Mazda 6 Forums UK

Technical Section => Detailing/Cleaning => Topic started by: Farnsworth28 on September 24, 2013, 06:27:50 am

Title: Clay bars
Post by: Farnsworth28 on September 24, 2013, 06:27:50 am
Gents,

I have read up on car cleaning and the use of clay bars seems to be quite popular. What are your thoughts? I must admit, I haven't used them before and they seem to get good press.

The reason I ask is because I gave the car a coat of Polish yesterday but the front end of the car appeared to be full of imperfections which I couldn't remove by a general wash & polish.

Are they worth the expense?

Farnsy
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: bazzamf on September 24, 2013, 07:15:58 am
I could not be bothered with all these fancy products, I only use Showroom Shine on my black car and have done so for the past 2 years or so. Car is cleaned and polished in an hour with no water. Quick and easy and a great finish and weather protection. I used to have problems with polishing the bonnet without smears, but is no problem to me now with this product. It sounds like an advert I know, but it works for me.
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: DaVe on September 24, 2013, 08:24:31 am
Clay bars are brilliant, Boyes or wilko motosave are a good place to start if you want one.  You think your car is clean until you use one I was surprised when I did my 03 Mazda 6 for the first time. Although my 08 was not so bad. If you want a proper job done get yourself a DA polisher and finish off with a good carnuba wax, I have just started to use a synthetic one and these also seem good.
Dave


Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: bazzamf on September 24, 2013, 03:00:52 pm
You obviously like the stuff DaVe. I have no intention of buying it, but out of interest, how you use it?
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: DaVe on September 24, 2013, 09:04:55 pm
You use the clay with a lube, you could I would say even do it with showroom shine as the lubricant,  normally you use a quick detailer with it and the two are similar,

The showroom stuff is normally on offer in Boyes as well. I do use it from time to time after a wash though. but the clay gets rid of all the ground in dirt like the bugs and tar from the road.

A good test to feel how smooth the paint is to get one of those thin fruit bags from a supermarket and when you think its clean put your hand inside the bag and run it across the paintwork, you will probably feel a rough(ish) texture this is what the clay bar also gets rid of, after I have clayed it and had the DA on it the paint is like silk to touch and the water just sheets off as there is nothing for the water to cling onto. 

Dave
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: SM25T on September 27, 2013, 05:20:48 pm
Clay bars are fabulous. Choose one that can be lubricated with water. I got one on line dirt cheap.

Wash the car first.

Cut a couple of slices off the end and soak them in warm water before use. Use one while the other stays soaking. Cup it in your hand and just wipe your flattened all over the surface like it was a cloth. Keep it wet. Work a small area then fold the clay in to bury the dirt and swap with one in water. Keep going until whole car done.

If you drop a bit ... NEVER attempt to reuse it. This is why you don't use the whole bar ! It will be like a sanding block. BIN IT.

When finished ... you can do the glass exterior too ... wash the car to get rid of the white clay residue.

Then polish and wax it. If you omit this stage, the car will be completely unprotected.

Allow half a day.

Well worthwhile once a year.
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: RobW on October 02, 2013, 04:47:37 pm
Just did mine today and the difference is amazing. The bar was minging after doing just the passenger front door!

Use it as stated above, lots of different types out there from 'vanilla' ones to agressive ones. £10 will get a bar of clay, done properly you could do the whole car in a couple of hours, not a big price to pay to see if it is for you or not.
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: DaVe on October 02, 2013, 06:20:41 pm
You should notice the water bead and sheet from the paintwork.

Dave
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: 185_jools on October 05, 2013, 02:07:56 pm
I usually give my cars a good clay bar going over twice a year. Always amazed at the amount of tar and dirt it takes off before giving it 2 coats of polish. I use the Meguars kits for about £16, which has 2 bars, a cloth and some lub spray.
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: Farnsworth28 on October 05, 2013, 06:20:43 pm
How long does it normally take you to wash, clay & apply 2 coats of polish?

Farnsy
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: RobW on October 05, 2013, 07:55:39 pm
Few hours work in that. A good wash will take at least 45 mins, claying will take about 1 -1 1/2 hours (depending how dirty) thenpolishing could take 2 - 3 hours, depending how OCD you get!

Worth it though, knowing your car is clean and protected.
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: 185_jools on October 06, 2013, 12:51:45 pm
Yes about half a days work to wash, clay and polish by hand. It also gives a good opportunity to spot chips and touch them up.
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: DaVe on October 06, 2013, 07:24:08 pm
Few hours work in that. A good wash will take at least 45 mins, claying will take about 1 -1 1/2 hours (depending how dirty) thenpolishing could take 2 - 3 hours, depending how OCD you get!

Worth it though, knowing your car is clean and protected.

Hmm I must be very OCD took 3 days on my last black car. If you lot want to save a bit of elbow grease a DA polisher is a good tool, you can not burn the paint or ruin it in any way.

Dave
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: SM25T on October 10, 2013, 10:11:18 am
Does the duck mind you using its @rse as a polisher  ;D
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: bazzamf on October 10, 2013, 01:18:24 pm
You guys must have nothing better to do with your time. Far to long to spend cleaning a car which gets dirty by the following week or so.
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: SM25T on October 10, 2013, 02:11:11 pm
Burn him !!!  ::)
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: bazzamf on October 10, 2013, 08:54:49 pm
OUCH!!!
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: DaVe on October 12, 2013, 07:49:31 pm
Does the duck mind you using its @rse as a polisher  ;D

He has no choice. ;D
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: DaVe on October 12, 2013, 07:57:25 pm
You guys must have nothing better to do with your time. Far to long to spend cleaning a car which gets dirty by the following week or so.

for some its a full time job, I do not like swirl marks in my paint work, you can wash it and it will look clean, but then you can catch the sun at the right angle or a street light and it looks like it has been done with a brillo pad.

to be honest it only need's this type of clean once a year and if you use a good wax or sealant cleaning the car next time is easy as you can nearly just rinse the dirt off with just a hose pipe.

Dave
Title: Re: Clay bars
Post by: bazzamf on October 13, 2013, 09:11:13 am
I'm not going to make any more comment about clay bars, you'll be pleased to hear. However, I will stick with my 30-45minute clean with Showroom Shine.