Clay bar

MountaineerTom · November 11, 2001

I tried one of the Mother's brand clay bars today. It was my first experience using one, and all I can say is WOW! I washed the truck and thought it was really clean. I clayed half of the hood and when I was done, you could slide your hand over the clayed side (which was extremely smooth, like glass) onto the unclayed side and easily feel a difference. My hand felt like it was dragging on the unclayed side.

I only had enough time to do the rest of the hood today, but tomorrow and Monday, I'm going to try to get the rest of the truck done. I put some polish on there and then a couple coats of wax and it looks like brand new.

I was pretty impressed.

pacodiablo · November 11, 2001

ive heard that that stuff works really well before, but i never tried it.

Stepside Z · November 11, 2001

Tom,

Thanks for the info. I will have to give it a try. Is the shine better now? Where did you get the clay bar from?

MountaineerTom · November 11, 2001

Well, I don't really think the clay alone made the shine better, but after using it, the paint was as slick and smooth as glass. The Mequires polish and wax really made it shine though.

I bought it at Pep boys for about $18 - $19 dollars.

This is the product I got.

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CALIFORNIA GOLD®

CLAY BAR PAINT SAVING SYSTEM

You've heard about clay bars-professional detailers, body men and your car buddies all talk about how well it works. Now use the clay bar everybody wants. Created to lift the particulate debris and contaminants that washing can't, our exclusive Paint Saving System will remove embedded grains of metal, tree sap, airborne environmental deposits and paint overspray. Better yet, our clay bar isn't hazardous to your paint-it's just firm enough to pick up the bad stuff, without being too aggressive. Use Mothers® Clay Bar to get rid of paint-fouling grime and pave the way for complete waxing.

#07240 includes 80 gram Clay Bar, 16 oz. Showtime® Instant Detailer, 4 oz. Original Formula Carnauba Cleaner Wax.

DigUout · November 13, 2001

Thanks for the tip Tom.

Think one could use Clay Bar then Zaino??

Bet that would be a good combo.... :0

silverado man · November 13, 2001

Think one could use Clay Bar then Zaino??
Bet that would be a good combo....

they already do :stupid:

HillHound · November 13, 2001

I've never looked at that product before. How do you use it exactly-just rub it on like a bar of soap? Do you have to rub it off after you're done or buff it afterwards?

MountaineerTom · November 13, 2001

You just spray on the Showtime, on the box it calls it the lubricant, and then rub the clay over the area you sprayed. It didn't take very much of the Showtime either. I just pinched off about 1/5 of the bar of clay. A friend of mine dropped the clay bar on his driveway the first time he used one. He said it had sand and dirt all over it and was pretty much useless then. LOL

When I was done with the clay, I buffed it real good with a soft towel and then put some polish and wax on it.

pacodiablo · November 14, 2001

isn't wax useless on clear coated vehicles?

MountaineerTom · November 14, 2001

Quote from pacodiablo, posted on Nov. 13 2001,8:24

isn't wax useless on clear coated vehicles?

I don't think so.

HillHound · November 16, 2001

Don't know if wax is useless but it sure makes mine look good-plus water beads up on it which makes for easier wahing.

I looked for that Mother's Clay Bar at an Advance Auto but they didnt have any. I'd like to give it a try-looks interesting.

alsz71 · November 18, 2001

I've used the clay bar from Mothers and was very happy with the results.....but its ALOT of work plan on an entire day if you've got lots of contaminates like sap. And as for the wax thing yes as far as I know it can help keep the paint in good shape but you don't want the water to bead and not wipe it off the little beads of water act like magnifiying glasses and will end up burning little circles in the paint. There are alot of sheating action type waxes on the market right now and for the new paint systems this is what you want. However if you wipe off the beads after washing or a rain, it shouldn't matter what type you get. Paint systems have gone though many advances in the last few decades and what used to be good for say Laquer is death to the new base clear systems.

76BBSub · November 20, 2001

Quote from alsz71, posted on Nov. 18 2001,06:10

And as for the wax thing yes as far as I know it can help keep the paint in good shape but you don't want the water to bead and not wipe it off the little beads of water act like magnifiying glasses and will end up burning little circles in the paint. There are alot of sheating action type waxes on the market right now and for the new paint systems this is what you want. However if you wipe off the beads after washing or a rain, it shouldn't matter what type you get.

Huh?? I have never heard of this before...I have yet to see a drop of water stick around long enough in the sun to burn anything, especially with a UV protectant wax between it and the paint. I'll take wax anytime over nothing, although I prefer Zaino show car polish, which will also make water bead, FYI.

I'd be interested in knowing where you heard the water thing...

Jeff

alsz71 · November 25, 2001

I heard this from a painter but I think it depends alot on the water weather etc....Also doesn't Zano recommend a wax after the polish ? As all polish does is create smaller(microscopic) scatches that cause the light to reflect more uniformly, thus giving you a better shine. All polishes have some form of grit in them be it cornstarch(yip cornstarch)or pumice or some other form. I'm basically repeating what I've been told from people I trust and my paint has stood up extremely wellfrom the advice these people have given me.

Also, I never wash the car when the sun is up, I always wash after the sun goes down(twilight) less chance of damaging the hot paint.