Clay Use

[ldtippett]

I use the C2000 clay four times per year on my Jeeps (one is black and one is red) and use Final Inspection as the lube. Having read all the posts about Meguiar's clay, I understand this clay is more aggressive than the white clay that comes with the Meguiars Clay Kit, but not as aggressive as the C2100. With both Jeeps garaged and when using the clay this frequently, I find the amount of surface contamination is not bad at all. With the frequency of use, would I be better off using the white clay to ensure my paint remains in the best possible condition?

[C8N]

Re: Clay Use

You are fine with either C2000 or the clay kit.
Technically, C2000 is more aggressive but IME, it wasn't by much.
I own a black Acura and C2000 left no marring on my car.

[Daniel Kinder]

Re: Clay Use

to MOL
I like yourself love to use clay, and will use on any smooth surface rather glass or chrome. My goto clay is also the C2000 mild blue clay, after I feel it's been used up for claying paint I will store in another sealed contianer and use only for glass or chrome/rims.

As far as regular use using the mild blue clay it would be just fine. The contaminants are going to be light and your jeeps will almost keep a contaminant free smooth surface which is what were all after anyway's. And as for to aggressive, I believe C2000 & C2100 to be like a cleaner if your will, in the since that with clay you can control the aggressivess with lubricant and how much time you spend claying an area. But it's about how you feel and if you think you should be using the smooth surface clay instead of using the mild all the time, go pick you up the smooth surface clay kit and give it a try for yourself. It's not going to hurt to have both in your arsenal!!

[Christopher.Brown]

Re: Clay Use

You are fine with either C2000 or the clay kit.
Technically, C2000 is more aggressive but IME, it wasn't by much.
I own a black Acura and C2000 left no marring on my car.

to MOL
I like yourself love to use clay, and will use on any smooth surface rather glass or chrome. My goto clay is also the C2000 mild blue clay, after I feel it's been used up for claying paint I will store in another sealed contianer and use only for glass or chrome/rims.

As far as regular use using the mild blue clay it would be just fine. The contaminants are going to be light and your jeeps will almost keep a contaminant free smooth surface which is what were all after anyway's. And as for to aggressive, I believe C2000 & C2100 to be like a cleaner if your will, in the since that with clay you can control the aggressivess with lubricant and how much time you spend claying an area. But it's about how you feel and if you think you should be using the smooth surface clay instead of using the mild all the time, go pick you up the smooth surface clay kit and give it a try for yourself. It's not going to hurt to have both in your arsenal!!

First off, to MOL.. plenty of info to keep your goin here

with both the previous answers. The C2000 should be just fine as long as you aren't pressing too hard in order to avoid marring. I've used it on MANY dark vehicles, including Jet Black BMW paint and it was just fine. Make sure you are just pressing hard enough to ensure that the entire flat clay is in contact with the working section.

Remember to use the tactile feel of your fingers, coupled with listening to the surface. A contaminant free area should feel smooth when gliding the clay over and will be near silent. Whereas, a contaminated area will feel rough and the resistance and small contaminant pieces will feel draggy on the clay.

I would like to add that clay is made to be mildly abrasive in order to remove bonded contaminants from paint. The tacky nature of clay is how its level of 'agressiveness' is measured.

That being said ALL clay needs GENEROUS amounts of lube in order to effectively glide the clay over the paint, picking up the contaminants. This ensures maximum effectiveness of the clay and minimizes the amount of clay marks and abrasion the clay may cause to a soft paint.

have fun and shine on

[ldtippett]

Re: Clay Use

Thanks to all of you for the advice! I'll keep using the C2000 and may try the clay kit when I need new clay.

[h_bomm]

Re: Clay Use

I use the C2000 clay four times per year on my Jeeps (one is black and one is red) and use Final Inspection as the lube.

Is Final Inspection something you have to dilute or do you use it full strength? The reason I ask is because I have always used the Quick Detailer in the maroon bottle as my lube and have recently picked up a gallon of D155 Last Touch which you can dilute 50/50 and use it as a clay lube. I see that there are a lot of people who do this and I'm very excited to try it out this spring. The cost savings alone make it worth it. What I would spend on a half gallon of Quick Detailer I can make 2 gallons of Last Touch solution. I also plan on getting one of those Speedy Prep Towels as well, kinda spendy but they are reusable and of you get a case of the butter fingers and drop it you can just rinse it off and keep going

[Christopher.Brown]

Re: Clay Use

Is Final Inspection something you have to dilute or do you use it full strength? The reason I ask is because I have always used the Quick Detailer in the maroon bottle as my lube and have recently picked up a gallon of D155 Last Touch which you can dilute 50/50 and use it as a clay lube. I see that there are a lot of people who do this and I'm very excited to try it out this spring. The cost savings alone make it worth it. What I would spend on a half gallon of Quick Detailer I can make 2 gallons of Last Touch solution. I also plan on getting one of those Speedy Prep Towels as well, kinda spendy but they are reusable and of you get a case of the butter fingers and drop it you can just rinse it off and keep going

Quick detailer should work just fine, provided you use it liberally.

As far as the synthetic clay media, i would stick with the mitts vs the towels. As i mentioned before tactile feel is important during the decontamination process. Enough so that i can literally close my eyes, provided the working section is already lubricated, and work until the feel and sound of contaminants are gone.

The towel when folded over itself GREATLY diminishes the feel down to near NO FEED BACK FROM THE SURFACE. A secondary result of this s lack of control and for this reason many people have reported heavier marring with the towels vs the mitts...

just my .02.

Happy New Year!

[Daniel Kinder]

Re: Clay Use

Is Final Inspection something you have to dilute or do you use it full strength? The reason I ask is because I have always used the Quick Detailer in the maroon bottle as my lube and have recently picked up a gallon of D155 Last Touch which you can dilute 50/50 and use it as a clay lube. I see that there are a lot of people who do this and I'm very excited to try it out this spring. The cost savings alone make it worth it. What I would spend on a half gallon of Quick Detailer I can make 2 gallons of Last Touch solution. I also plan on getting one of those Speedy Prep Towels as well, kinda spendy but they are reusable and of you get a case of the butter fingers and drop it you can just rinse it off and keep going

Final inspection you can use straight but last touch you want to dilute it 50/50 if not your clay would/will just glide over the contaminants. Your going to love claying, your details are going to look twice as good as before! And your going to love last touch!!! Also if you haven't already tried it I highly recommend trying D120 glass cleaner, it dilute's 10:1 so if you buy a gallon you can make alot of glass cleaner!!!!! I also use this for chrome/aluminum rims to wipe off fresh water spots after
drying a vehicle and to just do a quick wipe down on any metal surface. And my wife loves it for conter tops and the like. Not to mention like all meguiars products it has a very nice pleasent scent. You can buy a sample from ADS and 32oz. will make just alittle over 2 gallons. but I will add just alittle extra in it not much but a tad more when diluting. Also I dilute most of my products and store them in pore spout containers I get from wally world so I always have diluted products ready to flip the spout on and pour how ever much product I need at the time. Hope I've helped

[h_bomm]

[/QUOTE]Also if you haven't already tried it I highly recommend trying D120 glass cleaner, it dilute's 10:1 so if you buy a gallon you can make alot of glass cleaner!!!!![/QUOTE]
I am currently using Perfect Clarity in the aerosol can. I think it's just ok, personally. I was going to pick up a bottle of the spray and see what that's like. I've kinda been eyeing up the D120 too for a "bulk" glass cleaner. I've been kinda gun shy on something I have to dilute myself, not that I'm not capable, but maybe lazy I guess. But I do find myself looking more and more at the Detailer line to get gallons that can be diluted. I'm OK paying a little more up front to save a ton in the end. Thanks for the good review on D120! I'm sure I will end up getting some someday!