Smooth Surface Clay Bar Kit and Swags and Talks

[the_invisible]

Just thought I'd make a thread to discuss the Meguiar's Smooth Surface Clay Bar Kit.


Meguiar's Cleaner Wax Liquid


How many of you actually use the Cleaner Wax that comes with the Clay Bar Kit?? I find the product somewhat mediocre in the extensive line of products Meguiar's sells.

The Cleaner Wax that comes with the kit is not powerful enough to remove the heavy swirl marks that the clay bar sometimes produces. It doesn't do a good job protecting the paint either. I don't even know if anybody still buys the retail bottle of Cleaner Wax. Many people have shifted to using products like SwirlX.

What do you do with this stuff if you don't use it?


Supreme Shine Microfibre Towel


I think the Microfibre cloth is a very nice touch! You can never have too many Microfibre towels; they can be used for almost anything. The MF towel that comes with the Clay Kit retails for around $2 on average when purchased separately in retail stores. I love getting a new MF towel every time I clay my car.

Meguiar's Quik Detailer


I always use 3/4 of a bottle of the Quik Detailer on one car of Clay. So most of the time I would need to buy an additional bottle to go with the second bar of clay. I thought I am using too much, but then I only clay my car once a year and it gets very dirty. I am paranoid about scratching my paint.

Speaking of Quik Detailer, has anybody ever tried using Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Detailer for lubricating the paint for claying? I know it's expensive, but I wonder if that would improve the result.

Meguiar's Clay Bar Kit Moisture-Seal Case


I don't see how this little plastic container could seal any moisture. Any cool uses for the box after you are done with the clay? Business card holder perhaps?

[Deaner5]

Re: Smooth Surface Clay Bar Kit and Swags and Talks

While I haven't bought that clay kit (I managed to find an old kit last time I needed clay), I can defend the Cleaner Wax though. While CW is not your flashy end all be all product, it does work pretty well for its purpose (a one step wax that does provide some cleaning and polishing providing a better look).

I like to use CW on a car that hasn't seen a wax job in a long time and didn't get a claying either before wax. It provides a decent shine and decent protection. Plus you also have to remember the price, only about $5-$6 plus it is a pretty big bottle, compared to $12 or more for a Gold Class or NXT 2.0.

I also think the target for the product is more regular consumer rather than some of the hardcore detailers that are on this site, which might also be why you never really heard about CW on here as well.

While I won't touch on everything, I'm pretty sure that UQD is NOT intended to be used as a lube for clay. Plus at $10 a bottle, I would rather just use QD for about $5 a bottle. Plus you would still want to follow up with wax afterwards so I don't see any benefit from UQD at that point either.

[fe91]

Re: Smooth Surface Clay Bar Kit and Swags and Talks

I love the cleaner wax
first wax that i bought from Meguiar's
and was super impressed
its also perfect for door jambs

and ive never experience any marks from the clay at all.

Like the microfiber towel, i think its too big though

Detailer spray, i like it, but it does get used up quickly.
about 3/4 of a bottle for one car.
and im pretty sure UQD is not meant to use as a clay lube

[fzr confused]

Re: Smooth Surface Clay Bar Kit and Swags and Talks

you will not find a single step product that will remove the heavy swirls that you mentioned and buff out perfect. CW is meant for the person that wants a 1 step product that will take out the lightest scratches and leave a decent protection behind. it isnt meant for the heavy swirls, there are other products for that, but then those other products that take the swirls out perfectly dont leave protection so you would still need to wax. i find that the CW is actually pretty good for white cars. my truck is white and so is my gf's truck and the trees at her house drop a lot of dirty water on and leaves a NASTY yellow/almost brown stain on the paints. washing doesnt take it off and i dont want to use something like scratchX (which takes it out instantly) every wash, so the CW is perfect for this. on my black car i wasnt too fond of it though, although the black car is my baby and gets more attention than my truck lol

as far as the clay leaving scratches, im not sure what you are doing, but i have NEVER had anything left behind from clay besides the occasional dried clay residue that you spray a little more spray on and go over again and it removes it. but most of the time i use a bucket of new fresh water and GC soap and use that as a lube, works perfectly and doesnt cost much at all

[Murr1525]

Re: Smooth Surface Clay Bar Kit and Swags and Talks

A sample size ColorX would sound great to me.

And yeah, UQD is not for claying. The regular QD is good, or Last Touch or Final Inspection.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Smooth Surface Clay Bar Kit and Swags and Talks

Last Touch for clay lube. At less than $20 per gallon, and that gallon can be diluted with water 1:1 for clay lube purposes, you're getting 2 gallons of product that is more versatile and effective (IMO) than Quik Detailer.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Smooth Surface Clay Bar Kit and Swags and Talks

The Smooth Surface Clay Kit is sold as a consumer product "kit", meaning it contains everything necessary for even a complete novice to effectively clay a vehicle. That includes a sample of Cleaner Wax because you must wax after claying, and we'd hate for that complete novice to get home and find they don't have any wax at home. It happens! So we include the clay, lubricant, a towel to wipe the area dry, and enough wax to cover a full sized vehicle. All are quality products that not only allow a novice to do an excellent job, but also stand up to the scrutiny of the hard core enthusiast.

This comment is a bit worrisome, however:

The Cleaner Wax that comes with the kit is not powerful enough to remove the heavy swirl marks that the clay bar sometimes produces.

What are you doing to inflict heavy swirls when claying? That just should not be happening, especially given your comment about using 3/4 bottle of Quik Detailer in the process. With proper lubrication the clay shouldn't actually interact with the paint, which is why it won't remove fine swirls and other below surface defects. It isn't until you use our C2100 Aggressive Professional Detailing Clay that you run into potential issues of hazing the paint - but heavy swirls? Something just doesn't sound right there.

Understand also that Cleaner Wax is intended as a relatively low cost, one step product that, with regular use, can keep a properly maintained finish looking great for many years. No, it's not on par with NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0, M26 Hi-Tech Yellow Wax, M21 Synthetic Sealant 2.0 etc, but it is neither marketed nor priced as such. It's more a general purpose workhorse type product, and that task it does extremely well.

[erobertson]

Re: Smooth Surface Clay Bar Kit and Swags and Talks

While I don't use that much of the cleaner wax, find that the sample bottle in the kit is a perfect size for my needs. The cleaner wax is ideal for small areas that need extra cleaning during a routine wash. I often find very small isolated droplets of road tar on the lower surfaces and around wheel wells. The cleaner wax will quickly remove the small spots and at least leave a thin wax film behind that will last till the next major wax cycle. Seems to be a good product for spot cleaning wheels as well. As mentioned in another reply the product works well around the doors and trunk lids for a quick clean that will leave some protection behind.

[dave40co]

Re: Smooth Surface Clay Bar Kit and Swags and Talks

I use the cleaner wax on my appliances in the house. It works great to remove marks on them, especially the stove.

[Eddie6th]

Re: Smooth Surface Clay Bar Kit and Swags and Talks

If you find that you don't have the need to use it on your car,use it on something else.The world's full of painted surfaces,that could do with some protection.

[Calais]

Re: Smooth Surface Clay Bar Kit and Swags and Talks

I love cleaner wax. A friend of mine got it as a gift for Christmas and heard how I wanted to give it a try and gave me his bottle, he said he never planned on using it. It is so easy to apply and take off, the easiest wax I've used by far.

I am going to make a thread about it, actually. I wiped down my car with alcohol put a coat on and it looks beautiful. It just goes to show you that paint has more to do with prep than LSP.