Detailing tips

[Mariach]

So I have been hearing alot lately about using a clay bar to help bring some shine back to an older paint job. Anyone have any experience with clay bar/polishers/different waxes?

I found a great tip for the Canadians and our brothers in the North US, For those salt stains on the interior in the carpet, a bucket of hot water and a sponge,hold it on the salt build up and it just breaks it right down. Or, even better is if you can get your hands on a steamer.

[Qxxx4]

ive personally seen AJRK's 01 qx4 and 03 jag...he clay bars them and it removes the swirls pretty much entirely..it works really well. i plan on doing it too. If you want to go all out find a place that will do wetsanding...it removes SOME of your clearcoat and takes away the imperfections

[bmlawless]

I've used it on a couple of cars. On my QX4, it made the glossy finish look brand new. I wouldn't use it to try and remove scratches, it's not that abrasive. To remove scratches, I use rubbing compound by hand.

If your paint is oxidized and flat, clay bar won't help. I tried it on my old Corsica and it looked like crap because it doesn't dig down and take out oxidation. It made the surface really inconsistent and I had to polish it several times to make it look OK but I never completely got rid of the marks.

I plan on using it on my Jeep this summer. The paint is in very good shape, but it looks like it hasn't been waxed in two years. A clay bar is the perfect fix to remove the light surface oxidation and contaminants that have embedded themselves in the paint because there was no layer of wax to protect it.

[Mariach]

Where can i pick up a clay bar?How long should I devote to it?Any usefull tips on using it?

[bmlawless]

1) You can buy a clay bar at any auto parts store like Schucks or Autozone. A kit will run around $30. 2) It's a lot faster than you would think. You should be able to do a Q or Pathy in an hour to and hour and a half.3) Read the instructions. Wash it thoroughly. Don't use a wash that has any wax in it and don't wax the car because the bar will take it off anyway. You want it to dry, but it is OK if it has the little bits of water that hang out under trim pieces etc. They suggest that you use water or their detailing spray. I would recommend using the spray, it seems to lubricate better.

The good news is that you can use the clay bar over and over again. I have done my Q twice, part of my Corsica, and a my crew cab dually pickup and it is still in really good shape.

[Qxxx4]

1) You can buy a clay bar at any auto parts store like Schucks or Autozone. A kit will run around $30. 2) It's a lot faster than you would think. You should be able to do a Q or Pathy in an hour to and hour and a half.3) Read the instructions. Wash it thoroughly. Don't use a wash that has any wax in it and don't wax the car because the bar will take it off anyway. You want it to dry, but it is OK if it has the little bits of water that hang out under trim pieces etc. They suggest that you use water or their detailing spray. I would recommend using the spray, it seems to lubricate better.

The good news is that you can use the clay bar over and over again. I have done my Q twice, part of my Corsica, and a my crew cab dually pickup and it is still in really good shape.

yeah those clay bars are huge...its worth the $30...i love waxing the q and clay barring is is going to be fun too! good thing i didnt wax yet..it didnt evn come to mind about the interference with clay bar

[W O T]

Claybars are a PAIN!!!!1!!!234

I remember the good ole days when I cared about paint

[Kidastra]

alright here is the scoop on claybars... they do not remove any oxidation, they do however remove the grit that doesn't come off from normal washes, Every company that makes a bar also sell some sort of lubricant spray that they recommend to use. There is no need to buy the lube. a simple mix of car wash soap and water will do the trick, or do it that way I do it, and wash half the car, and while the soap is still on the car pass the clay bar, making sure to start on the top and work your way down, do a panel at a time then mush up the bar and keep on claying. the purpose of mushing it up is so whatever grit you remove from the car doesn't stay on the bar, rather it gets pushed into the bar leaving you a clean soft surface to clay with.I have been detailing for years now (acutally that is what I do at my dealership) don't use a clay bar on anything that has no clearcoat, you'll run into more problems then it's worth. Also when you buy the claybar, cut it in half and store it in the container you bought it in, I use half a clay stick for about 5 cars...depending on the amount of grit I remove.

This post is getting to long, so if you have any questions just let me know, I'll be glad to help

[AJRK]

ive personally seen AJRK's 01 qx4 and 03 jag...he clay bars them and it removes the swirls pretty much entirely..it works really well. i plan on doing it too. If you want to go all out find a place that will do wetsanding...it removes SOME of your clearcoat and takes away the imperfections

Thanks Brian, the clay bar is a great tool, but it doesn't really remove the swirls (I have buffers for that). The clay bar is great for making the paint feel smooth as a baby's behind. It pulls out a lot of grit and tar that won't come off with washing or a simple wax.

After clay barring it, you'll need to apply a coat of wax, since it is basically stripping the paint. I usually do it immediately after, or the next wash if I'm too tired!

I haven't tried Kidastra's method of using car wash soap as a lubricant, I just use the liquid that comes with most clay bars. I like it, and it's easy to use. It also provides a little wax protection if you don't have the time to wax the car immediately after.

[Kidastra]

heh, try my method of leaving the soap on the car, saves you a few steps, that way you won't be to tired to wax after

[AJRK]

Yes, I'll have to try that sometime. It just bugs me when the soap dries on the car!Also, wouldn't that be rubbing the grit into the paint a little?

[JonathanPrem]

To any that has Wax on there car. Just wash your car with Dish soap so it will remove a tiny of the clear coat(or wax). then apply clay bar and wax.

Here a link for you guys that i got from a different forum

http://www.redflagdeals.com/fo...09563 its RFD

[Kidastra]

Yes, I'll have to try that sometime. It just bugs me when the soap dries on the car!Also, wouldn't that be rubbing the grit into the paint a little?

Well I do have the benefit of working indoors in a controlled enviroment, but with that said if the soap is drying on your car, then try my method 1 panel at a time, as for the grit, you should be taking off the surface dirt with your wash mitt, the grit is really the roughness left on your paint that won't come off with a wash.

[Mariach]

Just picked up the clay bar kit, Meguiars, from Crappy Tire , ran around $25.I'm gonna use it either tommorow or this week sometimes, the Pathy is in need of a detailing, and i will post pics as soon as I get the chance! Thanks guys,

[fueler]

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