Clay Bar Question

[defectiveAggie]

Ok, after getting into an argument with my roommate over the clay bar, I figured I would just ask yall.

What exactly is it that the clay bar does to the paint surface?

Please be as detailed as possible.

He was was telling me that the clay bar removes the top layer of the clear coat. Didn't really make much sense to me since i thought that the clay bar and spray was non-abrassive.


-Ryan

[Vandelete]

it`s not removing any layer at all.

what the claybar does is removing little spots of treesap, or other tiny contaminants wich you don't see with your eyes. If you feel with the palm of your hand on a just washed surface, then sometimes you feel those little spots as they where sand drops.

Those are on top of your clearcoat (or paintcoat if u don't have a clear coated car) and the claybar helps removing them.
If you mist some Quick Detailer on a part of your hood for example and you start using the claybar on it... and after a wipe off then you feel again on your just worked area. You will notice that it will feel as they say: "smooth as glass" and it will create a good begin for further protecting steps. So the base is , with the claybar it removes little things that you don't see with your eyes, but will feel with your hands.

I hope i have been clear about this...

good luck

[defectiveAggie]

Well, i pretty much thought it did that, only took off the bonded contaminants but he seemed to think that it stripped the top layer of the clear coat. Not really sure where he got his information from but he was sticking by it no matter what i said. Kind of pissed me off. Lol. But he was saying to me that he had never used a clay bar on his car and it was only for people with show cars. WRONG! I noticed the HUGE difference in surface quality after I did it to my new ride. It is like glass now. Did it yesterday to my dad's car too. Good thing he didnt argue with me since he knew it worked cuz he introduced me to it.

One more question about the clay bar. Do you think that it can get a water stain out of the paint? My neighbor was telling me he has tried various methods. Not sure what he tried but clay bar wasnt one of them. If not clay bar, then what might be able to cure this problem?


Thanks for the info Mike.

-Ryan

[NewlyCarCrazy]

Water spots can sometimes be removed by clay so try it. The other option is to use some vinegar and water. This will remove the actual stain, but not the etching in the paint. The etching is removable with a paint cleaner like Deep Crystal Step 1.

[defectiveAggie]

Cool ill let him know.

Mike i need to just hire you as my personal assistant