clay bar - how do you use it?

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apzak
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I tried a claybar today and it doesnt seem to do anything if i spray the lube on, and then bar the paint. Seems like the lube lets the bar slide over the paint and not do anything. so then i tried spraying, then wipe with a cloth so theres just enough lube, but more friction. is this how its done? how do you use the clay bar? i'm not noticing a difference with the clay bar. I clean my car regularly so maybe theres no buildup of crap on my paint.


TurboKA37
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sounds right to me. i was gonna go out and by one today after seeing what it did to my friend's 60 sumthin bellaire. it was amazing. his car had a some overspray from sitting in a shop for awhile and he did a few panels on his car and it was night and day. looked like almost new paint compared to before which looked very crappy.

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SHIFT_Z
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You have to spay, bar, and reapeat probably about 6 or 7 times before you see some results, and you really gotta rub hard

I was unimpressed when my friend was using it one time, but sure enough, it started to work after a while. Keep at it for a good 10 mins and it should do something

-Kev

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chadster
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Using the clay bar can be frustrating and tiring.... Yo just need to work at the same area and make sure you keep it wet with the spray. I have found that when I did my car with it the first time it took me 1/2 hour to do my hood. Just keep at it.... It will work......

After you use it, think about using our product 5 Star Shine on it to make it easy to keep clean. Check out this thread with lots of info as well as instructions on how to get a discount:

http://nicoclub.com/forums/sho...37036

-Chad

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skydragoness
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i've used a clay bar on my car. the results were fan-tastic. all this grit and brown stuff just started to come off my car (when your car is white, i suppose you can 'see' it working, rather than feeling the surface difference) i found that just a small enough of lube is enough for the claybar to stick to the paint and a clean towel to wipe off the excess. then follow up with some wax. (i use zymol :D)

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C-Kwik
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To properly use a clay bar, take a chunk of the bar and flatten it. You don't need to use the whole bar. Knead it out. Then spray the area you intend to use the clay bar on. Then rub the bar lightly across the surface.

The purpose of a clay bar is to just pull out some of the grit that sets into your paint over time. It should leave a very smooth texture to the paint when you are done. It doesn't do much for paint that is already smooth. If you want to see results fast, try it on the rear bumper first. The rear bumper tends to have the most dust build up at any given time and should be a rough spot. Feel it before you start. Then do a small area. You'll hear a very distinct sound as the clay is pulling out the particles in your paint. Occasionally, you will want to flip the clay and perhaps fold it to expose fresh clay. A small piece wil do a whole car easy and still be reusable later. Be very generous with the spray. You want the clay bar to glide smoothly over the paint. You do not need to press down.

If you run out of spray, you can just get mother's instant detail spray. That is actually what comes with the mother's clay bar.

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szh
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Also remember: if you drop the clay bar on the ground, DISCARD IT!! It will pick up too much grit and stuff from the ground and this will scratch your car.

Since clay bar can be a bit on the expensive side, a good piece of advice from another NICO member is to start by cutting the bar in half and using it to do one half of the car. Then use the second piece for the other half of the car. Thus, if you drop anything, you at least have something left for completing the job ... more carefully! :)

Z

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K240
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What happens if you drop both halves when you cut it?.... lol =]

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AZhitman
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All good advice - Allow me to reiterate:

1) It only SEEMS like it isn't doing anything. Periodically, rub your palm over the surface and feel how slick it is...

2) No need to rub or press down hard - Let the weight of your arm and the claybar do the work. Take your time and enjoy!

3) You can also use a mixture of purified water and a few drops of Dawn detergent (but Mother's doesn't want you to know that ;))

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szh
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K240 wrote:What happens if you drop both halves when you cut it?.... lol =]


You insert both halves in your ears and clean the gray matter between them! :D

Z


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