Questions about clay

[furball]

Hi everyone!

This is my second post here, so please bear the newbie...

My car's a white Toyota Corolla Liftback '88. During my leave last week, I just realized how DIRTY it was. Apparently I've never paid to much attention to details, but since I got time to spare, I decided to wash the car myself and... the cleaning bug bit me.

Washed the car, tried to clean it as best as I could (even picked the water crust on the window seals with a toothpick), but somehow it still looks... not clean.

So I tried to look over the net, and found your site! (thankyouthankyouthankyou!) Anyways, here's the question:

- how many times can you use the Quick Clay Detailing System? Is there a limit to the usage of a clay bar (1, 2, 3 cars)?
- can it remove hardened tree sap?
- after claying, what should I do? Do I have to glaze it, or just wax it afterwards? I think there's no clear coat covering the white paint, but I want to make it look clean & shiny.

Thank you very much, and I really look forward to your replies!

[Mark2]

to the site.

-I usually use the claybar until it starts getting dirty, and it depends on the condition of your paint how soon it will get dirty.

-I think it can, I am not sure though

-Hard to tell. I have cleaned, polished and sealed after claying and a few weeks ago I just clayed and applied two coats of NXT.
I think it depends on the condition of your paint.

Hope I could help, I am sure someone else here can give you better answers.

[Murr1525]

Welcome to the site.

1. DC#1,2,3 can be used many times completly safely. You could use them every week and never damage your paint. Claying needs done for me maybe 4 times a year, and its quite safe also.

If you mean how long will the products last, you could clay 3 or 4 average cars, but a very dirty one could take a whole kit. And the DC #1,2,3 will also last quite a few detailings.

2. Well, depends. First try the clay bar (rubbing a little more firmly), and DC#1. If these two dont work, you may need to move up to ScratchX to to try and remove hardened things.

3. The full 5 steps are:
- Wash - Gold Class, Nxt Wash
- Clay - Quick Clay
- Clean - DC#1, and ScratchX in spots if needed
- Polish - DC#2
- Wax - DC#3, Nxt wax, etc applied in two thin coats for even looks/protection.

You will always get the best results from all 5 steps, though as I said claying can be done a little less. In a pinch, something like a Cleaner/Wax can be tossed in to replace the Clean/Polish/First Coat of Wax.

4. When you use a paint cleaner such as DC#1, start by rubbing a little in one spot. If your pad turns white, then you have a single stage paint. If it just turns a little dirty, but no color, then it is clear coated.

You can get excellent results with either type of paint, that isnt a limitation. And Meguiars products work well on both types also.

[BJClarke001]

Furball,

Murr1525 is right on the money. I just worked on a neighbors 1994 Toyota Corrolla that was not waxed in years. I just purchased a DA (electric Dual Action Polisher) and I was dying to try it out and so, he let me do it on his car. I used the clay and the DC #1 Cleaner and DC# 2 Polish because I was new at this and wanted to start out in the Megs Consumer Products first(next time, Professional Cleaners and Polishes). Anyways, this car looked like a mild gold color when I started. The paint was so dirty, my buff pads were a mess (and it was clear coat !). When I was done, the car actually is a light tan and it was incredible to see the transformation in the cleaning. Of course you can apply everything I did by hand, it just goes faster with a machine. Make sure you let us know how you did and good luck and may the shine be with you.

BTW: Clay was done by hand and not by a DA. LOL. This coming weekend, I am going to try #80 or #83 (Professional Products) on his car again to see if I can get some swirls out).

[gb387]

a tip on the clay bar.... Use lots of mist and wipe detailer (Quik Detailer). I use about 16oz bottle per car. Also cut the clay bar into 2-3 pieces, if you drop it on the ground toss it and use another piece, you will also have some extras for another car.

good luck let us know how it works out

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Questions about clay

Originally posted by furball
- after claying, what should I do? Do I have to glaze it, or just wax it afterwards?

Follow the steps in this thread...

How To Remove Swirls By Hand

I think there's no clear coat covering the white paint, but I want to make it look clean & shiny.

To determine whether you have a clear coat or a single-stage finish perform this simple test.

• * Find an inconspicuous area to test, such as the lower rear quarter panel of your car's fender or inside the door jamb.
  
  * Clean this area first with car wash and water or Meguiar's Quik Detailer. You don't want any dirt or grime to interfere with your test.
  
  * Using a small piece of white cotton, such as a piece of terry cloth towel, rub a little paint cleaner or Cleaner/Wax into the paint of this inconspicuous area.
  
  * After rubbing for a few moments, turn your cloth toward you and look to see if there is any color from your paint on the cloth.

If you have a red car and you now have red paint residue on your cloth, this is a pretty good indicator that you have a single stage finish. If you have a red car and you don't see any red paint residue on your cloth, this is a pretty good indicator that you have a clear coat.

To be 100% sure, you should test in a couple of different areas.

Note: If you have a white, or very light colored car you should use a dark piece of cotton cloth and look for the color of your car's finish on it after rubbing some paint cleaner or Cleaner/Wax into the finish for a few moments.

[furball]

Thank you all!

WOW! Thanks, guys! Your posts really helped me in figuring out what to do next. Since I don't have a DA or rotary buffer to help me out, guess a little elbow grease won't hurt...

Ookay, next questions!
- previously, I mentioned that we have no garage to keep the cars in, and since I live in a tropical climate, sudden rainfall is the norm. If I can't finish the whole 5 steps (thx, Murr1525) can I just cover it, and continue when the rain's over?
- this one's a bit embarrasing, and goes mainly to the married Meguiar members... here, the Meguiar product line is a bit pricey. How do you convince your spouse that it's worth it? Everytime I hold a Meguiar bottle in the store, she just goes ... to her, a carwax is a carwax.

Oh well, goes to show that detailing is never an easy task...

[Murr1525]

1. Depending on the weather and whatnot, you could either break the car into halves to work on, all 5 steps, or get as far as you can, then cover it. You will probably want to use something like a quick detailer in order to make sure the surface is clean before continuing with the process.

2. Well, around these parts, the DC system is quite cheap.. though I am sure it is different overseas. But a car is a big investment, and generaly a depreciating one. Keeping it looking good will save some money in the end.

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Thank you all!

Originally posted by furball

- this one's a bit embarrassing, and goes mainly to the married Meguiar members... here, the Meguiar product line is a bit pricey. How do you convince your spouse that it's worth it? Every time I hold a Meguiar bottle in the store, she just goes ... to her, a car wax is a car wax.

Not all product are created the same and Meguiar's products definitely do have an edge over most thus our popularity for the last 100 years...

In my live time I've see a lot of product come and go... some not being available for more than a year or two... then when you take for example A12 Meguiar's Cleaner/Wax, it was introduced in 1973 and not only is it still available, it's still going strong and the number one selling cleaner/wax in the U.S.

Tell her this...

"If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing right the first time"

Your time and effort are valuable also, you don't want to waste your time and energy getting mediocre results. It's the whole package of using the right product and the human element of care and passion that separate mediocre results from Wow!

Try that approach and best of luck to you!

[Murr1525]

Incidently, you could also check out the Meguiars furniture polishes, if they are available there in Indonesia. Do a little quality furniture polishing around the house, she might not mind a car wax.

[furball]

Heehee... Mike, apparently I don't have to go that far, since the product just spoke louder than words!

Yesterday I took a day off (a mechanic was coming in to fix my dad's car), so I decided to clean up & try a little claying on my car. Got the hood cleaned, and when the missus comes home from work, I showed her what a little care & Meguiar's can do.

"WOW! It's so clean! How did you do that?"... and the rest is history.

Thanks so much for all your advice, and Meguiar's - here I come!

ps: Murr1525, luckily she hasn't found the Meguiar's furniture line... yet.