Ok I'll bite: What exactly does claying do?

imprezaguy02 · 03-09-2008, 10:49 PM

Well spit it out!

Redline927 · 03-09-2008, 11:02 PM

Removes contaminants from the surface of your paint, leaving a clean surface to polish or wax.

nightcrawler60 · 03-09-2008, 11:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redline927

Removes contaminants from the surface of your paint, leaving a clean surface to polish or wax.

What he said.

Vew · 03-09-2008, 11:24 PM

Look at the drawn diagrams from this site. It helps explain it.
http://www.properautocare.com/usclaybartor.html

But in a nutshell, the clay (it's actually a type of polymer) is an abrasive product. That is why you have to use a lubercant. That way the clay is only abrasive to the containments. It was originally developed for the paint industry for a safe and easy way to remove overspray.

jasonallenross · 03-10-2008, 11:03 AM

It makes your car look awesome!

I've reserved the first "nice" spring weekend for the annual detail-the-car-to-death day, which includes some claybar .... and it looks so good afterwards.

My wife thinks I'm insane.

scooby888 · 03-10-2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonallenross

It makes your car look awesome!

I've reserved the first "nice" spring weekend for the annual detail-the-car-to-death day, which includes some claybar .... and it looks so good afterwards.

My wife thinks I'm insane.

But...then it feels so smooth and sexy!

Suby.LOVE · 03-11-2008, 04:04 AM

the clay bar actually shows me all my paint imperfections

, but after polishing and waxing..the paint looks so wet and feels as smooth as a baby's butt

jeffk182 · 03-11-2008, 04:43 AM

I usually clay bar my car once a year. The clay is abrasive so it will add MINIMAL swirl marks, which is why i usually clay bar and then use swirl mark remover, and then finish off with carnuba wax and synthetic polish...i've been using Zaino products for the past 4 years....I must say, it is a little pricey, but it is the best wax/polish and other detailing products I have ever used

Spore · 03-11-2008, 06:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Suby.LOVE

the clay bar actually shows me all my paint imperfections

, but after polishing and waxing..the paint looks so wet and feels as smooth as a baby's butt

+1
even more noticeable when you park your car next to an identical one... and the other car feels like the skin of an old granny.... :P

jefmcc · 03-13-2008, 11:46 AM

Clay grinds the stuck on micro contaminants off your paint surface. Stuff that normal washing won't remove.

http://autopia.org/forum/guide-detai...-cleaning.html

SKSTI · 03-13-2008, 12:47 PM

Yup. The difference in feel (my car, I touched it.

) and finish is worth the money & time.

andyswagon · 03-13-2008, 03:51 PM

this is what the clay looked like when i clayed mine for the first time, i thought it looked shiny and clean until i saw this..............

and this is what the car looks like after claying,polishing and waxing..............

bhhamblin · 03-13-2008, 03:56 PM

ahh, ive had my claybar kit for a long time, my car is white also, now im going to do mine

Damon · 03-14-2008, 10:00 AM

its a MASSIVE pain in the ass, but it works really well. i hate doing it because my fingers and hands are usually pretty sore the day after, but the car looks great.

Jixxer · 03-14-2008, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andyswagon

this is what the clay looked like when i clayed mine for the first time, i thought it looked shiny and clean until i saw this..............

and this is what the car looks like after claying,polishing and waxing..............

That wagon looks amazing. Great job keeping it clean over the years.

Schumacher · 03-15-2008, 12:39 AM

Don't forget that claying will also remove any 'finishing' products, so you'll have to top up again after using it.

andyswagon · 03-18-2008, 03:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jixxer

That wagon looks amazing. Great job keeping it clean over the years.

thanks for the comments, i do try and keep it clean although it's not always possible with the british winter!

jefmcc · 03-20-2008, 04:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damon

its a MASSIVE pain in the ass, but it works really well. i hate doing it because my fingers and hands are usually pretty sore the day after, but the car looks great.

Just curious, how are you using the clay bar? It shouldn't require much physical exertion at all. Just spray on the lube or soapy water and glide a bit of the clay bar over.

Spore · 03-21-2008, 07:12 AM

you shouldn't really put much force when using the clay bar. I think the pain should come from getting every spot of the car as smooth as silk

I love running my hands over the body panel and feel the smoothness of the magic of clay bar.

CC4nj · 03-21-2008, 01:36 PM

makes me realize that i gatta clay my car again asap....
come on spring!!!

Yaktizzle417 · 03-22-2008, 03:02 AM

White cars need a good claybar treatment the worst.

I'm about to do a big detail on my dads Alpine White E36 M3..

I have to fight to make him wash the damn thing, I have a feeling I'm going to be shocked at how much crap I pull off of his paint. Alpine is amazing when its new... it looks decent when its been driven for almost nine years.

Basically, a claybar picks up all the contaminants that are in your clearcoat before they actually do damage to your paint. Be sure to use the instant detailer that they give you in the kit, (I recommend Meguiars or Mothers) and be careful. If you aren't you'll pull your clear off, leaving you even worse off than you were before.

Good luck!

hotweiss · 03-23-2008, 11:37 AM

Good thread, I've never heard about claying until now...

XtianBajafresh · 03-23-2008, 05:32 PM

any clay bar kit suggestions???

MagsDragon · 03-23-2008, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XtianBajafresh

any clay bar kit suggestions???

I used the mothers kit... I only claybar my cars 1-2 times a year but the results are remarkable if done correctly.

007WRX · 03-23-2008, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MagsDragon

I used the mothers kit... I only claybar my cars 1-2 times a year but the results are remarkable if done correctly.

Just finished with that kit 30 minutes ago. Works awesome!

03-09-2008, 10:49 PM	#1
imprezaguy02 Scooby Newbie Member#: 90640 Join Date: Jul 2005 Chapter/Region: South East Location: North Carolina Vehicle: 2006 Impreza WRX Aspen White	Ok I'll bite: What exactly does claying do? Well spit it out!

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03-09-2008, 11:02 PM	#2
Redline927 Scooby Specialist Member#: 77622 Join Date: Dec 2004 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: NJ Vehicle: 2002 WRX	Removes contaminants from the surface of your paint, leaving a clean surface to polish or wax.

03-09-2008, 11:24 PM	#4
Vew Scooby Specialist Member#: 74229 Join Date: Nov 2004 Chapter/Region: MAIC Location: Morgantown, WV Vehicle: 2004 WRX PSM	Look at the drawn diagrams from this site. It helps explain it. http://www.properautocare.com/usclaybartor.html But in a nutshell, the clay (it's actually a type of polymer) is an abrasive product. That is why you have to use a lubercant. That way the clay is only abrasive to the containments. It was originally developed for the paint industry for a safe and easy way to remove overspray.

03-10-2008, 11:03 AM	#5
jasonallenross Scooby Specialist Member#: 125978 Join Date: Sep 2006 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: Shrewsbury, MA Vehicle: 2002 WRX Wagon Silver	It makes your car look awesome! I've reserved the first "nice" spring weekend for the annual detail-the-car-to-death day, which includes some claybar .... and it looks so good afterwards. My wife thinks I'm insane.

03-11-2008, 04:04 AM	#7
Suby.LOVE Scooby Specialist Member#: 112163 Join Date: Apr 2006 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Walnut, Ca Vehicle: 2003 WRX Midnight Black Pearl	the clay bar actually shows me all my paint imperfections , but after polishing and waxing..the paint looks so wet and feels as smooth as a baby's butt

03-11-2008, 04:43 AM	#8
jeffk182 Scooby Newbie Member#: 150649 Join Date: Jun 2007 Chapter/Region: SCIC Location: Rancho Santa Margarita Vehicle: 2007 STI SWP -HB Speed TUNED!	I usually clay bar my car once a year. The clay is abrasive so it will add MINIMAL swirl marks, which is why i usually clay bar and then use swirl mark remover, and then finish off with carnuba wax and synthetic polish...i've been using Zaino products for the past 4 years....I must say, it is a little pricey, but it is the best wax/polish and other detailing products I have ever used

03-13-2008, 11:46 AM	#10
jefmcc Scooby Newbie Member#: 42303 Join Date: Aug 2003 Chapter/Region: NESIC Location: New Haven, Connecticut Vehicle: 2004 WRX Rally Blue	Clay grinds the stuck on micro contaminants off your paint surface. Stuff that normal washing won't remove. http://autopia.org/forum/guide-detai...-cleaning.html

03-13-2008, 12:47 PM	#11
SKSTI Scooby Specialist Member#: 116311 Join Date: May 2006 Location: flame-dames	Yup. The difference in feel (my car, I touched it. ) and finish is worth the money & time.

03-13-2008, 03:51 PM	#12
andyswagon Scooby Newbie Member#: 152241 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: ilkeston,derbyshire,uk Vehicle: 1997 impreza wagon white	this is what the clay looked like when i clayed mine for the first time, i thought it looked shiny and clean until i saw this.............. and this is what the car looks like after claying,polishing and waxing..............

03-13-2008, 03:56 PM	#13
bhhamblin Scooby Guru Member#: 99397 Join Date: Oct 2005 Chapter/Region: RMIC Location: Clinton, UT Vehicle: 2008 STi 2006 WRX	ahh, ive had my claybar kit for a long time, my car is white also, now im going to do mine

03-14-2008, 10:00 AM	#14
Damon Scooby Specialist Member#: 2902 Join Date: Nov 2000 Chapter/Region: TXIC Location: Beaumont TX USA Vehicle: '08 STI Black	its a MASSIVE pain in the ass, but it works really well. i hate doing it because my fingers and hands are usually pretty sore the day after, but the car looks great.

03-15-2008, 12:39 AM	#16
Schumacher Scooby Specialist Member#: 77596 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: UK, dawg Vehicle: 1999 WRX STi Type-R Black	Don't forget that claying will also remove any 'finishing' products, so you'll have to top up again after using it.

03-21-2008, 07:12 AM	#19
Spore Scooby Specialist Member#: 100117 Join Date: Nov 2005 Chapter/Region: VIC Location: Vancouver, BC Vehicle: 2002 Impreza 2.5TS Subie Heaven	you shouldn't really put much force when using the clay bar. I think the pain should come from getting every spot of the car as smooth as silk I love running my hands over the body panel and feel the smoothness of the magic of clay bar.

03-21-2008, 01:36 PM	#20
CC4nj Scooby Specialist Member#: 136945 Join Date: Jan 2007 Chapter/Region: Tri-State Location: Drty Jerz Vehicle: 2005 WRX/CRX Obs. Black	makes me realize that i gatta clay my car again asap.... come on spring!!!

03-22-2008, 03:02 AM	#21
Yaktizzle417 Scooby Newbie Member#: 175243 Join Date: Mar 2008 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: SpringVegas, MO Vehicle: 2000 Audi A4 1.8TQ Brilliant Black	White cars need a good claybar treatment the worst. I'm about to do a big detail on my dads Alpine White E36 M3.. I have to fight to make him wash the damn thing, I have a feeling I'm going to be shocked at how much crap I pull off of his paint. Alpine is amazing when its new... it looks decent when its been driven for almost nine years. Basically, a claybar picks up all the contaminants that are in your clearcoat before they actually do damage to your paint. Be sure to use the instant detailer that they give you in the kit, (I recommend Meguiars or Mothers) and be careful. If you aren't you'll pull your clear off, leaving you even worse off than you were before. Good luck!

03-23-2008, 11:37 AM	#22
hotweiss Scooby Newbie Member#: 174968 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Calgary, AB Vehicle: 2008 Impreza 5sp White	Good thread, I've never heard about claying until now...

03-23-2008, 05:32 PM	#23
XtianBajafresh Scooby Specialist Member#: 155768 Join Date: Aug 2007 Chapter/Region: MWSOC Location: 630, IL [D-Town] Vehicle: '07 WRX W/ Wheels 555 HACK!	any clay bar kit suggestions???