clay bar

The place to pick up tips on bringing that showroom shine back to your E30.

Moderator: martauto

User avatar
bimanut
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1194
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Warrington

Post Sun Jan 31, 2010 3:15 pm

Brought two meguiars clay bars on car boot today still sealed in little plastic cases for a quid!
I`ve seen the results of this stuff on peoples cars on here.
What i want to know is how to use them and do i need any thing else to go with them?
Alex
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 22665
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Post Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:02 pm

Do you have the lube with them?
User avatar
bimanut
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1194
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Warrington

Post Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:34 pm

No just two little bars of clay.
Thought it was worth a punt for a nugget.
What lube do i need and how does the whole procces work?
Alex
Married to the E30 Zone
Married to the E30 Zone
Posts: 22665
Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa

Post Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:37 pm

basically you need a "lube" you can buy them in halfrauds but spray wax and really really soapy water works too. you basically spray the lube on a small area and with the bar of clay rub back and forth, no pressure is needed. You will hear it cutting away at the crap

when the clay bar is dirty fold the muck in on itself :)
powelly
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1649
Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: On the scrap heap

Post Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:51 pm

As above you need a lubricant, you can use dilluted car shampoo, ideally you need a quick detailer though such as meguiars last touch.
Image Le Mans Classic 2006
User avatar
bimanut
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1194
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Warrington

Post Sun Jan 31, 2010 5:58 pm

Thanks,i`ll try the pikey method first and nick the fairy liquid out the kitchen :)
Cook318IS
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 4586
Joined: Fri Jun 08, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Torquay

Post Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:00 pm

Don't wash your car with fairy liquid!!
Image
User avatar
bimanut
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1194
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Warrington

Post Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:04 pm

I know, i should stop being a pikey and go and buy some quick detailer to do it with.
George
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2153
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Landarn

Post Sun Jan 31, 2010 6:46 pm

bimanut wrote:Thanks,i`ll try the pikey method first and nick the fairy liquid out the kitchen :)
bimanut wrote:I know, i should stop being a pikey and go and buy some quick detailer to do it with.
Image

It's not a matter of being a 'pikey', the washing up liquid will strip all the protective waxes on the paint.

Diluted car shampoo is a far better (non pikey!) option.
Image

Sold: 1986 E30 325i Cabriolet, Alpine White :(
B7
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 15841
Joined: Tue Feb 13, 2007 11:00 pm
Location: Surrey / West Sussex

Post Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:08 pm

George wrote:
bimanut wrote:Thanks,i`ll try the pikey method first and nick the fairy liquid out the kitchen :)
bimanut wrote:I know, i should stop being a pikey and go and buy some quick detailer to do it with.
Image

It's not a matter of being a 'pikey', the washing up liquid will strip all the protective waxes on the paint.
Stripping the "protective waxes" is the last of your worries!!! Washing up liquid is FULL OF SALT!!!!!! :eek:
B7's Motto. "If it's French, BURN IT!!!!!!"
User avatar
bimanut
E30 Zone Camper
E30 Zone Camper
Posts: 1194
Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2008 11:00 pm
Location: Warrington

Post Sun Jan 31, 2010 7:12 pm

I get the message no washing up liquid :roll:
User avatar
Kos
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 15448
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: London / Cyprus

Post Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:47 am

FFS george, claying the car will strip off any wax on the paint as well as any contaminants like sap and tar.

if its to use as lube it doesnt matter that much any way , how much salts been on the roads the last few weeks, more than whats in tub of fairy thats for sure

so just go for it mate, clay it then polish and wax it after
George
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2153
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Landarn

Post Mon Feb 01, 2010 7:56 am

Kos wrote:FFS george, claying the car will strip off any wax on the paint as well as any contaminants like sap and tar.
Fair point. :)


Admittedly, I was unaware of the high salt content in Fairy Liquid. Doesn't taste good on chips.
Image

Sold: 1986 E30 325i Cabriolet, Alpine White :(
User avatar
Kos
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 15448
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: London / Cyprus

Post Mon Feb 01, 2010 12:56 pm

George wrote:
Kos wrote:FFS george, claying the car will strip off any wax on the paint as well as any contaminants like sap and tar.
Fair point. :)


Admittedly, I was unaware of the high salt content in Fairy Liquid. Doesn't taste good on chips.

:P
fairy liquid doesnt taste good on anything
George
E30 Zone Addict
E30 Zone Addict
Posts: 2153
Joined: Sat Nov 11, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: Landarn

Post Mon Feb 01, 2010 2:36 pm

Kos wrote:
George wrote:
Kos wrote:FFS george, claying the car will strip off any wax on the paint as well as any contaminants like sap and tar.
Fair point. :)


Admittedly, I was unaware of the high salt content in Fairy Liquid. Doesn't taste good on chips.

:P
fairy liquid doesnt taste good on anything
Another fair point :p
Image

Sold: 1986 E30 325i Cabriolet, Alpine White :(
User avatar
Kos
E30 Zone Team Member
E30 Zone Team Member
Posts: 15448
Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: London / Cyprus

Post Mon Feb 01, 2010 2:40 pm

i'm on form today :D
powelly
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1649
Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: On the scrap heap

Post Mon Feb 01, 2010 3:32 pm

A wash in fairy liquid will not dissolve your car instantly, it will probably dissolve the clay bar though.
Fairy is indeed full of salt, however the odd fairy liquid wash is sometimes good if you want to start your protection layers from scratch, if you wish to remove a build up of a wax and you wish to start again with another brand for example, personally I would use TFR. Don't be a tight arse, buy some quick detailer and do the job properley, I beleive halfords sell meguiars quick detailer which is infact Last Touch but in retail packaging, it's very good, you can dilute it aswell.
Image Le Mans Classic 2006
he30
E30 Zone Regular
E30 Zone Regular
Posts: 978
Joined: Tue Oct 31, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: west yorkshire

Post Mon Feb 01, 2010 6:15 pm

and keep applying it! let it go dry and you find yourself in trouble with knackered paint :(
User avatar
Bluto
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 247
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: NW

Post Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:07 pm

Get valet pro citrus bling.

Unlike Last Touch, it wont bugger up your drying towels. 8O
Cotty
Hartge Crew
Posts: 5926
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 11:00 pm
Location: Orpington, Kent

Post Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:36 pm

Its pretty easy to use. I tought my dad who is 65.
Image
powelly
E30 Zone Squatter
E30 Zone Squatter
Posts: 1649
Joined: Wed Dec 06, 2006 11:00 pm
Location: On the scrap heap

Post Sun Feb 28, 2010 3:42 pm

Bluto wrote:Get valet pro citrus bling.

Unlike Last Touch, it wont bugger up your drying towels. 8O
Interesting, I always use last touch when drying and none of my towels have been affected by it, still fluffy and still providing swirl free drying.
Image Le Mans Classic 2006
User avatar
Bluto
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 247
Joined: Fri Dec 04, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: NW

Post Sun Feb 28, 2010 4:20 pm

Its well documented.

Just go ask DaveKG etc etc

Its also why I dont use it when I have the PC/Rotary out, it hides swirls and light marring due to the ingrediants within it.

But hey, I might be wrong :D
MartinW
E30 Zone Newbie
E30 Zone Newbie
Posts: 76
Joined: Thu May 21, 2009 11:00 pm
Location: Leigh, Lancs

Post Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:13 pm

Image