To clay bar or not to clay bar - that is the question

[casper28]

Has anyone had any experience with clay bars? I used to be a detailer and we always used Meguire's products (and I still mostly do), however a mate swears by the clay bar and that is all that he will use on his Evo.
Detailing another friends car in a few weeks and he has asked about the clay bar as well.

Good? Bad? Indifferent?

[PYLee]

Clay bar is a must as part of a detailing step. Wouldn't you have use clay bar numerous times if you were/are a detailer ?

[Envoke]

Using a clay bar will make your WHOLE car feel like glass (after you wax ofcourse)

Otherwise you will feel little bumps of dirt here and there, also the finish wont be as even and shiny.

[ianmartin]

So the clay bar gets rubbed over the paint or do you kind of roll it ???

[casper28]

Lee - We never used clay bars back then (going back nearly 20 years now...) Not even sure if they were around back then....

Looks like I am off to Supercheap - but I had better take a responsible adult with me because I always come home with things that I don't really need

[casper28]

Oh, and check this out.... this is amazing! I thought that I was pretty pandantic when it came to cleaning the car - this just goes to a whole new level...
http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/s ... hp?t=81391

[ianmartin]

That is so way over the top. But the finish looks great. Wish i has the time and money to do that every month lol

[PYLee]

yeah , see the bald guy in his photos , his Paul Dalton and i think his the most expensive detailer in UK , i think one of his detail could go up to $10,000 lol

[The X]

Definately clay bar before applying any waxes and resins over the top of you paintwork. You do not want to lock in the bits of dirt bonded to your paint work under all that nice shiny resin and wax.

Ianmartin, the clay bar you glide over the paint work, the clay bar will pickup and pull off any minor bits of bonded dirt. You need to wash thoroughly first to get the bird poo, dust and pollution off the paint work. rinse. then do the clay bar. when you wash you car next time and rinse it, run the palm of your hand slowly over the bonnet, you will feel little specs of dirt that has bonded to the paintwork. That what the clay bar helps to pull off.

[ianmartin]

Thanks Pete,

I have used a clay bar before, but it was only to remove overspray on someones car that was parked near where my boss was working at the time.

I just wasnt sure if it was the same thing.

[ofey]

Also bear in mind that you don't clay each time you wash.

I tend to clay only once every half a year.

My detailing process tends to be:
1. Rinse with water
2. Wash with your shampoo choice (Meguiars for me)
3. Rinse off soap
4. Dry but don't get rid of all the water except on the windows
5. Clay bar
6. Clean paint using Meguiars paint cleaner
7. Rinse with water
8. Dry well
9. Apply a thin coat of wax
10. Leave car for abit
11. Apply 2nd coat of wax
12. Buff to shine.
13. Fast Glass the windows
14. Clean tyres and wheels
15. Re-touch Colors on tyres
16. Clean chrome bits.

[ofey]

Just wanted to add that Mother's California Gold Clay Bar System is on sale at Super Cheap Auto this week.



30% off
A$26 (save A$13)

Sure there are better ones out there but I think it's a decent Clay bar and with the sale, the package offers excellent value for money

[PYLee]

Also bear in mind that you don't clay each time you wash.

I tend to clay only once every half a year.

My detailing process tends to be:
1. Rinse with water
2. Wash with your shampoo choice (Meguiars for me)
3. Rinse off soap
4. Dry but don't get rid of all the water except on the windows
5. Clay bar
6. Clean paint using Meguiars paint cleaner
7. Rinse with water
8. Dry well
9. Apply a thin coat of wax
10. Leave car for abit
11. Apply 2nd coat of wax
12. Buff to shine.
13. Fast Glass the windows
14. Clean tyres and wheels
15. Re-touch Colors on tyres
16. Clean chrome bits.

Great step , only thing i would change would be clean tyres and wheels before doing body , that way you wouldn't dirty the paint while washing the wheels

[ofey]

I don't use a spray gun to clean the wheels. I use a fibre brush by hand. Not much splatter in my case.

[zeroshift]

The guy in that thread is a freak. Washes his car every three days? I'm betting he lives in the attic with his parents.