Claybar FAQs

[pdoel]

Since this topic comes up often, thought it'd be a good idea to have a sticky on the subject.

A claybar is basically what it sounds. A little bar of clay. It is a non-abrasive tool used to clean the finish off your car. It'll remove airborne contaminants, paint overspray, water spots, rail dust, residue, dirt, tar, etc. It will not hurt the clear coat or the paint itself. It will get your finish smooth as glass.

The claybar will also remove any old coats of wax/polish. So it's always a good idea to claybar your vehicle prior to applying a new wax/polish.

When using a claybar, you want to make sure the surface you are about to address is wet/slippery. Mix some car soap with water in a spray bottle. Spray a small area at a time, and rub the claybar on that area. You'll be amazed at how much the claybar removes.

Many claybar kits come with a detail solution. Be very careful using this. If you are claybarring in order to remove an old coat of wax, keep in mind these detail solutions typically contain wax. So using it may defeat the purpose. May be best to just mix some soap with water instead.

Be very careful not to drop the claybar on the ground. If you do, just discard. You may have picked up rocks/stones, etc, that will scratch your paint.

Each Spring, I go through the following process:

1.) Wash the car using Dawn dish soap. This is not recommended as a daily cleaner as it is a bit acidic, and will remove your wax. However, if you are trying to remove an old coat of wax, it's perfect.

2.) Once washed, I begin the claybar process. Doing a small section at a time. Going over the entire car.

3.) Wash the vehicle again using a car wash soap and water.

4.) Dry vehicle.

5.) Apply new wax/polish.

[JonK]

Hi Pete,

Great Post, I am going to try this!!


John

[iScott]

Agreed. You da' (wo)man, Pete!

[GINA]

The claybar process is described on any box you buy that has some clay, but here's what I do...

- I get a bottle of Quick Detailer, spray a section of the car to lube it up.
- Take a peice of clay and start rubbing over the wet portion of the car (make sure it's wet!!)
- Keep rubbing until the surface is smooth and contaminent free
- I wipe everything away with a microfiber, but some skip this step and just rinse off a big section of the car when finished.

I do, however, rewash the car when I'm finished. Just gets all the little craps out of it and shines it real nice

[Breez]

Great post Pete! I sure know my new beetle needs to have a weekend morning with a claybar!

[miu_son]

Interesting!! now i know what to do b4 waxing my buggie!!

[iScott]

In preparation for H20, I'm gonna do the whole shebang. I am wondering one thing, though. I'm gonna do a rubbing compound treatment to help with oxidation and light scratches. Which should come first? Claybar or compound?

[GINA]

Probably claybar

[Breez]

I own compound (both kinds)

I was wondering if someone has done a "how-to" on not only how to use it, but where I can use it on my sweet little beetle...

PS: CLAYBAR ROCKS... talk about smooth!

[iScott]

Originally Posted by Breez

I was wondering if someone has done a "how-to" on not only how to use it, but where I can use it on my sweet little beetle.

I will this weekend whilst I'm doing it.

If I may, I do not believe Gina is right (this is a first, I'm sure). My theory is that doing the rubbing compound first will do it's job and then not be affected by the claybar. In the reverse order, the claybar will probably be affected by the rubbing compound and therefore will really cancel itself out if done first.

[GINA]

WRONG?!

I'm actually not totally sure, but I was just thinking that using the claybar would get all the craps out of the car so it's totally clean before you start compounding. But I could be wrong...I guess

Found this site, it's pretty good at explaining things: http://www.racewayatv.com/car-care/c...log/index.html

[Breez]

hehehehe.
I think I might just wait this one out...






PS: Thanks for the detailing link Gina, I THROUGHLY enjoyed the article titled: "When a Cat Has Sprayed Your Interior"

[Dorado]

The clay bar works great. I would just add that it's good to give the car two coats of wax after the clay bar, instead of just one, especially if you're using a quick and easy liquid wax.

In my experience, the clay bar will not really work on some tar and oil based stains. For those, it's best to use clear coat safe "cleaner wax" like that of Meguiar's.

[Lugnutx5]

Using a clay bar prior to compounding or polishing is important. The clay bar pulls contaminates out of the paint prior to the grinding action of compounds. It really is much safer for your paint.

Having just completed a clay bar/polishing/glazing session, I can tell you that there was small metal filings that had rusted embedded in the paint. That is the last thing I would want to grind into my my cars finish, or worse yet, have to use more compound to get the resulting swirls out.

Compounds remove a small amount of paint/clearcoat with every application. Definitly a product to use as seldom as possible, and with the finest grit that will get the job done.

Try the clay bar first prior to compounding or polishing. I think you'll be impressed!

[2003TurboGurl]

I bought a Mother's Clay Bar Kit yesterday.

I've only had my NBC for about a month and it's been in the shop the majority of the time. All the bugs worked out now, I hope.

Anywhoo, my NBC had small orange spots all over it and the surface was so rough. Made it nearly impossible to clean because everything clinged to it.

After 5 hours of clay bar and waxing, my car looks like it rolled off the factory line. This works wonders!! All the spots, tar, etc. is gone. I am a firm believe in the Clay Bar method!!! My husband couldn't believe the detail job that I
did. Pics will be posted this evening in the photos area.

Clay bar rocks!!!

[who_me285]

Wow I cant believe how much it got out of my paint! It alraedy looked so clean. But I started to notice little rust spots in my pant after I started now Bailey looks so much better! I have the after pics now up on Baileys page. Link in sig

[scarabY2k]

Pete...Awesome thread

I just recently Claybar'd Buttercup using the Meguiars' kit (17.50 @ Advance Auto Parts), and i was blown over at the results. I've always used Zymol cleaner wax and thought it was the beat all/end all. Being that I can't find the Zymol Detail Spray anymore, I thought i'd give the Meguire's a try. I'm a Meguire's man from now on.

I highly reccomend claybar. It's worth every dollar and then some.

[digitalputty]

Something else I have learned from using claybar ... use it gently. According to some detail freaks on the net ... my car has been damaged from using the claybar too aggressively thus causing my clear coat (which may have been damaged previously) to peel and do horrible things.

As seen in this here picture:

[SilverSportNOLA]

I have done my car twice and my truck once ... out of clay now ... but the Maguires kit is good.

That paint damage looks more like it came from sandpaper, could have been clay if it was really contaminated, like dropped in sandy dirt.

My Truck looked great for a few weeks, after 2 coats of wax .... I think it needs a few more coats now 2 months later, that poor paint must have sucked all the wax lube in, probably hadn't been waxed in years. Zymol is for the Beetle, the trucks paint doesn't rank it.

[digitalputty]

Zymol smells so good ... like bananas.

If I drop the claybar it goes in the trash. I think the clear coat job was crap and my clay barring worsened it. So ... oh well I guess. Nothing I can do now. *cry*