Clay In the Sun??

[MrWaxer]

Is it alright to clay bar In direct sunlight?? I would assume not but just want to check!!

[Honda Fit]

Re: Clay In the Sun??

Your lube might literally evaporate before your eyes depending on how hot your paint is, so I'd recommend not.

[Murr1525]

Re: Clay In the Sun??

There is a big difference between direct sunlight in Alaska in winter, and Arizona in the summer.

What you want to worry about is the surface temp. The warmer the surface gets the quicker your lube will be evaporating and drying. If it goes away too fast, you wont be able to work.

Best bet would be shade, or a cloudy day, but since you are in NY, you can probably still get a day when it is sunny but cool outside.

[MrWaxer]

Re: Clay In the Sun??

Thanks for the info! I was thinking about doing my wife's PT Cruiser this weekend, It's supposed to be In the 80's and bright sunshine all weekend!

[Murr1525]

Re: Clay In the Sun??

80's in the sun will probably be too warm....

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Clay In the Sun??

Working in the sun? How HOT does your car's paint get?

The topic of working on a car in direct sun comes up from time to time, there are some companies that claim you can use their products in the sun. That's kind of vague because there's a HUGE difference between working on your car in the sun in the morning when it's cool out and working on a car in the sun at noon in Arizona in August where temperatures can easily surpass 160 degrees.

So next time someone claims their product can be used in direct sun, ask them to be more specific, ask them how hot the surface can be and their product can still be used safely and key word here, still be usedeffectively on the very hot surface they're claiming their products can be used on.

(We're betting there will be a pause with a lot of hemming and hawing in the answer).


Just for the record, even if a product can be used on a hot surface in the sun, this same product will ALWAYS work better on a cool surface in the shade.

The below was taken from the 2nd Advanced Class we've coordinated through our forum, note that these pictures were taken in Irvine, California, (a coastal city where temperatures don't get extreme), and they were taken in May, not even summer yet. Still, look how hot the paint became while the cars were sitting in the parking lot of our Corporate office.


Advanced Class #2 - Pictures & Comments


It was a beautiful sunny day at Meguiar's Garage! Check out the temperature differences for the different colors of paint sitting in full sun, especially the difference between the temperature on a white car as compared to a black car.




White car - 110 degrees



Silver Metallic - 129 degrees



Green Metallic - 165 degrees




Silver Metallic - 154 degrees




Black - 168 degrees




Our demo car was parked inside Meguiar's Garage since early morning...




Even out of the sun on a warm day the surface temperature can still be warm.




Additional Information

What temperature ranges are best for applying cleaners, polishes, and waxes

[Marc Hufnagel]

Re: Clay In the Sun??

Your lube might literally evaporate before your eyes depending on how hot your paint is, so I'd recommend not.

I tried it last week as I wanted to be able to see stuff on a light gold car if I missed it or where to concentrate. The lube did burn off quick and I got a light face sunburn too.

[Honda Fit]

Re: Clay In the Sun??

This is the reason why I've been desperately searching for a cheap, but good quality canopy. Bought one from WalMart for $30 and it was flimsy and would not stand without the stakes, so I returned it. Guess I'm going to have to shell out $90 to get the EZ UP 10' x 10' canopy so I can detail anywhere at anytime.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Clay In the Sun??

This is the reason why I've been desperately searching for a cheap, but good quality canopy. Bought one from WalMart for $30 and it was flimsy and would not stand without the stakes, so I returned it. Guess I'm going to have to shell out $90 to get the EZ UP 10' x 10' canopy so I can detail anywhere at anytime.

Although a 10'x10' canopy will cover most of your Fit, if you're going to spend that kind of money, Pep Boys has their ShelterLogic 10'x20' canopies on sale through the end of the month. The 6 leg version is on sale for $90, plus that online coupon somebody posted here last week will take another $10 off. 10'x20' will cover most full-sized vehicles and trucks which are usually about 16'-18' in length. I would suggest buying the leg anchor plates and foam rubber to wrap around the legs.

[Honda Fit]

Re: Clay In the Sun??

Although a 10'x10' canopy will cover most of your Fit, if you're going to spend that kind of money, Pep Boys has their ShelterLogic 10'x20' canopies on sale through the end of the month. The 6 leg version is on sale for $90, plus that online coupon somebody posted here last week will take another $10 off. 10'x20' will cover most full-sized vehicles and trucks which are usually about 16'-18' in length. I would suggest buying the leg anchor plates and foam rubber to wrap around the legs.

Thanks a bunch for the heads up! I'll look into it. My only concern is that I need/want something that is portable and I can easily setup and take down by myself in case nobody else is around. This canopy is perfect for a person seeking a permanent solution. My mom drives a van, so I do have to look for something a bit taller.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Clay In the Sun??

Thanks a bunch for the heads up! I'll look into it. My only concern is that I need/want something that is portable and I can easily setup and take down by myself in case nobody else is around. This canopy is perfect for a person seeking a permanent solution. My mom drives a van, so I do have to look for something a bit taller.

I hear you. Since my current residence has no offstreet parking, I probably couldn't put up anything bigger than a 10'x10' myself without getting warned/cited by parking enforcement.

[roger 668]

Re: Clay In the Sun??

It is best to do any and all detailing out of nature.