clay bar ?

[Kycamaross]

I'm embarrassed to ask this, but I figured the fine folks on this forum would help without too much flaming.... I keep hearing people talk about using clay bar on your camaros. Well, I've always taken care of my vehicles, but not to the extent that I take care of this camaro. soooooooo, Can you please explain to me what the Claybar is and how I would use it and of course what it is for. I thank you fellow enthusiasts in advance

[The Jerk]

Originally Posted by Kycamaross

I'm embarrassed to ask this, but I figured the fine folks on this forum would help without too much flaming.... I keep hearing people talk about using clay bar on your camaros. Well, I've always taken care of my vehicles, but not to the extent that I take care of this camaro. soooooooo, Can you please explain to me what the Claybar is and how I would use it and of course what it is for. I thank you fellow enthusiasts in advance

Check out the cosmetics,washing,waxing thread for all your answers in regards to claybar and its benefits on your vehicle..

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=45

Hope that helps!

[rolnslo]

Here you go...

[PAUL SS]

You will be amazed how your paint feels after!

[CamaroSoldier]

Im not a flamer but idk about ur clay bar lol

[ChadG]

I always cut my clay bar into 1-inch square chunks and use those so if I happen to drop one I don't have to throw away the entire clay bar.

The following link is Junkman's set of video tutorials on how to properly maintain your car's paint - they are extremely helpful.

http://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59171

[mfr1950]

Just rub the paint with the clay after spraying detailer on it while its still wet, The clay will strip off the crap and contaminents,the give a good wax job.... I do mine once or twice yearly and the paint is a smooth as glass!!

[first one]

I hear dawn soap will strip wax and contaminants off your paint. How is the clay bar any different?

[skuttduck]

Originally Posted by first one

I hear dawn soap will strip wax and contaminants off your paint. How is the clay bar any different?

Contaminents that actually stick in your clear coat come out.

I had a nasty concrete sealant overspray on my Camry. I washed the car in Kerosene, AKA Gunk Tar and Bug remover, and didn't get the stuff off.

It wasn't until I scrubbed the hell out of the car with the clay bar that I got it out of the clearcoat. So if you claybar and don't apply much pressure there are still some contaminents left in there.

The camry was so bad that even using the swirl and haze remover I turned the pads gray. It's now smooth as can be.

If Gunk couldn't pull these contaminents off of the camry, Dawn isn't going to do it.

[AlSuwaidi]

no qustion is a stupid one...

unless you are asking if adding spoiler will void your warranty

[Jodeus]

If you're going to clay bar your entire car....how much clay do you need? I saw in Junkman's video he just folds it over but can you just continue folding over and re-stretching for the entire car?

Thanks.

-Jody

[racrx451]

I made the dealer clay bar my car since it had all the fine filings from rail transport.. looks great now!

[DetailAddict]

Just remember there are several grades of clay bars and even within the same grade, some are better than others. Your OTC are usually fine grade. Pretty safe to use and usually come with detail spray to use with. Then there are some medium and commercial grade. I have some commercial grade that feels like sand paper! LOL! It picks up contaminants like crazy, but you will be scratching the paint for sure. Pickup some good medium grade clay bars that would pickup much better than your fine grade clay bars but not scratch the hell out of your paint.

fold often when use and if you see containment in the clay after couple of folds, you are done with that piece. Not worth saving couple of $ and potentially scratch up your paint.

[skuttduck]

Originally Posted by Jodeus

If you're going to clay bar your entire car....how much clay do you need? I saw in Junkman's video he just folds it over but can you just continue folding over and re-stretching for the entire car?

Thanks.

-Jody

I did several cars with my mothers clay bar I got last year. Just don't use the whole bar, and when it is discolored the clay is done, and if you drop it the clay is done as well.

I've heard, but not tried myself. People using the spent claybars on the glass with success.

Oh if you clay your wheels, don't use that clay on the paint either. I believe the brake dust from the wheels will really scratch up your paint.

[Kycamaross]

Thanks everyone for the information, I really appreciate it!!

[chozn4service]

A good test for you finish is to take a sandwich bag and put your hand in it, then rub it over you finish. You'll feel debree in the finish. I didn't think I would have any, new car, waxed 3 or 4 times as soon as I brought it home but I did this test and the stuff was there. I clayed mine and I could see metal filings in the bar. Took me probably about 45min's to do the entire car. Keep your bar wet with detail spray as well as the area you're clay barring and go for it. Wax after done and you'll be impressed! It really made my RJT pop afterwards and now I have a deep, rich shine that you can stand beside the car about 2ft away, point at the car and your finder looks like it's touching the car by the reflection. I barred mine in March and I'll do it again in the fall and park it for the winter months.
I was looking for Maquires but ended up getting Mother's but I think they're all about the same..

[Stex]

Watch the Junkman and Adams vids...they have put a lot of time into them and they answer most questions...

[BEARS-SS]

Originally Posted by AlSuwaidi

no qustion is a stupid one...

unless you are asking if adding spoiler will void your warranty

will it?

[ChadG]

So does anyone else cut up their clay bar into small chunks or just me? I always seem to drop the darned thing and have to toss it!

[DetailAddict]

i take the 100g bar and cut it into 1/3 to use.

Originally Posted by ChadG

So does anyone else cut up their clay bar into small chunks or just me? I always seem to drop the darned thing and have to toss it!

[motorhead]

Originally Posted by ChadG

So does anyone else cut up their clay bar into small chunks or just me? I always seem to drop the darned thing and have to toss it!

I cut mine up for the same reason you spoke of earlier. 1/3s

[Dylan@Adams]

Allow me to illustrate what clay does. This is paint on a work truck that was first washed completely with dish soap to strip it and then clayed in preparation for testing a new aggressive polish compound I'm working on.

This was after claying HALF of the hood... that bar was white when I started





Theres just some contaminants that no amount of washing will remove, bonded hard contamination may not be visible, while some are. Those little imperfections will reflect light in different ways and hamper the finished product. This leads to less gloss, less clarity, and overall your paint will look less stellar than a car that has been clayed.

Any detailer will tell you 90% of the quality of a finish is in the prep work and without clay you aren't prepping the paint completely.

Also, maximize your clay!! Like many have suggested, use part of it and keep part of it stored somewhere, no sense in killing an entire bar at once. When a chunk of clay gets too dirty for use on paint retire it to use on wheels or your glass. Remember whatever bonded to your paint didn't ignore your glass... claying your glass will enhance clarity and even remove water spots.


HOW DO I KNOW WHEN TO CLAY? Its a common question as well... watch the first part of this video to learn about the "plastic bag test"

http://www.adamspolishes.com/t-Videos_DVD5_8.aspx

[Orange5thGen]

Originally Posted by ChadG

So does anyone else cut up their clay bar into small chunks or just me? I always seem to drop the darned thing and have to toss it!

I cut up mine..... hehe I just did the whole car today.....Dammm long day..

[first one]

I just bought a clay bar and detailing spray from Adam's and have watched the videos but I'm still unsure about how long I can use it. If I cut it into 3rds, can I use one price to do the entire car even if it picks up the contaminants? If I fold it, will that enable me to use it for the whole car? I'm worried about scratching the car with the debris in the clay. Of course, I will wash the car first.

[Dylan@Adams]

Originally Posted by first one

I just bought a clay bar and detailing spray from Adam's and have watched the videos but I'm still unsure about how long I can use it. If I cut it into 3rds, can I use one price to do the entire car even if it picks up the contaminants? If I fold it, will that enable me to use it for the whole car? I'm worried about scratching the car with the debris in the clay. Of course, I will wash the car first.

You will get approximately 5 uses out of half of a bar on most average cars. So don't worry about it not lasting your first full treatment. What you'll need to do is visually inspect the bar after each panel, fold it in on itself, knead it, mash it, and then flatten it back out again. If you ever get to a point where after 'working' the bar like that doesn't net you a fresh clean surface, its time to retire it from paint work and relegate it to wheels or glass.

It will look kind of marbled when its too dirty to use on paint anymore.

On that note if you ever drop the bar THROW IT AWAY. If you ever notice a large contaminant (pebble sized) THROW IT AWAY. This is why its a good idea to break it into pieces, if a chunk ever gets dropped or is too dirty to use you have that other half to fall back on.

BTW - It was nice speaking with you this morning Michael, hope you got to wherever you were headed on time!