I have been thinking about claybaring my car but it really depends on how it works. I know with a normal tin of wax, waxing is absolutely painstaking when it comes to buffing it all off. With claybar do you have to buff the clay off or does it just wash off?

 

The clay just removes the junk from your paint. No buffing needed. When you clay you will use some kind for lubricant usually a QD and all you have to do is wipe it dry.

 

think of the clay like rubbing your car with play-doh.. you spray some liquid on the car, meguiars clay bar kit comes with a piece of clay and a bottle of spray "Quick Detailer" . you spray the detailer on the car and then rub the clay on the car, like you are sanding the car but with water and clay..this will make the car as smooth as glass. I thought it was alot of BS, but I was extremly wrong, it made a huge difference. while you are rubbing the clay on the car the clay will pick up the dirt so you will have to kneed the clay when it gets dirty, I used a rolling pin, it worked perfectly.
Also, during the clay baring the liquid will get dirty and run down the car, so you should wash the car after the claybaring. and then start the process from the begining..paint cleaner - polish - wax -

Make sure you wash the car after claying. it'll leave a hazy finish under the wax if you don't..

 

claybar makes ur car super smooth. its reaally worth it. like they said it removes stuff in the paint dat washing regularly cant clean. even takes off hard to remove bug marks. works great and easy. i suggest clay magic.

 

Oh, thats great. I thought it would require some effort aside from rubbing, damn I hate waxing. I think I am just going to get a Zaino kit... I heard their wax/polish is very easy to buff off. Figure I'll devote a whole Sunday to it or something.

 

Gale, you still need to clay......

 

It took me a few hours and I started early (about 7 am) and finished before noon.

I clayed the TL-S today, then applied a coat of Liquid Glass. I get better results when I let it "bake" in the sun for a few hours. After applying the LG, some residual dust was still on the paint and somewhat made the paint "feel" staticky. I washed it again and finished with spritzes of Megiuar's Quik Detailer using a Microfiber cloth that made the shine come out even more.

Now my curiosity is this: can I still apply polish on top of the LG? Or would than negate the LG shine rather than enhance it. I have a bottle of Meguiar's #2 polish (2 of 3 on a 3-step system) that I have yet to use.

 

Vicman - The polish will remove the LG. That is why it is #2 in the 3-step process. #3 is the wax. Wax enhances the gloss of the polish, not the other way around. The polish gives the car that "wet look" and the wax gives it "depth" and protection. The typical process for cleaning the car is:

At least once a year (preferably twice)
1. wash
2. Clay
3. Swirl Remover (only if you need it)
4. Pre-Wax Cleaner or Hand Glaze
5. Wax or Sealant (Wash again after step 3 if using a Sealant and skip step 4)
6. Quick Detailer

At least twice a month:
1. wash
2. Wax (Skip to next step if you are using a Sealant)
3. Quick Detailer

 

Gale,

Claybar is GREAT!!! I did my 9 year old Monte Carlo last weekend and it looks better than new (except for all those rock chips in the paint). It is amazing how smooth the car bacame. I added two to three coats of Zaino and it shines

Do it and you will not be sorry.

 

I have always washed the car again after using a claybar on it, just to make sure the paint is clean.

 

Criss - Thanks for catching that. I accidentally left that step out.

Step 2.5 - Wash

 

yesterday evening i did the whole process on a white 96 2.5TL.

1) wash
2) let it dry some
3) clay bar
4) wash again
5) dry
6) polish
7) NXT

the smoothness was and still is amazing after forgetting the car outside all night. the NXT did a good job of smoothing out the finish and shine but on a white car you cannot really see the benefits. at night the car looked amazing reflecting all the town lights.

i highly reccomend claying, especially on our aging (yet amazing) first gen cars...

 

your supposed to wash the car first with a dish detergent to remove the cars wax first right? then clay, then wash again with a car detergent, then dry and wax?
I need to clay soon!

 

Yes, goldendragon, you're correct. Throw in a polishing stage as needed. Stick with plain blue dawn if you decide to use a dish detergent. I don't advise to dawn wash too often. You have to be careful with it because it may dry out your rubber trim. Once or twice a year should be ok, just rinse thoughroughly.

 

Goldendragon -

If you plan on claying and polishing your car, don't bother using the Dawn to remove old wax. The clay and polish will do a much better job stripping the wax then Dawn and will be less harmful in the long run to the paint, plastic, and rubber on your vehicle.

Use Dawn if you want to remove old wax without having to do the added work of claying and polishing.

 

Take Dawn out of the equation altogether ! Its not necessary, and like VTECh said, it isnt as adequate as polishing anyway, it really is a wasted step in my opinion....and has no place in my detailing fashion.....And if you plan on waxing/sealing without polishing, SHAME ON YOU !!! You'd be better off taking it to the corner wash/fill/detailer center....