Clay Bar questions..

[tgfhatch]

Can clay barring your car cause any damage if done incorrectly? obvisouily I'm not going to dive into a detail job on my car without researching the Internet and this website of course. So if their is a "how to" or a detailed description on clay bar products, please just attach.

when i hang my arm out the window, i can feel all these little bumps that aren't noticable but i can fill.

so i'm thinking of clay barring, then re-doing the 3 step again in the upcoming weeks.

[soonercivic]

Its nearly impossible to mess up clay barring. Just make sure the surface is cool and you keep it lubricated and youll be fine. The clay bar will remove any surface contaminates. I dont know what the bumps are but they may or may not be removed.

[tgfhatch]

actually i worded my initial post wrong. can clay barring mess up the paint or clear coat surface? not can i mess up the actual clay barring process. i just wanted to be sure it wasn't going to mess up the finish.

[Murr1525]

The only way you can damage your paint with a clay bar is if something gritty gets stuck in the clay, and then you drag it across the surface. It is important to visualy inspect the clay, turning it when dirty, and never using dropped clay. Plenty of lubericant helps also.

You would generaly cut the bar into 3 or 4 pieces. Mush one down into sort of a patty, wet the clay with lubricant, wet a section of a body panel with lubricant, and then rub the clay across the surface. You shouldnt need to push hard, just 'light firm'. It can take a few passes, esp on dirty areas, and I sort of try to rub the section from every direction, a little circular, little side to side, etc. Just keep everything lubed, and if the clay seems to catch, add more lube. When the side gets dirty, sort of fold it over on itself to expose clean clay.

If you drop any, get a new piece.

As long as you stay well lubed, and turn the clay when dirty, nothing too much can go wrong. Certainly the best and easiest thing I've done for the paint.

[silence]

YOu clay forst then use DC#1?

[Murr1525]

Yes, you would wash, then clay, then clean, polish, and wax. You could use DC#1 or any other paint cleaner.

[BJClarke001]

After the Claying Process, do you jump to the Paint Cleaner Process or are you supposed to Wash the Clay Proccess off first?

[Murr1525]

Well, I have been claying pretty clean cars, or new cars, so nothing 'major' has been coming off. I just give a good rinse and dry. (No need to dry thoroughly after wash). If it were a much older/dirtier car, with lots more contamination, then I would consider washing.

The only thing from the clay procees left on the finish should be quick detailer, or soap, depending which you use to lubricate.

[tgfhatch]

okay so never used a dropped piece of clay, never use dirty clay, and always check your clay.

again, i apologize for all the newbie questions. but proper steps are:

1) wash car
2) dry car
3) clay bar the vehicle
4) rinse car off and dry
5) step 1 of meguiar's 3 step wax (paint cleaner)
6) step 2 of meguiar's 3 step wax (polish)
7) step 3 of meguiar's 3 step wax (actual wax)
8) continue to clean with quick detailer.

1 more question concerning the clay bar. do you usually clay bar the entire car or only spots where the surface is elvated and glass-like?

[Murr1525]

Well, clay will get dirty as it goes across the car.. so it isnt so much dont use dirty clay, as it is fold the clay over regularly, of if you get dirty spot, etc.

You can clay anything and everything. Always clay paint first, but then you can do glass, trim, wheels, in that order. You dont want to bring dirt up from your wheels onto the paint. Claying the glass was a big improvement for me.

Most of the contaminats will be on the horizontal surfaces, where stuff can actualy land. But, if never clayed before, or hasnt been taken care of in a while, clay the whole thing.

After future washings, you may want to use a spray booster wax as well.

[tgfhatch]

I think I'm going to give this a whirl before a big show coming up in August. I just used the 3 step on my car so it just needs to be dusted off and quick detailed again but for the big show, I think I'm going to give it a full detail. clay, 3 step and all. thanks for the help!

if i decide to do it before hand, i'll post up some pictures.

[rusty bumper]

I really dirtied up my 1st piece of clay, even though I tried to keep the finish clean over the years.

The worst places I've ever seen for contamination in my experiences with claying, are the top surfaces and the rear area.......Especially the top of the bumper, if painted.

But I did remove a lot of contaminates on the side panels too, since it was a 1st time clay job.

[tgfhatch]

I'm going to be honest, I'm reading a lot of horror stories about people who've scratched the hell out of their clear coat when claying! and I'm defiantly not a professional detailer so I'm a little nervous about this process.

what i'll do if i scratch the clear coat

[Murr1525]

Where did you see these horror stories? I've only seen one on here really...

[tgfhatch]

just stuff i found in a goggle search. i'd hate to read it but where is the horror story on this website? if i can read the horror stories, maybe i can stray away from doing what they did wrong.