Clay not good???

[mis3]

I went to a detailing store by chance earlier today. I asked the guy how he detailed a car. He showed me the products he used and it's Mark V something.

He told me that clay would hurt the clear coat and I should NOT use it too often. He then went on and on that clay should be used only to treat over-spray and should not be used as part of a regular maintenance.

He was adamant about it and talked about how many years of detailing experience he had. I was bored and I left! Too bad I did not wash my car for a few days so I had nothing to show him.

[M_Cook]

Re: Clay not good???

I have never had a problem with claying. You are suppose to wash the car first. Then use some kind of lubricant (I use Meguiars quick detail). Never have scratched the paint with it. Just make sure you don't have alot of dirt and debris on the car, and you should be fine.

[Mr Miyagi]

Re: Clay not good???

I went to a detailing store by chance earlier today. I asked the guy how he detailed a car. He showed me the products he used and it's Mark V something.

He told me that clay would hurt the clear coat and I should NOT use it too often. He then went on and on that clay should be used only to treat over-spray and should not be used as part of a regular maintenance.

He was adamant about it and talked about how many years of detailing experience he had. I was bored and I left! Too bad I did not wash my car for a few days so I had nothing to show him.

I was in an auto parts store a while back and the sales guy was selling the customer a bunch of detailing stuff..I butted in and told them not to forget the clay. The sales guy basically disagreed and said it was like taking very fine sandpaper to the paint.

I thought it was a pretty odd comment (but hey he was selling the guy 'Mommas' brand ).

I clay my car once a year during my 'major detail' and have never had an issue. I know there are different grades of clay so maybe the more aggressive ones can do harm if used incorrectly.

I think clay is the best tool in my detailing arsenal

BTW what is clay made out of? Clay?? or is a man made product?

[CieraSL]

Re: Clay not good???

Don't listen to whoever it was that you talked to. Claying your car cannot hurt the paint, unless you use the aggressive clay. Having years of "experience" doesn't matter if you've been doing it wrong the whole time. Not saying he's been doing everything wrong, but he's not right regarding claying. Wash the car first to remove loose dirt, then clay using a lube like Quik Detailer, then follow up with a polish or cleaner wax, followed by your LSP of choice. Hope this helps!

[Eddie6th]

Re: Clay not good???

I havn't been using clay for as long as a lot of other members here(because of a previous availability problem),but I don't see how it can do any harm if used properly.I've always had to use paint cleaners in the past.Claying does the job better and quicker.

There are no chemicals involved with the cleaning,so I don't understand the shopkeepers remarks?

[the_invisible]

Re: Clay not good???

I went to a detailing store by chance earlier today. I asked the guy how he detailed a car. He showed me the products he used and it's Mark V something.

He told me that clay would hurt the clear coat and I should NOT use it too often. He then went on and on that clay should be used only to treat over-spray and should not be used as part of a regular maintenance.

He was adamant about it and talked about how many years of detailing experience he had. I was bored and I left! Too bad I did not wash my car for a few days so I had nothing to show him.

The over-the-counter clay kits like the Meguiar's Smooth Surface Clay Kit or the Mother's counterpart are safe for clearcoats. The Zaino clay is slightly more aggressive from my experience, and I tend to only use it on a spot-to-spot basis.

However, ones used by bodyshops to remove defects from oversprays are more aggressive, and thus not recommended for regular use.

[mis3]

Re: Clay not good???

I also think that clay is the best; makes the car smooth and slick. I use the consumer line, Smooth Surface Clay Kit. This does the work perfectly and I don't need any other clay product.

The guy said that clay would thin out the clear coat. I am surprised that an experienced detailer would make a comment like this.

BTW, anyone knows about this Mark V products?

[the_invisible]

Re: Clay not good???

I've been into detailing for many years. And it was only in the past ten years that I saw Consumer Clay kits surfacing to the market. The Clay Bar has evolved over the years, from an expert tool to something that a regular consumer could use safely.

Perhaps this detailer you've met is an oldschooler...

Again, the amount of slander and assumptions from the youngsters in this thread alone amaze me.

[Eddie6th]

Re: Clay not good???

I've been into detailing for many years. And it was only in the past ten years that I saw Consumer Clay kits surfacing to the market. The Clay Bar has evolved over the years, from an expert tool to something that a regular consumer could use safely.

Perhaps this detailer you've met is an oldschooler...

Again, the amount of slander and assumptions from the youngsters in this thread alone amaze me.

Oldscooler's are tough to change.I still speak to some that insist fully synthetic oil is bad for your engine! But they are still relating to Mobil's advertising in the early '70s,where there was nothing wrong with the oil or it's performance,but 'seal' failure,which at the time were rubber and not silicon based.It took a long time for FS to get accepted again.

Just a bit of useless information

[dizzledude]

Re: Clay not good???

If I'm not mistaken, Meguiar's consumer line clay is non-abrasive, so it should not harm the clearcoat.

[Tuck91]

Re: Clay not good???

If I'm not mistaken, Meguiar's consumer line clay is non-abrasive, so it should not harm the clearcoat.

It wont harm your clearcoat.

[Nappers]

Re: Clay not good???

The consumer clay and the Mirror Glaze mild clay won't harm your paint at all.

The aggressive clay in the Mirror Glaze line may haze your paint as it's designed for that really cruddy embedded particles in your paint and follow with a paint correction.

Claying is a great thing to do on brand new cars and old cars alike! I clayed my new Dodge Neon after aquiring it and you would not believe what overspray and rail dust I removed from a Brand New car, it pretty much destroyed the clay and now on window duty.

Clay away!

Get the kit and you can buy the replacement bars as you need now!

I found the bigger bottle of Quik Detailer at Schucks (Schucks/Checker/Oreilly/Kragen) stores and I've read others use Last Touch of the Detailer line as a clay lubricant.

[PuDeN]

Re: Clay not good???

Clay is good and safe. Dont worry. Beleive us.

[rusty bumper]

Re: Clay not good???

If I'm not mistaken, Meguiar's consumer line clay is non-abrasive, so it should not harm the clearcoat.

Correct.

Clay only abrades the above surface contamination. However, Meguiars does make an aggressive clay in the pro line that might leave fine scratches, but they are easily buffed out.

[J. A. Michaels]

Re: Clay not good???

I can not believe thatregular clay would do more harm then good. In my limited experiences claying only enhanced the paint never harmed the paint.