How to Clay a car
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 2,675
Likes: 13
From: Sudbury MA
How to Clay a car
This may be a dumb question but can someone please post SPECIFIC details of how to clay a car?
Also, must the car be waxed immediately after claying procedure is completed?
Thank you,
Kurt
Also, must the car be waxed immediately after claying procedure is completed?
Thank you,
Kurt
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 842
Likes: 3
From: Woodruff SC
St. Jude Donor '10
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,287
Likes: 7
From: n/a SC
wash the car good, then clay..while claying you use a lot of lube while using the clay bar on the car if you can't you will mar it and scratch the paint.....
not a hard thing I've done my 95 once and will the 68 next time I detail it removes anything unwanted from your paints surface which at the end of a detail just puts it up there that extra notch.
GL
not a hard thing I've done my 95 once and will the 68 next time I detail it removes anything unwanted from your paints surface which at the end of a detail just puts it up there that extra notch.
GL
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 194
Likes: 4
From: Florida
Its a piece of cake.
Clay an area 1-2 square feet at a time. You will feel/hear resistance...keep going. You are removing the paint impurities.
When that stops, wipe it off and move to the next area.
Clay an area 1-2 square feet at a time. You will feel/hear resistance...keep going. You are removing the paint impurities.
When that stops, wipe it off and move to the next area.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 1999
Posts: 4,930
Likes: 11
From: AnyTown NJ
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 595
Likes: 5
From: Schuylkill County PA
Originally Posted by C3 RV
Another trick I use is to hold a margarine cup under the clay as I use it on the sides for when, not if, I drop it.
I usually clay my cars as I'm washing. Having the clay bar basically submerged in water decreases its life, but it's much easier for me than lubricating the paint constantly.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 2
From: Huntingburg Indiana
The clay magic bar works the best. My brother used the meguiars clay on his black 98 trans am and it literally left gouges in the paint. I'm glad he found this before doing a large area. I am going to have to paint the hood though. Wash your car first. Spray on soapy water or the spray that comes with the car. Rub the clay over the surface. You will have to wash the car when you're done because there will be residue on it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 1
From: Where everyone's grandparents come to die, FL
I just used Meguiar's clay bar kit on my Black 73. No marks, scratches, etc, and got a finish as smooth as a baby's butt. I Got hundreds of compliments on it @ Carlisle last weekend. It's as easy to do as everyone has mentioned above. I used Zymol cleaner/wax after the clay, which helps repair any swirl marks/light scratches in the clear. It came out amazing.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,668
Likes: 43
From: Eastern US XX
Originally Posted by bondoboy
My brother used the meguiars clay on his black 98 trans am and it literally left gouges in the paint.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,036
Likes: 2
From: Huntingburg Indiana
The clay bar was new in the package, never dropped. I'm not an amateur. I have had trouble with other meguiars products, too. Don't get me started on their compounds or wax. What a smeary mess. I have messed with a lot of their stuff in the body shop and now selling body shop supplies.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 1
From: Where everyone's grandparents come to die, FL
Originally Posted by bondoboy
The clay bar was new in the package, never dropped. I'm not an amateur. I have had trouble with other meguiars products, too. Don't get me started on their compounds or wax. What a smeary mess. I have messed with a lot of their stuff in the body shop and now selling body shop supplies.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,507
Likes: 114
From: St. Louis Mo
Originally Posted by Bob Onit
Has anybody used a California Water Blade for drying?
If so, is it better than a chamois and is it worth the money?
Thanks
If so, is it better than a chamois and is it worth the money?
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 7
From: Connecticut
Originally Posted by ltinnell
I use the microfiber cloth
Anybody else have an opinion on the California Water Blade?
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 6,689
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
St. Jude Donor '15
I used to use the California water blade on my truck and CTS. It works OK on large, flat surfaces. Now I use a Toro electric leaf blower followed by a towel. The leaf blower does a good job getting most of the water out of those places on every car that dribble for hours.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 3
From: Florissant MO
Originally Posted by Bob Onit
Thanks ltinnell, I have one, it works good but IMO not as well as a real Chamois (not the synthetic crap)
Anybody else have an opinion on the California Water Blade?
Thanks
Anybody else have an opinion on the California Water Blade?
Thanks