Claybar

[useanimagination]

I have a couple questions about claybarring.

1. What is a good claybar to use?

2. What other supplies do you need to claybar? I know Vinnie used some sort of spray while he was claybarring my car.

3. How do you store a claybar?

4. How often should you claybar your car?

[crew219]

Best OTC is Clay Magic . . . found @ autozone.

Nothing . . . . the kit comes with lubricating spray

ziploc bag

once a year or whenever you do a full detail

[shortbus]

I should clay bar my car sometime...... i think i should just clean it period.

[meatwad!!]

ha..ive got meguirs claybar and finish spray.. once i use it lol ill tell you how it is..

ps. i cant spell

[evolveVW]

Clay Magic is the stuff I use. I just bought enough to last me a long time. You can use pretty much any spray wax.. what comes in the Clay Magice kit doesnt last very long. Like Dave said, store it in a ziploc, and doing it once a year is enough for most people.

[ctaloi]

I've used the McGuire's stuff in the past, the claybar helps get all that funky small orange stuff out of the paint (the stuff you can't see until your really looking). I usually do it once in the Spring and once in the Fall. Max sure to give it a good wax after you use the claybar.
It makes a difference, plus the claybar/spray combo smells like cinnamon.

[blk.raddo]

What do you do to prep the car for clay bar'ing? Wash withdish soap then clay it up?

I think Vinnie needs to hold a class for all us detailing n00bs ;-)

[useanimagination]

What do you do to prep the car for clay bar'ing? Wash withdish soap then clay it up?

I think Vinnie needs to hold a class for all us detailing n00bs ;-)

I think he should teach me for free since he's my roomie. When I had him detail my car he washed it the good old fashioned way, clay barred it then washed it again.

[crew219]

I think he should teach me for free since he's my roomie. When I had him detail my car he washed it the good old fashioned way, clay barred it then washed it again.

why would he wash it again after claybarring?

I would pretty much never use dish soap on a car . . .

Dave

[evolveVW]

Dish soap is the last thing you want to use. That orange stuff it specs of rusted little metal chips, (ie brake dust) sap, tar, and various other crap.

[blk.raddo]

I thought you would want to take all the was off before running the clay bar. So what is the typical process?

[evolveVW]

The clay bar pretty much does that without being harsh like dish soap. Typical process would be to wash the car, paying special attention to areas behind the wheels, and front bumper. If there is a lot of junk on the car that wont just come of with regular car wash soap, i use some Simple Green on those areas to clean them more. Then you clay bar. You will want to do this out of direct sunlight (in my case lately I havent had a choice) and if its hot, do it panel by panel, rinsing each one as you go so the clay doesnt dry on the car. You want to use a spray wax etc for lubricant, but keeping the water running over the panel will have the same effect. Then wash the car aftyer you are done, and wax

[crew219]

The clay bar pretty much does that without being harsh like dish soap. Typical process would be to wash the car, paying special attention to areas behind the wheels, and front bumper. If there is a lot of junk on the car that wont just come of with regular car wash soap, i use some Simple Green on those areas to clean them more. Then you clay bar. You will want to do this out of direct sunlight (in my case lately I havent had a choice) and if its hot, do it panel by panel, rinsing each one as you go so the clay doesnt dry on the car. You want to use a spray wax etc for lubricant, but keeping the water running over the panel will have the same effect. Then wash the car aftyer you are done, and wax

I'm going to have to disagree with your techniques. I would never use simple green on the paint as it can react with certain clearcoats as well as removing any form of lubrication. When you move your cloth over the spot you've applied simple green on, you're essentially creating more scratches. For a degreaser / bug & tar, look for a good citrus based automotive cleaner. Those are designed to degrease and remove contaminants while providing enough lubrication to prevent scratching.

Same thing with your claybar technique. The alternative to using clay lube is to use car wash solution + water . . . not just water. Same reason . . . . lack of lubrication. Not using some form of slip creates a higher chance of scuffing the paint, or you're not using the clay bar as effectively.

Dave

[evolveVW]

I didnt say I used simple green with the clay bar.. I use it as a degreaser for tough areas to loosen some of the junk up. We used to use a much harsher degreaser at the recon shop I worked at on the paint occasionally with no ill effects.

And when I say water I meant lots of it, like keeping the hose running over the panel while claying it. Ive only done it a few times, 99.9% of the time Im using a no wax spray detailer. Im sorry if I worded myself incorrectly. Ive done well over 100 cars and know the ins and outs of doing it.