Using Detailing Clay

[Jazzy1]

In general, for a car that is in pretty good condition, how much detailing clay is needed to do an entire car?

[fe91]

Re: Using Detailing Clay

i only used half a clay bar on my car, its 10 years old and was the first time claying it

[Jazzy1]

Re: Using Detailing Clay

i only used half a clay bar on my car, its 10 years old and was the first time claying it

Did you notice a difference in using the clay? I want to really start taking better care of my car especially now since I will try to keep this one for a while. But NYC can be very hard on cars.

[Murr1525]

Re: Using Detailing Clay

Absolutely you will notice a difference.

If the car is in real good shape, you maybe only need to use 1/2 of one of the bars in the package, and it still can be re-used.

[eyezack87]

Re: Using Detailing Clay

If there isn't much, a 1/2 bar will last you the next 2-3 times you clay your car. Sometimes you can even get away with 1/4 bar if the amount of contaminants is that minimal

[Ivan Rajic]

Re: Using Detailing Clay

As was said above, it depends a lot on the condition of the paint, but a bar of clay will last you a while on just one car, because, unless you live in an environment where you will daily get rail dust, rust residue, etc. onto the paint, you won't need to clay more than 1-3 times per year.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Using Detailing Clay

A related question (and I hope I'm not hijacking the thread): After you use a portion of the claybar, even if the car had minimal contaminants and the clay still looks relatively clean, do you toss that piece of clay regardless, or can you use it again? At what point does it become unusable?

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Using Detailing Clay

As long as you can knead the clay and it still is clean. Once you continue to knead the clay and it is dirty toss the piece.

[Ivan Rajic]

Re: Using Detailing Clay

A related question (and I hope I'm not hijacking the thread): After you use a portion of the claybar, even if the car had minimal contaminants and the clay still looks relatively clean, do you toss that piece of clay regardless, or can you use it again? At what point does it become unusable?

That's a good question... I usually toss the piece once I can't knead it to look pretty clean... it's something you'll just have to decide on your own I guess... maybe someone with more claying experience can chime in, but in general, if it gets 'too' dirty, you want to toss it out.. obviously the word 'too' is key here and will decide when the piece of clay is not usable anymore

[Murr1525]

Re: Using Detailing Clay

A related question (and I hope I'm not hijacking the thread): After you use a portion of the clay bar, even if the car had minimal contaminants and the clay still looks relatively clean, do you toss that piece of clay regardless, or can you use it again? At what point does it become unusable?

If it is clean, you can use it again.

For my car for instance, most of the claying is picking off bug parts and sap/tree droppings, with a bit of tar. And with regular washings, it will only be a little bit at that. So there is no reason the clay cant be used a couple times on the paint.

If you feel like you are pulling up a lot of contaminates, or they are more "dangerous", like rail dust, industrial stuff, then it can be wise not to re-use it on the paint.

After I have used my clay a couple times on paint, I will set it aside for my wheels/mufflers/exhaust tips. After a round of that, the clay is tossed.