Clay bar, clay bar, I'm gonna take you to a...

[clarko74]

Morning All,

After having my zinnobar pink chromie for over a year I thought it was time that I had a go at sorting the paintwork out. So having read a load of stuff in this section I came to conclusion that I'd rather steer clear of the more abrasive/destructive methods so decided to give clay bar a go.

I headed down to Halfrauds and after they had relieved me of around £60 I came home with: a Meguiars Clay Bar Kit, Autoglym Super Resin Polish, Autoglym Extra Gloss Shine, a load of cloths and a few other bits and pieces (I know I probably could have got this stuff much cheaper on the neb but I needed it all straight away).

Here's the state of the bonnet beforehand (please ignore the dent in all these photos):



I then gave it a good clay bar, here it is half way through:



Then went over it with Autoglym Super Resin Polish (Left half is polished, centre right up to bonnet crease is clay barred, rest is untouched):



And here it is after a full polish (the wings are not done yet):





Quick question: How long should a clay bar last? I only did the bonnet and front wings but gave them a good going over, once all the brown/black crap had come off a load of red/pink stuff came off too, I assume this is the oxidation coming off? The clay bar is now a bit pink and has gone a bit sticky (sticking to my fingers), is it time to chuck this one and start on a new one?

I didn't get any photos after I'd applied the Extra Gloss Protection as it was getting a bit dark. I'm well chuffed with the results, the clay bar is quite amazing. I didn't realise how bad it was until I started. Just have to get the rest of the car done now...

Thanks to everyone on here, all good info as usual.

Cheers,

Adrian

[powelly]

Clay bars usually are sticky, the lube tops them sticking to you and your paint, the pink deposits on the clay bar will be as you have said, it's the oxidised paint.

[H7AVY]

How do you apply the clay bar? always hear about his clay bar what is it?

[Cloggy Saint]

Coming along nicely, love the thread title too

[robbo86]

How do you apply the clay bar? always hear about his clay bar what is it?

i am sure i have said this to you before, but it is a bar..... and its made of clay

s'called a clay bar

type it in to you tube that shows you what it is and how to use it

[harry_p]

yep, it's just a bar of 'clay' which you rub over the body, and being soft and sticky it grabs stuff stuck to the paint and leaves the paint lovely and glassy smooth ready for polishing.

if it's not been done for a while it's amazing just how much muck it picks off the paint. you can also feel it working while you're using it.

on a car thats washed, polished / detailed regularly it shouldnt need doing as the contaminants are removed before they can stick.

[clarko74]

How do you apply the clay bar? always hear about his clay bar what is it?

This was the first time I've used it, it's easy to do, c76jon did a good write up of how to do it here:

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... ic&t=19145

[H7AVY]

Cheers chap, Oh and Robo86 Homer Really suits ur personality

[robbo86]

Cheers chap, Oh and Robo86 Homer Really suits ur personality

why thankyou H7AVY homer simpson is pretty much my role model!!!

sorry if i wound you up though mate, I was just mucking around

[H7AVY]

Lol no no its good some people have a sence of humour on the zone from other zoners. No offence to any others lol

[d6dph]

That's essentially how a clay bar works.

It's also worth bearing in mind that there are different grades of clay. I normally use Polyclay which is a nice smooth one. Best used on well maintained paint.

Sonus do two main ones, Green & Grey. Green is an ultra fine clay for regular use and grey is for heavy contaminants. Grey is also good for doing glass.

I clay mine twice a year even though it's a garage queen.

[robbo86]

I clay mine twice a year even though it's a garage queen.

do you need a stepladder to reach the middle of the roof dave

[d6dph]

Oh don't you bloody start too! We haven't even met

[Jhonno]

Dave needs a step ladder to reach the bootlid nevermind the roof

[dc_e30]

Awesome results by hand there!

As said the clay bar only removes contaminants from the paint - it doesn't add any shine or protection. Polish and wax does that job

Get your self some decent wax (i.e. dodo hard candy) and that will keep it looking fresh for months and months

Clay every 4-6months - if required.

[gooner1]

Oh don't you bloody start too! We haven't even met

Never stopped me Dave. Actually, thanks for that, i did,nt realise there are different grades of bar. I also do mine twice a year, mainly due to a poxy tree that drops berries in the summer, and some kind of sticky sap like substance at all othe times of the year. What do you recommend for that?.

[d6dph]

Park somewhere else

Sticky stuff, try some Autoglym intensive tar remover.

[cro320]

clay bar is the most amazing detailing stuff I've ever had.
Bought 3M perfect-it III clay and my car feels like glass now, after that applied P21s wax and is brand new E30

[d6dph]

Claying a car is one of the easiest ways to prove detailing is not a load of rubbish.

I love the way you can hear it cleaning.

[gooner1]

Claying a car is one of the easiest ways to prove detailing is not a load of rubbish.

I love the way you can hear it cleaning.

Weirdo.

[dc_e30]

Claying a car is one of the easiest ways to prove detailing is not a load of rubbish.

I love the way you can hear it cleaning.

Agreed!

Awesome to see the sh1te its removed too!!

[d6dph]

Claying a car is one of the easiest ways to prove detailing is not a load of rubbish.

I love the way you can hear it cleaning.

Weirdo.

Pipe down you!

dc_e30, It's quite concerning the crap that comes off isn't it. You think the car is "clean"

[dc_e30]

Claying a car is one of the easiest ways to prove detailing is not a load of rubbish.

I love the way you can hear it cleaning.

Weirdo.

Pipe down you!

dc_e30, It's quite concerning the crap that comes off isn't it. You think the car is "clean"

Yeah its immense. I did a rover 400 a couple of months ago and the clay was almost black once i was finished! lol

Anyone doubting clay needs to try it - it will change your world. lol

[cro320]

also after car wash you can't believe how much crap remains on paint, clay lubricant goes black after few passes , I just rinse that shite off

[robbo86]

Oh don't you bloody start too! We haven't even met

well i hear you have a reputation for being one of the more vertically lacking amongst us zoners

besides which its payback, see you were going to turn up to one of the ashford meets and I felt like we were going to be blessed with zone royalty

and then you didnt turn up.... and my world collapsed

wellit didnt collapse but i thought it was a pretty good excuse

besides which everyones shorter than me