The right detailing clay for my job?

[tCspool]

Previously I posted a thread asking a bunch of questions regarding my first detail job, and one aspect was claying. At the time of my initial post, I said I would be polishing and waxing by hand. I was recommended to get Sonus Ultrafine Detailing Clay since it wouldn't mar up the surface as much for my post-clay hand polishing.



Since then, I have decided to go with the UDM and do the polish by machine. Therefore, I'd like to re-evaluate the clay purchasing decision of Sonus and see if there is another product that might better fit my needs.



The car is only a year old, and has some minor swirls I can see in the direct sunlight, and an area where there are some bush scratches. I know clay has nothing to do with either of these problems - just thought I'd throw it in there just in case. So with using a machine for polishing - and a relatively newer car - what clay would best fit my needs? From what I have read, not all clays are the same.



Thanks!!!

 

[DantheMan]

Basically you can just use a more aggressive clay, which makes the job faster and easier.. Much easier on your arms. A lot less scrubbing.



But don't throw away the sonus.. Fine clay is great for touchups in between polishings.. I would just pick a brand and order a medium grade clay. Personally I like the Clay Magic blue, because its cheap and easy to find locally. Works well, and is only like $10 for the bar and a bottle of lube. No need for an aggressive clay unless you are trying to remove some serious contamination.

 

[Accumulator]

Yeah, the Sonus Ultra Fine might be *too* gentle for the initial claying.



I'd probably recommend ClayMagic Blue for the first time. Just because you got the UDM, that doesn't mean that it'd be OK to mar the paint up with a really aggressive clay Another OTC option might be the Mother's, but it (and the apparently identical Griot's) don't impress me all that much so I'd go with the ClayMagic; I've never used ClayMagic, but people whose opinions I respect swear by it and that's good enough for me.