Clay baring is it worth it?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 318
Likes: 25
From: Wonder Lake Illinois
Clay baring is it worth it?
I need to know is the clay bar treatment really worth the time and money? Will it make a major difference in the paint? My 98 is black and I wash it once a week and wax it twice a month in summer months. The paint is is in very good condition with the nominal amount of stone chips and swirls for its age. I have never used the clay bar method and really don't know which product to use.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,060
Likes: 291
From: Pasco WA
Like every car care product, to get the best out of your finish, start with a clay bar. You don't need to use it every time, but every couple of years does make the finish smoother. I also recommend Zaino products.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
You can really feel the difference in smoothness after using a clay bar. Last spring I used the Nano skin pad instead and had very similar results.
http://www.nanoskinusa.com/products/...nge-fine-grade
http://www.nanoskinusa.com/products/...nge-fine-grade
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,280
Likes: 1,097
From: Pittsburgh PA
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 4,363
Likes: 429
From: Birmingham Al
Get a baggy put your hand in it rub your fingers over the paint ,it will be very ruff very ruff ,the clay bar takes that stuff off the paint .. That's how you can tell if working or not ,clay bar a spot and do the baggy deal rub the paint it will be way better ..The clay bar will have dirt and oil road film ETC. in it ..
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 209
From: Lincoln Nebraska
Yes it really does make a difference. I clay at least once a year, used the nano skin instead of clay a couple of months ago with great results. Be sure and use the baggie method to check for contamination's on the finish. If the paint feels rough while lightly gliding across it with you fingers inside a cheap sandwich bag or something such as clay it and you will defiantly feel the difference. Up until this last time I have been using Griots clay with great results. I'm sure there are many others that very good also. 
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Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 30,563
Likes: 4,609
From: Bonita Springs, Florida
Yes it will make a difference.
On black paint you will get smudges but they will come right out with wax. Just use a lot of lubrication with the clay and glide the clay lightly over the paint spraying the surface liberally. Make sure to fold the clay often. If the paint has a lot of contaminents, use multiple pieces of clay.
On black paint you will get smudges but they will come right out with wax. Just use a lot of lubrication with the clay and glide the clay lightly over the paint spraying the surface liberally. Make sure to fold the clay often. If the paint has a lot of contaminents, use multiple pieces of clay.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,356
Likes: 1,592
From: Western NY
"Clay Baring" a car is neither hard work, nor time consuming. What I do is this....I wash the car, either in the shade, outdoors, or in the garage, if it's too sunny. I leave it wet, then add a little more car wash soap to the bucket, so it's really sudsy.
I then dip the clay bar in the soapy water, and start going over
the car, re-wetting the clay as necessary. When I've gone over the entire car, I rinse it down, dry it, and apply a coat of wax....
I then dip the clay bar in the soapy water, and start going over
the car, re-wetting the clay as necessary. When I've gone over the entire car, I rinse it down, dry it, and apply a coat of wax....
1/4 mile/AutoX
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 11,441
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From: Buffalo Texas
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 186
Likes: 15
From: Elliot Lake Ontario, Canada
When I bought my red coupe last year it had kind of an orange hue to it, and was nice but not new. After clay barring its definitely torch red again, and the paint looks and feels like glass. Everybody comments on it looking new
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 265
From: Virginia
Yes. I would clay bar it once a year at the min. A clay bar kit costs less than $20 and is not difficult to do. It is def beneficial to the life of your paint and you can see a difference. I just clay bar'd mine, used some polish compound to remove a few scratches, then waxed! Well worth the time
Former Vendor
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 8,479
Likes: 417
From: Devil's Island CA
There's other products out that do the same thing the clay bar without using clay. I've used Chadwick's and like the product, but can't go wrong with most of the choices, Chadwick's is just easier IMO.
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