How to Clay in Cold Climates?

[omegabenz]

I was trying to clay my car this evening and once the sun went down the quick detailer started freezing, and then my grip slipped and I dropped the clay on the ground.

Any advice for either problem? Cold and dropping/cleaning off the clay? Or even washing in the cold?

Does meguiars sell extra clay? Seems silly to have to buy a whole new clay kit when I just need some clay.

Thanks in advance.

[MSIGuy]

Re: How to Clay in Cold Climates?

Throw the clay away. You might be able to cut out the parts with all the gunk, but honestly, its not worth trying to save $20 and ending up scratching your paint because there is some sand or grit in your claybar.

I'd just pick up another clay kit and chalk it up to experience. Having an extra bottle of QD laying around IMO is a good thing. One to keep in your garage, and one to keep in your car.

As for claying in the cold, if your QD is freezing on the car you're kinda of out of luck. Wait until it gets warmer out and go at it again--or find a garage to work in.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: How to Clay in Cold Climates?

There really is no other options.

[Deaner5]

Re: How to Clay in Cold Climates?

I agree with the above posts as well.

Being from a cold climate, I sleep a little better at night knowing I clayed in the summer or late fall so my finish is nice and clean and knowing that spring in right around the corner also helps. I do have a heated underground garage that will drop to about 40 or so in the winter, but I just never want to spend a day doing a full detail in it. I will just wax and wait for summer.

Maybe you could talk a friend into letting you do you car at their place sometime, plus you could do their's in return. Just an idea.

[jfelbab]

Re: How to Clay in Cold Climates?

I cut the clay bar into two pieces before I start for just such such an occurrence. When i drop one piece I grab the other and continue. A half a bar works just fine unless you have a very badly contaminated vehicle. When in a cold freezing climate I use a heated garage. I also have a fairly large quartz heat lamp I can use to warm the paint slightly.

You can also buy just the clay from Megs. But I like the Smooth Surface kit and since the kits are so inexpensive I always buy a couple at a time.

[BlueZero]

Re: How to Clay in Cold Climates?

I've heard about people keeping the clay in a cup of warm water while you work. Good luck keeping your hands warm.

I always cut my clay bars in half. That way if you drop one of the halves you still have the other one to work with. Clay is sold separately also. The professional bars are twice as big as the one you get in the kit, I think. So you could cut it into thirds or even quarters.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: How to Clay in Cold Climates?

One trick for heating up your clay if your clay is really cold is to put it in a sandwich baggie like a Zip-Lock baggie and let it sit in a sink of warm water while you're doing something else to get the car ready for your detailing session, the warm water will make the clay easier to knead yet the baggie keeps it from actually soaking in the water itself.

If you've dropped the clay then it would be a really bad idea to take a chance and try to use it again because all you have to do is pick up one small abrasive particle into the clay and this one particle could instill scratches throughout your entire paint finish which you would then have to spend hours removing, so compared to the cost of another clay kit your time to remove the swirls would cost you a lot more in time, energy and effort not to mention you would be removing paint or film-build that had you not used the contaminated clay you wouldn't have to remove.

Tough situation.

[Tom Weed]

Re: How to Clay in Cold Climates?

If you drop the clay as others have mentioned, you risk it picking up dirt and scratching your paint. As far as keeping it warm, I used to put it inside the house along with my detail spray when it was cold outside up until right before I used it, but it doesn't take long to become stiff again against the cold metal on the car. One alternative is the clay sponges like ADS sells, but those take a little care in using as they can be very agressive.

Tom

[HagFan]

Re: How to Clay in Cold Climates?

All I can add is that "Frozen Wax" is a new age product for use on one' hair not car finishes.

For me, if the clay is freezing it's too cold for detailing.

[omegabenz]

Re: How to Clay in Cold Climates?

See, I am motivated now because I went to the meguiars clinic. For me, if I don't stike while the iron's hot so to speak, I won't do this work. Usually I focus my attention on mechanics.

Good ideas with cutting and warming the clay. I was just running it with my hands under warm water. I can't clay at my apartment because it has dirt roads nearby. I will go to my parents house during the day time before the sun goes down and finish up claying. Garages here are not heated.

I didn't realize that the professional clay jar was full of clay. I bought that from Meguiars on friday, all of this stuff should be here soon.

[pcmark]

Re: How to Clay in Cold Climates?

I put a new, clean, plastic drop cloth directly under where I'm claying, and move it as I go, just in case I drop the clay.

[MSIGuy]

Re: How to Clay in Cold Climates?

I didn't realize that the professional clay jar was full of clay. I bought that from Meguiars on friday, all of this stuff should be here soon.

Well, don't be suprised when you open that huge jar up and find a "little" bar of clay. The whole jar isn't full of clay, but it does have about 6x what the Quick Clay Kit has.

That whole jar full of clay would be expensive! I don't know how long it would take to go through it either!

[omegabenz]

Re: How to Clay in Cold Climates?

My clay kit from Meguiars is pretty old, but I used it, then dropped it. The new kit comes with two bars in that little plastic tray right?

Autozone, Checker (Kragen), etc only have mothers brand clay kit. Ill wait until friday. I made a 300dollar order with meguiars after the clinic, so Ill hold out.

[Spazmogen]

Re: How to Clay in Cold Climates?

Thanks for all of the information guys.

I just returned from a week in Arizona with a suitcase full of Meguiar's products and have been dying to try them out.

The only trouble is: its still too cold to do the F150 yet.
I woke up this morning to freezing rain...last week it was 85F and sunny in Lake Havasu City, AZ.

It looked like this last week while I was gone:


Just how warm does the paint surface have to be before we can clay, polish & wax?

The instructions on the various bottles only indicate "cool". Would high 30's or low 40's be too cold?

I don't want to screw up the new F150's paint.

[jfelbab]

Re: How to Clay in Cold Climates?

Ummm... 86 yesterday, 85 today and tomorrow. Supposed to have a cold front approaching and it will only get up to 79 on Thursday. Burrr. Guess I'll put another coat of NXT 2 on the car Thursday.

There is a lot to like about SW Florida in the winter. Warm and no rain is the norm. I sure don't miss the snow and slushy roads as well as the dirty dingy roads and cars I left back in WI. Make me wonder why I haven't turned into a snowbird many years earlier.