Clay question

[gmitch23]

Just wondering, i have a car that is about a year old and it has been washed very regularly. Would claying be necessary? It feels smooth, not slick smooth but pretty smooth. Does clay remove some cobwebs? Does claying require a lot of elbow grease? I know i have a lot of questions lately but i'm pretty eager to learn. Also, does anyone have any pictures of a white car? I'm curious to see how good a white car can really get once it has a "mirror" finish.

[Fly Bye]

Re: Clay question


Welcome to MOL


Claying removes bonded contaminates that washing will not. Claying is also recommended before polishing/buffing. Peeps on here will recommend to clay a car even if it just drove off of the showroom floor.

[Fly Bye]

Re: Clay question

Does clay remove some cobwebs? Does claying require a lot of elbow grease?

Negatory and negatory.

[Bill Davidson]

Re: Clay question

Claying is very easy to do. Washing the car well before claying is actually a more difficult task.

Your car will look better and the surface will be smooth like glass. Likely what you consider to be fairly smooth now, will be rough in comparison.

You should wax your car when you are done claying.

Set aside:
-1/2 hr - 1 hr to wash the vehicle very well
(try as remove as much sap, tar etc. as possible)

-1/2 hour to clay the vehicle

-1/2 hr to 1 hour to wax (on a dry day)

[gmitch23]

Re: Clay question

Peeps on here will recommend to clay a car even if it just drove off of the showroom floor.

Wow really? So claying will make the car look even better? Like the one on my profile? I'm embarrassed to show pics of my car around you guys due to how great you all are. I'm slowly working my way up there.

[Fly Bye]

Re: Clay question


To be honest, some white finishes do not give off the "pop" that some darker colors may give. The good thing about white and silver, is that they do not show dirt like the darker colors do.

Claying may not make a white colored vehicle "pop", but what claying will do, is remove bonded contaminates before you seal the finish. It's better to seal a perfectly clean finish than to seal in bonded contaminates.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Clay question

I am willing to bet, even though your paint feels "pretty smooth" as you state. It will be a very noticeable difference. Also when you are done claying the paint. Clay the exterior glass all around the vehicle. It too will make a huge difference.

[Zaris]

Re: Clay question

I'm embarrassed to show pics of my car around you guys due to how great you all are. I'm slowly working my way up there.

Don't worry. If you say you wash your car regularly, then your vehicle is a lot better than most neglected cars out there. :P

Whether it feels slightly bumpy or outright like sandpaper, the results after claying a car can be fantastic. Getting rid of the dirt and grime that's stuck on the car leaves more paint on the surface to shine. And it is incredibly easy: mist with Quik Detailer, apply light pressure with clay, wipe dry with towel. Literally, Meguiar's Smooth Surface Clay Kit is all you need to get the job done.

Have you (re)applied wax to your car in the year that you've had it? If not, and you're thinking about doing it, then claying is an important step to do.

[gmitch23]

Re: Clay question

Claying may not make a white colored vehicle "pop", but what claying will do, is remove bonded contaminates before you seal the finish. It's better to seal a perfectly clean finish than to seal in bonded contaminates.

Is claying considered an abrasive? I plan on re-doing my whole car this weekend:
Wash
Clay
Polish #7
Deep Crystal Carnuba Wax
Maintain
Any suggestions to add to my method? I would swirl x but havent gotten a da yet.Oh yea, thanks for answering all my questions, you've been pretty consistant with answering all of my questions and you are appreciated.

[gmitch23]

Re: Clay question

I am willing to bet, even though your paint feels "pretty smooth" as you state. It will be a very noticeable difference. Also when you are done claying the paint. Clay the exterior glass all around the vehicle. It too will make a huge difference.

Ok i will try the window thing, i would have never guessed that would have worked, can i clay clear head or tail lights?

[gmitch23]

Re: Clay question

Have you (re)applied wax to your car in the year that you've had it? If not, and you're thinking about doing it, then claying is an important step to do.

Yea i wax both my cars twice a year but after learning from you guys i now know i need too about every two/three months.

[Murr1525]

Re: Clay question

Is claying considered an abrasive? I plan on re-doing my whole car this weekend:
Wash
Clay
Polish #7
Deep Crystal Carnuba Wax
Maintain
Any suggestions to add to my method? I would swirl x but havent gotten a da yet.Oh yea, thanks for answering all my questions, you've been pretty consistant with answering all of my questions and you are appreciated.

Abrasive is a tricky word. It is abrasive to stuff sticking up, but not to the paint if used with good lubricant.

If your car can be improved a bit as you say, I would want to do something like:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Cleaner/Wax - you will get a small bottle in the kit, should do 1 car if not applied too heavily.
4. Wax - Gold Class

or wait and do:

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean - SwirlX - You can use SwirlX by hand, no need for a DA.
4. Polish - Optional
5. Wax
6. Wax - 2 thin coats are best

Ok i will try the window thing, i would have never guessed that would have worked, can i clay clear head or tail lights?

Sure, but can be a bit gentler one them.

Yea i wax both my cars twice a year but after learning from you guys i now know i need too about every two/three months.

All depends on environment, and what you want to do. WIth good washing and maintenance in a friendly environment, you might get 3-4-5 months, who knows. Or if you are busy, it waits longer. No big deal.

As far as claying... yeah, I thought I knew what a clean, smooth, well lwaxed car felt like. Then I clayed.....

[Fly Bye]

Re: Clay question

the results after claying a car can be fantastic.

[dougbthom]

Re: Clay question

Being fairly new to this forum as well as to detailing in general, I wanted to share this with you. I have a 2006 Honda Pilot (black). I bought it 5 months ago and the black paint appeared to be in excellent condition. I took it in to a company called "Ming" and they detailed the entire black surface which got rid of a few scratches, swirls etc. and it came back to me in beautiful condition. Now that I've detailed a couple of vehicles, I decided to do the Honda with Meguiar's products and see what difference it would make if any. I clayed the vehicle, even though it felt like glass, so I thought, and there was a huge difference after claying. Then I did the entire vehicle with Ultimate Compound, then a coat of polish followed by 2 light coats of wax. The difference is huge. The black now pops like you wouldn't believe. Am I sold on the Meguiar's products, you bet!

[gmitch23]

Re: Clay question

Is it ok to clay factory rims??