Dutchml

Sorry about the dumb question :banghead: , but what exactly does the claybar do? And, should I wait awhile after taking delivery to apply the first coat of wax (or Zaino, or whatever).

Lore

A claybar will remove the smallest particles that are stuck on your car's paint. These particles aren't permanent but they can be difficult to remove without the help of the claybar.

JoganJani

Claybar takes all the fine contamination off of the paint. It's like a clay and sticky. You use it with some lubrication like water + saop. Spray it and move the bar on the surface to collect little dirt, sap, bird dropings particles etc. Do it as soon as you can after the delivery before you apply any wax.

roadman

Use it as soon as you can, there is a lot of rail and brake dust on the finish that dulls it. Putting polish on over that without claying first locks in that dullness.

A clay treatment is cheap and takes no time at all to do

dsc888

There was also some talk of using Dawn dishwashing liquid to remove the polish that the dealer may have applied prior to delivery. Then you are starting with a totally clean slate after you use your clay bar.

Question to you guys...would you clay the entire car prior to waxing right after delivery? Or would you just do the hood and front fenders? I will take delivery in mid May and will wash, clay and NXT it during the first week.

04tlnbppar

clay the entire car.

Hal

this is some new stuff that I had never even heard about.. guess i'm not much of a care care afficionatto

dsc888

Hal,

Clay bars have been around for quite a while. They were the tools of the trade of most bodyshops and was used for removal of paint overspray. I got my clay bar a few years back from Pepboys when companies started realizing potential profits of selling them to consumers...at least that was how I saw it . But the difference it makes on the paint is quite dramatic.

dsc888

gabedabomb

Yes, I was so frustrated that the overspray on my car (after it's been at the bodyshop) won't go away. The shop used some polishing compound but that didn't help much. Claying really helps. I do it every few months, and then re-polish. Especially if you live in a place with a lot of bugs, tree sap, etc. One clay bar (those in the $10 kits, e.g. Clay Magic, Meguiars) should safely last 3-4 clayings. But I wouldn't use it much past that, as the clay probably gets dirty. The trick is to lubricate as you go, and knead the clay to make it clean (like Playdoh!). If you run out of that lubrication in the bottle, just use water + little soap, shake it up, and spray it.

Steps I use:

1) wash car entirely
2) spray and clay
3) dry
4) polish/wax

doogles

Wouldn't the polishing step do the same thing? I know that Meguiar's states that only claying can take off these pollutants, but I would have to think that if you polish enough (which takes off the paint to some extent) you are also going to remove the pollutants on top of the paint. I am just trying to determine if I really need to clay or if I can get by with just cleaner/polish/wax in three steps. My car doesn't need the clay, it's only 3 months old, but my wife's 2001 Highlander might need it--never waxed since we bought it (he sheepishly said).

roadman

The problem with a cleaner/polish/wax is that there is polish and wax mixed in with it, you will seal in some of the dirt.

When using a clay bar, you will be taking everything off the paint and making it super smooth. Polishing it afterwrads gets you much better results and skips the cleaner wax part of the detailing job.

Dutchml

Clayed and waxed with Maguires in the garage today and then backed it out into the sunlight and now I'M FREAKIN BLIND!! Thanks for the advice...was well worth it.

doogles

Roadman,
thanks for the info, I bought some Clay Magic last night and will try it out this weekend. I'm praying that the rain holds off!







Please post topics like this into Wash & Wax forum in the future, thanks.

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