Invested in a clay bar

[Andyf]

Yesterday as the weather was lovely I thought I would give my car a proper clean so invested in a clay bar. I have to say I am very impressed with the results, the paint is so smooth and it has removed all the rubbish from the front doors that I can never get off. Here are some pictures, there are a lot of them so get a cup of tea!

Before

http://a694.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/116/l_2d96c53de1f74d1c8b84413545f74b15.jpg

http://a407.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/78/l_d0e2f0bc91d491117ccec8aac09ddfa6.jpg

http://a953.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/104/l_0ca4118dd0d6ccb3847d3cdc9914bca0.jpg

http://a324.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/83/l_9936c484ded041b17bbd5117fda34eb3.jpg

During, (this was just from half of the drivers door! :shock:

http://a596.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/82/l_133a997aa64fb0e3bcc4f53c53bae773.jpg


After (wash, clay and polish)

http://a402.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/124/l_1e536b8bb6bbf8e63fb3428817583d69.jpg

http://a979.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/124/l_ecbab0fffa9c76ef41f2ea938cc05bb2.jpg

http://a494.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/73/l_8b7dddb8e4b09fa47b0d8732696ecd6d.jpg

http://a96.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/116/l_b61950cfa816871613b452a3b208a19f.jpg

http://a404.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/95/l_3e7a8f44bea9ad6a538e3f2d1f1adf8b.jpg

http://a368.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/115/l_6b7dfd219627437dcf1833c16bdd735f.jpg

http://a944.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/97/l_6807c0ffd2068b24e8438e665babc6df.jpg

http://a936.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/107/l_46250ba39b20d446432ae116a3ca84df.jpg

http://a372.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/95/l_9bb1cb9f664aa171af4d1ef2699f4b03.jpg

http://a416.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/123/l_609003b780e33e712018cf8d1eec8467.jpg

http://a368.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/80/l_56cc3079d1da9a9ee1b1b8647828c417.jpg

http://a349.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/84/l_def2ca85433f3579ff073d262d2b7334.jpg

http://a425.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/100/l_f77349d540cdc37df67925df2607b140.jpg

The following pictures were taken after Auto Glym high gloss resin sealant was used,

http://a264.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/122/l_456c62b1de78af7531e4b08630afe077.jpg

My favourite reflection shot,

http://a393.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/99/l_90a462e1ddd81d13a306aa6fcea73620.jpg

http://a994.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/82/l_598385f42d336dca66f5c206f1cd4db9.jpg

http://a24.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/77/l_a5fabeb4b0fa319c63db3f2de025b857.jpg

http://a239.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/97/l_3b4d4afd0412a00792b52f1fbe7eb656.jpg

http://a337.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/109/l_849d0f5bd52d1fa86b2595845dd54ba0.jpg

http://a223.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/93/l_11920ea0d362162149c04c07e1208056.jpg

Sorry for the number of pictures but it took me hours to do and the results wont last long!

[arwilson80]

The effects will last quite a while. I have to say i was impressed with the results when i did mine too. Washing is easy now too... just glides over the car.

[sarah]

WOW!

stunning :D

[sarah]

http://a368.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/80/l_56cc3079d1da9a9ee1b1b8647828c417.jpg




this is my favourite shot out the lot, i've got a thing for wheel shots i love them. :wub:

[Andyf]

I was impressed how well that shot came out

[sarah]

Im impressed in the whole clay bar thing, good product :)

[Andyf]

Me too, I was sceptical at first but it works really well. The cloth glides over the paint when you polish it.

[sarah]

i bet, nothing like a nice smooth body work after, the cars look nice when polished

[Witnes$]

Cant see pics due to works server :pileofpoo:
Am planning my 1st claying this week as the weather is great. Few questions - which clay did you use and what lubricant? Why were you unsure about it at at 1st? And what did you finish off with just a polish or wax aswell?

Cheers, Rob

[SharronB]

Loz was just saying yesterday about using a clay bar after looking at the great finish on ya pics will deffo be giving it a go :smile2:

[dvid]

How does a clay bar work? Being thick here is it just a lump of clay you rub over the car?

[arwilson80]

How does a clay bar work? Being thick here is it just a lump of clay you rub over the car?

Pretty much.... there's a lubricant spray that you need to put on first though.

[shroonie29]

How does a clay bar work? Being thick here is it just a lump of clay you rub over the car?

http://www.autogeek.net/detailing-clay-bar.html
http://www.autopia-carcare.com/inf-clay.html

[Andyf]

Cant see pics due to works server :pileofpoo:
Am planning my 1st claying this week as the weather is great. Few questions - which clay did you use and what lubricant? Why were you unsure about it at at 1st? And what did you finish off with just a polish or wax aswell?

Cheers, Rob

I used maguires clay that came with a spray bottle of lubricant and a microfibre cloth.
I was unsure as I thought it sounded like a bit of a gimmick and I didn't think it would remove much dirt. At first when I used it I was not convinced as the clay was sliding over the paint because of the lubricant and didn't feel like it was doing anything, then I looked at the state of it! Also you can feel the rough bits on the front doors getting smooth as you slide the clay over it. I washed it, clayed it polished it then used a high gloss sealant from Auto Glym.

[arwilson80]

Andy, just out of intrest... how much of the bottle of the clay lubricant did you use? I'd say i used about ½ the bottle.

[Witnes$]

On the topic of lube, just a spray nozzle bottle with washing up liquid diluted sould be fine? as I bought the clay seperatly.

half a bottle = half a litre ish? Dont supposes it hurts to use more.

[dvid]

Sounds good me thinks it would work wonders on my black Zed :D

[Andyf]

Andy, just out of intrest... how much of the bottle of the clay lubricant did you use? I'd say i used about ½ the bottle.

I don't think I used that much, I had to do it in the sun so used a lot as it dried quickly, I probably used a quarter may be a bit more.

[arwilson80]

OK, was just curious. Better to use too much rather than too little in this case (IMO). :)

[john180]

results look stunning! i might have to do this to my black zed. only problem with black is it gets very dusty very quickly

[dvid]

How long does the clay bar last? is it re-useable?

[philbrownmgzs04]

Andy did you buy the MAGUIARS SMOOTH SURFACE KIT from Halfords @ £23.99

[Andyf]

Yep, that's the one.

[shroonie29]

Looking mint Andy :beer2:

shroon

[philbrownmgzs04]

Looks like an afternoon of elbow grease this weekend for me (and a few tinnies doing it) but looks like it will be well worth it

[arwilson80]

How long does the clay bar last? is it re-useable?

Dunno how long it lasts. Depends on how 'bad' the car is each time and how often you use it i guess. It definately is re-usable though.

[shroonie29]

Dunno how long it lasts. Depends on how 'bad' the car is each time and how often you use it i guess. It definately is re-usable though.


Shouldn't that read not re-useable?Once you have used the part of the bar you tore off it shouldn't be put back for future use

[al_roverMG]

I have used clay for about 6 years now. Started off using 3M clay from brown brothers but have used the megs one since it became available.

As Shronnie has said you shouldn't really re-use clay if it is dirty especially on the first use on a car although if you can still fold it to a clean section then there is no reason it cant be reused. I normally cut the bar into 3 bits and then use a section at a time. If the weather is cold i drop it into a bucket of warm water before i start washing and this makes it easier to work with when u get to that stage. Some people use 2 bits and swap them over when it becomes hard to work but i have never found it cools enough to go hard while i am working it. With the 3M i just used a spray bottle of plain water and lots of it. With the QD in the megs kit i spray direct onto the panel in a small (about 1foot by 1 foot) and work that then move on.

Once you have clayed (and i am sure most already know this) u should follow up with a decent polish (by this i mean something like megs stage 1 polish or autoglym super resin polish, something that has a certain amount of cutting action to it) and then top it off with at least a decent wax (like the megs stage 3 or gold class) or a sealant. for a black car i would add a glaze in before the wax or sealant.

[Steves Cleenz]

Once you have clayed (and i am sure most already know this) u should follow up with a decent polish (by this i mean something like megs stage 1 polish or autoglym super resin polish,

i will agree on the megs stuff but not on the super resin polish as this is full of silicone and fillers, and the finish will not last long :D

oh yeah, as for the clay bar it should be only used once, as if any one of those tiny particles sticks out belive me it makes a mess of your car and twice as much hard work to get rid of the fine scratches it leaves, best way to use one is to cut it up into small bits (about 5cm sq and about 5mm thick) and when you have used both sides then just throw it away, this way you get to use 90% of the clay bar and not a lot of waste

[coopsman1]

i will agree on the megs stuff but not on the super resin polish as this is full of silicone and fillers, and the finish will not last long :D

I personally swear by SRP as its great stuff, but each person is entitled to their own opinion. I am going to clay mine this weekend and then get some soft carnuba over it :D

[al_roverMG]

Bubs agreed on the SRP but i was just trying to give some examples and not just look like a megs tart (which of course i am). i would say though that the SRP is very good if you have a car with deep scratches that simply will not come out with a normal polish. the fillers in it do a fantastic job of covering up the scratches. Oh and i would never just stop at the polish. for long lasting shine you really do need a decent wax (either liquid like the megs gold class/ stage 3 or a solid one like dodo juice etc) or a sealant. I find most sealants last a bit longer but are, as you say synthetic based.

[Mean & Green]

Very nice! These cars look really nice in that colour :)