clay bar cleaning
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
Oldtimer
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2011
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Meguires clay is very good!
Meguires clay works great and so easy with great results. I wash my vette with dawn, clay bar it, wash it again. I then buff it with porter cable using meguires #26, then wax with meguires #105. Got rid off all the swirl marks and small scatches. Left a finish like new. Check out amazon and auto geek for good prices. Autogeek has great prices and free shipping! My vette is black so I do it allot. If you run out of lube, I use the soapy dawn water in a pinch. Keep the spray bottle in one hand, the clay in the other, and as others have said-do small areas.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2011
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From: Morristown New Jersey
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2003
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From: Yuma CO
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Cruise-In V Veteran
One thing not mentioned in this thread that I was told before I did it the first time and it really helped is to wear a surgical rubber glove while claying! Drastically reduces the likelihood of dropping the clay as it sticks very readily to the rubber glove. You can't drop it as you have to peel it off of the glove!!! Saved me a bunch of "OOPSES" the first time.
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 4,095
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From: Pewaukee WI
One thing not mentioned in this thread that I was told before I did it the first time and it really helped is to wear a surgical rubber glove while claying! Drastically reduces the likelihood of dropping the clay as it sticks very readily to the rubber glove. You can't drop it as you have to peel it off of the glove!!! Saved me a bunch of "OOPSES" the first time.
If you stick to the known brands, you will not have a problem, they all work well - personally have used Meguiars, Mothers, Clay Magic, 3M.
I like the Clay Magic and Mothers, more, that said they all worked well.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: GRAYSLAKE IL
Oldtimer
St. Jude Donor '13
I've had good results with the various clay bars available. I've found that if I want to save any clay after using I put it in a baggie spraying the inside of the bag & clay & sealing the bag...
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After reading this thread, what is the secret to "Dawn" dish soap that makes it strip automotive wax? Do you wash with dawn, clay and then wash with Dawn again?
Le Mans Master
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From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
Dawn will strip off the old wax, and that is what I do, but I don't rewash the car afterwards. I may use my waterless wash, but I have not found the need to do a complete rewash.
Le Mans Master
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From: Morristown New Jersey
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I learned about Joy from my optician who uses a 'magic' solution to clean glasses. Just a drop of Joy and some water.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2007
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From: Taylorsville North Carolina
Back when I used to detail mine lovingly, I found the bar didn't seem to work as well with dawn as it did with the detailer liquid. The clay bar will remove all the old wax and polish, so car will have to be polished and waxed afterwards. After clay bar, it is a good time to remove some of the deeper scratches and swirls and there are plenty of diy threads in the Car Care Section. Nothing like removing that last coat of wax and admiring what 12 hours of hard work will do.
Le Mans Master
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From: Morristown New Jersey
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I only use Dawn for THE WASH, which is hopefully once or twice/year. I ran out of detailing liquid and tried Windex which worked fine.
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Back when I used to detail mine lovingly, I found the bar didn't seem to work as well with dawn as it did with the detailer liquid. The clay bar will remove all the old wax and polish, so car will have to be polished and waxed afterwards. After clay bar, it is a good time to remove some of the deeper scratches and swirls and there are plenty of diy threads in the Car Care Section. Nothing like removing that last coat of wax and admiring what 12 hours of hard work will do.
I use mostly Adams products so my routine has been (1) wash, (2) clay with detail spray, (3) swirl and haze remover where needed, (4) machine polish, (5) machine wax, (6) buttery wax and (7) brilliant spray glaze.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2006
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From: Palm Harbor not far from Sebring Florida
St. Jude Donor '11
Oldtimer
I use Adams as well, except I use the Americana and not the machine wax. If you do a good wash with the Dawn that should remove the wax. Also the clay will remove any remaining wax.
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