Polish or clay first?

[md20]

Hey, I'm new to the whole car care thing since I just got my license and car back in Jan. Anyway I was wondering what to do first, Polish or Clay. I originally thought it was clay then polish but after reading what they do it makes sense to polish then clay. Any help is appreciated and any other tips are welcome.
Thanks,
Mike

[Abrasive1]

Re: Polish or clay first?

Clay first. Lately, I've been finding specs of rust on the surface of some cars, along with other unknown contaminates. It usually comes off with clay if it hasn't had enough time to work into the paint. You wouldn't want to polish a spec of metal into the finish, or any other debris for that matter. Its shocking how much the clay picks up, even when it looks to be smooth.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Polish or clay first?

Hey, I'm new to the whole car care thing since I just got my license and car back in Jan. Anyway I was wondering what to do first, Polish or Clay. I originally thought it was clay then polish but after reading what they do it makes sense to polish then clay. Any help is appreciated and any other tips are welcome.
Thanks,
Mike

From one Mike to another, welcome to MOL!!

You were right the first time - clay then polish - and here's why:

Claying removes bonded surface contaminants and will make your paint feel smooth as new glass. And you want to get all that above surface bonded junk off and out of your way before you can start polishing, otherwise known as removing below surface defects. Sounds logical, huh?

[md20]

Re: Polish or clay first?

Ugh, too late for online typing. My real question is whether to clay or use cleaner first. Sorry for the sloppy thread. I have seen it go both ways using clay then paint cleaner and then also paint cleaner then clay. Sorry for the misuse of terms
Mike

[Thejoyofdriving]

Re: Polish or clay first?

I have always heard you should always clay first. there are a few reasons why you should use paint cleaner after you clay, sometimes when you clay, the clay gets stuck to the paint and some of the clay is left behind if it stays there you cant apply wax over this spot and have it adhere. using a paint cleaner after you clay will keep your surface free of clay and help the wax adhere to the paint. there are a few more but i cant remember, its late hahha.

[HagFan]

Re: Polish or clay first?

I think a good reason to clay first is you're cleaning from the surface level... and then deeper. If you polish first, you're going to grind the bonded contaminates into your paint instead of removing them with clay.

Is it really rust that some are seeing? I don't understand how polyurethane paint--clear coat-- can rust.

[Murr1525]

Re: Polish or clay first?

Wash, then clay, then everything else.

It is not the paint that is rusting, it is metal in the air landing on the paint. Such as from brake dust, rail dust, etc.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Polish or clay first?

Ugh, too late for online typing. My real question is whether to clay or use cleaner first. Sorry for the sloppy thread. I have seen it go both ways using clay then paint cleaner and then also paint cleaner then clay. Sorry for the misuse of terms
Mike

LOL Yeah, typing at close to midnight can be a challenge sometimes. I don't see that you misused any terms or were sloppy in your post at all, so don't sweat it.

As long as you wash/clay/polish/wax you're good. I've heard that one of the rare instances where you might want to polish before claying is when you have badly oxidized single stage paint. Adding a pure polish helps to sort of nourish the paint and lets the clay work more effectively. But that polishing step is not really intended as a defect correction so you still need to go back and properly polish after the claying. It's not a terribly common situation though.

[md20]

Re: Polish or clay first?

Thanxs,
Saturday im going to run through the 5 step system and ill post pics on how it goes

[Estranged]

Re: Polish or clay first?

What did you do to lose your license? DUI?

[md20]

Re: Polish or clay first?

I'm only 16 so i just got it back in Jan.

[Michael Stoops]

Re: Polish or clay first?

What did you do to lose your license? DUI?

No no, he didn't get his license back, in January. He just got his license, back in January. Move that comma a bit and it changes everything!!!