Can I forgo the claying this just one time?

[Blueline]

Neighbor came over with his new gorgeous BLACK Chrysler 300. Wants me to make it shine like my cars. I would normally clay, ColorX, and then M16. No more M16 due to a grand theft. Anyway, just I want to UC ... I LOVE that stuff... it is my replacement for ColorX. So, I just want to UC and put on some UW. No claying. So my question is, will I do any damage, with my simple random orbital, by applying UC without doing claying first?

I know my orbital is not going to to the damage... will it just take rail dust and whatever, in to the pad, and make swirls, scratches, worse?
Thanks Folks

[Mr Miyagi]

Re: Can I forgo the claying this just one time?

seems like UC may be overkill for a new car? But why skip the clay? What's it take on a new car. 45 minutes max?

[ffboy]

Re: Can I forgo the claying this just one time?

You can, some contaminants may not have bonded that much on paint and can be removed by UC. But of course, claying is recommended for optimum results

[The Guz]

I would wash, clay and use black wax or white wax (as an alternative to colorx). As an optional step you could top off with UW.

[imacarnut]

Re: Can I forgo the claying this just one time?

I would do a light clay or something like Swirlx or UP (or if you have another light polish) to clean up the paint and then top with your LSP, OR clay and use white or black wax (as mentioned above) or another AIO. I wouldn't go to crazy on swirl removal as winter is right upon us. If you skimp and don't properly clean the paint you will not get the full benefit of your LSP.

[wifpd4]

Re: Can I forgo the claying this just one time?

Whoa, there is just so many things wrong with this discussion Blue buddy and perhaps this should be in the "Break Room" section of MOL. Seriously, your M16 is gone! Add to that you don't wanna clay. I get you like UC, but this is what really worries me.....you're gonna use Ultimate Wax. Just please tell me paste version.....

All kidding aside, well maybe not all, but if you've got bonded contaminates that come off and swirl up the paint when using Ultimate Compound, you didn't wash the car good enough to get the loose dirt off the car. In my experience, bonded contaminates removed by clay are just that, BONDED. UC shouldn't, although it may, remove bonded contaminates and even if it did it would fix the swirls as it did. By not claying, the surface of the paint will be rough with contaminates and your reflections will not be as good and as clearly defined as they could be. Which would be a shame on a new, black 300.

Now head over to the Break Room and tell us where your M16 went and why haven't you gone to Ebay and found some more. Blueline without M16 is just......blue....

[Blueline]

Re: Can I forgo the claying this just one time?

Thanks for the replies everyone. The car is not brand new....new to him....a 2013 though with low miles..hardly broken in. (sorry for my omission)
I guess I was just lazy but I think to do it right I will clay it first. Then UC and then UW paste. Will be my first time UW paste.

Yes, wifpd4.... I am just blue about my loss, but haven't had any time to search. Someone said they get it shipped from the UK, and I could try eBay. Thisafternoon I will see what I can find.

[Detailing by M]

Re: Can I forgo the claying this just one time?

I highly recomend YOU not to clay

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Can I forgo the claying this just one time?

Wash the car and evaluate it. If it's really badly contaminated they claying is really the thing to do before compounding. But if you barely detect anything on the surface that shouldn't be there, you can probably skip claying. It all depends on what you're really looking for out of the finish. Ordinarily we would recommend claying regardless whether the contamination level was bad or just minor, but not everyone wants to put in the time, and not everyone is looking for a true show car shine. We get that. But keep this in mind - you're the one who described this car as a "gorgeous BLACK Chrysler 300". Do you really want to skip the clay step on a black car. On someone else's black car? You should be able to clay this baby in 15-20 minutes if you move quickly and it's not horribly contaminated.

[Blueline]

Re: Can I forgo the claying this just one time?

I ended up claying the hood only....there wasn't much difference than before I started, and there was no fouling of the clay, so I determined the rest of the car didn't need it. Then on with the UC....I love that stuff in warm weather...but in 50F degrees it was not fun. Really difficult to remove. Won't do that again until it warms up. Then on with the Ultimate Wax. In another thread Michael asked my to write back with my thoughts on Ultimate Wax as compared to M16. Well, UW paste is NICE stuff.
Smells nice, goes on easy and comes off probably a bit easier than M16. (needs to be put on real thin like M16) Works well in 50F. And it does a super job on a black car. Funny thing is last night when we finished, it looked absolutely fabulous. This morning after siting over night, it seems to look even better. As if some little leprechauns did a little buffing over night. Maybe it has to cure? So I my opinion UW is a good as M16 in application and removal. Time will tell if it is as durable. It will be my wax of choice from now on, unless I can snag some M16 somewhere. Thanks for everyone's comments in this and the other thread.