sun and clay

I

imported_3tk8

New member
What is the danger of using a clay bar in the sun? The reason I ask is that I live in a city where it's difficult to get a spot in front of the building where the hose is, etc., and it's even more difficult to find shade.
 
If the paint gets hot, the lubricant (quick detailer) will dry. This will cause the clay to grab and leave streak marks.



Try either early AM (5:30 AM it's light here, and the temp is comfortable), or late - 7:30 PM or later.
 
what do you use with the clay bar?I want to get one but I see that you guys(and gals) use some type of spray?I am a bit confused:nixweiss
 
The clay bar need lubricant, so that it doesn't scratch the clear coat. You can buy special lubricant for this purpose or use a water spray with diluted car wash. There are TONS of thread all over the forum on this topic and they're all pretty much in agreement on the lubricant issue.
 
You're welcome--I am going to HAVE to do it in the sun today, because I cannot access shade near a hose and I have a bad covering of bug sap from a tree on Saturday. I am going to take my chances and use tons of lubricant...
 
Thanks a bunch! Well, it's not a dead on sun today at least...as it's threatening to thundershower, so it's probably a good time to get to it...will take a look at that tarp! Thanks
 
Just have the soap and water solution ready and keep spraying the car down so that it doesn't dry. I did a black Pathfinder at noon last week like this. No problems. Just have to keep wetting everything down.
 
How did it go, richiek? Remember you have plenty of Autopian shoulders to lean on as you learn the products and processes. And - lucky you! :up -- several of them are in NYC.
 
Thanks for asking Lynn, that's really, really great of you. Well, it was a tricky day, what with sun, thundershowers, etc. I gave the car a good wash with Pinnacle Body Shampoo, did some minor scratch buffing out with Scratch X, then clay bar, then thundershowers, then a coat of SG. I noticed more little things than I had seen last time, watermarks, small chips, imperfections, after finishing SG...am now thinking about possibly working with an abrasive, over the whole car to get rid of these things, as well as doing some minor paint repair (just orderd that autosharp pen). Finally, I am not sure that I got all the tiny bits of tree sap off, and am thinking of what to do next about that!
 
Oh, I feel your pain, richiek. Worked with zenhog a couple of weeks ago. He thought he was all set. Applied AIO & SG. Then looked closely at the results, and (if I recall his thread correctly) decided to take it all off and start again, so he could deal with the little defects and scratches/swirls that a non-Autopian eye would never even notice! :lol



The order of your processes is a new one to me, though others here might use it. I generally clay before polishing/buffing. Also, do you have AIO on hand? From reports of Jngrbrdman and many others, it seems to be a good cleaner in prep for SG. Keep reading, and keep asking questions. You'll get this baby sparkling! :up
 
Well, I didn't really polish, as the Pinnacle I used isn't the paint cleanser (polish), but just shampoo. I was thinking of using AIO (had done so a couple of times before) but with the thundershowers threatening, and a desperate desire to get rid of these horrible, tiny tree sap crystals all over the car, I went from shampoo, to clay, to some brief scratch buff, to SG. Weirdly enough, I had just washed the car on Saturday, only to have the tree sap contaminate it on Saturday night. So, I didn't have to worry too much about the tires and wheels. I do think I need to give the car a real polish--I had avoided it pretty much as it's just one year old, but I think it needs it.
 
Wow richiek !! You picked a tough week to do all this in. I check the weather every day or so just to see if I can wash my car. This week looks like a nightmare in NY.



I've used goo gone for some stubborn tree sap. Just wash the area when I'm done. Otherwise, I had some really bad stuff once (sap&pollen combo) and clayed, washed, clayed, washed and finally got it off. Are you in Manhattan ? Yikes
 
Yup, Manhattan! But, the tree sap wouldn't wait!! And, I didn't even get it all off, a few of those damn specks were noticable after I buffed the SG off... DAMN!!!
 
ARGH !! It's tough if you can't do it indoors. I find myself hovering over the hood to protect it from any falling debris....LOL, debris everywhere !! That's why I wear, hat, mask, scrubs and tissue boxes on my feet.
 
Compounded by trying to it when you live in an apartment building. Unforunately, my parking garage won't let me use their hose, so I have to try and find a spot right in front of the sigot in front of my building. But, I work for a living and am not home during the week when the spots open up for alternate side of the street parking. That's why I took yesterday off, because it was one of the days a spot in front of the building would open up. I don't know of any self wash centers in Manhattan either, so it's not like I can go to one of those easily. Someday, hopefully, I'll live in the burbs with a nice garage and man, my car will look awesome!
 
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