Answered: How to clean clay-bar after dropping it.

[searle]

I just got a new car and to prepare its surface for detailing I very lighlty clayed it with a brand new clay bar (even though my old one was still in quite good condition). That got me to thinking that this post would be good for new-comers (all the pros in this forum will read this and just groan).

If you drop your clay bar while preparing your car for a first-clase detailing, there is onlhy one way to clean it:
1) very carefully brush off all the fine grit that it immediately picked up
2) then, carefully run it on your car. your paint will rub against all the remaining fine grit you cannot see or remove, and the scratching between your paint and the grit will eventually wear both down.

HEY - in case you did not catch the sarcasm, DONT DO THIS. Dont stop, dont think, THROW OUT THE CLAY BAR.

When I raced cars and folks asked if they should buy a cheap helmut, the standard answer is SURE, if your head is not worth anything to you.

Same for your paint. If you dont value your paint or its finish then try to clean the clay-bar. If your entire car and its paint finish is worth more than $10, THROW OUT any dropped clay-bar without giving it any thought at all.
.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Answered: How to clean clay-bar after dropping it.

The first half of your post was raising some blood pressure, I'm sure - but you came clean (no pun intended!) and preached the real story.

Drop your clay, throw it away.




/story

[Nappers]

Re: Answered: How to clean clay-bar after dropping it.

Had me going too!

Although I did brush it off and it's now window duty.....

[the_invisible]

Re: Answered: How to clean clay-bar after dropping it.

If you are working on a vertical surface where the chance of dropping the bar is significantly higher, put a piece of newspaper on the floor to prevent the bar from picking up dirt when it is dropped. Having a clean working environment may also help to salvage the bar when it is dropped. You just gotta judge whether a bar could be saved. Immediately cleanng it with water and picking the dirt out may work if you did not pick up too much dirt. Slicing the surface that has contacted the ground also works, common sense tells me.

Manufacturers decisions to sell two pieces of smaller clay bars instead of one huge bar is a good idea, in case people drop theirs.

[yalerd]

Re: Answered: How to clean clay-bar after dropping it.

It doesn't always land perfectly flat on the floor so what I do is pick it up, cut the part that did touched the floor and continue using the part and didn't, it's a nice way to save some

[spyghost]

Re: Answered: How to clean clay-bar after dropping it.

drop it? forget it... charge to experience

[sanddrag]

Re: Answered: How to clean clay-bar after dropping it.

It doesn't always land perfectly flat on the floor so what I do is pick it up, cut the part that did touched the floor and continue using the part and didn't, it's a nice way to save some

I've done the same. If I see the fall (only happened twice) and I know for certain precisely which part(s) was/were touching the ground, I'll break off that part, ensure the rest is clean, and keep it. I figure there's no need to toss the entire thing if you are absolutely certain which parts didn't contact anything. I know it's best not to risk it, but I'm confident there are instances of dropping, which can be corrected by cutting and close inspection, that do not warrant discarding the entire piece of clay.

[Ganesa]

Re: Answered: How to clean clay-bar after dropping it.

I put a soft clean plastic carpet when im claying, so that if (never happened before luckily) I dropped the clay, it would land on the plastic carpet that has no dirt on

[ZoranC]

Re: Answered: How to clean clay-bar after dropping it.

I put a soft clean plastic carpet when im claying, so that if (never happened before luckily) I dropped the clay, it would land on the plastic carpet that has no dirt on

Every time you step outside the carpet your shoes will pick up dirt that will get transferred onto the carpet once you step back onto it.

[scott0999]

Re: Answered: How to clean clay-bar after dropping it.

I never use the whole bar at once. just tear off a small piece and use it until its contaminated. that way if its dropped its not a big deal toss it and tear off another piece....

[Calais]

Re: Answered: How to clean clay-bar after dropping it.

I never use the whole bar at once. just tear off a small piece and use it until its contaminated. that way if its dropped its not a big deal toss it and tear off another piece....

Me too. I usually cut it into 1/3's or 1/4's.

[Ganesa]

Re: Answered: How to clean clay-bar after dropping it.

Every time you step outside the carpet your shoes will pick up dirt that will get transferred onto the carpet once you step back onto it.

I try not to step on the plastic carpet, when doing claying my car, so no dirt lands on the carpet :].... and I take my sandals off if I step on the carpet..

[ZoranC]

Re: Answered: How to clean clay-bar after dropping it.

I try not to step on the plastic carpet, when doing claying my car ...

How wide is your carpet?

[Ganesa]

Re: Answered: How to clean clay-bar after dropping it.

about 40x120... I only use it when I get to the side panels... :]