Clay Bar is a beautiful thing

[Got the Bug]

I've been around cars all of my life and have developed a pretty good maintenance routine. One thing that I never really used was a clay bar.

Chuck (Vanoochka) recommended the Mothers clay bar kit before he moved. I finally clay barred my car today and the results were fantastic. After a couple of years, the paint on my car started to feel rough. The clay bar knocked off the particulates and the paint job looks great!

[PANAVIA]

Clay Bar is great stuff, combined with a wax or glaze process, it can take years off your paint (in a good way).

I remember using it on my 83' 5.0L when I bought it in 88' and it made it look like new.

It takes a while, and you need to start with a clean car and have clean water at the ready. --

[Ron61]

I used one that came in a kit from Griots in a kit with their remover and polishes and took some paint over spray from a nearby building off my car and it was smooth as glass after that. They work great when used right and I just did small spots at a time and then polished the car after the paint was removed. Not a scratch and just like new.

Ron

[Silverback51]

Been using it for about 6 years now. Great stuff. Don't know how I lived without it.

[Tugboat]

Where is it available? And, can you give a quick lesson in how to use?

Thanls

Larry

[twobjshelbys]

Originally Posted by Tugboat

Where is it available? And, can you give a quick lesson in how to use?

Thanls

Larry

I use the Maguiars Clay Bar kit. It includes two bars of clay (about the size of a hotel soap bar) and bottle of spray detailer. Clean the car first, spray the detailer on and wipe with a cloth to get the last of the goo off, then spray the detailer on again to get the surface wet and rub with the clay bar until the clay bar "slips". You will be able to tell the difference between the paint that has been clay'd and not - it's an amazing cleaner. Then use a "polish" (not real car wax on this kind of paint). I use Turtle Wax Ice but Maguiars also makes a good product. I used the Ice liquid on the Cobra but think I will go back to the paste as it seems to leave a little more material. I ended up using two coats of the liquid.

[MaSnaka]

Check Zaino Brothers, they sell a whole kit of car care products which I am very happy with. Wash clean, then clay bar, then wax. Good stuff.

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

John

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by MaSnaka

Check Zaino Brothers, they sell a whole kit of car care products which I am very happy with. Wash clean, then clay bar, then wax. Good stuff.

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc

John

I used Zaino products for a number of years, and then I found out it was silicone based. Started using Griot's products after that and have been very happy with the results.

[MaSnaka]

Silverback51,

Is there a problem using silicone based products? The Zaino seems to work real well and applies easy. Is there something I should know? I am certainly no expert.

John

[Got the Bug]

I'll have to try the Zaino next time. The Mothers clay bar worked well and appears to be similar to the Meguiars product (clay bar using detailer liquid) that twobjshelbys described.

What about wax? I've had good luck with liquid wax (like NSX). Paste lasts, but it seems to promote swirl marks. In terms of maintenance, I use a spray detailer or Wet Paint.

http://www.wetpaintglaze.com/index.html

[VE4MM]

Originally Posted by Got the Bug

I've been around cars all of my life and have developed a pretty good maintenance routine. One thing that I never really used was a clay bar.

Chuck (Vanoochka) recommended the Mothers clay bar kit before he moved. I finally clay barred my car today and the results were fantastic. After a couple of years, the paint on my car started to feel rough. The clay bar knocked off the particulates and the paint job looks great!

The best invention for restoring a paint job!

I love the stuff!

[JBo]

silicones leave an agent that makes preping a car for paint a real chore. It certainly protects paint ...but so does "Fleetwax" a pure canuba product

[MaSnaka]

Thanks JBo. It's too late now so I might as well keep using it till it's gone. It seems like there are a lot of good products out there to use. All with pluses and minuses.

The claybar works to get the paint smooth and free of debri and contaminants that can eventually work into micro scratches. Spray a strong solution of car wash soap and water to lubricate the paint, just rub it lightly around the car till it's all smooth, turning it into a ball often to expose fresh clay, then wash and detail with your choice of wax. If you drop the clay on the ground you gotta throw it away.

John

[BRYCE]

Use Griots clay with speed shine to keep the surface lubricated, all the contaminents then wipe away very easily. Then Zaino Bros. show polish for the really wet look, and Zaino gloss enhancer for touch ups in between. Both Griots and Zaino make excellent products, have used them both for many years now