Clay bar usage?
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
Likes: 785
From: Las Vegas NV
I never used one before a few weeks ago. It's pretty simple. Just follow instructions on the box and make sure you don't drop the clay. "Drop the clay, throw it away". I did a good wash with dish soap before the clay, dry and clayed the whole car, rewash, dry, wax. Looks like a mirror finish.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 136,140
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From: I live my life by 2 rules. 1) Never share everything you know. 2)
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13, '16-'17-'18
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 939
Likes: 38
From: Riva MD
You'll figure it out pretty quickly when you start to use it: The bar quickly gets stuck if it doesn't have lubrication to basically float on.
When you cease to feel the bar grabbing minutely across the area your working on (pulling off the contaminants from the paint), it's clean and move on to a new area.
Work in small areas 1-2 square feet, before moving on to a new area: Its easier to keep lubricated as well as keep track of.
When you cease to feel the bar grabbing minutely across the area your working on (pulling off the contaminants from the paint), it's clean and move on to a new area.
Work in small areas 1-2 square feet, before moving on to a new area: Its easier to keep lubricated as well as keep track of.
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 184
Likes: 0
From: Farminton MN
I have used wax mist from various manufacturers and even used plain water ( ran out in the middle of project)
After wiping off - you can run your hand over the surface and it feels very smooth as compared to before claying. If you can still feel some "bumps", Clay that spot one more time. Turn clay over and over when dirty. I have used the same piece for almost the whole car. Clay works quite well.
After claying - wax with your preferred wax....The second time you go to clay will be much faster and easier. I usually clay in winter in heated garage once per year. I have spot clayed the back end and re-waxed in the middle of driving season.
Another thing I have done is to clay the windshield with glass cleanning clay form Griot's Garage. I don't know if anyone else sells this type of windshield clay - not even sure if it is any different than clay one uses for the body.
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 181
Likes: 2
I just did my first clay job last weekend on my wife's Land Rover -- practice for the Corvette 
It came out great, but I wasn't sure I did it right... I added Dawn to water per Zaino instructions, but it seemed too sudsy when I applied it. The car had a lot of dried soap haze on it when I was finished. Not a big deal as it rinsed off, but...
The liquid did seem to break down the clay a bit toward the end. Due to too much soap?
How long should a clay bar last? Can you do a whole Vette with one small bar, or does it take more?
I must say the clay bar and Zaino made our 60k mile Land Rover's black paint look like NEW!!!
It came out great, but I wasn't sure I did it right... I added Dawn to water per Zaino instructions, but it seemed too sudsy when I applied it. The car had a lot of dried soap haze on it when I was finished. Not a big deal as it rinsed off, but...
The liquid did seem to break down the clay a bit toward the end. Due to too much soap?
How long should a clay bar last? Can you do a whole Vette with one small bar, or does it take more?
I must say the clay bar and Zaino made our 60k mile Land Rover's black paint look like NEW!!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 8,022
Likes: 8
From: Stafford VA, home of our wolf den. No house break ins to date.
with wax, yes..but not a polymers..such as Zaino. the clay will not remove the zaino.. the contaminants are lifted from the polymer layer by the claybar. There is no reason to remove a polymer from the car prior to claying. 
Pro
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 531
Likes: 10
From: Northford CT
Clay bar gets a mixed review, some say it does more harm than good, but my experience with it has been excellent. I did my '10 recently, and I researched the forum for advice, here is what I came up with: Wash with Dawn blue, dry, clay, wash with Dawn blue, dry, wax. Took me about 5 hours but came out excellent, torch red was nice looking before but really popped after all that.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 8,022
Likes: 8
From: Stafford VA, home of our wolf den. No house break ins to date.
Clay bar gets a mixed review, some say it does more harm than good, but my experience with it has been excellent. I did my '10 recently, and I researched the forum for advice, here is what I came up with: Wash with Dawn blue, dry, clay, wash with Dawn blue, dry, wax. Took me about 5 hours but came out excellent, torch red was nice looking before but really popped after all that.
.....I just clayed last week and posted this.
claying makes the surface smooth as fine glass
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 14,475
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From: Las Vegas NV
Race Director
Joined: Aug 1999
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From: Manhattan, KS Missing SoCal since 2005
Former Vendor
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: South Florida
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 89
Likes: 0
From: California
Wolfdogs,
Sir could you do a video on claying and Zaino? I believe a video would be very beneficial to us "newbie’s". I want to clay my vette, but I'm really not really confident I will not F-up my finish.
Thank you in advance for your response
Sir could you do a video on claying and Zaino? I believe a video would be very beneficial to us "newbie’s". I want to clay my vette, but I'm really not really confident I will not F-up my finish.
Thank you in advance for your response
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
From: Ossining NY
Thanks for that info. Recently did the whole Zaino deal on my Vette (black, of course) and it looks unbelievable. Only thing is the bugs that get on the front. Now that I know I can clay over the 5 coats (yeah, only 5 but I'm working on it) of Zaino I have on, that makes it alot easier. Thanks again.
Advanced
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 95
Likes: 6
From: Oak Point TX
Really, the only way you can screw up your finish with a clay bar is to drop it on the dirty ground and continue to use it.