Clay bars for cleaning, whats your experience with them. Options

[jgara962]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) hmmmm. I haven't waxed my car this year, so maybe I'll clay bar it again next weekend and then put a nice coat of Zymol on it. This thread is inspiring me.

[turboman808]

I've been trying to learn more and more about car detailing this year.

Griots just makes the best stuff. Others work but if you just want to buy the best all around stuff then griots is kinda a buy and don't think to much choice cause it works.

Griots also has the cheapest clay bar since they sell it in a larger tub.



To me clay baring a car is just taking it that one step further and you are also less likely to cause any swirl or haze when you begin to polish and wax the car.

May as well let the cat out of the bag......

Do do not need to wax your car. For the most part companies still sell wax because when we think of car care we automatically think of waxing.

Wax doesn't do much to protect the car and cleaner waxes are even worse. A cleaner wax will last about one month. In extreme heat it won't last a week.

What you would be better off using is a paint sealant. Now they say you lose some of the shine with a paint sealant. Anyone who can tell the difference between a paint sealant and a wax as far as the shine must have some sort of light reflecting meter in there eyeballs.

A paint selaant apllied every 6 months should always leave your car protected and looking good.

Use good microfiber towel and polishing cloths to clean. When drying it's real handy to use a leaf blower. Gets most of the car off without you having to touch the paint surface.



You can go to Griots Garage website and they have several videos you can watch. With big orders they throw in there car detailing dvd. I plan to order there machine polishing system really soon.


One huge bonus for me learning how to detail cars really well is I have alot of friends with really nice exotic cars that are to lazy to do it themselves. They give me there car for a weekend if I detail it. Z4 last week, viper 6 weeks ago, 750li next week. Great way to get to try all these different cars out (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)


edit.....

I couldn't think of the name before since I just got it for myself. Wolfgang paint sealant is the best sealant wax I have seen. Protects like a sealant with the shine of a wax.

http://auto-geek.net/video/wolfgang/wolfgang.html

[PeeGreen 914]

If you enjoy detailing cars become friends with owners of a high end detail shop. You will learn more just sitting there BSing with them than you will ever learn anywhere.

[orthobiz]

Do not use clay on painted wheels.

biz

Why?

I've done it with no negative effect.
Pat

My original steel wheels were repainted; maybe it was the paint used. But the clay brought out a distinctly darker patina so (after only a small area) I stopped.

Paul

[tod914]

Thought it was mequires i purchased, it was actually mother's. I just
did the entire car, and rear trunk. Amazing the amount of particles it
picked up even after I cleaned it with ps21. What a great detailing tool
too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Gets into all the nooks and crannies and removes the dirt.
Here's a couple of after shots.. Just need to do the cleaner again, then a
good wax coating. Then onto the little stuff and engine bay.

[tod914]

[tod914]

[dw914er]

Tod, that car looks fricken CLEAN!

good job!

[Pat Garvey]

Thought it was mequires i purchased, it was actually mother's. I just
did the entire car, and rear trunk. Amazing the amount of particles it
picked up even after I cleaned it with ps21. What a great detailing tool
too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Gets into all the nooks and crannies and removes the dirt.
Here's a couple of after shots.. Just need to do the cleaner again, then a
good wax coating. Then onto the little stuff and engine bay.

Tod,

Gorgeous!

What happened with the white car?
Pat

[tod914]

Thanks for the compliments. Whitey is up for sale Pat.

[Ferg]

Here is a shot of mine after all the clay and wax work at this weekends local Concours

[tod914]

Very nice Ferg. What products did you use? Love to trade the teener
in for a 74 Carrea (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Ferg]

Very nice Ferg. What products did you use? Love to trade the teener
in for a 74 Carrea (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Meguiers Clay, then Cleaner Wax, followed by the Nxt Tech wax (best smelling wax out there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ).

It's a 75, and I loved my 74 2.0, but sold it for this gem.

I'm short on cash now, otherwise your white car would most likely be on it's way to me. Surprised it's still on the market.

Ferg

[turboman808]

Meguiers Clay, then Cleaner Wax, followed by the Nxt Tech wax (best smelling wax out there (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) ).

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif) Cleaner wax is so terrible why did you do it LOL

The clay works fine but you should throw out that cleaner wax it comes with. The Tech Wax is a sealant and should have gone one first. Since you put it on top of a poor quality wax the whole thing will be gone in a matter of weeks. At that point I would apply the tech wax again and leave it to cure overnight in the garage. After that if you want to throw some hot wax on it to give it some real shine put some mothers reflections on top. Then it will really pop.

[jgara962]

Just got done claying my car and adding a fresh coat of Zymol. Here's a couple of pics

[tod914]

Looks great! Nice deep finish with the wax. Once my ps21 runs out,
think I'll try the Zymol.

[turboman808]

After many people swearing to me the new formula for Meguiars NXT wax looked really good I gave it a try.

It's really nice and I would say comparable to almost any sealant wax you can buy. I finished putting a coat of it on my solstice saturday then sunday put a coat on meguiars gold class on top. Gonna see how the shine looks in the sun today.

Still trying to figure out what waxes give the best look to different types of paint.

[dgw]

Just got done claying my car and adding a fresh coat of Zymol. Here's a couple of pics

John, its beautiful!

[ClayPerrine]

Seems I should drop in here more often... I am getting credit for all these nice, shiny 914s!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Jeff Hail]

I used Silly Putty and spray wax (or Ivory soap) as a lubricant as far back as 1980 for fallout and overspray removal. Stole the idea from a dumb white stoner kid who hated color sanding and polishing overspray off cars.

This dumb kid was caught in the act and when asked where the hell he came up with that idea? He responded "Silly Putty on the funny pages with the Sunday paper when he was a kid"! Duh -didnt everyone do that? After seeing the results, zero swirl marks and zero repaints my first thought was brilliant. Never ever thought he was just a dumb kid anymore. Had my respect.

That kid went on to bake a better version with Plasticine clay, palm oil and corn starch. In 1982 he sold the idea to Humbrol since they made the clay. 3M later bought the rights. Kid never had to work again. Story doesnt end. He went on to make the best detailing products in the industry. Sells in bulk to EVERYONE who re-package's under own brand names. His trademark is every product he makes has a great distinct smell to it. Yep if you have ever waxed your car and said wow that stuff smells good he makes it.

No bullshit!

Clay works and it is easy to use. I have even removed overspray from my eye glass's. From paint, glass,trim it works even removes embedded brake dust from wheel coatings.