To clay bar or not?

I want to wax my truck next week, and am interested in clay barring. I dont want to risk scratching/messing up my paint though. Do you guys recommend me giving this a shot, or not? Any tips?

 

I clay bar my truck once a year...you'd be amazed how much crap that bar takes off of your paint. Then that way the wax sticks directly to clean paint over not just on dirty paint

 

I have done it to my 1 gen once and it worked great. It was like I had a new paint job. Like Jerez said you would be amazed.

 

Ditto, but I clay my truck twice a year. Not needed by I'm picky about the paint. The best thing you can do for your truck's paint

 

Go to the Autogeek website. There is a how to video on claying your paint.

 

If i wash the truck good first, and use lots of soapy water in a spray bottle as lube, will i be safe?

 

Safe for clay or safe for paint without claying? IMO wash the truck good then clay then wax

 

Buy the Meguiars clay bar kit and follow the directions, peice of cake. Can be picked up at your local auto parts store or walmart. Also check... https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/detailing.32/

 

Love the glass smooth paint after getting clay bar service done.

 

i will wash the truck good, then fill up a spray bottle with clean carwash soap/water, use that for lubrication during claying(i wont apply pressure when claying), rinse and dry truck, then wax. Sound good?

 

Big on the annual clay bar One minor change for me "wash the truck good, clay, wash then wax" clay is good

 

Most clay bar kit already comes with lubrication for it. Just use that. I use some pressure but not a lot. Everything you said so far is good.

 

Exactly I don't use soap water for lubricant. The Meguiars "quick detailer" is what I use for lubricant.

 

x2

The Meg's kit is nice as it comes with the clay lubricant to help prevent the clay from marring your paint. I wouldn't use soapy water as you don't really want to be putting more soap onto you paint prior to the wax. The extra time you would spend washing of the soapy water could be used to go over to walmart and pick up some good clay lube or quick detailer.

 

gotcha. Ill just get the meguiars kit then. Ive just read conflicting articles that say dont waste money on expensive detail sprays when you can just use soapy water. But i'd rather not cheap out and cause damage. Will the kit be enough for the whole truck, or should i get an extra bottle of spray?

 

It's plenty. Most name brand now has two clay bars for two applications.

 

Exactly!

I did that as well. Only thing that's ever faded now is my plastic hood scoop.
The rest of the truck (whatever is still metal and original) looks good for a 7 year old truck
But I only do it once a year now because the fiber glass is going to look like crap sooner or later...
And I'm probably going to paint the truck next year

 

Same color?

 

This. If you clay bar with retailer the wax/buff with a good random orbital polisher you will avoid the swirl marks from grit/debris on your paint.

Your truck will look great if you follow the instructions.

My orbital buffer came from Griot who also makes good products.

 

Naw If I paint it, it will be a different color...