clay bar
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 178
Likes: 1
From: windsor ontario
clay bar
I am going to use clay bar this weekend on my 76 , and the paint is still nice and shiny to begin with but I am just trying to get that little bit extra is there any chance that this will hurt my polish?
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 1
From: Liberty Missouri
Yep, it's trash if you drop it. If you haven’t used one you should try it. I was stunned the first time I used one. It makes your paint much smoother to the touch.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,173
Likes: 1
From: Liberty Missouri
The manufacture does recommend waxing afterwards. Is it really necessary?….I’m not sure, I just always wax after I do it. You really only need to clay bar once a year, so just do it when you are going to wax the car anyway. It only takes a few minuets.
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Drifting
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 24
From: Coastal Georgia
C2 of the Year Finalist - Modified 2020
Yes, it's absolutely necessary to wax afterwards, otherwise you will have no form of protection for your paint. The way I have always used the claybar is to first wash the entire vehicle in a Dawn/water bath, to remove all the old wax and any other products on the paint. I rinse off all the Dawn, and then get either a bottle of spray detailer or just mix up some more Dawn and water in a spray bottle, and use that to lubricate the paint surface as you clay. Work in small sections, and you'll be able to tell when each section is done, because it will go from feeling rough to smooth as a baby's a$$. Go over the entire car, then wash it again to get all the residue off. After you dry, immediately go back and wax, and you'll be good to go. Takes some time, but you'll get great results and your paint will be in much better shape than when you started.
One other thing...as you use the claybar, it will flatten out like a pancake. Just fold it over and go back to work. Depending on how bad your paint is, a claybar will last a good while if you just keep folding it over when it flattens out. If you start seeing a lot of junk in your claybar after folding, then its time for a new one.
One other thing...as you use the claybar, it will flatten out like a pancake. Just fold it over and go back to work. Depending on how bad your paint is, a claybar will last a good while if you just keep folding it over when it flattens out. If you start seeing a lot of junk in your claybar after folding, then its time for a new one.
Last edited by Quil; Apr 9, 2009 at 04:18 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
Likes: 11
From: Hinckley OH
I used one for the first time last year. Coincidentally, mine is a 76 and I thought the paint was pretty good. It did make a noticeable difference.
Don't worry too much about dropping it and having to throw it away. I found that it kind of sticks to your fingers so it isn't that easy to drop it except right after you fold it over to get a clean spot. Once the detail spray dries off a little it sticks to your fingers again.
And I did wax it afterwards. I did my Vette and my wife's Eagle Talon in one day.
Don't worry too much about dropping it and having to throw it away. I found that it kind of sticks to your fingers so it isn't that easy to drop it except right after you fold it over to get a clean spot. Once the detail spray dries off a little it sticks to your fingers again.
And I did wax it afterwards. I did my Vette and my wife's Eagle Talon in one day.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 1
From: Michigan
Autopia has some good info on using clay bars. My preference is to claybar once a year (all the cars are driven very little and only in the summer) followed by some Rejex. I never wax my car.
I have a great article on using a claybar on your car but I can't attach documents.
http://www.rejex.com/rejex.html
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-clay.html
I have a great article on using a claybar on your car but I can't attach documents.
http://www.rejex.com/rejex.html
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-clay.html
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,041
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From: Omaha NE
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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Last year I used a claybar for the 1st time on my '76. Mine still has all original paint in great shape, and I thought it was clean. But the crap the came off was amazing. I used Griots clay and their Speed Shine for the lube. I took this pic when I was done...........
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
with above. The clay bar will remove dirt, tar, rail dust, etc. Just make sure you keep the panel wet with product and work in small to medium areas. Wax your car when finished.
If you have rail dust clay baring will remove it but it will come back and you have to repeat the process. Once rail dust is in the paint your can't get it out. The claying will just knock it down, you'll see rail dust easily in a white car. I would think most C3's don't have original paint so rail dust does not exist.
Very nice paint sevnt6
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 3,557
Likes: 0
From: Ridgeway VA
My '75 was repainted with clear about 15 years ago but when I bought it pine tree sap and road tar was on it. I used a hair dryer to get the tar off, and a store brand cleaner to get the tree sap off. Then, as noted above, washed with Dawn to get lots of dirt and wax off the car. Used the clay bar, then used polish, then wax and it was beautiful. Showed the previous owner and he thought I repainted the car. Did that about 5 years ago and it still looks great.