claying...as I wash?

[Golden]

So over the weekend I scrubbed my frame, differential, leafsprings, and wheel wells. Got all of the dirt off, and then Painted it all a nice gloss black. Looks clean, and like new. However, I did not think I would get much overspray, so I only taped the body around the wheel wells off. The other day I felt part of my door, and there is overspray on it. Upon further feeling, there is a ton of overspray, just can't see it.

I have some clay, but ran out of detail spray, and don't have much time. So my question is, can I clay as I wash the vehicle? What is the best method? Should I just soap the area, and run the clay across it, then rinse, then re-wipe with my wash mit? Will this work?

[Murr1525]

Re: claying...as I wash?

Well, you can use soap, but you would want to wash the panels first, then clay them. I have not done it that way, but I imagine a little more car wash concentrate would be wanted as well, maybe use 1.5 or 2 times as much.

[Golden]

Re: claying...as I wash?

Thanks, I think I will go ahead and try it on part of my rocker panel that has some overspray. Can't mess it up since there are some stone chips from my All Terrains.

[Golden]

Re: claying...as I wash?

Just did a test panel, and it feels and looks ok......Guess I will do the rest of the truck. Hope I don't FUBAR it.

[Golden]

Re: claying...as I wash?

Went smooth. Just washed the panel first, then kept it well lubricated with soap and water. Then re washed, and dried. Not a hiccup

[Mike Phillips]

Re: claying...as I wash?

Just to chime in for anyone that reads this in the future...

A lot of production detail shops will clay a car after washing but while the car is still wet and then dry the car and start their detailing work. The important thing they understand and the important thing for anyone thinking of doing this needs to understand is that after washing, and washing thoroughly, you need to thoroughly and completely rinse all loosened dirt and abrasive particles off the car. If you pick just one small abrasive particle off the car and trap it into your clay bar you risk instilling scratches into the paint as you clay.

After washing, all loose dirt must be completely rinsed off the car.


Somewhere on this forum is a post about a forum member who tried claying after washing and while the car was still wet and he came back to post of his experience which resulted in scratches all throughout his car's finish.

"Try to learn from other's mistakes, you may not live long enough to make them all on your own?