Safe to DIY clay bar?

[Joshux]

Just tried turtle wax clay bar from mustafa today..bought at around $17. Results very good on my very old car. There was originally a lot of dirt on the paint that couldn't come out with normal wash. Will try and post pics soon.

[Joshux]

Also forgot to mention - i used shampoo and water solution as lubricant.

[Joshux]

Here you go

[Joshux]

Yup, you can see that the left panel is before claying, and the right panel is after.

[Joshux]

and I usually cut the clay bar into three parts

[Joshux]

just in case i drop one on the floor and cannot continue with it.

[Joshux]

So far so good...

[Joshux]

No scratches or paint problems

[Joshux]

in fact planning to do more regular claying...

[Joshux]

maybe twice or four times yearly

[Joshux]

or even three times yearly?

[Vivant511]

There's been some new technology since clay bar which if dropped can still be used after rinsing - google surface prep towel and carpro polishave pad. They cut down the 'claying' time significantly but need to be broken into by using on glass first a few times or can cause a lot of marring is the drawback.

[Maddriver]

There's been some new technology since clay bar which if dropped can still be used after rinsing - google surface prep towel and carpro polishave pad. They cut down the 'claying' time significantly but need to be broken into by using on glass first a few times or can cause a lot of marring is the drawback.

 

I have tried few handglove type of clay..They causes quite a bit of marring and got to use on glasses a few times before you use it on painted surface..I still think conventional type of claybar is safer especially for consumers.

[Vivant511]

I haven't tried the hand glove type myself, and correct me if I'm wrong, but it is the same concept as the surface prep towel.

 

agreed, for general consumers who don't realise you must break it down / soften on glass first, then yes marring could be left behind which is unwanted. Quite easily avoided though...just go clean a few windows around your house/hdb! Clean windows AND now ready to go

 

But the beauty is, once it's in a pliable and useable state, it will be much more cost effective as you can use it over and over at least 50 cars with little to no marring. Whereas, typical clay bar two to possibly four if not heavily contaminated or once it's accidentally dropped.

 

I think there's a time and place to use clay vs these newer technologies - clay still good for brand new and late model cars as fine clay has less chance of marring. Older cars and semi to professional detailers will love the towel, glove and pads.

 

At least the option is there

Edited May 30, 2013 by Vivant511