The Clay Bar

[blue2000s]

If any of you guys are car finish perfectionists and haven't used a clay bar, do it. I've always thought my car looked pretty good, but if I rubbed my hand over the car, there was a lightly rough texture. After rubbing the clay bar over the car, the finish is literally glass smooth. The difference in the reflection of the finish is definitely noticeable.

You can look at the bar and see the little bits of overspray, dirt and fallout stuck in the bar. It's pretty impressive that all that is still on a well waxed surface after washing.

[chrisdridley]

X 10
I have been using clay bars on my cars for a while now and I am only sorry that I didn't start using them sooner.

Within a couple of weeks of bringing the RS 60 home, the wife and I clay barred and waxed it. Now it is really easy to clean up and has a much better reflection than when the dealer detailed it before we picked it up.
I also have a car that has black metal flake paint and the clay bar made this car shine like a mirror.

[rick3000]

I had never heard of a clay bar until I joined this forum. I tried it a few months ago when I detailed my car. I had the same reaction after trying it. It worked wonders, and I was very impressed. The only drawback is that the clay can get pricey, and if you use them too often they can harm your paint.

[Frodo]

The main drawback for me is that, in the process of using clay, I'll hit a patch where there's not quite enough lubricant (QD or equivalent) spayed on the car, the clay stops and (since my hand kept moving) it ends up on the ground.

As a result, I've learned to use small pieces of clay as I work.

The car really does feel (and look) nicer when claying precedes waxing/sealing. And, on a car the size of a Boxster, it really doesn't take very long.

[23109VC]

would someone give me a quick run down on how this stuff works, what is it?

I've heard of a clay bar, but never really knew what it was. When I first picked up my car, used - it was in need of a waxing. The paint looked nice, but it felt rough and didn't look shiny. I gave it a nice wash and waxed it with some Meguiar's. It looks really nice, but it's not "perfect".

Are you guys saying that if I clay bar the car it will look even better? I know my car has never had a clay bar done to it in the past 5-6 years it was owned by my dad... (i bought it from him)

Do I use the clay bar and then wax it? or is the clay bar a high grade of wax?

Does it matter where I get it from? is there a good brand / crummy brand of clay bar - or can I just pick up anyting at the auto parts store that says it is a clay bar. is it really some "bar" of clay...i'm imagining something that looks like a brick of clay that i rub all over my car....

i'll have to google this anf find out what it is.

[Frodo]

You know, I don't have a ton of experience on this, but I've used 2-3 different types of clay and I can't really say I've seen a whole lot of difference between them. If you go to autopia, or autogeek, or griot's garage, or any number of sites you can find auto detailing clay available.

Lately, I've been using the Sonus green clay, which I think is pretty mild stuff. (I think some will actually take off the old wax. I don't think the Sonus clay does.) I use it because the finish on my Box (which is garaged) stays pretty nice. But the clay does really make it wonderfully smooth. (Following washing and claying and drying, a microfiber towel tossed onto the finish simply slides right off.)

So, as far as I can tell, the type of clay doesn't matter too much. I think even Meguairs or whatever from your local AutoZone would probably be OK.

[chrisdridley]

Originally Posted by 23109VC

would someone give me a quick run down on how this stuff works, what is it?

I've heard of a clay bar, but never really knew what it was. When I first picked up my car, used - it was in need of a waxing. The paint looked nice, but it felt rough and didn't look shiny. I gave it a nice wash and waxed it with some Meguiar's. It looks really nice, but it's not "perfect".

Are you guys saying that if I clay bar the car it will look even better? I know my car has never had a clay bar done to it in the past 5-6 years it was owned by my dad... (i bought it from him)

Do I use the clay bar and then wax it? or is the clay bar a high grade of wax?

Does it matter where I get it from? is there a good brand / crummy brand of clay bar - or can I just pick up anyting at the auto parts store that says it is a clay bar. is it really some "bar" of clay...i'm imagining something that looks like a brick of clay that i rub all over my car....

i'll have to google this anf find out what it is.

Meguiar's and Mothers market clay bar kits. You can pick these up at most auto parts stores. These kits contain a small bar of clay and a bottle of spray lube.
You can also go for a pro clay bar but if you have never performed this type of detail, go with the above mentioned kits.
You wash and dry the car. Next, you spray a small section of the car at a time with the spray lube, then just gently rub the clay on the sprayed area. Wipe the spray off. Then wipe it again. I use only microfiber towels. After each section kneed the clay. Next, wax the car with the carnuba wax that is included in the kit.
Afterwards, you can use the spray to clean up the car and get bugs and bird droppings off easily.
Each time I wash the car, I go over the car with the Showtime spray to remove any waterspots and to re-new the shine.

I perfer Mothers because I like the Showtime spray that comes in the kit better than the spray that comes in the Meguiar's kit.

I have a black car that has almost 100,000 miles on it and I have used the process to clean the car since it was new and the paint shines better now than when it was new.