Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

[Redefined]

I am very curious to know if the clay in the Smooth Surface Clay Kit removes 100% of wax on a car. Even if the car has had multiple layers of wax.

[Sean Conrad]

Re: Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

If it doesn't remove all of it, it will remove most. If you are asking if you should re-apply wax afterwards, the answer is yes.

[ethereal45]

Re: Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

I've heard it both ways honestly. I'm inclined to think yes.

[Redefined]

Re: Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

If it doesn't remove all of it, it will remove most. If you are asking if you should re-apply wax afterwards, the answer is yes.

I am not at all asking if i need to reapply after claying. I just needed to know if the consumer clay would strip wax as well as the professional. Thank you for the response.

[Marc08EX]

Re: Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

If it doesn't remove all of it, it will remove most. If you are asking if you should re-apply wax afterwards, the answer is yes.

I agree with Sean's response.

Meguiar's has always recommended to wax your car after claying the paint and that's why they include a sample of UQW (cleaner wax before) in the smooth surface clay kit. Basing it from this, it's probably because the clay is removing the wax. It also makes sense because clay has the ability to remove bonded contaminants.

[Tuck91]

Re: Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

It will strip some of it off, maybe all if you clayed real heavily.

It would be hard to tell though since a quality spray detailer will usually keep the surface beading during the clay process.

[Redefined]

Re: Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

It seems like people are torn on this issue. I am hoping someone from meguiars will pop in and shed some light on the truth of this matter.

[davey g-force]

Re: Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

+1 for yes, it does take off wax.

[jfelbab]

Re: Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

My impressions is that clay is an abrasive and where it is in direct contact with the wax or sealant, it will remove it. Yet much of the time the clay is hydroplaning over the wax/sealant riding on a micron thin layer of QD lube. So in my view the clay will compromise the wax/sealant coating but may not remove 100% of it. To be sure you have removed all the wax/sealant, if that is your goal, I'd suggest other methods. A paint cleaner or a polish for example or a body solvent like Prepsol works well. I'd not rely on clay to remove all the prior wax/sealant.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

If you have applied a coat of a good synthetic sealant very recently and you then need to clay the car for whatever reason, the clay is likely to remove at least some of that sealant. It will likely remove more carnauba wax if that was your recent application. But if it's been a couple of months or longer since you last applied a sealant or wax then even the consumer is most likely going to remove virtually all that's left. Remember, waxes and sealants degrade slowly over time due to all sorts of environmental exposure. And multiple applications of wax (we simply don't buy into the whole layering concept, sorry) won't buy you any added film build that the clay can't degrade.

[umi000]

Re: Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

If you're looking for a way to strip your LSP, as mentioned, it'd be better to just use a pre-wax cleaner.

[Redefined]

Re: Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

If you have applied a coat of a good synthetic sealant very recently and you then need to clay the car for whatever reason, the clay is likely to remove at least some of that sealant. It will likely remove more carnauba wax if that was your recent application. But if it's been a couple of months or longer since you last applied a sealant or wax then even the consumer is most likely going to remove virtually all that's left. Remember, waxes and sealants degrade slowly over time due to all sorts of environmental exposure. And multiple applications of wax (we simply don't buy into the whole layering concept, sorry) won't buy you any added film build that the clay can't degrade.

I very much appreciate you stepping in with this information. I am using a synthetic sealant and i failed to mention that.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

I very much appreciate you stepping in with this information. I am using a synthetic sealant and i failed to mention that.

OK, so you're using a synthetic, fine. When did you last apply it? If it's been more than, say, three months and you clay now, it's still going to remove quite a bit of what remains and you're going to need to reapply your sealant after claying.

[Murr1525]

Re: Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

I think the question may be a bit from the point of "will the clay remove old wax to leave a fresh surface?".

And so yes, the clay will remove some wax, and yes, it will leave some behind. You would want a paint cleaner of some sort to remove all the wax.

[Redefined]

Re: Does Consumer Clay Take Wax Off?

OK, so you're using a synthetic, fine. When did you last apply it? If it's been more than, say, three months and you clay now, it's still going to remove quite a bit of what remains and you're going to need to reapply your sealant after claying.

It has only been about 3 weeks. I do know that i will need to reapply the sealant. If i was to use UP would that be enough to remove all of the sealant? I am not very familiar with UP as i just picked this product up. I have heard it`s closely related to m205. I do not know if this will have enough cut in it to remove all of the wax, so i can start fresh.

Also, my post above is a double post. Could you remove that for me?