Clay or Not to Clay

[charlestek]

I'm going to do some swirl removal, glaze and application of sealant to my car. The question I have is what condition of a finish is required to be needing using clay? I tried claying one portion of the side of the vehicle and really didn't get that much residue in my clay. Since claying is labor intensive, if I can save a step, I would just wash, dry and use IPA then go to swirl removal.

[tcope1]

Re: Clay or Not to Clay

Looking at the clay is not the best way to judge if it's effective. You should feel the surface before you use clay and if you don't know ow to judge that, use some clay and feel it again. Paint should feel as smooth as glass. If you want to go a step further, put your hand in a plastic bag and rub it over the paint. Now you will really hear and feel everything that is on the paint.

You can certainly do as you want without claying, even on a rough surface but you get two great benefits from prepping the paint correctly.... you get a good surface for the sealant to bond to and you make the job of applying and or removing sealant much easier. I can apply M16 to my truck and remove it in about 30 minutes. This is because it goes on and comes off so easily. Most of this is because the paint is perfectly clean (well, that and the fact that I wax it a few times every month )

[charlestek]

Re: Clay or Not to Clay

Another reason to be less motivated for claying is that I must do it right by constantly exposing a fresh clay surface. I also worry about making things worse if I don't do it properly. I only have the consumer Meguiars clay kit with small clay bars....

However, there is a first time for everything..

[HealthyCivic]

Re: Clay or Not to Clay

Another reason to be less motivated for claying is that I must do it right by constantly exposing a fresh clay surface. I also worry about making things worse if I don't do it properly. I only have the consumer Meguiars clay kit with small clay bars....

However, there is a first time for everything..

What do you mean "constantly exposing a fresh clay surface?"

Dude, just clay the car. It's not THAT big of a deal unless you have a huge truck. I find it fun in fact.

[tcope1]

Re: Clay or Not to Clay

I'd not worry too much about claying with a consumer grade clay... about the only two things you can do wrong is not enough lubrication and dropping the clay on the ground and still using it.

Spray down a 3' x 3' section of a panel and rub the clay around in a long oval movement. I say oval as I find if you just move back and forth that the clay stops moving when you change directions which can cause it to stick. When you are done with that section, fold the clay and spray down the next section.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Clay or Not to Clay

Does your paint feel rough? Then clay.

I do not feel that claying is that labor intensive. After completing a section. knead the clay to get a clean surface, it is not that hard.

[charlestek]

Re: Clay or Not to Clay

The paint is not rough, but I guess I can clay anyway. I doesn't seem like these small clay bars are enough to do a car, but I hope they are enough.

[Murr1525]

Re: Clay or Not to Clay

If the car is in decent shape, it should be enough for several clayings. The QD you may run out of...

[charlestek]

Re: Clay or Not to Clay

Yeah, I bought a large size bottle of the QD at my local autozone just in case.

[Matt Majeika]

Re: Clay or Not to Clay

The paint is not rough, but I guess I can clay anyway. I doesn't seem like these small clay bars are enough to do a car, but I hope they are enough.

Make sure the car is thoroughly washed before claying, or you will be adding tons of swirls and possibly marring to the paint. Once washed and dried, the clay bar should be able to glide smoothly across the paint with the help of the QD or Last Touch (1:1).

Try this: Clay one small section. (approx 1' x 1'). Look at the clay bar's condition. Now knead the clay into itself so you have a clean bar to work with again and clay the same section on the car. Look at the clay - is it clean? Did it glide more smoothly the second time around? This will show you if you're doing it properly.

With your hand, feel the clayed section and compare the feel to a non-clayed section. This will show you whether or not claying is necessary on your vehicle. The results of claying are spectacular!

[charlestek]

Re: Clay or Not to Clay

Matt,

Thanks. I already did a small section of the door last week and didn't notice too much film/junk deposited on the clay.

[charlestek]

Re: Clay or Not to Clay

However, I was just watching an autog**k clay instructional video and they mention that the horizontal panels usually have contaminants but the vertical ones do not.

[Matt Majeika]

Re: Clay or Not to Clay

Matt,

Thanks. I already did a small section of the door last week and didn't notice too much film/junk deposited on the clay.

How does the clayed section feel compared to the non-clayed section? Can you notice a difference?

[charlestek]

Re: Clay or Not to Clay

Matt,

I have to go out there and try again, since it has been over a week since I did it, and I have to wash the car again first. The video did make mention of using a baggie to feel the paint and comparing the clayed and non clayed area. Good video: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...taminants.html

[Murr1525]

Re: Clay or Not to Clay

Yeah, the baggie thing works pretty good.