Pro's who use clay

[Mark McGuire]

The first time I used clay I used the detailer to lube it. The next time I just used a towel with carwash. I would wet the vehicle with the towel, diped the clay in the wash, and started rubbing. My question is am I ruinning the clay or is this a standard practice. I know it sure is faster and elimanates alot of steps.

Before I joined this board I never knew about clay, now I don't think I would start without it.
Thanks to everyone who joins and submits there knowledge to people like me who don't know about detailing a car and making it look the very best that it can. I find myself looking at cars people have waxed and rubbing my hand over them to see if they waxed over the contaminates. Knowledge is a scary thing.
Thanks
Mark

[Mike Phillips]

Re: Pro's who use clay

Originally posted by Mark McGuire
The first time I used clay I used the detailer to lube it. The next time I just used a towel with carwash. I would wet the vehicle with the towel, dipped the clay in the wash, and started rubbing. My question is am I ruining the clay or is this a standard practice. I know it sure is faster and eliminates a lot of steps.

Hi Mark,

I have never heard of anyone doing it the way you describe above, (with a wet towel), but I did call on a lot of detail shops that kept their detailing clay either in their car wash bucket, or nearby and after first washing the car, while it was still wet and in the car wash area, they would quickly clay the car.

The idea being to clay the car while it was still wet, (hopefully in a shaded area), using the car wash as the lubricant.

Then dry the car and begin any cleaning, polishing or protecting.

Detail shops are good at doing things the fast way, not always the best way, but the fast way. So take it for what it's worth.

Mike

[Billorlando]

I will have to reply to this one. Let me ask you this is water clean ? also is the water in the bucket clean ? and one other question the clay you use did it cost alot ?
I have a detail shop and if I caught any of my guys doing this method I would fire them on the spot ! You see the clay you use have been designed to remove the Bonded contaminates off of your clear coat with the idea to remove as little clear as possible. Water tends to dry clays out and you will not get the longevity out of your clay. Quick detailer , Final Inspection are lubricants for the clay to stay moist and perform to its expectations. Also water is hard usually filled with chloride , copper , zinc, lead , all of these are found in water. I know this because while in college I recieved a degree in marine biology ( you do alot of water testing there). Your clay will go bad sooner or later we get about ten cars per bar we use. Also if you drop the clay bar in the bucket you might as well have dropped it onto the ground .Clays are moist for a reason they are designed to pick up everything all the dirt, grime, contaminates possible.So why would use a piece of sandpaper on something you are trying to keep scratches off. You might as well wet sand the car. I do not mean to sound off but I love what I do and it soaunds like you could too. Good luck!

[Mark McGuire]

Bill,
Thanks for the reply, I don't actually use just water, I mix car wash (armorall is all I have for now) in a clean bucket with water, I also have a bucket with just water. I first wash the vechicle and dry it. Then with clean water and buckets I mix the carwash and water in one bucket, warm water in the other. I put the towel in the carwash bucket and put it on a panel heavy, and dip the clay in the bucket also, then when the paint is smooth I wipe it down with the warm water so it is clean for the polish. I guess I should have gone into detail when I asked the question, I apologize for that. I will go back to the detailing lube, I definately take no offence from people who know more than I do. Thats how you learn, ask questions.
Thanks for helping me out, you and Mike, thanks again.
Mark

[rusty bumper]

Great thread guys!

[Reflections]

do you re-rinse the whole car after using car wash as lubricant? I prefer QD or Final Insp, because I can go straight to waxing without getting the car wet again.

[Mark McGuire]

No, I rinse each panel as I finish claying it, but I will be going back to the Qiuk detailer now.
Mark

[Slats]

One thing I've learned from claying is that the more "lube" you use, the easier and smoother it goes. However, since Quick Detailer isn't cheap I've experimented with using a spray bottle with water and a little bit of mild soap. It seemed to work just as good, but I realized that I should probably rinse the soap residue off before waxing.

Anyway, I've come up with what I think will be an easier, cheaper, and quicker way -- let me know what you guys think:
I could wash the car and clay while it is still wet and that way I'd only need to use a small amout of quick detailer as needed. And since I wipe down each panel I clay with a towel as I go, the car will be dry when I'm done and ready to wax. I'll try that method and let you all know how it goes....

Slats

[Rockpick]

Originally posted by Slats
One thing I've learned from claying is that the more "lube" you use, the easier and smoother it goes.

This is true to a certain extent but, with some products like Meguiar's Final Detail and future products that are getting ready to come down and out of the pipe, it may actually provide too much lubricity to the point that you're having to use a more agressive clay to do the work that a lesser one would handle. In short, you *CAN* have too much lube.

The idea is to allow the clay to glide across the top of the surface with little downward pressure on the clay. When the clay 'hangs or snags' you need more lube.

I know there are alot of guys out there utilizing #00 Hi-Tech Wash for their lube. Maybe it does a little better job for them and maybe they're doing it because they view it as a cost savings... I'm not sure. I've never tried it personally.

I'm certainly not disagreeing with you because it's VERY important to make sure you have adequate lube as you can further scratch or potentially scour the surface (with agressive bars) but, it can be over lubricated to the point that you don't get the return for your work that you may have achieved with a little less QD product.

RP

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by Rockpick
This is true to a certain extent but, with some products like Meguiar's Final Detail and future products that are getting ready to come down and out of the pipe, it may actually provide too much lubricity to the point that you're having to use a more agressive clay to do the work that a lesser one would handle. In short, you *CAN* have too much lube.

The idea is to allow the clay to glide across the top of the surface with little downward pressure on the clay. When the clay 'hangs or snags' you need more lube.
RP

You bring up an interesting point RP...I have heard some say that FD was too slick to be used for a clay lube.

I have been using QD for now, but I was thinking of switching over to FD?...I wonder if a person could water FD down a little more, just for claying?

[2000]

Originally posted by Rusty Bumper
You bring up an interesting point RP...I have heard some say that FD was too slick to be used for a clay lube.

I have been using QD for now, but I was thinking of switching over to FD?...I wonder if a person could water FD down a little more, just for claying?

I use fd with no problem, thats not to say theres a differrence betwenn fd and qd for claying, but if there is I haven't been able to see or feel it with the vehicles I have done.

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by 2000
I use fd with no problem, thats not to say theres a differrence betwenn fd and qd for claying, but if there is I haven't been able to see or feel it with the vehicles I have done.

What kind of clay do you use with FD?

[2000]

I use (imagine a drum roll in your head)



it comes in mild c-2000, which is what I use or aggresive c-2001 I believe.
it come two large bars in a tube or contanier or what ever that thing is called.
I haven't ran into a reason to need an aggresive form yet.

[rusty bumper]

Originally posted by 2000
I use (imagine a drum roll in your head)



it comes in mild c-2000, which is what I use or aggresive c-2001 I believe.
it come two large bars in a tube or contanier or what ever that thing is called.
I haven't ran into a reason to need an aggresive form yet.

Thanks...I saw some in the PBE store recently.