Clay bar ?

I have a clay bar question. I did it Sat. The paint felt like sand paper after I washed it, smooth as glass for the most part after I clay bared it. I guess it was bad, I had to do the hood X2 and parts of the roof X2. Here is the question. The clay is expensive, about $10 a bar from Gary. That's a good price but still not something I want to blow on 1 wash. What is the best way to get the most out of the bar ? It got dirty fast. I did the shaping and folding over by hand but I was thinking maybe a rolling pin would get flatter so I'd get more use out of it. I didn't try it, maybe next time. Any suggestions ?

 

Keeping it warm helps with the folding and flattening. I try to put the bar (inside the case) in the sun before I start to soften it up. Never tried a rolling pin. The most important thing is not to drop the clay. If you drop it, you should throw it out.

Depending on the paint and what you plan to do after you claybar, you can use the clay several times per vehicle before replacing it. So it's not like it's toast after one use. Opinions vary as far as how many applications you can get out of one bar, so you need to make your own call on that. I generally toss it when a well-kneaded and flattened piece no longer resembles that nice blue color it had when it was new.

However, as far as cost goes, if you wash and wax your vehicle often, you won't need to clay it as much (definitely not every time you wash). Of course, vehicles that are garaged need claying less often, and weather as well as proximity to pollutant sources (like factories, freeways, railroad tracks) affect how bad your paint gets too.

I'm sorry if that answer is a little ambiguous, but there are lots of variables that affect how often you need to claybar your paint.

Also note that a more aggressive clay will remove more bonded contaminants quicker, but the coarser the clay, the higher the risk is that you will make noticeable scratches in your paint. If you are planning on polishing anyway and your paint is very rough, a medium clay might be more appropriate. However, if you're doing light touch-up between major details, you might prefer fine clay so you aren't forced to polish out the scratches you make with the clay.

Paint color and personal 'pickiness' are factors as well. White and silver don't show scratches as easily. Non-metallic black is brutal.

Don't forget to apply wax or sealant after you use clay, as clay strips off most waxes and sealants.

 

Thanks. Maybe this could be made a sticky in detailing or somehow made easy to find. Thanks again. Curious George

 

You shouldn't need clay for every wash. I'd recommend a minimum of 1-2 times per year. I wouldn't use it more than once a month however. If you detail it right and take care of the truck, it should last a while before needing it again. As said, make sure you polish and get some wax on there to keep it protected and remember that clay will remove wax. I just hit my truck with a clay bar for the first time in about 6 months and there was hardly anything to remove.

 

Thanks. I'll have to keep better track of this. I don't know how often or when I did it last, all I know is that it felt like sand paper. Thank again.

 

Did you cut the bar into thirds? Use it one third at a time and it should not take more that 2/3 of the bar to do the truck. This way if you drop the bar you only lost 1/3 and not the entire bar.

Another cost savings measure is to mix some of your car wash, about 1 small squirt, with water in a spray bottle as a lubricant. Works just as well as the spray detailers that come in the clay kits.

Also:

 

just wondering, i have an 05, never been clay bared, but i keep it in garaged all the time, but it needs clayed. i was going to have it detailed (the works) but should i do this before winter, or til spring? any thoughts????
thanks todd

 

Todd:
If the temp is 50 or higher I would go for it.

 

Todd:
If the temp is 50 or higher I would go for it.




cool thanks. just didnt know if i would be wasting money doing it before winter.

 

After you claybar what are you using for a wax?

 

Thanks for the good ideas. I'm going to put this in my bookmarks for next time. Red neck detailer sound good 2 me. I don't know what you want a pic of, you know what clay looks like and you know what a tacoma looks like. Thanks again for ideas.

 

If it feels like sand paper, do it. If it feels smooth like glass, don't do it. Mine is outside and yours is in a garage. Big diff.

 

If it feels smooth, I'd still do the ziplock bag test. Put your hand in a ziplock bag and gently rub it back and forth on the hood or somewhere more contaminates will be, if there is stuff on the hood you will know. Make sure your truck is clean before doing this so you don't rub any dirt around and scratch the paint.

If you do clay, try to wax the same day. I learned the hard way since I had a polish and wax planned for day 2, but a massive storm got to it first.

 

Thanks. More good info. I could feel it with my hand dry and the truck dry but I'll definitely try the ziplock bag thing.

 

This is all great info for anyone interested in claying their truck. Who do you contact about making it a sticky in the detailing section ? When ever I search something there is always 100's of posts a sticky is easier. If you agree, whoever you are, please do it. Thanks.

 

im not going to do, i was having another guy detail so im not sure what kind of wax he was using.

 

Almost forgot about the wax question. Right now I have a pot of Adam's Americana wax waiting for me to try it out. I used to apply Zaino Z-2 and Z-5, more recently it was Adam's Machine Super Wax but I ended up hating that stuff. The Zaino looked amazing, and the reviews I've read have been only positive on the Americana. Once the weather clears I will be applying it to the truck to see if I like it. I will do a review here once that happens.

 

Clay Magic best clay in the market hands down.