Clay Bar First?

[Sardonic]

New to the forum, and I'm already a huge fan! I have a Black 2002 Z71 Tahoe, and I've taken car of it pretty well. The only issue is that it won't fit in the garage (6" lift with 35" tires), so it has to spend each and everyday outside in the elements. I've wax it about two to three time per year, but still deal with swirl marks (of course).

My question is...should clay bar the hood and top before I use SwirlX? Or should I clay bar, Ulimate Compound, and then SwirlX? I"m fairly new to the "abrasiveness scale" and using multiple compounds to acheive results, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

[Tuck91]

Re: Clay Bar First?

New to the forum, and I'm already a huge fan! I have a Black 2002 Z71 Tahoe, and I've taken car of it pretty well. The only issue is that it won't fit in the garage (6" lift with 35" tires), so it has to spend each and everyday outside in the elements. I've wax it about two to three time per year, but still deal with swirl marks (of course).

My question is...should clay bar the hood and top before I use SwirlX? Or should I clay bar, Ulimate Compound, and then SwirlX? I"m fairly new to the "abrasiveness scale" and using multiple compounds to acheive results, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance!

Wash
Clay
UC
SwirlX
wax

[Murr1525]

Re: Clay Bar First?

You will want to wash and clay.

Then pick out a test spot, and try the SwirLX. See if it fixxes your problem. If not, then try UC on the test spot, and you may have to follow up the UC with the SwirlX.

Get the test spot looking good before doing the whole truck.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Clay Bar First?

My question is...should clay bar the hood and top before I use SwirlX?

Yes.

You remove the things sitting on top of the surface to get them out of the way so the paint correction products can go right to work on the paint.

Picture of your truck?

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Clay Bar First?

Matt's right about the test spot, you want to dial in your process to one small area and make sure you're getting GREAT results in your test spot before going over the entire truck.

TEST SPOT

Doing A Test-Spot

Before going over the entire car, see if you can make just one small section look good, that is apply the product you're planning on using over the entire car to just one small section about a foot squared or so. Work it in and then wipe it off, then apply the polish, work it in but not as much as the compound because now you're not trying to remove paint, just spread the product out, then immediately wipe it off, then apply the wax and let it fully dry and then wipe it off.

Now inspect our results. Make sure you can make one small section look GREAT before going over then entire car. If you can't make one small section look GREAT you won't be able to make the entire car look GREAT.

Make sense?

It should look like this,




And if you're having any problems, the post back here after the test section and we'll help you tweak your technique to insure you get it right.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Clay Bar First?

Are you working by hand or machine and if machine what type?

Machine Photos - DA Polishers - Rotary Buffers - Traditional Orbital Buffers

[Sardonic]

Re: Clay Bar First?

I'll be working by hand, and I'll definitely be doing a couple of test spots before I move forward with the entire truck. I did clay bar the hood and the results are pretty astonishing in regards to the actual "feel" of the surface.

I'll try and post some pics of my truck when I have the chance and update you as I go through the process.

Seems like I'll be rolling with...a Wash, Clay, UC (on hood and other severe areas), SwirlX, and finish it off with Liquid Glass instead of wax. I'm a big fan of Liquid Glass and think it works much better than any wax that I've ever used.

I, like some others, only have access to microfiber pads...is that all right?

[Murr1525]

Re: Clay Bar First?

You mean microfiber to apply the products?

Yes, that should be fine, though test spots would show any problems.

[02zx9r]

Re: Clay Bar First?

I'm a big fan of Liquid Glass and think it works much better than any wax that I've ever used.

I think most will agree, while there may be better products out there or certain people may like different products, as long as you are using something and protecting the paint and keeping up with it, that is all that matters.