I know I've been posting a lot on here but...

1. How does Clay Magic compare with Meguiars Quick Clay?

I've been hunting for the Meguiars all over town (yes I am a Megs whore) and cannot find it, but have seen Clay Magic at AutoZone. I want to use the internet to purchase (the Megs) as a last resort. I like the price of these two products compared to the Mother's and Megs Smooth Clay.

I am a rookie at this and this weekend may be the first time I use the product.

2. Now, I plan on Wash -> Clay -> Wax. Is this good, or is a polish necessary/very highly recommended ?

I will wax my car roughly every 3 months with NXT (yes I know there are pros and cons, but I think NXT + Speed Detailer will last 3 months) and, if it works well for me, clay every other time I wax.

Thanks for all the help I've been getting here

Craig

 

Both clay will work very well. If one is not available, the other one will do just as fine.

Wash-Clay-Wax is sufficient if you think the paint is still in good condition. Instead of polishing, you can use some type of cleaner, something that's not abrasive.

 

Almost all clay is made by one of two manufacturer's then re-badged. I've found after god knows how many bars that all clay is the same.

 

For me, clay was important (I think because the dealer did not prep the hard to reach spots), and the paint cleaner (UPC) even more so. The clay got rid of stuff that you couldn't see but could feel everywhere. Cleaner really brightened the color. You might not need to clay, and the polish or cleaner is prolly more important.

 

I think clay comes in at least two different grits, and you want the fine?

 

If you're looking for a bargain, here's a link you might be interested in; Chemical Guys Clay Value Pack. And for more "How To" clay, check this thread posted by exceldetail. Another source of info is OCD's article on Claying. There is also Autopia and Better Car Care.

After claying, I would definetly look into a polish or a paint cleanser. Use a polish if you have any surface defects and a paint cleanser if you don't. Using one or the other will add gloss and reflectivity to the paint. Then follow with a sealant or a wax.

 

What he said ^^.


Also, you might want to pay attn to the colour of the clay you use. I have found that yellow is a good colour because it is easy to see when the clay is dirty and needs to be folded. Sometimes a particularly dirty panel may dirty up your clay very quickly, which you might not notice on a dark colour clay (ex dark grey). Then you might scratch up the paint before you fold to a fresh side. Just something to watch out for.

 

What would you all recommend as a paint cleaner? Is this a cleaner wax? or something like ScratchX?

 

Never mind my last post, I did a little searching and found what I'll be using. Megs Deep Crystal System Paint Cleaner then I will wax.

Sunday is going to be a busy day

 

Someone had to do it /

 

There are numerous products available on the market, both OTC and online with the latter giving you more products to choose from.
OTC: Megs System Paint Cleaner, Mothers Pre Wax Cleaner
Online: PB Pro Polish, Klasse AIO, 4Star UPC, Wolfgang Pre Wax Cleanser, Pinnacle Paintwork Cleansing Lotion, DP FFP, Menzerna FP II, Sonus SFX-3, P21S PCL and so on. These items can be found at online detail sites like Proper Auto Care, Autopia, Autogeek, Exceldetail (auth. vendor), Detail City & Top of the Line. There are of course, other sites, but these are ones I've used and familiar with.

My personal choice has been the PB line, AIO and UPC from 4 Star. They provide excellent results, easy to work with and somewhat inexpensive compared to the others mentioned. I'm sure others have their choices and hopefully provide recommendations.

 

I used UPC this afternoon .

I have Megs system paint cleaner (have not used it in a while) and 4* UPC,...I think they are both good.

 

Steve, how did your detail go? Everything turn out okay?

 

I want to know too. It was looking good when I saw it!

Oh and Steve, I might swing by in the night and detail that Nissan for you. You'll make up and the paint will be perfect, the tires inflated, the fuel injectors fixed, and a hot model will be in it... well, maybe not.

 

would like to see some before and after pics also!

 

It works great. Some clays are very sticky and leave residue, While it may be true that only a couple of people make them in Japan, I think they change the formulation to whatever the buyer wants- hence, some are stickier and harder or softer than others. ClayMagic has been a favorite of mine for years. Zaino makes a red bar that is very good but not as sticky/abrasive as ClayMagic, for instance, and it (the Zaino Bar) requires more pressure and rubbing to get all the crap out of your paint. But when done, it doesnt ever leave a scratch from the clay. Insure you use plenty of lubricant, I like Meguiars, Quick detailer spray, Clay M comes with a bottle of their lubricant which works well too. I've tried alot of products over way more years than I can remember and finally settled on Zaino for its ease of use, shine, and durability. Let me know if I can help out any further. Hope it came out good for you! DanF

 

clay is cool