JJH

iTrader: (1)

Both times that I have tried claying my NBP type-S, I have had no luck at all. At first I thought it was the Meguiar's clay bar kit but now I'm not so sure. I replaced the Meguiar's kit with a Uber blue fine grade clay bar and ONR diluted to clay lube lubricity per the directions on the bottle.

Today, in about 60 degree farenheit weather, I washed my car with Dawn dish soap via two bucket method and dried with waffle weave micro fiber drying towel. After the car was completely dry, I attempted to clay the car with the Uber blue clay bar and ONR clay lube. No luck. The clay bar just slides across the paint and doesn't pick up any contaminants. I made sure the dilution ratio was correct and that my car was in fact contaminated by doing the sandwich baggy method. I can hear tons of noise and feel all kinds of stuff in the paint.

The best way to describe my problem is that the clay doesn't have any friction whatsoever against the paint. It's not dirty after I clay. It slides similar to the way a wet bar of soap would slide against the bottom of a bath tub.

WTF am I doing wrong? Is it possible that I have received two defective clay bars?

Bearcat94

That's what's supposed to happen - the clay slides on/with the lubricant.

Why you're not picking up contaminant, I don't know - unless there simply isn't any.

I've used the Meg's kit, it works fine for an OTC package. BTW, iirc, the Meg's kit comes with 2 bars of clay. I use 1/2 of one bar and knead it until soft. I 'mush' it out until it's a few inches across. I turn and knead it fairly often. The dirt/grime it picks up is obvious.

Here's the real question: After claying a section is the paint smooth/glassy feeling or not? If it is, the clay did it's job.


Size like so:

TheChamp531

iTrader: (3)

I think you did it wrong.

BC, I think he still feels contaminants via Ziploc bag method.

TLtrigirl

iTrader: (1)

i've used the meg's kit, without issue.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

you cant do it wrong

LOLOLOLOL



I have found that side panels dont get "rough" or "contaminated" as much as the hood.
if you clayed the car twice, most likely you've picked up all if any contaminates.

mY sLOW UA6

I dont think you can clay bar wrong lol. Your might just be very clean. But just to make sure put a ziplock bag over your hand and glide it across the paint. You will be able to feel if there is any dirt left in the paint.

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

it's basically experimenting.

I had never used a clay in my life, and watched that vid^ above and played around with QD and the clay.

I would have to go over little specs of tar multiple times before the clay picked it up.
experiment with the amount of QD you use.

there's really not a wrong way to do it, unless you're just dragging the clay against dry paint.

alpha07

According to his original post, , he has done the bag test.

JJH, you may need a more aggressive clay or to apply more pressure. Also, how long are you spending on claying?

mY sLOW UA6

^^^I have trouble reading sometimes lol. Dont get too agressive of a clay, acuras paint is very soft. You dont want to marr the paint with the clay, otherwise youll have to get it buffed

alpha07

Haha, no worries.. It happens. I tend to skim things so I miss stuff like that too.

Acura's paint is soft, and with that level of contamination, I would venture to guess that it may need to be polished anyway. That being said, in this situation, I would prefer to use a more aggressive clay than too aggressive of a technique.

What I would do though? If I wanted to give the paint a deep clean, I would purchase a paint decontamination system, such as Valugard's ABC System. Or if not wanting to go that far, try using Iron X. And then you should be able to go over the paint with a lighter clay to pick up anything left on the surface.

OntheJob

there is only one way to slide the clay on paint dude, its not rocket science lol we will help you out.... maybe try using light and I mean LIGHT pressure to help get the stuff out of the paint... its also possible as stated above you dont have any contaminants. If you can feel them with the plastic bag then I would lean towards you using TOO light of a pressure when sliding the clay.

TheChamp531

iTrader: (3)

When I meant not doing it right I meant pressure my bad. :o

mY sLOW UA6

I've used iron x it didnt really do anything.
Its really good for heavy brake dust, so I dont have to use it on my car .