What does claying do that SMR doesn't?

S

StLB5

New member
If I plan on polishing with SMR or even FI-II, is claying really required? Does it pull more out than the SMR can get?
 
Claying & SMR at two different products that do to different things.

when you clay the car you are removing all the crap that is left on top of the paint. You are making it smooth to the touch. Claying is a must for every detail job. Smr will remove the swirl marks on the veh that are in the paint.

If you use them together the right way and then follow up with a good polish and wax the car will look great.



Use the search button as i posted something about this in the past.
 
I did search a bit, but you can imagine the returns from a search of smr or clay. I think I understand though, basically, I'd have to polish down pretty far to get everything that the clay pulls out, right? I've always clayed before waxing or polishing, just something I've been thinking about.
 
NY detailer said:
Claying & SMR at two different products that do to different things.

when you clay the car you are removing all the crap that is left on top of the paint. You are making it smooth to the touch. Claying is a must for every detail job. Smr will remove the swirl marks on the veh that are in the paint.

If you use them together the right way and then follow up with a good polish and wax the car will look great.



Use the search button as i posted something about this in the past.
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Here is what I dont understand, if you were to use some sort of compound on your vehicle to remove swirls and fine scratches, wouldn't this process also remove any contaminants in the paint since compounding is removing a very fine top layer of paint / clearcoat anyway?
 
StLB5 said:
Okay, now I'm really confused! What are the correct definitions for compound, polish and glaze?
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compound : liquid sandpaper



polish: an abrasive (paste or liquid) that smoothens a paint surface : takes away the haze and other marks a compound leaves behind



glaze : a filler to hide what a polish could not remove



Christiaan
 
Compound=removes heavier scratchs

Polish=eliminates swirls, protects the paints nice & smooth finish after claying. Used before or in replace of wax.

Glaze=fills in swirls. can be used before OR after wax.



Theres more to it then that, but that is the way I remember it and I have been getting by fine for 9 years!
 
VIN, that's kind of my question when I brought this up.



cvcaelen, so in 3M terms, FI-II and PI-II are compounds, SMR is a polish, and IHG, is a glaze?
 
StLB5 said:
VIN, that's kind of my question when I brought this up.



cvcaelen, so in 3M terms, FI-II and PI-II are compounds, SMR is a polish, and IHG, is a glaze?
Click to expand...



3M writes it on their bottles you have FI and PI compounds, polish and glazes

SMR is a true polish

IHG is a true glaze





Do you know the diffrence between Perfect-it and Finesse-it?



Well, my 3M dealer told me that Perfect-it is made for large area's (whole car) and Finesse-it is made for small area's(touch-up).





Christiaan
 
The way I understand it is that compounding may remove the same contaminents as clay, but in the hands of a newb (esp w/ a rotary), you could do a lot of of damage to your finish. The glazes and polishes will not remove these contaminents. Claying is much safer and easier. Give it try, you'll be very impressed. I like the Clay Magic brand myself, fwiw.
 
In terms of effect and intended use, I like to just lump compounds and polishes together in my mind - they just have varying abrasiveness grades and fillers/no fillers (like FI II vs. SMR).



You should really clay before polishing because you will be polishing off paint while also polishing off the tops of the lumps of garbage stuck to the paint. Not the best for an even job in my opinion. Also, if the pad does knock off the contaminant, it will probably get embedded in the applicator's face and can scratch the finish, just like any other dirt.



Clay first

Polish after
 
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