How to use a clay bar on your car

[nocurs]

Dont trust the handle, stick to your hand.

[bennazis]

does anybody know where can I get this in Malaysia?huhuhu...I try to use the modelling clay..it doesnt work..plz!!!

[mrmarciocruz]

The clay bar damage my paint if i use too much? I need do the wax if i use the clay bar? This remove any paint protection ? Thanks. Nice video.

[autogeek]

@mrmarciocruz

Watch the more recent clay video we made, this one is a few years old. Go to the Autogeek YouTube Channel and search for clay. There's two of them and you'll see a red Mustang in the videos. It goes over all your questions in detail.

-Mike Phillips

[ParkerCherokee]

A very detail video here thanks. It answered my questions I had that other companies didn't explain.

[McSaggler]

Cool vid man. I needa do this to my car.

[agenthelios1]

claying a car isnt rocket science...apply some form of lube (detail spray wax will do) and wipe the bar over the car.

Plain and simple

[lifeisgood070]

Use the palm of your hand! This really helped me not drop my clay. If you use your fingers or the end of your hand it is very easy to lose control & drop the clay (then ur screwed).

[sausagenmuff]

this was very informative,

thanks!

[APBGrrl]

I just bought a bunch of those cobra microfiber towels- so much better than the thin crap i have been buying from the auto stores around here!

[yellowseven48]

Just a thought i had while watching all these videos on using clay bars if it does remove contaminants an imperfections on paint could you use it on windscreens to the same affect ??

[ohscarxd]

can you clay bar over paint chips (places without paint)? or would that remove the paint

[zoltec88]

can i just use water as lubricant??

[urbloodygutsonmytux]

* like a car wash with soap?

[urbloodygutsonmytux]

After claying and wiping away the extra lubricant should you wash the car (an actual car wash not just washing with a dry or damp cloth) before waxing?

[Sokka225]

I have a quick question, are you suppose to rinse your car after you clay it to get the extra lubrication off? Or just dry it off?

[l0stpuppy]

Can you clay bar a car that doesn't have a clear coat on it?

[autogeek]

@l0stpuppy

Yes.

If the paint has a lot of oxidation then some people would use a paint cleaner or polish first to remove the dead paint and then clay the paint. This will keep dead oxidized paint from loading up into the clay bar.

-Mike Phillips

[13b1cdw8g]

what if you've already waxed will it still work?

[autogeek]

@13b1cdw8g

Yes but claying will tend to remove some of the wax off the surface depending upon how aggressive the clay is so it's a good idea to re-wax after claying.

-Mike Phillips

[mijek]

do clay bar has life span and for how long can the clay bar be useful? is it after polishing the hood, do I need to use another clay bar? thanks. looking forward for your response and here's my email if ever you want me to answer through email. Thanks.

[autogeek]

@mijek

As you see the clay bar load up with contaminants, throw it away and start using a new, fresh piece of clay. Use common sense and you'll be okay.

-Mike Phillips

[BullsEyeRocker]

about to go do this to my truck!!!

[Aznpkerboy]

okay, so basically..

1. Wash Car

2. Dry Car with microfiber towels

3. Clay car (using clay lubricant)

4. Wipe off excess lubricant with clean cloth

5. Begin waxing/polishing?

Then you're set? Do you know how to get rid of swirls?

[autogeek]

@Aznpkerboy

Do I know how to remove swirls? Why yes, check out the new swirl removal videos on this Autogeek YouTube channel.

-Mike Phillips

[agenthelios1]

@Aznpkerboy If you want swirls gone completely you have to wet sand the paint . Anything else will just pretty much conceal swirls.

[xWOODYHAYESx]

@Aznpkerboy no dry car with a clean shammy!! not microfiber. shammys soak up water very well and do not scratch the paint.

[phillip684]

Every time I do the side of my truck I drop the damn clay bar. I will try one of those clay applicator things

[autogeek]

@phillip684

A clay holder will firmly hold onto your clay patty, call our customer care team at 1-800-869-3011 and they can give you more information.

Mike Phillips

[dacksoldier]

now I've watched numerous videos on claying cars and read alot, and one I read was to cut the clay into equal pieces for each area of the car like 2 for the hood 1 for each fender, door, rear qtr panel trunk roof etc. and discarding each piece once each section is finished completely. i feel like this is a safer method and will make it so you don't need to re knead the clay to a clean surface and have a clean clay to start with each section.

[autogeek]

@dacksoldier

That's one way to do it but I've never done it that way, instead I make a clay patty, use it over the entire car and re-knead it as needed to prevent scratching. Throw this clay away as it becomes loaded with contaminants.

Claying is simple, you can make it as complicated as you like or keep it as simple as you like, personal preference. We actually have a brand new video on claying that you can find in our most recent video list on our Autogeek YouTube Channel.

Mike P.

[spiderx1016]

Polish then Wax

[projektvertx]

Great video!! But here is my question (which may seem stupid, but I want to make sure I do this right): Once I am done clay baring my car, should I polish or wax the car first? Thanks!

[autogeek]

@projektvertx

@projektvertx

Yes, after you using detailing clay on the paint at a minum you need to apply a wax or paint sealant to protect the paint.

:)

[projektvertx]

@autogeek but should I apply polish and wax? And in what order after the clay-bar? wash, clay-bar, polish and wax. Or wash, clay-bar, wax and then polish? Thanks!

[junbecks]

depends how dirty and contaminated the mustang is.

[Azhar04]

what a shit colour to demonstrate it on..it should have been a bright colour like red or blue.

[teaser2233]

guys need ur help, i have spend a hell lot buying swissvax kit with concorso wax.

Just want to know after using clay bar with the supplied lubricant, can i directly use cleaner fluid and the wax.

I don't have polish and swissvax dosent have any polish??

What do u say? or the polish is an absolute must?? Please help

[yippe]

go buy some polish mate. you spend all that time on your car dont skip a polish. it give you a deep apearance to the paint.

[Coolmanzilla]

I have always used Mothers Clay bar system

and it works awesome.

I always clean and dry the car before I use the clay.

[onblock7]

@Coolmanzilla I just used that two days ago and then waxed today! That stuff works VERY WELL! Good stuff. My car although peeling on the roof looks brand new tonight.

[grrtiger78]

auto glym has one dont know how much

[ToddDavis5050]

Does anyone have an educated opinion on what brand of Clay Bar is best? I want to try the Zymol but refuse to pay that much. Is Meguiars bar any good? I would never use their wax, but maybe the clay bar is ok.

[sdlausen]

How much can clay change?

[CarCleaningUK]

Their clay bar is fine. Ive been using their bar for about a year and have been really happy with the results. Have a look at the pic of my car on my new forum if you would like. The link is on my profile page. Feel free to post any questions, product reviews, pics etc etc. :)

[carlover72]

Check out Griot's Garage or Adam's Polishes

[gravedigger2b]

I use their wax all the time. its great. i have no problems with it.

[ddstar]

They all do the samething, I use meguiars clay bar

[durandwis]

The brand I could not tell you I work in a detail shop. The chemical guy has the clay. Yellow is the best but he cant sell it any more due to patent issues. The next best color to buy is blue, not sure if this is ture in all cases. Hope it will help some

[noobzaebot]

Can car clay remove stain caused by acidic bird droppings. I have a hard time to clean up that cr&p.

[CarCleaningUK]

unfortunately not if the paint has been damaged. I would still use it to prep the panel though so that you can then use polish to remove the dullness that the bird droppings have caused. Feel free to come along to my new car care forum (link on profile) to ask any questions.

[turbanwarriorz]

If its anything like my bird shit stains (from previous owner), then no, clay won't help.

The acidity of the bird crap & tree sap has actually eating through the clear coat. The clay is for removing dust and dirt that has settled on the paint, and then bonded with the paint. (i.e. stuff that won't come off when you wash it with a sponge & detergent)

[durandwis]

for bird shit, it will requrie you to do a 3 stage buff. then follow up with a polish job. You will need a buffer to do this, the clay will just help prep the the rest of of the paint before you start.

[duperman]

Thanks. I thought the car has to be dried before clay barring though? Anyway, do you guys er clay bar headlights/windows/mirrors as well?

[duperman]

is it true you should wash the car both before AND after clay barring? i.e. two washes before the putting on wax, one for initial clean and second to wash off excess lubricant.

[BigBadCrazyDave]

You're supposed to, but the second wash will be a quick one anyway.

I don't bother drying the car after the first wash, i just let the excess run off then go straight on to the lube. True detailers may criticize me for this though...

[bagelboi66]

Very informative. What is "rail dust" tho?

[monsterarmygeneral]

Its from when a train goes over train tracks and the wear causes some of the rail to come off in the form of dust

[bagelboi66]

Makes sense... metal on metal. I'd just never heard of it before. Again good vid, I'm going to do my G5 next weekend.

[ProfessorLex]

yeah what is it called????

[gmodesike]

the lubricant can be water, correct?!

[visionit2007]

If you absolutely have to... but it's better to use detailer lubricant.

[autogeek]

no, please use a clay lubricant or a quick detailer.

[gmodesike]

i will. thank you! :) just learning all this. appreciate the feedback. ignorance is not always bliss.

[tightgash]

You don't have to use a 'quick detailer' they are just over priced American corporate advertisements. Water with normal car shampoo works just as well and is alot cheaper.

Don't use just water though as you suggested, its not enough on its own.

[supaaztig]

doesnt' the contaminants on the claybar scratch the paint? when moving it back and forth?

[unarmedblakman]

i would assume because the clay is flexible the contaminants are pushed into the clay. also you have lubricant

[autogeek]

no, not at all.  Polishing would be cleaning the paint with a paint cleaner like the cleansing lotion

[dvarn]

what's it called?

[sdutango]

i got a question, so after clay, am i must do the polishing? is there a full length video showing all the procedures from claying, polishing to waxing? i still don't understand the difference between wax and polish, and i don't know when i should use clay bar or rubbing compound, and rubbing compound is not good to use on certain clearcoat.

[dvarn]

i get a lot of tree droppings on my paint that washing & waxing doesn't take out. would clay bar be good for this?

[How2BuyACellPhone]

This is such a great video - I feel bad, but i already bought the comp. I will buy this stuff next time. Heard about Clay after I went to a car wash complaining about the wash. He did th exact same thing just on my trunk lid - came out great!!

[jc599]

Thanks for the tip!!!

[jc599]

how many times can I use a clay bar before needing a new one?

[Herooftheday64]

LMFAO @ the "Polishin' Pal"!!!

[Davaith]

hehe I have Liquid clay bar from turtle Wax, But i dont know how much a diffrence it is other than its liquid and no scratches and stuff like that.

[strunway]

is clay someting that everone should have?

what advantages does it have over conventional cleaning, (ie from someone who is not a sales jerk)

[eschriver]

If you're going to wax it's a good idea. It'll extract all the dirt that's pretty much embedded into the paint. You wouldn't want to wax in dirt, would you?

And for polishing, same thing because I can only imagine that the polisher would pull the dirt out and begin grinding it into the paint.

[dub2]

take it from me. I am a commercial painter and we overspray cars often. My personal truck is the victim frequently. So I have had my chance to try clay. I would recommend it for over spray only. It is a lot of work depending on the severity of the over spray and how long it has been on your car. However, if you get to within a few days it will help, but just a little. Keep the surface wet at all times. Do not get anything foreign such a grain of sand it will scratch!! Just figure it out.

[burtonbrder2005]

hey my brother sprayed clear coat around my motorcycle and i got some overspray on my bike do u think this clay will remove it and if not what would?

[scabberdoug]

Clay will remove it and is the safest way to do it. You can even clay glass and the results are unbelievable.

[vtssdude]

I clay barred my car on the weekend, the paint work was smooth as glass. Then I waxed it, so smooth then. It's worth it. I almost used an entire bottle of the lubricant doing it though. But you don't need to use pressure just let the clay glide over your paintwork. If it starts to grab you know you need more lubricant.

[Ranger0n20s]

no it does not... compounding removes oxidation.

[GabriKnight]

What's compounding mean please?

[sunnyjason]

taking a thin clear coat off

[bryso90]

Using an abrasive liquid to polish :)

[jeet9369]

does it remove oxidation also

[you317]

Good video ... I would also suggest breaking your clay bar up in a few pieces before you start. This is so you won't waste the entire bar if you drop a piece on the ground.

[autogeek]

autogeek net

[Sp1zZa]

this man speaks from experiance don't you. lol.

[dddehn]

With out a doubt the most innovative product ever,

[steam03]

it's very good. but i have a quesiton. how long should i keep my clay bar? after 1 use? 2?3?...

[autogeek]

it depends on hos you take care off the vehicle. normally you can clay twice a year.

[GreaseLightning02]

Clay is awesome. It's one of the most satisfying aspects of car cleaning imo, as after you are done your paintwork feels like glass to touch. Makes a big difference to the final shine as well.

[uchuff]

The use of a clay bar is not strange at all, it's a well known technique to people interesting in looking after their car and keeping the paintwork in good condition. It does as the advert says and removes contaminates from the paintwork.

[blazerblast]

were to buy