adversary

I used Meguiar's Clay Bar system on my Acura and BMW vehicles (2010 and 2006, respectively) and noticed a LOT of contaminants on the clay bar.

Today, I used Mother's Clay Bar on my dad's 1994 Honda Civic -parked outside for 8 years now- and there were barely any contaminants on the clay bar.

What do you guys think? After claying with Mother's, the Civic's paint was smooth but I was expecting a lot more gunk on the clay bar.

csmeance

Mothers clay bar is more of a typical average joe clay bar that doesn't know to throw it out when you drop it.

The Meg's bar is a tad bit more aggressive for someone who knows what clay is and how to use it properly (doesn't smudge it when they use it). Being slightly more aggressive it removes more contaminants but is more likely to induce marring if used incorrectly (too little lubricant).

Zaino's and Mothers clay bars aren't that great. I've liked my clay magic one and the meg's bars that I've used.

adversary

bleh, i just wasted 20 dollars...

now i have to buy the meguiar's clay bar system again

stogie1020

If the paint is clean, the paint is clean... Use the plastic baggie method to tell. Maybe the car just didn't have a lot of contaminants.

KillerG

plastic baggie method? do tell gonna clay bar for the first time next week

im guessing you stick your hand in a plastic bag and run it across the surface to check for smoothness?

OR
or.

you realize that your cars paint isnt as smooth as you wanted it to be and you decide to just end it all by putting the plastic bag on your head

not sure which it is but i am guessing its number 1.

adversary

I'll have to find out another time when I have the time to clay other sections of the civic. I just find it hard to believe that the civic we've owned for 15 years has less contaminants than my 9 month old acura tsx.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

number1.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

Dont pet the sweaty things, and definitely dont sweat the petty things.
you're over thinking a simple task.

Jesstzn

^^^^ exactly

stogie1020

Put hand in plastic baggie

Run finger tips over clean car paint

If roughness felt, clay. If not, have a beer and admire your non-clay needing paint.

ChrisJ

All Claybars sold within the US is produced by AutoWax Inc (Who own ClayMagic/AutoMagic). They own the patent on it thru sometime this year...As such all clay you buy meguiars, mothers, turtlewax, griots, literally anyones is coming from the same place. The only difference between one bar and the next is grade, color, and size...

Jesstzn

Not sure if its "produced" by them .. don't they just have the patent but its nade in China. I understood there was only a couple of factories that produce it.

BTW we have Recardo clay up here .. great stuff too.

ChrisJ

I think they have been going back and forth with Japan on the issue but as to my knowledge all the clay bars sold in the US are all the same...

I cant wait until we can get better claybars in the US...