ClayBar
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 22,267
Likes: 15
From: The light that never warms.
St. Jude Donor '12
When I first bought clay about ten years ago, before it was well known, I could only find it at a store that specialized in auto paints. They had two kinds that were rated by grit, just like sandpaper. I forget the numbers, seems like they were 2000 and 3000.
I still have it, it's blue and very stiff. I now use the stuff that Griot's Garage sells. It is much softer and easier to use than the old stuff.
I still have it, it's blue and very stiff. I now use the stuff that Griot's Garage sells. It is much softer and easier to use than the old stuff.
Advanced
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 50
Likes: 0
From: Bloomfield MI
There are some differences, but I can't detect any "standard". I noticed that Pinnacle has a finesse clay now. Claims it can be used more often than you would with standrad clay. I use DP and like it.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 795
Likes: 15
From: Freeport IL
I've been using Griot's on my 93 Z28 for years and it is great. Been using it on our 90 Beretta Indy also and now our 96 Collector Edition, makes it very smoooth. Indy has gotten 3 1st places at Super Chevy Shows for stock open class, so I'll stick with it.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,909
Likes: 4
From: Ponte Vedra Beach / London State: Dazed and confused
Most manufacturers colorize the plastic to identify differing abrasive strengths (i.e. Clay Magic Blue is a fine abrasive, whereas the Red is a medium abrasive) It is also very effective on paint over-spray, if the over-spray is particularly heavy, you may want to seek the assistance of a professional. http://www.claymagic.net/
a) Fine- clay that abrades or shears light surface or imbedded paint contamination and encapsulates it. This type of clay is mild enough for use.
b) Medium- clay is used to remove heavier surface contaminants (bird excrement and bug reside) it is slightly more abrasive than the fine grade and abrades the paint surface, while the clay encapsulates it
c) Medium to Heavy duty- clay is used to remove paint over-spray; it contains a slightly stronger abrasive that abrades the paint, while the clay encapsulates it
There are only a couple manufactures of clay and patents protect the technology, with some subtle difference
(Elastic and Poly) in consistency and firmness, a recent court hearing found components of the “elastic clay” to be a patent infringement and the judge ordered sale of the product to be halted. (In the United States, AWC sells Clay Magic®, the original surface preparation bar.
Auto Wax owns six patents relating to clay products and provides private label clay to many of the detail industry’s leading companies - http://www.automagic.biz/specialt.htm
As a result, all of the Polybutene (Polyisobutylene) or plastic clay being manufactured now comes from the same factory in Japan, which as the only patent holder has a monopoly on the market. Meguiars, Mothers, Sonus, Zaino, et al get their clay either from Japan or from a US licensed manufacturer. But the formulation can vary significantly, mainly;
- Density or plasticity
- Abrasive particulate size
- Abrasive used (i.e. Kaolin, diatomaceous earth, etc)
- Abrasive density ratio ( abrasive content to clay)
- Colour
Knowledge - [We know a subject] [We know where to find information on it] the most highly valued; [knowledge that is both held and shared]
a) Fine- clay that abrades or shears light surface or imbedded paint contamination and encapsulates it. This type of clay is mild enough for use.
b) Medium- clay is used to remove heavier surface contaminants (bird excrement and bug reside) it is slightly more abrasive than the fine grade and abrades the paint surface, while the clay encapsulates it
c) Medium to Heavy duty- clay is used to remove paint over-spray; it contains a slightly stronger abrasive that abrades the paint, while the clay encapsulates it
There are only a couple manufactures of clay and patents protect the technology, with some subtle difference
(Elastic and Poly) in consistency and firmness, a recent court hearing found components of the “elastic clay” to be a patent infringement and the judge ordered sale of the product to be halted. (In the United States, AWC sells Clay Magic®, the original surface preparation bar.
Auto Wax owns six patents relating to clay products and provides private label clay to many of the detail industry’s leading companies - http://www.automagic.biz/specialt.htm
As a result, all of the Polybutene (Polyisobutylene) or plastic clay being manufactured now comes from the same factory in Japan, which as the only patent holder has a monopoly on the market. Meguiars, Mothers, Sonus, Zaino, et al get their clay either from Japan or from a US licensed manufacturer. But the formulation can vary significantly, mainly;
- Density or plasticity
- Abrasive particulate size
- Abrasive used (i.e. Kaolin, diatomaceous earth, etc)
- Abrasive density ratio ( abrasive content to clay)
- Colour
Knowledge - [We know a subject] [We know where to find information on it] the most highly valued; [knowledge that is both held and shared]
