Appearance & Detailing Interior & Exterior Appearance Modifications

Clay Bar

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 04:21 PM
  #1  
95BlkBird's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 238
Likes: 1
From: Nashville
Default Clay Bar

Well spring is almost here and I'm going to try my hand useing a clay bar. It's gonna take awhile I'm sure but anyone have any advice?
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 04:23 PM
  #2  
kool_chic2's Avatar
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Alliance, NE
Default

keep the surface of the car wet and mix the bar often.. oh yeah dont drop it in the dirt. lol
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 04:32 PM
  #3  
LeftySS's Avatar
11 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 741
Likes: 1
From: North Little Rock, Ar
Default

Yeah just be careful not to drop and keep surface wet with detail spray and do it in the shade. And if your cars paint is not in real bad shape it doesn't take as long as you might think. IMO. You will love the way the paint feels afterwards.
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 04:38 PM
  #4  
kool_chic2's Avatar
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Alliance, NE
Default

Originally Posted by LeftySS
Yeah just be careful not to drop and keep surface wet with detail spray and do it in the shade. And if your cars paint is not in real bad shape it doesn't take as long as you might think. IMO. You will love the way the paint feels afterwards.
i would so have to agree on how it feels. its awesome almost soft, if i could describe it.
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 04:43 PM
  #5  
LeftySS's Avatar
11 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 741
Likes: 1
From: North Little Rock, Ar
Default

Originally Posted by kool_chic2
i would so have to agree on how it feels. its awesome almost soft, if i could describe it.
Yeah and then after you polish and wax.
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 04:44 PM
  #6  
95BlkBird's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 238
Likes: 1
From: Nashville
Default

So would detail spray be better than water? I was told to wash the car with Dawn soap too. said something about it helps remove the old wax build up?
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 04:46 PM
  #7  
kool_chic2's Avatar
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Alliance, NE
Default

Originally Posted by 95BlkBird
So would detail spray be better than water? I was told to wash the car with Dawn soap too. said something about it helps remove the old wax build up?
i would use the detail spray. not sure on the dial soap. sorry
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 04:53 PM
  #8  
LeftySS's Avatar
11 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 741
Likes: 1
From: North Little Rock, Ar
Default

Well the clay should remove alot if not all of the old wax. But I wouldn't use dawn just because car wash soap is suppose to have agents and help wash the dirt off without scratching kindof makes the surface slick for the dirt to slid on, if you will. I would probably wash again after clay just to hit it again and to get any clay residue off that might get left behind. That should get the surface pretty clean to polish and wax.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 04:56 PM
  #9  
LeftySS's Avatar
11 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 741
Likes: 1
From: North Little Rock, Ar
Default

Yes, use detail spray. I just use one of the clay kits you can get at the local parts stores. It comes with the spray and a MF towel.
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 04:59 PM
  #10  
kool_chic2's Avatar
Staging Lane
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: Alliance, NE
Default

Originally Posted by LeftySS
Well the clay should remove alot if not all of the old wax. But I wouldn't use dawn just because car wash soap is suppose to have agents and help wash the dirt off without scratching kindof makes the surface slick for the dirt to slid on, if you will. I would probably wash again after clay just to hit it again and to get any clay residue off that might get left behind. That should get the surface pretty clean to polish and wax.
i know that when me and my finacee did the ta and my saturn last summer. i think we washed them by hand with car wash soap then used the clay bar and washed and waxed. it was awesome. cant wiat to taclke my camaro with it when it warms up and not going to snow no more...
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 05:15 PM
  #11  
LT4vert's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,843
Likes: 30
From: South Bend , IN
Default

Originally Posted by 95BlkBird
So would detail spray be better than water? I was told to wash the car with Dawn soap too. said something about it helps remove the old wax build up?
I typically dont waste detail spray on claying . I mix in spray bottle either 1 of 3 things . Plain dawn mild dishsoap/water , Optimum no-rinse/water or meguires all purpose cleaner/water . No preference , all 3 do serve the same purpose . After claying I re-wash the car and then have a bottle mixed with 91% alcohol/distilled water I mist on and wipe off with a microfiber on each panel before polishing or compounding so the surface is 100% free of any waxes . If u simply just clay with a detail spray then go right to polishing or compounding your working with a surface that has waxes left behind from the spray .
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 05:34 PM
  #12  
LeftySS's Avatar
11 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 741
Likes: 1
From: North Little Rock, Ar
Default

Originally Posted by LT4vert
I typically dont waste detail spray on claying . I mix in spray bottle either 1 of 3 things . Plain dawn mild dishsoap/water , Optimum no-rinse/water or meguires all purpose cleaner/water . No preference , all 3 do serve the same purpose . After claying I re-wash the car and then have a bottle mixed with 91% alcohol/distilled water I mist on and wipe off with a microfiber on each panel before polishing or compounding so the surface is 100% free of any waxes . If u simply just clay with a detail spray then go right to polishing or compounding your working with a surface that has waxes left behind from the spray .
Yeah the dawn soap is probably a good idea for claying. It would be alot cheaper. But I guess I am just **** and will just use the detailer. No more often then you will probably clay anyway, plus it comes with the kit. Might as well use it. But I do like the distilled water and alcohol spray just before polish. What water/alcohol ratio do you use?
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 05:51 PM
  #13  
LT4vert's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,843
Likes: 30
From: South Bend , IN
Default

Originally Posted by LeftySS
What water/alcohol ratio do you use?
50/50 . Yea I like too , it gives you a true indicator of the paint condition before ya move on to the next step .
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 06:15 PM
  #14  
95BlkBird's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 238
Likes: 1
From: Nashville
Default

So as far as keeping the area claying at the time wet, as long as the bar is going over the surface smooth its fine? Or do I keep the area soaked at all times?
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 06:35 PM
  #15  
02TransAm/Batmobile's Avatar
TECH Junkie
iTrader: (32)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 3,179
Likes: 2
From: Southside Chicago
Default

If you go to Pepboys, there is one that comes with the biggest bar - I forgot the name of it. It's in a blue box with a blue character on it. It is a 1.0 gram or something while the others are .80 grams. I take that and cut it in half - no reason to use the whole bar.
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 06:57 PM
  #16  
LeftySS's Avatar
11 Second Club
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (17)
 
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 741
Likes: 1
From: North Little Rock, Ar
Default

Originally Posted by 95BlkBird
So as far as keeping the area claying at the time wet, as long as the bar is going over the surface smooth its fine? Or do I keep the area soaked at all times?
Just keep it wet enough so the clay is not sticking to the paint. You will know when you get started. It really isn't that difficult and as long as you don't bare down on the paint you really can't mess it up. When you get started you will feel the roughness and like magic it will start to get smoother.
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 07:07 PM
  #17  
00FlowCamaro's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
 
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 681
Likes: 0
From: Watertown, WI
Default

Yeah claybarring is a must atleast twice a year. When you bring it out and when you put it back in. The surface just feels emmaculate when you're done.
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 07:24 PM
  #18  
95BlkBird's Avatar
Thread Starter
Launching!
 
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 238
Likes: 1
From: Nashville
Default

Awesome. Looking forward to doing this. Thanks everyone
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 08:06 PM
  #19  
TXZ28LS1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 6,163
Likes: 3
From: Classified
Default

i will definitely clay bar my car soon. just trying to figure out how to remove the swirls and scratches..lol.
Reply
Old Feb 21, 2010 | 09:42 PM
  #20  
bobbyd's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (10)
 
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 1,448
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio
Default

Originally Posted by TXZ28LS1
i will definitely clay bar my car soon. just trying to figure out how to remove the swirls and scratches..lol.
wash
clay bar
meguiars 105 with orange pad on meguiars dual polisher (g110v2)
meguiars 205 with black pad on meguiars dual polisher (g110v2)
wax with nxt 2.0

and you will love the results
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:10 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE