11-03-2014, 03:41 PM #6 comma Junior Member Join Date A car cannot be polished an infinite number of times, as every time polish is used a . Answer #2: No, the clay bar does not remove any clearcoat as it is none abrasive. Step 2: Dry. compounding requieres cleaners like compound power cleaner, heavy cut cleaner, or diamond cut compound. Quality Car Shampoo e.g. You should always wash your car after using a clay bar. Towel dry using a fresh, microfiber . If you're using Carnauba wax, heat it first, makes it more workable. However, you can and should if you have never polished the vehicle before. It acts like sandpaper to gradually remove surface layers and eliminate scratches. $29.99. Tip: It's best to work in a square section of about 2' x 2' so the lubricant doesn't dry out before you finish. I would prefer to skip the polish step and go directly to wax. For this reason, oils can leach out of single-stage paint over time, especially if the paint is poorly cared for. The main difference between wax and a clay bar is that wax is first and foremost a protectant, while automotive clay is not. Bonded contaminants above the surface can be safely removed by claying Contamination that arises from the air or dirt gets bonded to the surface of your vehicle's paint if your vehicle is parked outside most of the time. and as you wash your car repeatedly using poor practices and techniques, the clear coat's surface will be marred by surface imperfections such as swirl marks, scratches . Remove iron first (ie: Iron-X), then clay (so you're not picking up iron particulate and rubbing it all over your vehicle), then polish. Clay Bar 4. If the surface feels slightly rough after a good washing then it's definitely worth considering using a clay bar on your finish. Always discard the clay if you drop it on the ground. The clear coat in your paint is responsible for sealing the color and providing a brilliant shine.. As the paint is exposed to the elements (sun, snow, dust, rain, etc.) If you want a long-lasting effect, you should go for a paste or liquid wax that contains ceramic or silicone for durability. Once they're ready for a maintenance polish, I'll whip the clay out then. Claying your car is meant to be the step just before you apply wax and polish, if you have the time for it. If you clay and polish severally, your car will soon have no clear coat, and you may need to apply another. Work a manageable area at a time. A 2 oz (57 g) bar of clay should last for 3-4 "clayings" before it's overloaded with contaminants. If you're comfortable with the paint, then you can move right on to waxing (provided you've washed away any clay residue). Use on paint, glass, wheels, and more. Wash 2. Any time you feel your paint after properly washing and drying it and it feels gritty you should clay bar. With the large pack and low price, you can play around and see what works best detailing spray, water, or soap and water. Don't apply too much wax, but do get a even coat. However, once you can't find a clean surface in the clay, it's time to discard it. Best Overall. STEP 1: WASH. Start off by properly washing your vehicle. Dry the vehicle thoroughly before using a clay bar. Use a clay bar on the paintwork before waxing. Wax It's important to note that using a clay bar will remove the layer of wax on your vehicle. Re: Using a clay bar after touch-up spray paint? You do not need to polish after using a clay bar. Step 6: Sealant. you should follow with a polish after the cwax, before the wax/seal part. Also you must wax after you clay, because when you clay it is a mild abrasive and it removes any contaminants in the clear coat. The claying is. Polishing will fix all those minor car paint imperfections, which is essential to get the best results after applying wax. For this, you can use clay lubricant, plain water, or a mixture of water . The clay bar if used properly should not be marring the paint. #5 Easiest Application: Nu Finish . Dedicated Clay Lubricant Sprays e.g. Wash the car with a strip wax cleaner. If you use the clay bar correctly, it is 100% safe, since it is non-abrasive. Some people use dawn dish soap as a diy cleanse. When using clay, you'll want it to glide over the surface of your car. #1 Editor's Choice: 3D Speed. Make sure to wash the entire car with soap and water before waxing. As such, you're going to have a LOT of stuck on soap on the surface of your vehicle when you are finished. You don't want to be compounding, polishing, or even claying . Start with a clean, cool vehicle and work in a shaded area. Using a blower to dry your car is preferred. I recommend claying your vehicle at least 2 times per year. Using a clay bar is pretty simple. Just my personal preference to re-wash. 4. There will be no paint protection after clay barring, so you need to have a layer of protection after the job. The idea is to do your paint correction rarely (or even once), then keep the paint protected from then on. This is how i do it: 1. Buff the surface with a soft microfiber towel or a variable-speed buffer. This includes bugs, tree sap, or light paint overspray. Mothers clay products are safe for all automotive paints. I also don`t wipe up each section as I clay either, so it goes faster, so probably more reason to re-wash if you do it that way. Wax I wipe down each section after i clay bar it with a micro fiber. Thanks . Is this recommended? To use a clay bar on your car, you need a lubricant. After compounding, polish is used to remove any remaining defects. Work in small sections (24 x 24) so that your lubricant doesn't have a chance to dry out, and preferably do it in the shade. 2. Geoimpressions - work more effectively, faster and safe. Are there any cons if I use wax or sealant? It is made with oils and wetting agents that amplify your paint's shine and improve the clarity. Step 4: Magic Time: Meguiar's #7 Show Car Glaze soaking. After claying, wax sets better and your car will look appealing. Waxing With Electric Buffer Jun 29, 2011. This is where some of the misconceptions about clay bars started. Step 4: Wipe off any remaining clay residue with a microfiber towel. Dodo Juice Born Slippy. Claying a vehicle is the process of removing bonded surface contaminants from your car that cannot be removed by washing alone and that need to be eliminated before the polishing process, using a synthetic bar of poly clay. Next, shape it into a flat surface.. These contaminants must be removed properly and timely. Me..I dawn wash, clay, adams wash, dry, polish, wax. Sometimes, using a clay bar will reveal hidden damage underneath. then compounding is the second, BUT, I'd like to make this concept a little bit clearer: compounding is a more aggressive step than the one you're going to have been done in your car. Ordenado Clay Bars. Wax or Polish by Hand. Waxing is the most common practice after claying. Step 2: Move the clay bar over the surface. Use the clay lubricant to remove any stubborn clay . The answer is - it depends. Avoid applying wax in the sunshine, it will bake the wax and make removing difficult. This will amplify any imperfections. Apply a thin coat of wax in a circular motion with the applicator pad. They claying will make the wax last longer and the wax will protect and make future washes . . In this case, you have two choices: use a polishing compound, which removes a lot of paint material, or use a clay bar. I dont throw in another wash after the polishing. However, after I clay a section, do I wash the area or just go on to the next step with SHR and an orange pad, without washing? Best Value: Mothers Speed Clay 2.0 (17240) This isn't exactly a traditional clay bar, but it can clean and detail your paint just as well as one. 5 Best Car Polishes. 4. Wash again with wash that doesn't have wax mixed in. A glaze is a shine-enhancing product that goes on after polishing but before the wax or sealant. After drying the car completely, apply pesticides and waxes to it. It's important to wash your car before doing this or you could confuse dirt that could be easily washed away for contamination. The clay bar process can be started after your car has been washed . Step 3: Clay Bar. Wash again to clean any residual polishing cream 6. This will help remove any residual clay and grime that may be left behind. #3 Most Efficient: Meguiar's. #4 Best Car Polish Kit: Chemical Guys. USES FOR CLAY . 2. Optimum No Rinse. You should not have to polish after claying, unless the paint was already bad. Clay bar detailing takes place after a wash and dry, but before a polish. A compound agent is a liquid that is applied with a buffing or polishing machine. It is also a good idea to wax your car after using a clay bar, as this will provide an extra layer of protection against the elements. #2 Best Scratch Remover: Turtle Wax. lots of diversity in the answers, no real consensus. Best Clay Bar Lubricants. 8. I like to wash after I clay, but as others have said it probably isn`t necessary if you are going to polish, which I agree, you should. You also want to make sure that you liberally spray each spot you are going to clay. Check and Rotate Clay Bar. On that color it may be difficult to tell, but claying almost invariably leads to at least some marring. Make sure you get good coverage or the clay bar will stick. Spray the lubricant across a small surface. Can use dawn again. Step 3: Working in small 18" x 18" sections, mist the clay bar lubricant over your working area, so that every square inch is covered in clay lube. And lastly, you'll need a few clean, dry microfiber towels to . Question #3: The car is stored indoors and mostly sees good weather so the paint finish is excellent. To clay bar your finish, you'll obviously need a clay bar. You get a 100 . You also need a lubricant spray that's formulated specifically for this job. Buff off your guitar with a clean microfiber cloth after you get a light haze from the polish on the paint. Wash and dry your car. 1. Then we slowly glide the clay along . Repeat steps 4-7 until the car is completely clayed. 10. A layer of wax fills the micros scratches and protects the surface of the car coat. Remember, clay will remove wax from your vehicle's finish. but I cannot imagine how it would hurt. For optimal results, work on one car panel at a time. I usually follow up claying with a fine polish prior to LSP. As you know by now, washing your car alone will not fix this problem. Unfortunately, regular washing procedures can only do so much to remove the harsh surface contaminants on your car. Your guitar's rich, deep color should be back at this step. the tops are not fiberglass, they are a hybrid polymer plastic. Auto detailing clay is similar to the stuff you played with as a kid, but the clay used for detailing is usually much more elastic, especially in the . Now, let's get into the nitty-gritty of applying the wax. . Using the back of your hand, feel the paint to double check for rough spots that might have been missed during the first round. A clay bar isn't a polish or a compound, it is a surface preparation bar that smoothes the paint and exfoliates contaminants. Should I clay bar or compound first? You should wash your car prior to using a clay bar so as the clay bar is only picking up contaminates from what is stuck to the finish and not everything which is on the vehicle prior to. Step 3: Wax. Unlike car polish and waxes, it must be used carefully to avoid causing damage to the car. The reason why we wash our cars is to remove surface contaminants such as dirt, grime, grease, and pollen. Mistake #1 - Clay Bar Lubrication Is Key Many people detailing their cars at home forget about a clay bar lubricant. You can also visually inspect it. If you absolutely can't treat the paint after the clay, at least use a spray on quick wax, which will only take about 5-10 minutes . +1. Clay Bar Car Before And After The best way to tell if your car needs to be clay barred is to run your hand over the finish after you've washed it. First I just wanted to wash the car (s) for a few months to see if I could keep my interest. The bar should grab at first as it is pulling wax and contaminants out of the paint. 5. According to Mike Phillips' article, Meguiar's #7 Show Car Glaze . Step 1: Wash the vehicle with clean water and car shampoo. Dry 6. Power Detergent and a bucket of water. When you clay the paint, you are removing everything, including all protection. you have to polish after clay; it's not needed. With light pressure, glide the clay back and forth across the surface. If you have old wax on your car, use dish soap in a bucket of water to wash it off. Then you apply your coating/sealant/wax. You want to have a smooth, friction-free, and 100% clean canvas that's free of bumps and grittiness. The clay bar works by spraying on the clay "lubricant" and using a wiping motion with the clay to scrub the paint. Make sure you check out my complete guide to claying to learn some essential tips to make the process safer and more effective. Be prepared to re-seal the entire clayed portion of your paint, and if you plan to polish & wax, do it after using a clay. Step 2: Break off a small piece of clay that you will be working with and shape it into a flat surface. 2. Which is best to use? even if the tops were fiberglass a good quality carnuba auto wax would be fine for fiberglass, like a boat hull for example. Yes, as polish can be used to remove scratches and make your paintwork look better. Okay, now you can wax your . Only once the surface is residue-free will your ceramic coating be able to properly bond to your paintwork. From blaring sun to road salts, tree saps, wind and . A neat trick to truly tell if your paint is gritty and contaminated is to put your hand inside a plastic bag (shopping or sandwich, doesn't matter) like it's a glove and rub your paint. Wrap the car in PPF. Clean Slate isn't just wax-free, it will also strip away any remaining sealants, waxes or glazes. Professional detailers use the OG Clay Bar to pull debris out from the paintwork that clogs buffing pads, induces extra scratches, and blocks fresh coats of wax from sticking to the surface. Clay lubricant spray is basically concentrated car shampoo - diluted at a 4 to 1 ratio. After that, you can wax the car with an electric buffer. Gloss Join Date Using a Clay Bar 1. We recommend a wax-free, gloss-free soap like Clean Slate. Removes contamination without causing damage. It works by gently pulling and lifting the bonded contaminants off the surface which then become encapsulated in the clay. Clay bars are not supposed to damage the paint or clear coat finish, the particles that are being removed by the clay bar might remove some of the clear coat (see image below for example) the the damage these particles can do over time is worse than the clear coat being removed - and this valleys will be filled in with a frech coat of wax When the bar glides freely across the paint, the wax has been removed. But my vendor advised me to at least do some claying and put on a wax. Clays are formulated to remove contaminants waxes can't, while cleaner waxes are meant to protect, while also removing minor surface defects. There are two options you have after using a clay bar. Check Latest Price. Water-Less/ Rinse-Less Wash Products e.g. It is not required per se. People who ask why use a clay bar on your car must have gotten their answer by now. And even though wax is not a contaminant, it does bond to the surface. OG Clay Bar Light/Medium Duty The Chemical Guys OG Clay Bar removes embedded contaminants that ruin shine and destroy paintwork over time. In fact claying is less abrasive than polishing, or buffing your vehicle, since polishing & buffing can remove a thin layer of paint. You can either apply a new layer of wax, or begin paint correction with a polisher. Liberally spray your clay lubricant across the surface. Step 4: Polish. If you don . Auto Detailing Clay Bar is an engineered resin compound used to remove contaminants from the surface of your car's paint, glass, fiberglass and metal. Pre-wax cleaners also may not be able to exfoliate large particles. Oct 17, 2009. jpx7777 said: I've never clayed a car and not started a polish/wax routine immediately after. Wax is applied to the paint to protect the clear coat. Geoimpression Tool for even force and enhanced grip. Once you have finished claying your car it is very important to wash it free from any leftover lubricant. Claybar the car. While both of these products can clean to an extent, they serve different purposes. After using the clay you need to seal the new coat of paint with either wax or sealant. Start by washing your car from the top down with a car wash mitt and an all-purpose car wash shampoo like M.A.X. There are 4 primary reasons to use clay bar treatment for your car: 1. It also removes any old wax. Always check the clay bar, to make sure that you're using a clean side. 3. Called the Speed Clay 2.0 from Mothers, this . I just don't want to mess up the finish and have to redo the entire process. Using a clay bar on the car is the first step to smooth paint. After washing and drying the vehicle, you are ready to use a clay bar. We just need 3 things: First, we apply the detailing spray or clay lubricant to a small area of your car. 06-15-2013, 05:56 AM #7 Mr. Well, if the paint has a rough lip or edge at all the clay might catch it. This is important: without some sort of lubricant, the clay could damage your car's paint. Garage Therapy Decon Shampoo. A handheld polishing machine has a motorized spinning head that can spread polish on a car's surface to remove . Typically you should clay your car about as often as you change the oil (Every 3-4 months or so) to keep it free of contaniments. Note: If you want to polish your car, do it before claying and waxing. Glazes are usually used by auto manufacturers and paint and body shops to prefect freshly painted surfaces before the vehicle is handed over to the . polish too much and you'll wear down the clearcoat over time (years); it depends on how the paint looks; it's up to you. If you do polish (and it sounds like you are doing it by hand) start with a small area with the revive. Once you've used both sides, fold the clay a couple of times, press it, then straight it, and continue. A good job should leave your guitar fairly scratch-free, and your paint will have no oxidation. Mothers California Gold Clay Kit Express Check Latest Price. Seems to work. Adam's Visco Clay Bar will remove those stubborn bonded contaminants, make your paint super smooth, and prep it for polishing and waxing. No, you do not need to strip wax . But always keep an eye to check that the impurities on your clay, are not causing any damage to your paintwork. I have VERY limited air brush experience, but I could see hypothetically from the work I did that a clay bar might remove something on freshly sprayed paint if it is in the middle of the panel and doesn't go all the way to the edges of the panel. If you miss a spot, the clay will stick so be sure to get an even coverage. claying is the first step. Clay bar detailing must be done after a car wash and dry before polishing or waxing. Let's go over the pros and cons of both. Step 3: Rub the clay bar gently back and forth across the wet area. Then, you can polish and wax. But you need to remove as much surface dirt as possible, before claying the car. I clay vehicles often without polishing.it all depends on what your intended outcome is. Polish the car. . I will be using the clay bar and lubricate with DS. 7. You MUST wax because clay removes everything. Just a foot note on cleaner wax: it's an abrasive product (which is why its sold cheap) when you use a CWax you will dull the surface a little, claying is a good thing, this removes micro comtaminants from the surface. However, most of the time, you should polish your car before waxing. In reality, keeping your car's paintwork in top shape isn't as easy. Step 1: Wash and dry your vehicle. This is important because the lubricant keeps your finish safe and scratch-free as you wipe the clay across it. Repeat the process on each panel. This process should only be done after you have washed the car. After the clay bar kit or mitt treatment is complete, I recommend washing your vehicle with a high-quality pH neutral car shampoo. Depending on how detailed you want it you may also want to polish it before you wax it though. You . It is best to start with a clean finish. Here are the easy steps on how to use a clay bar. as for the clay bar, I am not sure how effective it would be given the rough texture of these tops. Which is the Easiest to Use Wax Don't worry beginning users, the wax is very easy to use. Single-stage paint is permeable, unlike a two-stage clear-coat system where the paint is effectively sealed. This kit from Mothers comes with both in one package. But you need to be careful. Step 1: Wash. Clay bars are abrasive and will mar your paint while they remove the contaminants. If you spot a larger piece of contamination in the clay, pick it out with your fingers, then fold the clay over. Step 5: Glaze. Ordenado is another manufacturer of budget-friendly detailing products, and this four-pack of 100-gram clay bars is a great starter set. The fact is, you should never clay bar your car and stop there. The result is a perfectly smooth finish, ready to apply wax or polish. 5. Break off a small piece of clay and knead it in your hands until it softens. Apply ceramic over car and PPF. Dry 3. This removes any contaminants, as you then wipe the remaining lubricant off with a microfiber towel. Step 4: Gently glide the clay bar over your working area . The Famous "Clay and Wax" Package. Do you need to strip wax before the clay bar? Remember to use the polish sparingly. reviews. If it feels slightly rough you should consider breaking out your clay bar kit and having a go at it. It should be a noticeable difference after using a clay bar, especially after waxing/polishing. Step 1: Spray the clay lubricant. Continue to scrub until you've lifted all the stains and soils from your vehicle, then rinse your car thoroughly with agarden hose. Closing Thoughts Claying removes bonded contaminants from your car surface. Clay bars on the other hand take things a notch higher. How to Use the Clay Bar First off, to use clay, your sled must be freshly washed. Dampen your wax applicator. I started a month ago with 'detailing'. This is how it will be the most effective, and this is also why we don't recommend using clay bars right away. If it feels glassy smooth you're probably fine. Allow the wax to "haze" for about five to 10 minutes. Wash 5. Detailing clay can be natural or synthetic, though most manufacturers utilize synthetic clays.