claying good paint

[joaks]

I've read a few posts where someone mentions using clay on new paint. I finally have my camaro; the paint is not completely new, but within a few years (or so) and the car has been stored. The paint is nearly show-quality. Would claying add some extra appearance, and perhaps remove some contaminants before they damage, or just a waste of time? Also, if I should clay, do I use the "mild" from the professional line?

[Erik Mejia]

Claying will help the appearance a bit by removing surface contaminants that are bonded to your paint. Most importantly however, claying will prep your paint so that your wax or sealant can adhere to the paint a little better. If you do clay you will instantly see the results. As far as clay bar choice... the quick clay or Smooth Surface clay kits should work just as well for you as the mild pro line clay. Good luck hope this helps.

[Murr1525]

Claying can be the best 20 or 30 minutes you'll spend on your paint. Well, it could take longer depending on condition.

For just basic applications like yours, the Smooth Surface or Quick Clay will be good.

[Monk]

I am new to this, but I can tell you that claying is downright FUN! Wash the car and then put your hand in a baggie and draw the palm of your hand slowly over the surface of the area you are about to clay. Then clay the area. Wipe it off so it is dry and do the baggie thing again. And compare to the adjacent area. You will say WOW!

However, this is only if your paint is a bit old and their are contaminants. May not be as dramatic if the car was garaged and not driven. OTOH, it it wasn't driven it probably wasn't washed, so all the junk in the air has been able to just sit there all this time and bond to the paint (Warning: This last part is possible BS???).

[Murr1525]

Monk..

It is absolutly possible. This is why even cars stored indoors will be covered, to keep crud off them.

[WaspHunter]

Murr's right - I store my car in a garage and still get **** on it in the mornings. No rats, no roaches, just the cars driving past the lane outside moving the air enough to unsettle dirt on the ceiling beams.

As for bonding, there are three marks on my paint from areas I missed - once from bird droppings, once from rain, once from paint. The areas I didn't miss are spot-free, minus the autocarwash marks from the dealer (I'll stop whingeing about that when I polish them out).

[Jeff Smith]

I clayed my truck about a month after I bought it. I highly recommend it. Alot of new vehicles get rail dust on them while traveling to the dealership via the train. This can work it's way onto/into your finish and rust over time leaving you with little rust specs in your paint. That's for a brand new vehicle. Yours has a little more time on it but to be honest, you don't know what your paint has been subjected to.

Plus Claying a new vehicle will give you great confidence that you have done everything in your power to ensure that your finish is as clean as you can get it prior to your first coat of wax.

Don't forget the rest of the 5 Step Plan though. If you really want to make sure you do this right, there is a little more to think through. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the following and be sure to kick out any questions you have. It does not necessarily stop at the clay in all cases.

The 5-Step Paint Care Cycle.

Meguiar's 5-Step Paint Care Cycle

Step 1 Wash

Step 2 Clean

Step 3 Polish

Step 4 Protect

Step 5 Maintain


The Mild Clay out of the professional line is great and is what I use on my truck. But like Murr1525 & Mejia pointed out The Quick Clay or Smooth Surface Clay kit will likely do you just fine. Be sure to read up on claying though. It's not hard but there are some great tips floating around that will make it go smoother for you.

Smooth Surface™ Clay Kit
Smooth Surface™ Clay Kit