Question for the experts

S

sapperstang

New member
Hey fellas. Got a question for ya. My car is an 04 so it is new. I did the clay bar and the whole nine yards the week I brought it home. Well that was in Jan. and it is just now starting to not bead up as well when I wash it. I like Mothers products because I get a good deal on them. My question is, do I need to do all the steps including clay bar this time? Or can I just do the glaze/sealer and wax? As I am sure you know the Mothers is four steps: clay bar, prewax cleaner, glaze/sealer and then the wax. The car is garaged if that matters. Just wondering if I should start all over? Thanks.
 
Gosh, it's pretty intimidating to reply to a "question for the EXPERTS," since I sure don't consider myself one. But ... I'll screw up my courage and soldier on.



Hard to give any "time-based" recommendations about claying. Here's what I do. First, after a good wash and dry, I'll just run the inside of my wrist along a section of the boot or bonnet. If I feel any grittiness -- anything short of slick -- I figure a clay job will help. Or, if I'm not sure, I'll just clay a 2'x2' section. If it feels better than the unclayed areas, I go ahead and clay the car.



I'm sure REAL experts will offer other, better tips.
 
Or you could do the baggie test, put your hand in a sandwich bag and run it across a panel, if it's gritty then time to clay. The bag will greatly enhance what you feel on the surface. If you're gonna clay then you might as well do the cleaner again too. I start all over again twice a year for a daily driver.
 
My own personal rule is to clay 2x a year during my big details. Once in the fall, once in the spring. Since it's been 7 months since you clayed last, I would go ahead and do it again if I were you. you will notice a difference when you're done.



Bill.
 
sapperstang said:
Hey fellas. Got a question for ya. My car is an 04 so it is new. I did the clay bar and the whole nine yards the week I brought it home. Well that was in Jan. and it is just now starting to not bead up as well when I wash it. I like Mothers products because I get a good deal on them. My question is, do I need to do all the steps including clay bar this time? Or can I just do the glaze/sealer and wax? As I am sure you know the Mothers is four steps: clay bar, prewax cleaner, glaze/sealer and then the wax. The car is garaged if that matters. Just wondering if I should start all over? Thanks.
Click to expand...



If, when you say "experts", you mean don't know much, then I'm your man. :o



I use alot of Mothers products as well, sapperstang (along with Megs, Eagle One, 303, and Autoglym)



Clay removes above surface contaminants and prewax cleaner removes below surface, like oxidation. As a general rule, do both twice a year concurrently. How often do you glaze and wax? The more frequent, the more protected (and dont forget, the shinier!), and therefore less frequent need to clay/prewax.



BTW, its not four steps (I'm sure you meant five, including washing), its SEVEN: 1. wash 2. clay 3. prewax clean 4. glaze 5. wax 6. beer in hand bathe in your cars glory! 7. buy wife flowers :p
 
Thanks for the replies! I will wash her in Dawn since I know that will strip it all down. Then do the whole process. Not looing forward to it since it is such a PITA. Thanks again!
 
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