Clay everytime?

[ShinyMopar]

I usually wax every 3 months or so. I keep my car clean by using the two bucket method at least once every two weeks depending on weather. I have minimal swirls that I am not yet worried about. My question is when I wax should I clay every time? It might be an added step I don't need to do. I always clay currently when I apply wax. Would it hurt to back off of the clay? I remember hearing once about wax build up but not sure how true that is. Any feedback is appreciated.

[Detailing by M]

Re: Clay everytime?

CLAY! ALWAYS CLAY!
Even if the car "feels" smooth, clay.
If the car's been outside IT'S CONTAMINATED.
I don't care for the baggie test like most others.
If I'm going to wax your car it's going to get clayed.

Before Clay we had to "grind' of the contamination with a wool pad and event that didn't do it.
So now that clay is a big part of detailing people have stopped using it. Why?

Waxing=Claying, they go hand in hand.

[goldenlight]

Re: Clay everytime?

I usually clay about 2 times a year..

[ClearlyCoated]

Re: Clay everytime?

If you're using a spray on quick wax once a week or two weeks, I personally wouldn't clay every time. But since you indicate you're applying a full wax every three months, then I'm with PWMD on claying before waxing. Claying is an essential step if you're performing a full paint correction or the 5 step detail. In between that, I clay my own vehicle once every 6-8 weeks which fits in with your waxing intervals. But ultimately, there's no harm in claying frequently as some folks I know here are clay-addicted and clay every couple of weeks.

[STRIFE]

Re: Clay everytime?

I use a mild version clay towel, this makes the claying process a breeze on my "well" kept cars. Usually just a 10 min job

[ShinyMopar]

I read about that nanoskin. Can anyone elaborate on it a little.

[STRIFE]

Re: Clay everytime?

nanoskin is in my opinion better than traditional clay.
If you dropped it on the ground, just dunk and rinse off with plain water...cannot do that with trad clay.
No need to keep kneading to get a "clean" section of clay, just a quik dunk in clean water....makes a tedious task a pretty quik one for me.
These towels are pricey but lasts quite a long time.
I would just do a quik google/youtube...tonnes of info on these products

[Don Porter]

Re: Clay everytime?

I only clay before I'm going to compound, polish, seal or wax a car. Every time I was my vehicles though, I follow up with a detail spray.

[jarred767]

Clay is critical to maintaining the finish that you have, and more importantly, it keeps these contaminants from eating away at the paint or bonding to it even stronger, even if in minuscule degrees.

Plus, claying often makes it easier each time. Just use a mild clay, or better yet, mild clay towel, with minimal pressure so that you don't cause any hazing or micro marring. If you have to clay more aggressively, you'll have to use at least some sort of cleaner wax or AIO to get rid of the marring or hazing from the clay.

[ShinyMopar]

The cars are garage kept but are outside at work. So I feel I'm doing the right thing by claying. I am going to look into the towel. The clay kit is around 20. I like the fact I get a new towel in each one. I usually have to buy another quik detailer for the second bar as the bottle in the package doesn't quite finish the second job. I don't ever use the wax that is supplied with it though, at least not on mine. I wish Megs made a clay towel thing hint hint. Probably similar cost but I love getting the new supreme shine towel lol.

[Stephan]

Re: Clay everytime?

I usually have to buy another quik detailer for the second bar as the bottle in the package doesn't quite finish the second job.

A clay bar lasts more than a single use. You may be able to use half a bar to do you car and use each half multiple times. Buy new MF's and QD's with the savings!