definitely sold on clay bar process...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 51
From: Cartersville GA
definitely sold on clay bar process...
Bought my '04 CE last Saturday. Washed then clay barred it today. The trunk lid and hood felt like sand paper after the wash and before the clay bar, now it's slick as glass. It took me about 2 hours to do the whole car as it really needed it bad. Taking a break before I put a coat of wax on it.
Clay bar before:
Clay bar after first pass (front hood):
I did this on my '69 a few weeks ago, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the '04. I take care of it with regular washing and waxing. This CE obviously wasn't treated as well and I'm making sure it will get better treatment from now on.
Clay bar before:
Clay bar after first pass (front hood):
I did this on my '69 a few weeks ago, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the '04. I take care of it with regular washing and waxing. This CE obviously wasn't treated as well and I'm making sure it will get better treatment from now on.
Pro
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 633
Likes: 0
From: Van Buren Arkansas
I love clay bars. I've been using them forever. I took my BSM's off yesterday after much contemplation if I should, and after getting all the double sided sticky tape off the clay bar cleaned everything else off! Which one did you use? After trying a bunch this is the one I've had the best luck with.
Pro
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 543
Likes: 1
Before you wax.......
Bought my '04 CE last Saturday. Washed then clay barred it today. The trunk lid and hood felt like sand paper after the wash and before the clay bar, now it's slick as glass. It took me about 2 hours to do the whole car as it really needed it bad. Taking a break before I put a coat of wax on it.
Clay bar before:
Clay bar after first pass (front hood):
I did this on my '69 a few weeks ago, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the '04. I take care of it with regular washing and waxing. This CE obviously wasn't treated as well and I'm making sure it will get better treatment from now on.
Clay bar before:
Clay bar after first pass (front hood):
I did this on my '69 a few weeks ago, but it wasn't nearly as bad as the '04. I take care of it with regular washing and waxing. This CE obviously wasn't treated as well and I'm making sure it will get better treatment from now on.
When it comes to waxing use Meguiar's No. 21 Synthetic Sealant 2.0 (for dark paint) or Meguiar's No. 26 Hi-Tech Yellow Wax (for light paint).
For maintanance, use Meguiar's No. 34 Final Inspection. I actually buy this product by the gallon.
You will appreciate the results.
I was taught this method by Jim Larson, Meguiar's head detailer.
Hope this helps.
Roger T
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 51
From: Cartersville GA
I love clay bars. I've been using them forever. I took my BSM's off yesterday after much contemplation if I should, and after getting all the double sided sticky tape off the clay bar cleaned everything else off! Which one did you use? After trying a bunch this is the one I've had the best luck with.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 51
From: Cartersville GA
Before you put a coat of wax on your car,use something like Meguiar's No. 9 Swirl Remover, then use Mequiar's No. 205 Ultra Finishing Polish.
When it comes to waxing use Meguiar's No. 21 Synthetic Sealant 2.0 (for dark paint) or Meguiar's No. 26 Hi-Tech Yellow Wax (for light paint).
For maintanance, use Meguiar's No. 34 Final Inspection. I actually buy this product by the gallon.
You will appreciate the results.
I was taught this method by Jim Larson, Meguiar's head detailer.
Hope this helps.
Roger T
When it comes to waxing use Meguiar's No. 21 Synthetic Sealant 2.0 (for dark paint) or Meguiar's No. 26 Hi-Tech Yellow Wax (for light paint).
For maintanance, use Meguiar's No. 34 Final Inspection. I actually buy this product by the gallon.
You will appreciate the results.
I was taught this method by Jim Larson, Meguiar's head detailer.
Hope this helps.
Roger T
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,137
Likes: 51
From: Cartersville GA
When I picked the clay bar kit up at the parts store, the guy behind the counter asked me how to use it so I gave him a quick tutorial. My son in law has a nice 350Z vert, and wants me to show him how to use it. I ran my hand across the paint (without a plastic bag) and it needs to be done bad, was rough as a cob.
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 368,389
Likes: 24,795
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Clay bars do make a huge difference in the paint. I did it to my '00 and need to do it to my '03.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,855
Likes: 78
From: Sammamish WA
WA Events Coordinator
In the past week I've done the Z, the M3 and the wifes TT. All 3 needed it bad since we moved up here to WA late last year. Top off with Meguiar's Ultimate Wax (no wax, all Polymer) and the Z has never looked so much like glass.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 3,270
Likes: 29
From: Chilliwack B.C.
Our club had a polishing tutorial from a respected paint guy a couple of years ago. When questioned about clay bars, he totally dismissed them as unnecessary and could ruin the paint!
Anyways, after hearing from many many members here about the great results, I tried it a couple of weeks ago. Worked great! Didn't have that much dirt come off but the paint was alot smoother. If the paint feels smoother, you know it's going to shine better too.
If it feels like glass it's going to shine like glass.
Anyways, after hearing from many many members here about the great results, I tried it a couple of weeks ago. Worked great! Didn't have that much dirt come off but the paint was alot smoother. If the paint feels smoother, you know it's going to shine better too.If it feels like glass it's going to shine like glass.
