ClayBars.............

[Outdrive1]

Just finished doing my entire F-250 with one. Then a coat of Meguiars carnuba wax. I had some overspray on it and I wanted to do a nice detail of the outside. I have to say it did an amazing job, really cleaned the finish up and brought back that depth to it like it had when it was new. I'm beat though. That's a ton of freaking work. I guess I could have hit with a buffer and a light compound to take the overspray off, but it's black, and I never have any luck getting rid of swirl marks on black paint. I would rather take the time and do it by hand than have swirl marks. Swirl marks always look like to me like a used car off a dealers lot.


Just thought I would give it thumbs up for a product that actually performs like it says it does.:thumbsup:thumbsup It's also a pretty good workout, guess I'm not doing the treadmill tonight, lol.

 

[Abc123]

Just finished doing my entire F-250 with one. Then a coat of Meguiars carnuba wax. I had some overspray on it and I wanted to do a nice detail of the outside. I have to say it did an amazing job, really cleaned the finish up and brought back that depth to it like it had when it was new. I'm beat though. That's a ton of freaking work. I guess I could have hit with a buffer and a light compound to take the overspray off, but it's black, and I never have any luck getting rid of swirl marks on black paint. I would rather take the time and do it by hand than have swirl marks. Swirl marks always look like to me like a used car off a dealers lot.


Just thought I would give it thumbs up for a product that actually performs like it says it does.:thumbsup:thumbsup It's also a pretty good workout, guess I'm not doing the treadmill tonight, lol.

Clay bars are the shit! Ive been meaning to do my Chevy for the past month.

 

[Outdrive1]

Clay bars are the shit! Ive been meaning to do my Chevy for the past month.

I told you I was bored today.

 

[Riverbound]

Clay bars are the shit! Ive been meaning to do my Chevy for the past month.

I have been meaning to do my truck for the past 2 years......then I remember how much work it is

 

[RitcheyRch]

Did my daily driver and the wifes car last weekend. Definitely a ton of work but the results are well worth it.

 

[soupersonic]

I told you I was bored today.

If your bored tomorrow call me and ill bring the dodge by,it could use a good going over with clay bar also

 

[whiteworks]

Just did my enclosed trailer, fucking ridiculous amount of time but it looks brand new.

 

[Riverbound]

You should put the cover back on your toon first.

LOL...it was covered when I left

 

[mbrown2]

Just finished doing my entire F-250 with one. Then a coat of Meguiars carnuba wax. I had some overspray on it and I wanted to do a nice detail of the outside. I have to say it did an amazing job, really cleaned the finish up and brought back that depth to it like it had when it was new. I'm beat though. That's a ton of freaking work. I guess I could have hit with a buffer and a light compound to take the overspray off, but it's black, and I never have any luck getting rid of swirl marks on black paint. I would rather take the time and do it by hand than have swirl marks. Swirl marks always look like to me like a used car off a dealers lot.


Just thought I would give it thumbs up for a product that actually performs like it says it does.:thumbsup:thumbsup It's also a pretty good workout, guess I'm not doing the treadmill tonight, lol.

What make/model of claybar do you use? How does it apply....never used one...but I definitely need to do it.

 

[Andy01]

Just finished doing my entire F-250 with one. Then a coat of Meguiars carnuba wax. I had some overspray on it and I wanted to do a nice detail of the outside. I have to say it did an amazing job, really cleaned the finish up and brought back that depth to it like it had when it was new. I'm beat though. That's a ton of freaking work. I guess I could have hit with a buffer and a light compound to take the overspray off, but it's black, and I never have any luck getting rid of swirl marks on black paint. I would rather take the time and do it by hand than have swirl marks. Swirl marks always look like to me like a used car off a dealers lot.


Just thought I would give it thumbs up for a product that actually performs like it says it does.:thumbsup:thumbsup It's also a pretty good workout, guess I'm not doing the treadmill tonight, lol.

Did my truck a while back, then did the three cleaner waxs by Meguiars. Turned out like brand new. A ton of work though.

Andy

 

[pronstar]

After you clay it, wax sticks to your car a lot longer. If you keep applying wax regularly, you won't have to clay it again for a very long time...even years.

Spray-on waxes aren't the best, but are so easy to use that I end up waxing my truck every week or two.

 

[Outdrive1]

What make/model of claybar do you use? How does it apply....never used one...but I definitely need to do it.

I just bought the Meguiars kit. It includes the clay bar, lubricant and wax. http://www.meguiarsdirect.com/product_detail.asp?T1=MEG+G1016 There's also a video, but it's basically just labor, you apply the lubricant spray, use the clar bar. Wipe it off and wax it. I did one panel at a time until the whole truck was done. I really thought it would be another "as seen on tv type b.s. product" that I wouldn't really see any results from. After the first panel however, I realized that the shit really works.

After you clay it, wax sticks to your car a lot longer. If you keep applying wax regularly, you won't have to clay it again for a very long time...even years.

Spray-on waxes aren't the best, but are so easy to use that I end up waxing my truck every week or two.

Normally I have the cars detailed. I alternate weeks with her car and my truck. Sometimes I don't have time however and I skip some weeks. I have no idea what the guy does, but he comes to my shop, picks up the car or truck and brings it back at the end of the day clean. After seeing the results of what I did today, I think I'm getting fucked for an expensive wash, lol.

I stopped by his shop Saturday while were out, and his guys did a wash while we ate lunch down the street. We were in a hurry and I never even looked at it before I drove off. The first thing I noticed was the windshield was streaked, badly. Then we went to Costco, I opened the tail gate and noticed half my tonneau cover was still the color of dirt, the other half was clean. So I started looking at it harder. My wheels were never cleaned. I don't ever have him put tire dressing on my tires because they fling the shit all over the truck. I guess for him that just meant you don't have to clean them anymore or clean the rims. Then I noticed bugs on the front bumper, and the over spray.

So today I decided since any service industry I seem to use always takes advantage of me, I'll just go back to cleaning my own shit and save my money.

I don't mind paying for good work, but I don't like being taken advantage of. Especially when the guy doesn't have work and I feel like I'm doing him a favor having him wash my cars every week. He's a young guy, and he calls me to tell me he has nothing going on, and even if I don't want to pay for the detail, he'll come do it for free. Of course I always pay him, in fact last time I paid him double because he didn't have any chemicals and needed a little extra. I feel totally taken advantage of, and it's my fault for being a nice guy. I've even turned him on to other guys with high end cars.

To put it another way, my truck hasn't looked this good for a long time. I had to keep looking at it to believe it. I was thinking it was starting to look worn out and we were literally discussing what type of vehicle we should get to replace it with this weekend. I guess I'll keep it another year, lol.

As for spray waxes, I normally use HotSauce to get rid of the streaks after I wash it, mostly because I have it 5 gallon containers for the shop. I pretty much have to use something, anything, since it's black because you can't get it dry before it water spots.

 

[RitcheyRch]

I soaped my car up with a soap gun, washed it, soaped again and used the soap as a lubricant for the clay. Once was done claying then rinsed the car off, dried and then put a good coat of Collinte 845 on it.

 

[Carlson-jet]

It really is amazing how much stuff sticks to the paint that you don't really notice until you have gone over it with the claybar. I give it the thumbs up also. A job worth doing or having done. :thumbsup

 

[Dan Lorenze]

I soaped my car up with a soap gun, washed it, soaped again and used the soap as a lubricant for the clay. Once was done claying then rinsed the car off, dried and then put a good coat of Collinte 845 on it.

Yep, me too.. A buddy of mine is a detalier and told me once I run out of the supplied lube, use car soap cuz it does the same job but cheaper.. I've been a big fan of the clay bars, I use it on my boat too, with excellent results..

 

[Boschma]

I love clay bars too. It just usually takes me a couple weeks to finish a car. I do one panel at a time. That way I don't get too burnt out

 

[ROZ]

Clay bars are the shit! Ive been meaning to do my Chevy for the past month.

Yea, I bought a clay bar about 6 months ago and haven't even opened it yet!

 

[Singleton]

Yea, I bought a clay bar about 6 months ago and haven't even opened it yet!

x2. Now I just need to carve out a weekend day to execute on the idea.

 

[RitcheyRch]

I read a lot of detailing forums and some recommend this procedure.

Yep, me too.. A buddy of mine is a detalier and told me once I run out of the supplied lube, use car soap cuz it does the same job but cheaper.. I've been a big fan of the clay bars, I use it on my boat too, with excellent results..

Isnt that the truth. read on a detailing forum that all claybars within the US are the same. Apparently, there is a patent on them and we dont get the real soft ones from Europe.

It really is amazing how much stuff sticks to the paint that you don't really notice until you have gone over it with the claybar. I give it the thumbs up also. A job worth doing or having done. :thumbsup

 

[pronstar]

So today I decided since any service industry I seem to use always takes advantage of me, I'll just go back to cleaning my own shit and save my money.

I don't mind paying for good work, but I don't like being taken advantage of. Especially when the guy doesn't have work and I feel like I'm doing him a favor having him wash my cars every week. He's a young guy, and he calls me to tell me he has nothing going on, and even if I don't want to pay for the detail, he'll come do it for free. Of course I always pay him, in fact last time I paid him double because he didn't have any chemicals and needed a little extra. I feel totally taken advantage of, and it's my fault for being a nice guy. I've even turned him on to other guys with high end cars.

To put it another way, my truck hasn't looked this good for a long time. I had to keep looking at it to believe it. I was thinking it was starting to look worn out and we were literally discussing what type of vehicle we should get to replace it with this weekend. I guess I'll keep it another year, lol.

As for spray waxes, I normally use HotSauce to get rid of the streaks after I wash it, mostly because I have it 5 gallon containers for the shop. I pretty much have to use something, anything, since it's black because you can't get it dry before it water spots.

Very few places do a good job these days. I stopped having other people wash my shit a long time ago. I refuse to pay for shitty work. These days, that's how I spend my Sunday afternoons - washing the truck for a couple of hours. Drink a few beers, gets me out of the house...get to work on other odds and ends in the garage as well.

Paul for your truck, you should get a water blade (squeegie) to help dry your truck. Cuts the time way down, minimizing water spots, and you only use one or two towels.
http://www.californiacardusters.com/12waterblade.html

 

[Outdrive1]

Very few places do a good job these days. I stopped having other people wash my shit a long time ago. I refuse to pay for shitty work. These days, that's how I spend my Sunday afternoons - washing the truck for a couple of hours. Drink a few beers, gets me out of the house...get to work on other odds and ends in the garage as well.

Paul for your truck, you should get a water blade (squeegie) to help dry your truck. Cuts the time way down, minimizing water spots, and you only use one or two towels.
http://www.californiacardusters.com/12waterblade.html

The water blade is the bomb. :thumbsup You gotta remember how hot is here in the summer, even in the shade or the garage if you pull it in real fast, it's drys in minutes.

 

[Abc123]

Very few places do a good job these days. I stopped having other people wash my shit a long time ago. I refuse to pay for shitty work. These days, that's how I spend my Sunday afternoons - washing the truck for a couple of hours. Drink a few beers, gets me out of the house...get to work on other odds and ends in the garage as well.

Paul for your truck, you should get a water blade (squeegie) to help dry your truck. Cuts the time way down, minimizing water spots, and you only use one or two towels.
http://www.californiacardusters.com/12waterblade.html

x2 I love my water blade! I only use one towel.

 

[pronstar]

The water blade is the bomb. :thumbsup You gotta remember how hot is here in the summer, even in the shade or the garage if you pull it in real fast, it's drys in minutes.

Didn't they ever tell you not to buy a dark vehicle if you live in AZ?

 

[MissB]

are there different "grades" of clay bars? my sis swears by them and my truck needs a once over. It will be a sh!tload of work, but she needs it bad. Its a Lifted Yukon XL so it may take all weekend.... I'm gonna do it, you inspired me Pauly!! :champagne:

 

[RitcheyRch]

They are all the same in the US. Europe has different grades from what I have been told.

are there different "grades" of clay bars? my sis swears by them and my truck needs a once over. It will be a sh!tload of work, but she needs it bad. Its a Lifted Yukon XL so it may take all weekend.... I'm gonna do it, you inspired me Pauly!! :champagne:

 

[Ultra26 # 1]

are there different "grades" of clay bars? my sis swears by them and my truck needs a once over. It will be a sh!tload of work, but she needs it bad. Its a Lifted Yukon XL so it may take all weekend.... I'm gonna do it, you inspired me Pauly!! :champagne:

Best clay lube I've found is Blue Mist in fact the best quick detailer I've found is Blue Mist.

http://www.pacificprodux.com/ClayBlueMistSpecialSet-idv-186-41.html

 

[MissB]

Thanks!

 

[RitcheyRch]

Just buy the biggest one you can. I bought the Mothers kit because it came with two 80 gram bars.

 

[MissB]

Gotcha, I'll have to see what bar ROZ has. He doesn't have time to use it so I will........

 

[cakemoto]

They are not that hard to get off black,if you know what you doing:rotflmao: mothers is not the only one that makes clay.I use Adams pollishes products.I am world class detailer and if you need any help just ask!I take care of Bank's cars,tom from scat,the peterson,and some of the nicest collections around.

 

[MissB]

Cakemoto - so then, how about you come over and give me "Demo" on your products.... I have a perfect truck for you to show me on also!!! :skull Nice and old, hardly washed!!! J/K

 

[Flyinbowtie]

Big believer in the clay bar too, after buying the Meguiars Kit and spending a couple of days on the F-350. It is truly worth the effort.

 

[pronstar]

Best clay lube I've found is Blue Mist in fact the best quick detailer I've found is Blue Mist.

http://www.pacificprodux.com/ClayBlueMistSpecialSet-idv-186-41.html

Most quick detailers work great as lube for the claybar :thumbsup

 

[Outdrive1]

They are not that hard to get off black,if you know what you doing:rotflmao: mothers is not the only one that makes clay.I use Adams pollishes products.I am world class detailer and if you need any help just ask!I take care of Bank's cars,tom from scat,the peterson,and some of the nicest collections around.

I don't even pretend to know what I'm doing, lol.

The Adams product comes highly recommended by my nieghbor who is a distributer for them.

 

[TYLER DURDEN]

cake- do you recommend using them on a boat?

 

[Zaairman]

Meguiar's makes several different types of clay...

http://autodetailingsolutions.net/auto-detailing-clay-bar.html

 

[RitcheyRch]

When I checked only one type was available at the local auto parts stores. You can mail order the others.

Meguiar's makes several different types of clay...

http://autodetailingsolutions.net/auto-detailing-clay-bar.html

 

[Guest]

A couple of times a year ..I get someone bring me a car or truck they were using a claybar on.....then dropped the clay on the ground, picked up, and tried to use again...creating some really nice straight line gouges in the panel they were working on......Dont drop the bar.....

 

[Outdrive1]

A couple of times a year ..I get someone bring me a car or truck they were using a claybar on.....then dropped the clay on the ground, picked up, and tried to use again...creating some really nice straight line gouges in the panel they were working on......Dont drop the bar.....

Wow that's good to know.

I never use the California duster. I have a lot of friends that use them, and swear by them, but in my mind I can't see how wiping dust off a dry surface doesn't leave scratches in your paint. Even if they are micro scratches, eventually it has to dull the paint.

 

[Zaairman]

Wow that's good to know.

I never use the California duster. I have a lot of friends that use them, and swear by them, but in my mind I can't see how wiping dust off a dry surface doesn't leave scratches in your paint. Even if they are micro scratches, eventually it has to dull the paint.

They're called swirls... and they're bad for you're health.

http://www.f150online.com/forums/ca...ley-flying-spur-massive-paint-correction.html

 

[Outdrive1]

That car looks amazing after their work.

Who does this kind of work in the greater Phx. area? Seriously.........

 

[kgt]

What does everyone use to get rid of swirls in black trucks, my 07 has some that are starting to show up. Its never been through a car wash and i have never dropped the bar!!....

 

[pronstar]

What does everyone use to get rid of swirls in black trucks, my 07 has some that are starting to show up. Its never been through a car wash and i have never dropped the bar!!....

Wax - often - to keep the swirls filled. I had great results with Zaino on my black Expedition, but I'm sure there are other products that work equally well.

 

[Zaairman]

What does everyone use to get rid of swirls in black trucks, my 07 has some that are starting to show up. Its never been through a car wash and i have never dropped the bar!!....

It depends how bad they are, but you're going to need some type of buffer. And no, not a Walmart brand one either. :skull

I don't know of anybody in the Phoenix area, but I do know of someone in the SD area.

Wax - often - to keep the swirls filled. I had great results with Zaino on my black Expedition, but I'm sure there are other products that work equally well.

Those pictures are with NO wax on the car...

 

[cakemoto]

Tyler.....I do use it on boats,or sometimes use 3m compounds.The wax will do nothing to fill swirls.Your best bet is to get fine compound and rub
when I do million dollar cars I never use a buffer,I do everything by hand!

 

[kgt]

Thanks guys!!...i have a buffer from the dealer(i work at a gm dealer) we sell auto glymm products and i have used those in the past, anything better out there??...

 

[TOBTEK]

IF you guys ever need that stuff... Clay bars / clay spray, wheel cleaners, tire dressing....THE BEST products Ive ever used is at www.pacificprodux.com I love the wheel cleaner! makes all the brake dust wash right off. The tire dressing are the perfect shine WITHOUT looking Ghetto, and wont roost the side of the car afterwards.

 

[pronstar]

Here's some pics I took of my Expedition right before I sold it.
10 years old, 140K miles and a ton of swirls. Looked like crap unless I worked at it.
The pics don't do it justice...the paint was mirror-like.

For me, Zaino worked great, completely hid the swirls.
I would Zaino it about every 6 months, and use NanoWax in between. This car was tough, I kept it covered even when parked in the garage....black paint doesn't age well without a lot of work. Never once used anything with a cutting agent in it.

I'm not crazy about using cutting products regularly, because you're basically lowering the clearcoat down to a level that's even with the swirl. Fact is, the swirls will always come back. And at some point, you're wearing your clearcoat thin...it's not infinitely thick. I guess it's not an issue if you only keep a car for a few years, though. But I tend to keep my vehicles for a long time.

 

[Guest]

I'm not crazy about using cutting products regularly, because you're basically lowering the clearcoat down to a level that's even with the swirl. Fact is, the swirls will always come back. And at some point, you're wearing your clearcoat thin...it's not infinitely thick. I guess it's not an issue if you only keep a car for a few years, though. But I tend to keep my vehicles for a long time.

I advise all my customers to use cutting products on their clearcoat as often as possible....:thumbsup

 

[cakemoto]

I dont ever think you can ever "rub" through clear.Now if you sand it,and dont know what you are doing you can go through.And if you dont have a lot of clear then you painter does not know how to paint! trust me I know I work on jr conway's paint.