Lost my Clay Bar virginity last night!

[id_doug]

Heard a lot of talk on here recently about the use of Clay Bar's on your car. I was a not to convinced on what a lump of clay could do, so decided to give it a go on. So I bought a Meg's Clay Bar and Detailing spray yesterday and gave it a go on the bonnet of my project valver.

I have to say I was really impressed. It was very easy to use and the surface was to coin a pharse "like glass" when I was finished

If anyone is thinking about giving it a go, I could not recommend it enough. It really is very good!

 

[Turkish]

Good lad, make sure you get some wax back on it now as it will have removed all the protection from the paint.

 

[id_doug]

Good lad, make sure you get some wax back on it now as it will have removed all the protection from the paint.

Yeah I give a quick coat of wax then extra gloss protection on top of it. Looks sweet!

Cant wait for some nice weather so I can try it on my Black Gold 182. That should come up even better

 

[Turkish]

If you want to save the quick detailer then you can use a very soapy carwash/water mix in a spray bottle to lube the panel instead. Will come up nice, you'll be surprised even on a newer car how much s**t get stuck to the paint.

 

[id_doug]

Nice one mate. Cheers for the tip. How much carwash would you use, a cap full or more, to say an average size spray bottle?

 

[CrazyK]

Think you may need to be a bit careful on the carwash you use, A lot of car shampoos etc are silicon based and that would create a layer between bar and paint. Fairy liquid might be a goer tho?

 

[Rich]

I wouldnt use Fairy as a clay lube. Any good car wash, Megs Gold Class or Sonax etc work well. I use 2 cap fulls in a spray bottle, and wet the panel first with soapy water from a wash mitt.

I have only used QD once to clay as it uses and wastes far to much product.

 

[David_Snaresbrook]

I use zymol car shampoo with mine, and it works fine. You can feel it picking up the crap on the paint.

 

[id_doug]

Cheers for the extra tips. Will give it a go with one of the ones mentioned above.

 

[CrazyK]

How much is a clay bar?

 

[id_doug]

I bought mine in a pack from halfords. Think it was £12 for the clay bar and some Quick detailing spray.

 

[Turkish]

Same as R-Jay, you use a fuckload of QD when claying so a couple of capfuls in a sprayer normally does the trick, if its too water you'll be able to tell when you clay by feel. Worth noting you need to fold the clay frequently or you drag s**t across the panel and introduce fine scratches and avoid doing it in very low temps as the clay is too hard.

 

[id_doug]

Cheers guy's. On slightly different note, has anyone used the Meg's Scratch X before? How good is it at removing the fine scratches you get in older paintwork (The type you have to catch in the correct light to see, looking along the pannel).

Cheers in advance

 

[Turkish]

Scratch X is recommended by loads of people into detailing, i've never used it myself but it has a very good reputation. If you have alot though might be easier/better to get someone to PC the car for you and just be more vigilant with your wash tecnique afterwards.

 

[Rich]

Scratch X is one of the best products there uis working by hand. Use a folded terry towel to give it a bit more bit. You need to work it quite had so it breaks down. Work it till its almost gone and there is little to remove and you will know its broken down. It's fairly hard work and will take long time to do a whole car. Even then you still wont get PC like results. Like Loony said a PC is the best option for swirl marks.

 

[id_doug]

Scratch X is recommended by loads of people into detailing, i've never used it myself but it has a very good reputation. If you have alot though might be easier/better to get someone to PC the car for you and just be more vigilant with your wash tecnique afterwards.

This relates more to my valver I have just bought. Its has quite a few fine scrathes from previous owners washing it. Getting it done proffesionaly probably would be best but can not justify spending money on that, on a project car. Might do as I did with the clay bar and just give it a go.

 

[John2Modified]

How much is a clay bar?

We have them on Special, only have about 5 left in stock though

http://2modified.com/meguiars-quik-clay-detailing-system-p-1839.html

John

 

[Rich]

This relates more to my valver I have just bought. Its has quite a few fine scrathes from previous owners washing it. Getting it done proffesionaly probably would be best but can not justify spending money on that, on a project car. Might do as I did with the clay bar and just give it a go.

Where you based - No one local to you got a PC they can lend you?

 

[Turkish]

This relates more to my valver I have just bought. Its has quite a few fine scrathes from previous owners washing it. Getting it done proffesionaly probably would be best but can not justify spending money on that, on a project car. Might do as I did with the clay bar and just give it a go.

The likes of Brazo will do a clio sized car for £50 so its not that bad, and that will inlcude full wash and seal/wax not literally just the scratch removal.

 

[bradfincham]

i would like to find out more about PC ?
do you mean mopping with like a g5 rubbing compound?
as my clio is black and has lots of swirl marks from the previous owner washing it.
Whats best to sort this, and whats the best wax/polish to put ontop to protect it again?

 

[id_doug]

Where you based - No one local to you got a PC they can lend you?

I am based in Northumberland. Dont know if anyone has one, plus never used one before so would like to avoid any problems. I think the old fashioned way and a lot of elbow grease will probably do for what I am after.

 

[Turkish]

It's like mopping but not aggressive. You can use a PC to apply wax/sealant or with a cutting pad and polish gently remove swirls.

 

[bradfincham]

Ah right, just rung a local place and they want £150 to mop the car and then to scothguard it

Seems bloody expensive, but if scratch -x, clay bar wont remove the swirl marks!!

Scratch-x basically for swirl marks yes? and clay bar is to make the surface smooth like glass am i correct??

 

[Rich]

Scratch-x basically for swirl marks yes? and clay bar is to make the surface smooth like glass am i correct??

Spot on

 

[Rich]

I am based in Northumberland. Dont know if anyone has one, plus never used one before so would like to avoid any problems. I think the old fashioned way and a lot of elbow grease will probably do for what I am after.

Have a look on here see if there is anyone local

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/index.php

 

[_Kenny_]

scratch x is a very good product, got a lot of scratches out using this on my brother's old rover 200

 

[Turkish]

clay bar removed contaminants that washing dont so leaves a clean smooth surface and the scratch x will remove swirls and light clear coat scratches. To PC seal and scotchgaurd it i reckon a few of the guys on here would want less than 150 probably less than 100.

 

[bradfincham]

Just rang another place and they quote £70 to mop the car, and that includes waxing afterwards - no scothguard though

whats the best option!

 

[bradfincham]

and who are them guys, and are they any good?
i would be willing to pay and travel if i get it cheaper

 

[CrazyK]

So what would you recomend then for a good finish and some protected paint work, I use my car as my everyday run around its not a showcar but I like it to look smart, And dont mind spending a bit of time doing a real good job on it every now and then, I clean often and it usually takes a good couple of hours, but 500+ miles a week it gets dirty very quickly.

I was thinking a good wash, followed by going over it with a clay bar, but then what polish/wax/sealant etc would you recommend, Bearing in mind I will do it by hand rather than forking out for a PC, Im looking for the sort of treatment that I can do twice a year to offer my paint work some protection from the s**t on our roads

Ta

 

[Turkish]

and who are them guys, and are they any good?
i would be willing to pay and travel if i get it cheaper

Where abouts are you based ?

 

[Turkish]

So what would you recomend then for a good finish and some protected paint work, I use my car as my everyday run around its not a showcar but I like it to look smart, And dont mind spending a bit of time doing a real good job on it every now and then, I clean often and it usually takes a good couple of hours, but 500+ miles a week it gets dirty very quickly.

I was thinking a good wash, followed by going over it with a clay bar, but then what polish/wax/sealant etc would you recommend, Bearing in mind I will do it by hand rather than forking out for a PC, Im looking for the sort of treatment that I can do twice a year to offer my paint work some protection from the sh*t on our roads

Ta

You're better off with a polymer sealant if you want it to be more durable but tbh i'd still apply it more frequently than every 6 months. Realistically you'd be looking to use a sealant every couple of months or reapply wax every 4-6 weeks. If there are no marks in the paint and you've clayed it you dont really need to polish unless there are still contaminants on the paint. If you're happy the surface is clean you can go straight to a sealant but with the moisture in the air this time of year it's easier to apply and remove wax and you'll get a better result.

 

[id_doug]

Cheers for all the info guys. Some really usefull stuff. The only other thing is can your arrange a couple of days off work for me and some nice weather

 

[Turkish]

Advice we can do, miracles we cant

 

[CrazyK]

lol me too!!

Think I will wax it then to help protect it over the next couple of months then at the beginning of the summer, do it again and get a polymer sealant on it. I clean the car often but I haven't waxed it, so every 6 months will be a huge improvement on never in the last 3 years lol!

Also what about cars which have the paint covered by a laquer, My sunbeam is painted and laquered (its 23 years old so looking a little dull and needs so attention), so how do I go about polishing/waxing that. surely the laquer protects the paint do any cutting will have no effect on shine??

Cheers guys

 

[bradfincham]

Where abouts are you based ?

colchester in essex

and uni is hatfield in hertfordshire

 

[hydeyho]

Whats the difference between a PC and this > http://2modified.com/meguiars-cordless-orbital-buffer-p-1853.html ???

 

[Turkish]

lol me too!!

Think I will wax it then to help protect it over the next couple of months then at the beginning of the summer, do it again and get a polymer sealant on it. I clean the car often but I haven't waxed it, so every 6 months will be a huge improvement on never in the last 3 years lol!

Also what about cars which have the paint covered by a laquer, My sunbeam is painted and laquered (its 23 years old so looking a little dull and needs so attention), so how do I go about polishing/waxing that. surely the laquer protects the paint do any cutting will have no effect on shine??

Cheers guys

sounds the best way to go about it, most people seem to get on well with the meguairs NXT wax as its easy to apply/remove and gives good results with minimal effort.

Normally any issues with discolouration/dulling are a result of oxidising/surface contamination. dull flat looking red cars can be brought up again with a good polish take a look here to see what i mean.

 

[Turkish]

colchester in essex

and uni is hatfield in hertfordshire

Little newms on here has a PC and is in essex, not sure if he ever does any work for cash and he's not as seasoned as some of the guys on here but he's local and from the pics i've seen his car comes up looking good when he does it.

 

[Rich]

Whats the difference between a PC and this > http://2modified.com/meguiars-cordless-orbital-buffer-p-1853.html ???

Has not got the power to remove swirls like a PC has. Ideal for applying and removing wax and thats about it. It wont correct paint defects and the battery life is said to be poo.