Author Topic: Clay bars  (Read 18268 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline Farnsworth28

  • Sport Class
  • ****
  • Posts: 156
  • Gender: Male
  • Colour: Stormy Blue Mica (35J) Metallic
  • Engine: 2.2L
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Transmission: Manual
  • Trim: Sport
  • Year: 2010
Clay bars
« 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

Offline bazzamf

  • Takara Class
  • *****
  • Posts: 435
  • Gender: Male
  • Colour: Black Mica (16W) Metallic
  • Engine: 2.0L
  • Fuel: Petrol
  • Transmission: Automatic
  • Trim: Sport
  • Year: 2010
Re: Clay bars
« Reply #1 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.

Offline DaVe

  • Sport Class
  • ****
  • Posts: 215
  • Gender: Male
  • Colour: Sunlight Silver (22V) Metallic
  • Engine: 2.5L
  • Fuel: Petrol
  • Transmission: Manual
  • Trim: Sport
  • Year: 2008
Re: Clay bars
« Reply #2 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



Offline bazzamf

  • Takara Class
  • *****
  • Posts: 435
  • Gender: Male
  • Colour: Black Mica (16W) Metallic
  • Engine: 2.0L
  • Fuel: Petrol
  • Transmission: Automatic
  • Trim: Sport
  • Year: 2010
Re: Clay bars
« Reply #3 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?

Offline DaVe

  • Sport Class
  • ****
  • Posts: 215
  • Gender: Male
  • Colour: Sunlight Silver (22V) Metallic
  • Engine: 2.5L
  • Fuel: Petrol
  • Transmission: Manual
  • Trim: Sport
  • Year: 2008
Re: Clay bars
« Reply #4 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

Offline SM25T

  • Takara Class
  • *****
  • Posts: 320
  • Gender: Male
  • Colour: Soul Red Metallic (41V)
  • Engine: 2.2L
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Transmission: Automatic
  • Trim: Sport Nav
  • Year: 2017
Re: Clay bars
« Reply #5 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.

Offline RobW

  • TS2 Class
  • ***
  • Posts: 50
  • Gender: Male
  • Engine: 2.0L
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Transmission: Manual
  • Trim: Sport
  • Year: 2009
Re: Clay bars
« Reply #6 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.

Offline DaVe

  • Sport Class
  • ****
  • Posts: 215
  • Gender: Male
  • Colour: Sunlight Silver (22V) Metallic
  • Engine: 2.5L
  • Fuel: Petrol
  • Transmission: Manual
  • Trim: Sport
  • Year: 2008
Re: Clay bars
« Reply #7 on: October 02, 2013, 06:20:41 pm »
You should notice the water bead and sheet from the paintwork.

Dave

Offline 185_jools

  • Sport Class
  • ****
  • Posts: 107
  • Colour: Black Mica (16W) Metallic
  • Engine: 2.2L
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Transmission: Manual
  • Trim: Sport
  • Year: 2009
Re: Clay bars
« Reply #8 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.
Black 2009 Mazda 6 Sport 185

Offline Farnsworth28

  • Sport Class
  • ****
  • Posts: 156
  • Gender: Male
  • Colour: Stormy Blue Mica (35J) Metallic
  • Engine: 2.2L
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Transmission: Manual
  • Trim: Sport
  • Year: 2010
Re: Clay bars
« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2013, 06:20:43 pm »
How long does it normally take you to wash, clay & apply 2 coats of polish?

Farnsy

Offline RobW

  • TS2 Class
  • ***
  • Posts: 50
  • Gender: Male
  • Engine: 2.0L
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Transmission: Manual
  • Trim: Sport
  • Year: 2009
Re: Clay bars
« Reply #10 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.

Offline 185_jools

  • Sport Class
  • ****
  • Posts: 107
  • Colour: Black Mica (16W) Metallic
  • Engine: 2.2L
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Transmission: Manual
  • Trim: Sport
  • Year: 2009
Re: Clay bars
« Reply #11 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.
Black 2009 Mazda 6 Sport 185

Offline DaVe

  • Sport Class
  • ****
  • Posts: 215
  • Gender: Male
  • Colour: Sunlight Silver (22V) Metallic
  • Engine: 2.5L
  • Fuel: Petrol
  • Transmission: Manual
  • Trim: Sport
  • Year: 2008
Re: Clay bars
« Reply #12 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

Offline SM25T

  • Takara Class
  • *****
  • Posts: 320
  • Gender: Male
  • Colour: Soul Red Metallic (41V)
  • Engine: 2.2L
  • Fuel: Diesel
  • Transmission: Automatic
  • Trim: Sport Nav
  • Year: 2017
Re: Clay bars
« Reply #13 on: October 10, 2013, 10:11:18 am »
Does the duck mind you using its @rse as a polisher  ;D

Offline bazzamf

  • Takara Class
  • *****
  • Posts: 435
  • Gender: Male
  • Colour: Black Mica (16W) Metallic
  • Engine: 2.0L
  • Fuel: Petrol
  • Transmission: Automatic
  • Trim: Sport
  • Year: 2010
Re: Clay bars
« Reply #14 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.