turns black, but this is a bad idea. You'll also notice its ability to pick up contamination gets worse as it gets dirty.



Some pressure is necessary to keep it flat and firmly on the surface, but the action should be "gliding" not "rubbing".
 
Thanks man .. you have always been a great help to me.



By the way the clay that I bought over here is in Japanese words lolz but its quite hard .. have not used it yet .. planning to do it tommorrow ...



Is it normal for it to be quite hard? and its VERY sticky ....
 
tradertt said:
Is it normal for it to be quite hard? and its VERY sticky ....
Click to expand...
Clay can vary widely brand to brand (apparently), which is why people have certain preferences. Some are softer, some are sticky, some not... :nixweiss It's also dependant on temperature and cold clay is often much stiffer.



If you can see a brand name or something try searching for it. Maybe theveed or someone has already tried it before.
 
Nick T. said:
When it has started to get visible debris, the stretch it evenly into a rectangle twice the original size by pulling on opposite sides - - then fold so the dirty side is now the inside of the clay.
Click to expand...



Nick, I am going to have to disagree with your advice here. It is very dangerous to knead in the debris back into the claybar. You never know when the debris will work it's way back onto the paints surface. The risk is not worth it.



The safest way is to cut the bar into small pieces, knead the bar into flat wafers and use each side of the wafer until dirty. flip over use the clean side then dispose of. To use fold over again is just false economy. Just make your wafer thin enough so you don't have to fold over. You have no waste. Much, much safer.



Give it a try! ;)
 
so each piece of clay bar will be very very thin ... as thin as a wafer as you have mentioned .... Hmm... I wonder how long will a clay bar last me in this way ;p :D





But I agree that its safe .... but cost effective?
 
tradertt said:
But I agree that its safe .... but cost effective?
Click to expand...



You would be amazed. My bars last me quite a long time. I prefer the more solid bars of Pinnacle, Mothers and Zaino rather than the softer manufactured bars.



And what is a scratch worth to you? ;)
 
Brad B. said:
Nick, I am going to have to disagree with your advice here. It is very dangerous to knead in the debris back into the claybar. You never know when the debris will work it's way back onto the paints surface. The risk is not worth it.



The safest way is to cut the bar into small pieces, knead the bar into flat wafers and use each side of the wafer until dirty. flip over use the clean side then dispose of. To use fold over again is just false economy. Just make your wafer thin enough so you don't have to fold over. You have no waste. Much, much safer.
Click to expand...
Brad, I must not have been clear. Kneading is definitely a no-no as you said, but stretching and folding won’t bring any debris to the new surface until the clay has been stretched and folded several times. The first time that I stretch/fold and even one spot of debris shows, then the bar goes in the trash.



Your method sounds safer for some people, but since I’m pretty <S>cheap</S> frugal I’m afraid that I might wait too long to throw the bar away! But, I will give it a try next time I clay.
 
Guys I tried making it into a wafer shape but lolz ... looks very ugly





2 things to ask ...



1) How big does your clay bar spread out when you use it on the car? Any rough size? 2inch by 2 inch?



2) How big an area do you work on each time moving the car bar back and forth ? also 2inch by 2 inch?



Cause my clay bar that I kneaded out seems very small and I wonder how long it will take to do the WHOLE car lolz :D
 
How big does your clay bar spread out when you use it on the car? Any rough size? 2inch by 2 inch?
Click to expand...



that's about a good size



How big an area do you work on each time moving the car bar back and forth ? also 2inch by 2 inch?
Click to expand...



I'd rather say 2 feet by 2 feet

just keep it well lubed.



I do a third of my hood at once (= 1 section), 1door (=1section), the roof I must devide in 5 parts.

just to give you an idea.



How long does it take to clay a car?

My Mazda MPV (mini-Van) needs 1 hour(excluded the washing part wich takes 1 1/2 to 2 hours (he, I'm picky)) to clay included the windows.



Happy detailing

:wavey



Christiaan
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top