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Clay Bar Usage- really needed?????

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  • #1

    Clay Bar Usage- really needed?????

    Hi everyone. I have a 2003 Red Silverado with pretty decent paint that I am looking to restore and then protect. It has the usual blemishes you would expect in a 10 year old truck: hairline paint scratches, holograms, swirling, etc. I plan on following the 5 step system

    Here's my question: I bought the Clay Bar kit and was impressed with the outcome on the small areas I tested it on. The paint felt smoother and I applied the spray wax that came with the kit to the area and it really looked nice.

    However, GOOD G*D it took a long time. Keep in mind this is a full size extended cab truck (with a painted fiberglass tonneau cover painted to match) so there is a LOT of piant to cover. I know there is a price to pay for perfect paint but will any of the other products do a similar job as the clay bar. Maybe Ultimate Compound. I have a cheap Random Orbit polisher that I bought at walmart to work with.

    Thanks everyone!
    Tags: None
  • #2
    Re: Clay Bar Usage- really needed?????

    Claying, if you haven't done it recently, is a first step to everything especially before using Ultimate Compound.
    2016 Acura ILX

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    • #3
      Re: Clay Bar Usage- really needed?????

      Maybe if you were actually removing paint with a wool pad or something, but with just regular pads by hand/DA, you'll find that the pad/product will just bounce over the bonded on stuff and leave it there. Or worse, pull of something sharp and drag it around more.

      Your main options would be something like the Mild Blue Clay in the Pro Line that will be a bit stronger, and make things go faster.

      There are also 'clay towel' type products that are interesing, but are more agressive, and can risk leaving swirls and such.

      If you find that a lot of what you are pulling up is tar, then you might consider the TarX or TRIX products for a deep cleaning before claying.
      2017 Subaru WRX Premium - WR Blue

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      • #4
        Re: Clay Bar Usage- really needed?????

        When claying, the industry standard is to wash the carfirst, then clay it using a quick detailer or a mild mixture of your washshampoo and water as a lubricant. Afterwards, many people wash a second time to get any clay marring andlittle clay bits washed off.
        Now, here is what I do. I make extra shampoo for car washing and use it to clay. I wash a panel, rinse it off then clay usingthe shampoo mix rinsing afterwards. Althoughthe process takes longer than washing, it saves TREMENDOUS amounts of time inthe long run.
        I use this on my Chrysler Town & Country and ChevyImpala. Although not a full size pickup,the Mini-Van is a lot of real estate to clear and this technique cuts down onthe time.

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        • #5
          Re: Clay Bar Usage- really needed?????

          I had a similar question recently about claying, years ago when I had first used the stuff it took forever and was a lot of work. But I realized recently I was just claying too long with too much pressure. I did it again a week or two ago and it was quick and easy. Doesn't take much at all to pick up something on the clay bar.

          Here's my topic. http://www.meguiarsonline.com/forums...with-DA-Buffer

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          • #6
            Re: Clay Bar Usage- really needed?????

            You should definitely clay. It takes long because you car needs it.
            I clay once a year with frequent washing and waxing and it takes about 15 minutes. The first time I clay, it took more than an hour.
            Without clay, it would be hard for you to achieve the final glass-like smoothness.

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            • #7
              Re: Clay Bar Usage- really needed?????

              I would clay if the paint feels rough. I'm still amazed by how well clay works. Almost magical. Especially Meguiars pro mild detailer clay.

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              • #8
                Re: Clay Bar Usage- really needed?????

                The first time you clay paint it will take a long time and require more effort. Subsequent clayings will take less time, especially after you develop an efficient technique. And there's no hard and fast rules that say you have to clay your vehicle all at once. I have clayed my sedan in two sessions set a week apart.

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                • #9
                  Re: Clay Bar Usage- really needed?????

                  Even good looking shiny paint may require claying. The more contaminants the car has, tho longer it will take. But it is worth the extra effort... After claying, all the succeeding steps will become a lot easier to apply and remove, and from afar, the shine of the paint will seem to be a bit deeper and clearer and more even, and the Wax will last longer since there's nothing on the paint that will disturb the bond between the wax and paint.

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                  • #10
                    Re: Clay Bar Usage- really needed?????

                    We often find people make claying harder than it should be, as Jeremy1980 talked about. It really shouldn't take much time at all, and it shouldn't be a real "elbow grease" process either. Unless the vehicle is very badly contaminated, which could easily be the case with a 10 year old vehicle that spends most of it's life outside. But traditional paint cleaners generally will only remove so much of the bonded contaminants that clay so easily takes off, and even the small amount they do remove will then just be worked back against the paint surface, which isn't ideal. By claying first you remove these bonded contaminants and ultimately allow the paint cleaner or compound to do it's job easier and more effectively. If you skip the claying process you'll find it's a bit more difficult to apply and remove wax and that wax application won't last as long, either.
                    Michael Stoops
                    Senior Global Product & Training Specialist | Meguiar's Inc.

                    Remember, this hobby is supposed to be your therapy, not the reason you need therapy.

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                    • #11
                      Re: Clay Bar Usage- really needed?????

                      I would think claying would increase your pad life as well... they wouldn't load up with crud so quickly. But I feel your pain... I spent the last 3 days working on my newly-purchased 2000 Super Duty extended cab 4x4. I spent 3 hours on tar removal... then another 3+ hours claying. Naturally, horizontal surfaces were the worst. A few passes & the clay was black & fully loaded. That bar of clay really got turned & folded a LOT! Went through 3/4 of a LARGE bottle of Quick Detailer to complete the truck. It was obvious that the truck had received little to no care over the past several years. But hopefully, my efforts will make future care MUCH easier! Hang in there!
                      R. Smith
                      Santa Clarita, CA

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                      • #12
                        Re: Clay Bar Usage- really needed?????

                        When I first clayed my car, the car was 2-3 years old, it took me more than an hour. The bonded contaminants made it harder to slide the bar across the car surface.

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