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CLAYBARS

Posted By: Magnumguy

CLAYBARS - 09/22/18 05:04 PM

I'm wanting to claybar one of my Magnums, paint is original and won't hardly hold a wax job anytime. A friend suggested claybaring. Do you wax and do the barring stand alone?
Posted By: HemiSportFury

Re: CLAYBARS - 09/22/18 05:20 PM

Not sure I understand the question but what I do is wash the car thoroughly, then clay bar following instructions with the kit, then wax. Very happy with the results and you will be surprised what the clay bar removes.
Posted By: Magnumguy

Re: CLAYBARS - 09/22/18 05:29 PM

Are claybar's used in conjuntion with a was or as a separate treatment? Do CB's brighten up the paint like a wax only better?
Posted By: EWJ

Re: CLAYBARS - 09/22/18 05:35 PM

The purpose is to remove dirt and other contaminates from the paint. Follow on steps such as machine buffing or just a hand waxing are required afterward. Clay is used with spray detailer, which acts as a lubricant. Do a section at a time and allow plenty of time for horizontal surfaces. Work the clay back and forth- not circular.
Posted By: topside

Re: CLAYBARS - 09/22/18 05:35 PM

The clay bar removes contamination & overspray & such, basically pulls that junk out of the paint surface. Use with water or better yet, spray detailer. Do it after washing the car. After the clay bar you can compound, polish or wax depending on what may be needed.
Life expectancy of wax depends on the product and the environment the car is subjected to; garage queens can go years, a black car that's kept outside is more like monthly.
Posted By: MI_Custumz

Re: CLAYBARS - 09/22/18 05:39 PM

Clay bars remove contamination. Feel the paint after you wash the car with a sandwich bag over your hand. You will feel grit (like sandpaper, but not as bad) on the surface. Washing doesn't get that grit off. Clay bar or even a clay rag will. Wash the car, clay bar (or rag) the car, rinse the residue off (some skip this step), polish (if you want, highly recommended), and wax or apply a sealant. When using clay, lube lube lube. Do a section at a time and make sure the lube doesn't let the clay drag across the surface dry. You will feel when it gets clean because it will slide easier. I prefer rags because they can be cleaned off if dropped, where a bar is junked after it's dropped. A bar can be molded to get into tighter spots easier. If you clay, you must (well, more like really should) wax or seal the paint because it strips off wax. I use Meguiars quick detailing spray (usually comes with a clay bar kit) as lube since it's slick and cheap.
Posted By: jbc426

Re: CLAYBARS - 09/22/18 05:51 PM

The reality of properly cleaning polishing and sealing paint can be a very involved process....or not.

Depending on which car I am detailing, I use different techniques, and those techniques are worlds apart.

Your best bet on most things in life is educating yourself about the processes available to you by watching videos on detailing on you tube. Once you start to accumulate knowledge on the subject, you can better choose which path is best for your needs.

Depending on the car ie show car, daily driver, or your weekend cruiser; you can get as deep into it as you have the time, talent and money to spend, or not. I can spend 5, 10, 30 or 80 hours on my black car depending on what I'm trying to accomplish that time, or 30 minutes on my light yellow convertible and get great results. One is simply stunning to see, puts people right in shock and black, while the other looks great, is quick and easy to do and hides a lot of imperfections that only trained eyes notice. Define what you are trying to do first, then learn how to do it online or take a class, or course from professionals.

An alternative is to take the car to a reputable detailer, which takes a lot of footwork and research to find a good one. Many are worse than used car salesmen with their stories of greatness.

Just how far down the rabbit hole do you have the energy to go?

For example, I hardly ever wash my black car. Maybe once every 3 or 4 years. It gets carefully wiped down with micro fiber and spray detailer only.

On the other hand, my yellow car just got repainted for the first time a few years ago. I've always washed it with Comet in the green car and a terry cloth. I still do. It is not a scouring powder like Ajax or Bin Ami. It clear states right on the can that it will not scratch delicate surfaces. You have to do it in the shade and not let it dry before being fully rinsed. It works miracles on light color cars, but do not use it on dark color cars. I've been using the stuff for 30 years with amazing results. No need for a clay bar on this car.

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Posted By: larrymopar360

Re: CLAYBARS - 09/22/18 06:06 PM

I was so surprised first, how easy it was to do, and second how much crap it removed from my paint, and then how much smoother the finish was!

I washed my car very thoroughly, used the clay bar, washed again, then waxed.
Posted By: Neil

Re: CLAYBARS - 09/23/18 12:07 AM

I like using the clay bar after the car has been washed and rinsed off and right before drying it. You can even add a tiny amount of car soap to make it glide easier, but you'll need to do a quick re-rinse to get the soap film off.

The detail spray gets used up quickly doing a whole vehicle so I just use water instead.
Posted By: Magnumguy

Re: CLAYBARS - 09/23/18 12:59 AM

Thanks y'all. Did the top half of the Magnum I was asking about. It wasn't as bad as I thought.
Posted By: DaveRS23

Re: CLAYBARS - 09/23/18 12:59 AM

We have started using the Mother's Speed Clay 2.0, which isn't a claybar at all. But it does a good job.

https://www.amazon.com/Mothers-17240-Spe...hers+clay+bar+2

I typically wash the car with a strong detergent, rinse and then wash it again with the Speed Clay and plenty of wash and wax.
Posted By: jbc426

Re: CLAYBARS - 09/23/18 04:26 PM

Now, they even have a glove that works just like a clay bar, is easier to use and lasts much longer.
Posted By: larrymopar360

Re: CLAYBARS - 09/23/18 09:06 PM

Originally Posted By jbc426
Now, they even have a glove that works just like a clay bar, is easier to use and lasts much longer.
How do you knead it? Instructions for bar read to knead it periodically to get a clean spot.
Posted By: jbc426

Re: CLAYBARS - 09/24/18 04:24 AM

Originally Posted By larrymopar360
Originally Posted By jbc426
Now, they even have a glove that works just like a clay bar, is easier to use and lasts much longer.
How do you knead it? Instructions for bar read to knead it periodically to get a clean spot.


It's made out of a special, rubber-like material. You can find more info on them at Griot's website, but they are not the only ones that have them.

I bought one, but have not used it yet. My buddy, the Outlaw DennisH swears by them.
Posted By: MI_Custumz

Re: CLAYBARS - 09/24/18 12:20 PM

Originally Posted By larrymopar360
Originally Posted By jbc426
Now, they even have a glove that works just like a clay bar, is easier to use and lasts much longer.
How do you knead it? Instructions for bar read to knead it periodically to get a clean spot.
Just fold it over and over. Kind of like silly putty how you got rid of the comics you copied and want a fresh area for a new one.
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