I've been using clay bar for years. It does not remove clear coat or paint. You use a liquid based lube and gently slide the bar over the paint - there is or should be no real pressure applied. The clay bar acts as a mold which grabs paint contaminants and pulls it out. The paint contaminants deflect light, which takes away from the shine of your car, and if bad enough, can dull the color of your car.
Clay bar is good stuff. Go to your local O'Reillys and ask them for the detailers clay that they keep behind the counter and they will bring out the good stuff. It's more expensive but it is better at picking out the crap in your paint.
There's a lot of "magic" that can be done to a car if you know how to detail it.
EDIT: It's always a good idea to wash your car before and AFTER clay bar.
It's good practice to allow fresh carnauba wax (the wax that causes water to bead upon contact and not disperse onto the paint) to dry for around 24 hours before washing it as it hardens and creates a wax shell on the paint.
Clay bar is good stuff. Go to your local O'Reillys and ask them for the detailers clay that they keep behind the counter and they will bring out the good stuff. It's more expensive but it is better at picking out the crap in your paint.
There's a lot of "magic" that can be done to a car if you know how to detail it.
EDIT: It's always a good idea to wash your car before and AFTER clay bar.
It's good practice to allow fresh carnauba wax (the wax that causes water to bead upon contact and not disperse onto the paint) to dry for around 24 hours before washing it as it hardens and creates a wax shell on the paint.