Quick Clay Detailing System

[LT22]

Can I wipe the Quick Detailer off with a towel or would the Clay be more effective?

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by LT22
Can I wipe the Quick Detailer off with a towel or would the Clay be more effective?

There's 2 ways to use QD (Quik Detailer).

One way is to use it to remove light dust, tree sap, finger prints, etc. by misting the QD onto the surface, and wiping it off with a terry, or microfiber towel.

The other way is to use QD as a clay lube for removing bonded contaminates that misting & wiping will not touch.

If you have not clayed your car before, then chances are it will need it.

Misting and wiping with QD is used mainly after the car has been fully detailed.

I hope I understood your question correctly.

[LT22]

Yes you did. Thanks a lot

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by LT22
Yes you did. Thanks a lot

You're welcome, and good luck!

[shehateme]

I completed the 3 step Meguiars process to my truck this weekend (paint cleaner, polish, ans NXT wax). Will the QD remove any of these layers? Is is safe to use on the truck after completing these steps? I would hate to undo all of my hard work.

Thanks.

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by shehateme
I completed the 3 step Meguiars process to my truck this weekend (paint cleaner, polish, ans NXT wax). Will the QD remove any of these layers? Is is safe to use on the truck after completing these steps? I would hate to undo all of my hard work.

Thanks.

I would wait at least 24 hours before misting the surface with a QD.

I think this is good advice after using any of Meguiars waxes, but NXT definitely needs a few hours in order to cure out and harden.

[Murr1525]

The QD will be safe to use after 24 hours or so, and will not remove any of your work.

Now, the Clay will remove everything.... so that will be a full deatil.

[the other pc]

Claying with a mild clay will remove little or no wax.

If you don't need to clay too badly, maybe it could wait. You could try "the baggy test" or just feeling the surface to see how gritty it is.

What it will remove is bonded crud that is stuck to the paint. Since none of your 3-step process touched the paint that was underneath any bonded crud you'll have very tiny spots of exposed paint where the clay lifts the contaminants.

That's better than having crud on the paint but It would be a good idea to at least get some wax on it. If you don't want to apply wax to the whole car again immediately you could use a spray wax for now.


PC.

[LT22]

This would be my first time doing the 5 step process:

Wash
Clay
Clean
Polish
Wax

After this 5 step process and if I were to keep my car well maintain would I have to every repeat this process? Would claying again strip off the wax?

[the other pc]

Just touching the paint will strip off some small percentage of wax, as will driving around. That’s what it does. It’s a sacrificial coating.

Claying with mild clay will remove very little or no wax. What’s important is that it removes bonded contaminants. Those can eat through your wax and your paint.

How often you do any of the 5 steps depends on environmental exposure. You do them as needed. Some people choose to wax every week and wash, or at least QD every day. I would guess that it’s not uncommon for many people to wash every week or two, wax every few months and clay and/or clean a couple times a year and have good results. I’ve been in neighborhoods where I had to clay after parking for a couple hours.

There is no universal answer. You’ll have to start from a clean slate (pun intended) and see how long it takes with your paint, in your world, to your tastes.

There’s no rule saying the paint needs to be any certain way. It’s your choice. Some people are absolutely compulsive about keeping their cars as close to perfect as they possibly can. Other don’t bother doing anything for years. You can choose to be either or somewhere in the middle.


PC.

[Murr1525]

Like the Other PC said, it will take a couple times to get the hang of it, and see how often you need to do things. Experience with you car, and local conditions will help you guess when your car needs what, and what, if any shortcuts you can take. Until then, the tests like surface evaluation, and squeak test, etc, will help you determine what your car needs.

I have a daily driver, so while I enjoy babying it, it doesnt always make sense to go over top...

Different routines I use include: (Plus wheels, trim, etc)

1: Wash, Nxt Spray Wax
2. Wash, ColorX, Nxt Wax
3. Wash, Clay, ColorX, Nxt Wax
4. Wash, Clay, DC#1/ScratchX, DC#2, Nxt, Nxt

All depends on what it needs, and what I feel like doing.

[BJClarke001]

Since this thread is already on the use of Clay; I need to ask a question about Clay Vs. The Use of Paint Cleaner (DC#1):

I understand the process of each of the functions of DC#1 Paint Cleaner and the Clay. But............. Why would you need to do both? I assumed that the Cleaner would wipe out surface and embedded contaminents since it is getting into the paint. Or is it just better to Clay first to keep those surface contaminets from getting worked in (and scratching) during the Paint Cleaning Process?

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by BJClarke001
Since this thread is already on the use of Clay; I need to ask a question about Clay Vs. The Use of Paint Cleaner (DC#1):

I understand the process of each of the functions of DC#1 Paint Cleaner and the Clay. But............. Why would you need to do both? I assumed that the Cleaner would wipe out surface and embedded contaminents since it is getting into the paint. Or is it just better to Clay first to keep those surface contaminets from getting worked in (and scratching) during the Paint Cleaning Process?

DC#1 is not a good choice for removing bonded contaminates above the surface. If a person was using a stronger paint cleaner with a machine, then it might remove some of it, but it would take a lot of buffing to get them all.

Using clay is much more efficient for removing this kind of contamination, and it creates a better surface for the paint cleaners to remove below surface contaminates.

I hope I explained it ok.

[Murr1525]

Like Rusty said, DC#1 isnt going to get off the tough stuff.

I certainly look at it like I dont want to drag stuff like rail dust across my finish on an applicator pad.

[BJClarke001]

Rusty and Murr,

Thanks for shedding the light my way. I have never clayed before but have done all the other processes. I have 2 new cars and their finish is quite clean. I know I would be amazed what I could get out of the paint and I will try it just to see what is in/on there. It is a lot more clearer to me now knowing that removing the contaminets/debris with clay is a good idea before using a cleaner/polish to prevent dragging crud around and making a mess.

I have a vehicle in for body work (till Saturday) and I may clay it when it comes back for over spray issues.