Topic: Using a Clay Bar on Automotive Paint

[Romans Polishes]

How many considering giving the car a clay bar treatment?

[DKaz]

Claybar and wax in the autumn for winter protection, claybar, polish, and wax in the spring for summer shine.

[airbalancer]

How many considering giving the car a clay bar treatment?

I have consider using a clay bar but have never done it

[CanuckG35]

Clay bar is a must have product in your detailing arsenal.  

[safristi]

.."detailing Arsenal"...How aboot rubbing "Man chest United???"

[toolatecrew]

I do it in the spring as part of my post winter cleaning.

Wash calybar and 3 stagetreatment cleaner, polish and wax. It really doesn't take long to do clay bar.

[CanuckG35]

I do it in the spring as part of my post winter cleaning.

It's amazing how much bonded contaminents that it removes after the winter months isn't it?  I do a full detail of my vehicles twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.  Clay bar is always part of my full detail. 

[1TSX]

I have always wanted to do it, but haven't gotten around to it.

Our black TSX is full of swirls by the time winter is over (probably caused by the snow brush). Will the clay bar help remove them? I usually do the three step wax system (cleaner wax, polish, wax), and it does a reasonably good job.

[CanuckG35]

I have always wanted to do it, but haven't gotten around to it.

Our black TSX is full of swirls by the time winter is over (probably caused by the snow brush). Will the clay bar help remove them? I usually do the three step wax system (cleaner wax, polish, wax), and it does a reasonably good job.

Clay will remove bonded surface contamination from your paint, however it will not remove paint imperfections like swirls, spider webbing, marring, etc.  You will need an abrasive polish to remove those.  There are polishes available that can be applied by hand, however it's extremely time consuming and the results are not very good.  Applying them by hand doesn't generate enough heat to break the polish down properly.  You really need to apply them by machine to really get any adequate results. 

[dr_spock]

I have used clay bars from time to time to remove tree sap and the like from my clear coat.  It is time consuming.  But if you have time, the effort is worth it. 

 

[CanuckG35]

I have always wanted to do it, but haven't gotten around to it.

Our black TSX is full of swirls by the time winter is over (probably caused by the snow brush). Will the clay bar help remove them? I usually do the three step wax system (cleaner wax, polish, wax), and it does a reasonably good job.

Btw, snow brushes can be death to your paint.  If you must use one, tape an MF towel over the bristles so that the bristles do not touch your paint.  Also apply the tape perpendicular to the bristles so that the tape doesn't touch the paint either.  Just a tip to reduce the amount of micro marring to your paint. 

[No H2O]

I'll be going over the car before I take it out for the summer.

I bought a Pinnacle Ultra Clay Bar kit with lubricant and microfiber cloths.

Here is a "how-to" I came across.
http://www.autogeek.net/detailing-clay-bar.html

[CanuckG35]

I'll be going over the car before I take it out for the summer.

I bought a Pinnacle Ultra Clay Bar kit with lubricant and microfiber cloths.

Here is a "how-to" I came across.
http://www.autogeek.net/detailing-clay-bar.html

Have you clay barred your vehicle before?  Make sure you use adequate lubricant when applying your clay bar otherwise you will more than likely incur some extreme micro marring to your paint finish.  Any questions just let me know. 

[No H2O]

Have you clay barred your vehicle before?  Make sure you use adequate lubricant when applying your clay bar otherwise you will more than likely incur some extreme micro marring to your paint finish.  Any questions just let me know.

First time, but I'm not worried as I have a good feel for stuff like this.

And I'll finally get to try out my Flex DA polisher. 

[safristi]

)

Btw, snow brushes can be death to your paint.  If you must use one, tape an MF towel over the bristles so that the bristles do not touch

..

 an M_F Towel..... just threw that in................ ..

[CanuckG35]

Have you clay barred your vehicle before?  Make sure you use adequate lubricant when applying your clay bar otherwise you will more than likely incur some extreme micro marring to your paint finish.  Any questions just let me know.

First time, but I'm not worried as I have a good feel for stuff like this.

And I'll finally get to try out my Flex DA polisher. 

The Flex 3401 is arguably the best DA on the market.  The Porter Cable is not bad, but the Flex offers about 40% more OPMs than the PC......which translates into much faster cutting ability.  Let me know how you make out with your Flex for the first time and don't hesitate to ask any questions.