Are all the clay bars pretty much the same or are some better than others? Planning on cleaning the ride and applying Zaino, but the clay bar from Zaino is $18 while Autozone has some for $9.99.

 

the clay magic at autozone for 9.99 is one of the best. i just tried it a few days ago and claying was very easy. it was my first time also. i heard mother's is good also.

-briancl

 

But you get two clay bars for $18 from Sal. So it's really a much better deal. And I would have to say, Zaino clay is one of the best around.

I would say:

Zaino
Clay Magic
Mother's
Pinnacle
.
.
.
.
.
.
Meguiars - DO NOT USE.....IT SUCKS

 

i found this clay bar at tognottis in sacto and it is something seal
has a picture of a seal on it and some guy there said it was the best thing he has eve used
doesnt come with anything jsut the clay bar for 20.00
i bought mothers kit and it didnt have the mothers cleaner wax in the box so i got a free full bottle of mcguiars new and impoved cleaner wax and the detailer wax spay came out great

 

how big of a piece are the clay magic and zaino? Since you get two from zaino it is barely a better deal, but do you really need two? what does the clay magic come with?

 

Zaino clay is about business card size. If you drop it you are suposed to throw it away. Having a 2nd could be handy.

 

i hate the odea of dropping a whole piece . . .

so

i lay a towel down below the work area
and
i tear the bar in half (just in case)

 

i've seen a few posts about clay bars. what's a clay bar and what does that do? and how to use it?

 

quite simply - a claybar removes things from the cars surface that washing cant.

tree sap, road tar, dead bugs, brake rotor dust (metallic and bad)
more things also...

how to use it . . heres my zaino direction si give to customers
- - - - - - - -

Actually the claybar comes with great instructions . . .but here goes the short version

oh, Ill assume you are doing this prior to your first Zaino application?

-dawn wash the car
-dry the car
-mix a few caps of zaino wash (Z7) and water into a spray bottle for lube (fill it up)
-move car out of the sun (if it is in the sun)
-start at the top and work your way down
-take one of the two bars in the jar, tear half of one off
-spray lube generously in area to start
-work clay back and forth within that area
-use light pressure (just enough to not drop it)
-you will feel a click when it encounters something (sometimes not)
-work it lightly back and forth till the click is gone (one or two passes normally)
-whatever it was is now on the bar
-keep working your way (well lubed) across the car
-never work outside the lubed (wet) area
-work from top to bottom of car (lube runs downhill )
-as you finish an area, look at clay, if spotty, turn it inside out to expose a clean surface (even if you don’t feel the clicks do this - because you wont feel everything as it picks it up)
-when you cant expose a clean area - get another piece
-i use an piece large enough for 2 fingers to apply the pressure
-lay a towel on the ground (a crappy one) below where you are working in case you drop it
-if clay hits the ground, toss it and get another piece
-when done - wash the car (Z7) and dry it

Now, you are ready - to do whatever it is you are going to apply next

if you are using Zaino - a quick Z6 spray is in order - then your first layer of the Z1 or ZFX mixed top polish (z2/z5)

 

Good idea. I actually tear it up into several pieces:

1 for hood/roof
1 for top section of left side
1 for bottom section of left side
1 for top section of right side
1 for bottom section of right side
1 for bumpers

 

I opted for the blue magic from Autozone $9.99. The funny thing is that when I got home my people asked me why I had bought playdough

Anyways, should I use the lubricating spray from the package or water down dawn, z7?

 

Clay Magic's really good, use the lubricating spray that comes with it.

 

the only thing I hate about Clay Magic is the size of their lube bottle.......it's never enough for me......I went out and bought a super size Meguires quick detailer.

 

can i use water down dawn if i ran out of lube?

 

I'd use watered down car wash instead of Dawn.

Ira

 

I thought about using dawn to help get rid of old wax while im claying, that way i can make sure is 110% ready for it first coat of zaino. Or would you recomend using Z7 instead?

 

If it's the first time you're claying and you've not applied Zaino yet, then Dawn would be OK.

Ira

 

I'd stay away from dumping the lubricating properties of the stuff. ONe of the nasties with clay is not using enough lube and getting the clay to stick -- IMO, very bad...

There is also a product that they sell that can be used as a lube and as a Z6 like product (for detailing between washes).

Excerpt from a thread I posted yesterday -- check this stuff out, you can buy it by the gallon and it works as clay lube for Clay-tragic AND it's also a toothpaste (just kidding) It's also a detailing spray and clay lube:

One product that I like for my non-Zaino stuff is made for use with the Claymagic clay. It has a light wax and cleaner so it can be used for claying or for cleaning up the car (like the Z6), but puts down some protection for cars not using the Zaino stuff. It suspends the dirt -- well, within reason -- and can be used to clean and protect a car between washes. (I get generic bottles of the stuff from a detailing buddy, but I do believe that this is the stuff [slightly blue/purple color]): "Automagic Body Shine"/"Automagic Magic Mist"

http://www.goodspeedmotoring.com/su...y=Spray%20Waxes

http://www.automagic.com/