picked up a clay bar, how does it work

abouttobeglue

Founding Member

Nov 25, 2001

529

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18

birmingham al

Mar 20, 2004

#1

• Mar 20, 2004

• #1

i picked up a clay magic kit and mequiars nxt wax, going to clean her up sunday how does a clay bar work and can i damage my paint if i use it rong

 

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rjstaaf

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May 31, 2002

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Somewhere

Mar 20, 2004

#2

• Mar 20, 2004

• #2

Just make sure you wash the car well first. I would cut the clay bar up into 4 pieces. This way if you drop it you won't have to throw the whole bar away. Make sure you fold the clay over frequently kind of like playdough. Check the surface of the clay frequently to make sure there isn't anything on it that could scratch. There is no such thing as using too much quick detail spray, that is what provides the lubrication and prevents scratching. If you are careful, take your time and use plenty of spray you should be fine.

 

MT1083

New Member

Sep 16, 2003

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Charlotte, NC

Mar 20, 2004

#3

• Mar 20, 2004

• #3

I think it just removes the extra contaminants on the surface that washing and waxing just don't get off. When you use it BE SURE TO KEEP IT LUBRICATED! You will be kicking yourself in the butt if you don't. You'll see what I mean if you do it. I have found that wax will remove the little smudge better than anything else. You can tell a difference though when you run your hand across the paint. Stuff works good IMO.

 

YardSpecial

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Mar 20, 2003

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MT

Mar 20, 2004

#4

• Mar 20, 2004

• #4

Caly is the BOMB !!

I use it on all my cars, makes the car smooter then a babys BUTT !!

Adams polish is the brand I use !

http://www.adamspolishes.com/

Remove fallout and surface contamination



Detailers Clay removes the surface contamination. Hard water spots, paint overspray, bug splatter and tree sap all cause surface contamination. Most vehicles come new with surface contamination!

If you want a perfect finish, Clay it!!!!

1. Wash and Dry vehicle. Spray a fine mist of Adam’s Detail Spray onto a section of paint or glass.
2. Stretch and fold the Clay Bar several times. Make the Clay bar the same size as base of your hand.
3. Rub the Clay back and forth until the surface becomes smooth.
4. Continually Stretch & Fold the Clay Bar. It will disintigrate if you don’t!!!
5. Leave sediment from Clay & Detail Spray on surface.

 

robg860

New Member

Mar 2, 2004

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Mar 20, 2004

#5

• Mar 20, 2004

• #5

Hello, the clay bar seems simple, but is a modern day miracle for clear coats. Wash the car with soap to remove all old wax and dirt first. Then rub your hand accross a small section at a time to feel the contaminents on the paint. Spray on the mist, and rub the clay like you were applying wax. You will hear it taking off the particles .When you are satisfied, rub your hand accross the finished area, and it will feel showroom new! Smoother than ANYTHING you have applied before.You cant hurt the paint with this system at all. Please dont cut it in 4 sections, it already takes a while with a full sized clay bar. I have done about 10 cars and they all felt new again to the touch when I was finished. I love the system, and it does better than the harsh gritty waxes that are supposed to clean the paint. Really a modern day miracle the way this relatively simple system works.

 

YardSpecial

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Mar 20, 2003

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MT

Mar 20, 2004

#6

• Mar 20, 2004

• #6

Yes it is, a Miracle !

Once U clay, U never go back !

 

showngo

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Mar 16, 2004

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canada

Mar 20, 2004

#7

• Mar 20, 2004

• #7

any clay bar do.ie meguires, mothers etc?

 

Cobra5337

New Member

Jun 27, 2003

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Edwardsville, Il

Mar 20, 2004

#8

• Mar 20, 2004

• #8

just a question, what is the deal with polishes/waxes. Which is better I heard that polishes where like so much better. Oh here a site with some stuff

http://zainostore.com/

 

JonJon

Founding Member

Aug 16, 2002

4,801

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back in Marylands

Mar 21, 2004

#9

• Mar 21, 2004

• #9

You need to strip the wax first too. A Dawn car wash works good. Just spray, move back and forth a few times and wipe with clean towel. Repeat if still rough. Fold clay. Spray a lot of lube.

Clay bars really are magic :worship:
It's amazing how smooth it is after a clay barring.

 

merc123

Active Member

Jan 27, 2003

420

2

39

North GA

Mar 21, 2004

#10

• Mar 21, 2004

• #10

I've heard a few things about Dawn as a car wash. Don't use it that much because it'll eventually strip the clear coat.

 

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GinoGT

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Aug 11, 2002

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Mar 21, 2004

#11

• Mar 21, 2004

• #11

I've found a pad for an orbital buffer that will hold a clay bar. Any ideas? Claybarring the whole car by hand.....hell, detailing the whole car by hand = www.tehlose.com

 

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rjstaaf

Founding Member

May 31, 2002

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Somewhere

Mar 21, 2004

#12

• Mar 21, 2004

• #12

GinoGT said:

I've found a pad for an orbital buffer that will hold a clay bar. Any ideas? Claybarring the whole car by hand.....hell, detailing the whole car by hand = www.tehlose.com

Click to expand...

I wouldn't even consider that. If you manage to get one spec of dirt between the clay and the paint you will scratch the heck out the paint before you even realize it. It may take longer by hand but, it is far safer..

 

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rjstaaf

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May 31, 2002

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Somewhere

Mar 21, 2004

#13

• Mar 21, 2004

• #13

robg860 said:

You cant hurt the paint with this system at all.

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Lets not lead newbies who have never clayed before into a flase sense of security. It is possible to scratch the heck out of your paint with a clay bar. All is takes is to get one spec of dirt between the clay and the paint and it WILL scratch. That is why you need to use plenty of lube, fold the clay bar over frequently and constanty check the surface of the clay bar to make sure there is nothing on it.

Please dont cut it in 4 sections, it already takes a while with a full sized clay bar.

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Depends on which clay bar kit you buy. I use Mothers and the clay bar is plenty large enough to cut into 4 pieces. You should be neading them out like silly putty anyway so that you get the largest surface area possible. Also, I don't recommend keeping the clay. I throw them away after going over the car once so cutting the clay bar into 4 pieces gives me 4 applications. Using one clay bar to do the car multiple times is just asking for a problem. Keep in mind all the contaminates that it is removing from the paint are trapped in the clay. By using it repeatedly you are just rubbing those contaminates back over the paint.

 

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GinoGT

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Aug 11, 2002

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Mar 21, 2004

#14

• Mar 21, 2004

• #14

rjstaaf said:

I wouldn't even consider that. If you manage to get one spec of dirt between the clay and the paint you will scratch the heck out the paint before you even realize it. It may take longer by hand but, it is far safer..

Click to expand...

Well the car does get washed before I clay it, plus I do it all in a garage so it's not like I have to worry about crap blowing/falling onto it.

 

abouttobeglue

Founding Member

Nov 25, 2001

529

1

18

birmingham al

Mar 21, 2004

#15

• Mar 21, 2004

• #15

am i supposed to wash it again after its claye4d and do ineed to clay the whole car';]
\

 

JonJon

Founding Member

Aug 16, 2002

4,801

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back in Marylands

Mar 21, 2004

#16

• Mar 21, 2004

• #16

abouttobeglue said:

am i supposed to wash it again after its claye4d and do ineed to clay the whole car';]
\

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I wash it after I clay it... some of that lube residue is around. It's well worth the time you put into clay barring the car, it really is some amazing stuff.

 

StangLou

Active Member

Jul 9, 2003

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Holly Springs, NC

Mar 21, 2004

#17

• Mar 21, 2004

• #17

So all you do is spray some quick detailer on, place the clay on, rub back and forth, then enjoy its smoothness??? Sounds like one of those to good to be true things lol. How does the clay stick to the particles if you have a ton of quick detailer on to lube? Wont the quick detailer get on the clay thus ruining the "tacky" feel? Just curious, I NEED to use one on my car, but Im just unsure as to how exactly to do it. I just bought some the NXT wax and am itching to use it

 

JonJon

Founding Member

Aug 16, 2002

4,801

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68

back in Marylands

Mar 21, 2004

#18

• Mar 21, 2004

• #18

StangLou said:

So all you do is spray some quick detailer on, place the clay on, rub back and forth, then enjoy its smoothness??? Sounds like one of those to good to be true things lol. How does the clay stick to the particles if you have a ton of quick detailer on to lube? Wont the quick detailer get on the clay thus ruining the "tacky" feel? Just curious, I NEED to use one on my car, but Im just unsure as to how exactly to do it. I just bought some the NXT wax and am itching to use it

Click to expand...

It really is magic...
I don't understand how it works but it's awesome.

 

jason1320

New Member

Feb 19, 2004

60

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0

Bowie MD

Mar 21, 2004

#19

• Mar 21, 2004

• #19

I used the clay bar this weekend and my car looks great! The whole job took me about 6 hours but it was well worth it. I took the advice of someone off this board and did the following.

1. Washed the car real good.
2. Mother's Claybar over the whole thing.
3. Washed the car again. (Mr. Clean carwash kit! )
4. Meguiars #9 swirl remover 2.0 (This stuff is awsome! )
5. meguiars #26 high tech yellow wax

It took six hours and my back is killing me, but the car looks just like the day I bought it. The paint is so slick your hand slides off the door when you try to close it.

 

Cobra5337

New Member

Jun 27, 2003

160

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0

Edwardsville, Il

Mar 21, 2004

#20

• Mar 21, 2004

• #20

What kind of compounds would you use to go about buffing your car. I got the polishes down, and I am ordering a polisher tomorrow so I can make teh stang clean over summer. I heard that buffing a car can be dangerous though. is it worth doing? Anyone ever done it?