Simple question
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 56
Likes: 24
Simple question
I bought a new car (not a Vette) and want to put a ceramic coating on it. A simple question for the experts and non-perts out there, do I have/need to clay bar the car if I plan to polish it before coating?
Tanks in advance
Tanks in advance
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 213
Likes: 92
From: Wisconsin
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Wash, Use Iron remover, wash again, Clay bar, paint correct polish, surface prep for ceramic, ceramic coat per directions. Let it cure...
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,503
Likes: 906
From: Tulum, MX
Yes. The best practice and especially for when coating is a clean, prepped surface. 95% of your shine comes from polished paint. That last little bit is the LSP or last step protection( some can dial back the shine some too).
Since these ceramics are a longer term proposition, you should decontaminate with an iron remover, wash, clay,polish, and in the minimum an IPA wipe down or panel prep product before coating. This not insures your finish is up to snuff, but allows for the best bonding to the surface of the coating.
You can clay bar or use the mitt. Now go get busy and we expect pics
Since these ceramics are a longer term proposition, you should decontaminate with an iron remover, wash, clay,polish, and in the minimum an IPA wipe down or panel prep product before coating. This not insures your finish is up to snuff, but allows for the best bonding to the surface of the coating.
You can clay bar or use the mitt. Now go get busy and we expect pics
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 62,160
Likes: 1,733
From: Athens AL
C7 of the Year - Unmodified Finalist 2021
C4 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
My C7 got coated with 500 miles on it, which a lot of was the drive back from Bowling Green.
The clay did remove alot more than I expected.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2020
Posts: 213
Likes: 92
From: Wisconsin
2025 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2024 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2023 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2022 Corvette of the Year Finalist -- Unmodified
2021 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
Who are you calling stupid Vader........???
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Sep 2021
Posts: 56
Likes: 24
In the category, Bend Me Over and Have At Me, the Eagle One Black Plasti Coat Wheel Cleaner that performs as well as the professional iron removers is advertised all over the place at $6.99. Amazon has it at a deal making $19.99!
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
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 369
Likes: 185
From: Live Free or Die
The answer is to use clay if you need to use clay. If you wash and then run your fingers over the paint and it feels bumpy, or if you can see little spots of tar or whatever, you probably need to clay. If if feels smooth, you probably don't.
It's not unlike polish. Do I need to use a very aggressive polish before I ceramic coat the car or can I just use a lighter finishing polish? Well, if the paint is in bad shape you need a more aggressive polish. If the paint is in good shape you don't need a more agressive polish. Clay is just another step in removing contaminates from the paint. It doesn't do anything magical.
I am usually hesitant to clay, mainly because I am lazy and have a bad back, but also because you can mar the finish and cause yourself more work when you go to polish. Polishing will get rid of the smaller contaminates on paint the same way clay will. If there are larger contaminates or I'm afraid its going to dirty up my pads too much, then I'll clay.
It's not unlike polish. Do I need to use a very aggressive polish before I ceramic coat the car or can I just use a lighter finishing polish? Well, if the paint is in bad shape you need a more aggressive polish. If the paint is in good shape you don't need a more agressive polish. Clay is just another step in removing contaminates from the paint. It doesn't do anything magical.
I am usually hesitant to clay, mainly because I am lazy and have a bad back, but also because you can mar the finish and cause yourself more work when you go to polish. Polishing will get rid of the smaller contaminates on paint the same way clay will. If there are larger contaminates or I'm afraid its going to dirty up my pads too much, then I'll clay.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,503
Likes: 906
From: Tulum, MX
Well that is actually incorrect. While claying can induce micromarring, it is not any worse than bad wash induced swirls and rids. Polish in any event,
Clay is to remove imbedded contamination while polishing removes surface contamination. the proper way to see if it has any is to place your hand in a baggie and run the back side of hand over paint. Any grabbiness is contamination.
You can do whatever you want on your car. However advice os to properly and prep the paint surface as best as possible before a coating application.
Clay is to remove imbedded contamination while polishing removes surface contamination. the proper way to see if it has any is to place your hand in a baggie and run the back side of hand over paint. Any grabbiness is contamination.
You can do whatever you want on your car. However advice os to properly and prep the paint surface as best as possible before a coating application.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 1,143
Likes: 74
If your gonna polish, I would clay first. Liquid fallout removers ( IE: ironX and the like ) are a way to remove ferrous contaminants while claying is the mechanical means to remove not only what the chemicals get but also impeded contaminants that the liquids dont. Can you get away with not claying and just polish?-- probably ,but claying takes so little time anymore and its really worth it. do the baggie test like yamabob suggests-- it works.
Also
If your gonna ceramic coat any vehxcle brand ne or not-- you BETTER polish it first.
Also
If your gonna ceramic coat any vehxcle brand ne or not-- you BETTER polish it first.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,720
Likes: 1,061
I clayed the car and got lots of surface contaminants off. Some new cars are shipped by rail, and rail yards are full of ferrous dust that settle right into the paint of those new cars in transit. In my case, clay left the the car slick as glass. Also made the subsequent polishing far easier.
Last edited by NextOne; Sep 3, 2022 at 09:44 AM.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 369
Likes: 185
From: Live Free or Die
Well that is actually incorrect. While claying can induce micromarring, it is not any worse than bad wash induced swirls and rids. Polish in any event,
Clay is to remove imbedded contamination while polishing removes surface contamination. the proper way to see if it has any is to place your hand in a baggie and run the back side of hand over paint. Any grabbiness is contamination.
You can do whatever you want on your car. However advice os to properly and prep the paint surface as best as possible before a coating application.
Clay is to remove imbedded contamination while polishing removes surface contamination. the proper way to see if it has any is to place your hand in a baggie and run the back side of hand over paint. Any grabbiness is contamination.
You can do whatever you want on your car. However advice os to properly and prep the paint surface as best as possible before a coating application.
My goal is the minimum amount of work for a swirl free finish. If the contamination is small enough that it's not visible it will come off during the polishing step with no extra work required and no additional damage to the paint. If the contamination is visible then I will probably use some clay.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,503
Likes: 906
From: Tulum, MX
Again, not really correct. There are in-bedded contaminants are may be above the surface and below. Polish and pad “ glide “ over these and do not remove all. They can also cause damage while buffing. Its’an easy extra step that will produce the best results. When coating the idea is the best cleanest surface you can achieve. Wash, decon chemically and mechanically, polish, ipa wipe at minimum ( a panel prep is beftter ) Coat. these ar the proper steps to take. Again- you can do whatever you like, i didnt help pay for your car . i am giving the correct steps to be taken
. i am giving the correct steps to be taken
Racer
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 369
Likes: 185
From: Live Free or Die
Again, not really correct. There are in-bedded contaminants are may be above the surface and below. Polish and pad “ glide “ over these and do not remove all. They can also cause damage while buffing. Its’an easy extra step that will produce the best results. When coating the idea is the best cleanest surface you can achieve. Wash, decon chemically and mechanically, polish, ipa wipe at minimum ( a panel prep is beftter ) Coat. these ar the proper steps to take. Again- you can do whatever you like, i didnt help pay for your car . i am giving the correct steps to be taken
. i am giving the correct steps to be takenClay all the time if you've got the energy and a good back. It won't hurt anything, it may even help. I have neither, so I will continue to save labor by avoiding unnecessary detailing steps when I can.
Whether anyone thinks I am "correct" or not is not really something I concern myself with after a couple decades of doing something a certain way that consistently works.
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,503
Likes: 906
From: Tulum, MX
Hey if it works for you amigo 
. My point is telling the OP the proper steps to take. I only started getting paid to detail in ‘78. So i too have some experience. All good.
I dont clay every single time either. Unless and especially if it’s a new customer. Repeats I would baggie first.
. My point is telling the OP the proper steps to take. I only started getting paid to detail in ‘78. So i too have some experience. All good.I dont clay every single time either. Unless and especially if it’s a new customer. Repeats I would baggie first.
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,760
Likes: 69
From: Fayetteville Arkansas recently moved from Oakland Ca
St. Jude Donor '06
I agree with Post 15. At 80 years old the back appreciates not over doing anything. If you find easier means to get the shine go for it !
Last edited by xlr8rvette; Sep 6, 2022 at 06:49 PM.