question on smooth surface clay kit

[yrdln]

I am claying my car for the first time the clay is turning a black color but the surface is not getting smooth. Is the clay bar the wrong product to use or should I just keep going?

I am using a lot of quick detailer and I can still feel resistance when using the clay.

thanks for the help

[Murr1525]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

What is the condition of the car? Any pics, history, etc?

[yrdln]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

well I don't have a camera so there is no pic. the car is a 91 civic and it has a rough surface maybe oxidation

[tcope1]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

Black as in removing paint? That is the real question as I'm pretty sure your car should have a clear coat on it and you should not be seeing any black paint being removed. You mention oxidation. As mentioned, if this is the case, the clear should be oxidizing, not the black paint underneath.

[yrdln]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

well the car color is silver so I don't think it is the paint and as far as I know it has a clear coat

[Murr1525]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

Is this your first time cleaning, waxing, etc?

[yrdln]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

Is this your first time cleaning, waxing, etc?

unfortunately it is I have been looking at the forums and got interested and wanted to try the products to see what the resuls would be like.

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

You might be claying areas where the clear coat has failed. Post up some photos to give us a better idea.

[yrdln]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

You might be claying areas where the clear coat has failed. Post up some photos to give us a better idea.

unfortunately I don't have a camera or I would have posted pictures

[Murr1525]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

Well, if it is the first time, there is likely a whole lot of stuff on the surface, whether dirt/sap, oxidation, etc.

I am sure you would notice clear coat failure, so I am not sure about jumping to that.

Stronger clay may help, but you also may find it best to use a paint cleaner first, then go back to claying. Picking up something like Swirlx, or Ultimate Compound would be a good paint cleaner, which you could work into the paint, then come back and clay after.

[AndrewR/T]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

Meguiar's make a mild and aggressive clay aside from their consumer clay. Start with the least aggressive method and work your way up from there. Try a test spot on the top of the trunk or hood and clay just that area to see if it's improved. A good scrub with some gold glass soap wouldn't hurt either.

[79elcamino]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

if its the first time you've clayed the car then there is going to be a lot of stuff stuck to the paint, you might want to try the mild clay bar, but if u have patience keep using the clay you have and you will remove all the stuff on the paint just remember to make sure the surface of the clay is clean, in regards to what murr said about using the paint cleaner first, you should clay before using a paint cleaner to make sure all stuck contaminents are removed according to micheal stoops.

[Murr1525]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

in regards to what murr said about using the paint cleaner first, you should clay before using a paint cleaner to make sure all stuck contaminents are removed according to micheal stoops.

If the surface is pulling up so much loose dirt that it is clogging the clay bar before bonded stuff is removed, then clay is just being wasted. You can remove the loose dirt with a strong paint cleaner to try to prevent the clogging, then come back to the bonded on dirt with the clay. Then you may want to use a paint cleaner again after.

Obviously an extreme case, but a car that has sat out in bad weather for 20 years might count as an extreme case. Can happen for cars used at race tracks also, or other real dirty situations.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

I hate to bring this up. Your paint could be beyond hope. The reason I say this is because a couple of years ago, I did my daughters Silver Ford Taurus. I clayed, and clayed and clayed. I was continually getting up black stuff. I put a call in to Mike Phillips, He diagnosed the problem immediately without me even mentioning the color of the car.

It could be that it is just been neglected to long. I hope this is not the case. But I just wanted to mention another possibility.

[tcope1]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

Are you possibly hitting any rubber parts? This will turn the clay black very quickly.