clay bar help

[tacomachas]

I usually do a 3 step process on my truck once or twice a month now that its winter I cant do much but clean it up real well. I was thinking about using clay bar in the spring. Is it safe to do on a 2006? I have never done it before, whats the best way to use the clay bar? Is there anything I should use following the clay bar? Thanks

[dietoremain]

A clay bar is perfectly safe. It will remove the above surface contaminants from your paint and make it smooth as glass again. I suggest the quik clay kit that is on the meguiar's store its great. get a whole bottle of QD with it too! :)

Just keep some wax on it (claying will make it easier to wax and make the wax LOOK better).

If you have any swirls you can get out some scratchx if you wanna do it by hand or #80 with a PC of course.. I just dont know how you are going to do it.

Hope that helps.

By the way I have a tacoma, 99, 113K on it, best truck ever. :) reliablity wise for sure.

[Murr1525]

I guess by the 3-step process you mean the Deep Crystal System, 1,2,3?

For the full process, it would be: (assuming by hand)

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. Clean - DC#1, with ScratchX for swirls.
4. Polish - DC#2
5. Wax - DC#3, or your favorite wax.
6. Wax - Remember two coats of wax is recommended.

Now, if you think you may not have enough time, be in a rush, you can always switch over to a good cleaner/wax to cut out a few steps, keep things moving along for a quick detail.

1. Wash
2. Clay
3. ColorX
4. Wax - Your favorite wax.

Just some ideas....:xyxthumbs

As far as using the clay, it is really easy, but you will really get the hang of it right away once you try it. Just cut the bar/s into 3 or 4 pieces, and select one to use first. Roll it into a ball, then flatten it out. Spray the clay, and paint with QD, and get started. Just rub gently at first, you probably wont need to press to hard, unless you find some real stubborn stuff. You'll be able to tell when it is smooth, and when it is catching on dirt. When it seems dirty to you, fold the clay in on itself, back into a ball. then flatten back out, and repeat.

Remember, you can clay paint -> glass/trim -> wheels -> exhaust/muffler in that order only.

Don't re-use a piece of clay if you drop it, and don't take clay from your wheels back up to the paint, etc. You can save old clay, or just toss it out. Put clay you want to save in a zip-lock bag with a spritz of QD.

[tacomachas]

Thanks guys I really appreciate the help and yeah thats the exact three step process I am using. Can't wait till spring comes around to get at it!

[18611]

I have read on other forums,that a lot of people don't bother with QD spray. They just use the clean water and car wash soap for lubrication. It seems to work for them.

[Murr1525]

Meguiars tends not to recomend soap as some of the soaps, and I forget which ones, can make the clay break down. But yes, a lot of people do it nonethless.

[Paradox]

How many times can one use a clay bar? In other words, when do you know to throw it out and get new clay?

[Mike Phillips]

How many times can one use a clay bar? In other words, when do you know to throw it out and get new clay?

In simple terms - when it looks dirty and your common sense tell you that it's probably too dirty to use on your car's finish, then throw it away.


It's not a matter of how many times can you use a clay bar; it's a matter of how gross is the car you're working on. Some cars don't have a lot of bonded contaminants for example my dad's 1965 Tbird sits most of it's life in the garage waiting for a sunny day in Oregon. His paint may need to be clayed from time to time as he does drive it but it won't fill a clay bar up with contaminants as fast as a car that is parked at the end of the LAX airport everyday.

(We had a person that works for the Los Angeles Airport and there car is parked around the runway everyday bring their car to a class and the paint felt like #40 grit sanding paper and polluted a clay bar in a few passes)

Have you read this?

How often do I need to clay my car's finish? (http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7494)

:)

[Paradox]

Thanks Mike. I have read so much in the last few days, that I had forgotten
I did read the link you provided. Sorry....got to start writing all this down.
Thanks again.

[Mike Phillips]

Thanks Mike. I have read so much in the last few days, that I had forgotten
I did read the link you provided. Sorry....got to start writing all this down.
Thanks again.

No problemo... :)

One thing for sure... there's a lot of information to read on this forum... :bigups

[Paradox]

Still reading and going to pick up a clay bar (and a bunch of other stuff)
One last question on claying. Once I am finished claying, do I have to wash the car again, or can I just go ahead and start with the Color - X?

My plan is to Clay, Color-X, and NXT. As mentioned previously, this is on a new car, but it probably sat at the dealers for over six months. So if I am planning anything which will screw up my clear coat, now is the time to let me know please. The weekend is here, and I will be living in the garage. Thankfully there is a fridge in there. :spot
Thanks all for the information posted on this site.

[Murr1525]

You wont need to wash after claying. Just remove the Quick Detailer Spray with a cloth as you go.

Then ColorX, you wont need to work it in agressively, but dont just wipe it on. Give it a bit of working in.

Then top with Nxt.. sound good...:xyxthumbs

[Paradox]

Thank you, Murr1525

[Paradox]

I will never buy another black car.:wall::mad:

[farmboy]

:iagree:

[Nappers]

After all of that, if it helps, I clayed my new Dodge Neon after purchasing as I read on a Dodge forum that they rail their cars and a lot of grime resulting from that and from overspraying at the factory.

I clayed my Neon after getting it as the paint felt bumpy. The clay was filled up with grime and overspray. The paint felt smooth as a baby's butt when I was done :) I then put a coat of NXT on it and after some inproper paint care, put a few swirls in her prior to reading this site and just need a few toys to rectify that. The scrattchX works great but will improve muscle mass in your arms, thats for sure. LOL.

Take care.

Aaron