question on smooth surface clay kit

[yrdln]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

well guys I spent about 2 hours yesterday clay barring the roof of the car I got 3/4 of it done it came out real smooth and boy what a difference.

the only problem now is the quick detailer is done and the clay is a real dark ugly color so I need more clay. as Murr said I am wasting clay so I think I am going to use ultimate compound then come back and clay.

What do you guys think?

can somebody recommend something else

thanks for the help you guys are awesome.

[noobhax0r]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

Sounds like the car has just been neglected. Also have you washed this car before your claying? I clayed a DD car that has been neglected for ~5 years... totally destroyed that clay, but the paint came out alright once the claying was complete.

[Murr1525]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

well guys I spent about 2 hours yesterday clay barring the roof of the car I got 3/4 of it done it came out real smooth and boy what a difference.

the only problem now is the quick detailer is done and the clay is a real dark ugly color so I need more clay. as Murr said I am wasting clay so I think I am going to use ultimate compound then come back and clay.

What do you guys think?

can somebody recommend something else

thanks for the help you guys are awesome.

If you got one part good, then there is hope. Did you really use all the clay, or maybe you can knead the clay differently?

Try the cleaner first, sounds like you are going to need it anyway. A small test area will be ok. Try an application or two of the cleaner, maybe use terry for the first of the applications if you need more bite...

There is also a time and place for washing with Dawn.... if the paint seems in good shape, not dried out, just dirty, this may be a good idea also.

[Peter.kelly]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

Not Claying the Vinyl trim are you? Or directly under it? It can get prett black down there...

[Michael Stoops]

Re: question on smooth surface clay kit

OK, a silver car that's almost 20 years old and the clay is coming up black. Well, you obviously are NOT pulling paint pigment on the clay so that's not a worry. Oxidation (or possibly clear coat failure) also would not be transferring black material onto the clay. What will do this is a heavy degree of bonded contaminants, meaning it sounds like you're doing everything just right.

Odds are what you're up against is really, really severe contamination of the surface and the consumer level clay is just not quite up to the task. 19 years of accumulated junk can be pretty nasty, and with a clay as gentle as a typical OTC clay kit provides (Meguiar's, Mother's, Clay Magic, etc) you're going to exceed the ability of the product. If you have a Car Quest or Finish Master in your area see if you can get some of our C2000 Professional Mild Blue Clay and use that instead. It's a fair bit more aggressive than the consumer clay, and we've had several instances at our Thursday Night Open Garages where this clay has been an enormous help with heavy contamination. You'll get a single 200 gram bar in the jar, and no Quik Detailer lube, but you will use it exactly the same way you're using the consumer product. Just be sure to tear off 1/3 to 1/4 and use that rather than using the whole 200 gram bar at once.