Clay bar cleaning

uisce33

Anyone know anything about cleaning cars or motorbike with clay bar ?can it even be got in ireland ? Is it safe and is there any materials that should never be cleaned with it ?

Supergurrier

You can get clay bars easily in most motors places.

Just wash/rinse(detar optional depending) the car before you clay it, keep folding the bar as you see the contaminants come up off the paint, and use a spray bottle full of water to lubricate as you go along panel by panel there should be a small tug as you move it along but not too much. Also make sure and seal the cars paint after with a good wax.

Also if you drop the clay bar bin it.

teacherabu

interesting. just looked up a video about it. what do you mean fold teh clay bar. It looks to be only about 4 inches by two inches. Would one bar do the whole car?

Supergurrier

It's like a bar of putty, it can be manipulated like play-doh if a bit stiffer.

It is used to remove contaminants like tree sap/overspray and day to day nasties on your paint, to get best results you need a well cleaned car so you aren't dragging bits of dirt along your paintwork with it (this is why you throw the bar away if you drop it on the ground) i lost 2 the last day because my hands were freezing When the area you are running across the panel turns black you can fold it to maximise results.

Nonoperational

You can ply it out and stretch it. Then fold it onto itself when it gets dirty and you get a clean side. Ya a bar will do a car. Just use plenty lube :-)

MetzgerMeister

One thing SG, you're better off to use a quick detailer instead of just water as water on its own can cause marring of the paint.

uisce, clay is so good you could clean your teeth with it

Ded_Zebra

These might be of some interest

Supergurrier

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

One thing SG, you're better off to use a quick detailer instead of just water as water on its own can cause marring of the paint.

uisce, clay is so good you could clean your teeth with it

I use Meguiars quick detailer myself, but im just saying water can work too.

Also just noticed the light on my keyboard for caps lock is working tHE wRONG wAY aROUND

Scortho

how often should you clay and how often should you replace the clay bar.

MetzgerMeister

Supergurrier wrote: »

I use Meguiars quick detailer myself, but im just saying water can work too.

Also just noticed the light on my keyboard for caps lock is working tHE wRONG wAY aROUND

Oh yes, water does work but it doesn't have as much synthetic lubrication properties as a QD.

I'm using Meguiars Last Touch Detailer. smells magnificent, can be used neat as a drying aid or quick detailer or diluted 1:1 and used as lube

Scortho wrote: »

how often should you clay and how often should you replace the clay bar.

You should clay a car at least once a year. Once you use both sides of a clay bar (you'll do this when doing half of the car) bin it.

Supergurrier

Every 3-6 months (good idea to do it when you seal your paint by waxing it and i dont mean wash and wax i mean something that will stay on your car for 2 months + like colonite or meguiars gold class or liquid wax or something comparible)

A bar should do the car atleast once depending on the size of the bar and the car itself.

Scortho

Cheers! ive been doing it wrong then...:rolleyes:
Ah well trip to halfords in order when the exams are over!:)

uisce33

Ded_Zebra wrote: »

These might be of some interest

Thanks a million for the clips looks like super stuff

teacherabu

is there any things to make sure not to do?

RaininFrogs

Meguiars Last Touch - 3.78 litres - Detailer can be got here


http://www.amazon.co.uk/Meguiars-Last-Touch-litres-Detailer/dp/B004ILQHEU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1366325347&sr=8-1&keywords=Meguiars+Last+Touch+Detailer

uisce33

Other than dont use a piece that has fallen it appears not

MetzgerMeister

teacherabu wrote: »

is there any things to make sure not to do?

- Don't use it on a dry surface

- As SG already said if you drop it on the ground, bin it because it picks up tiny bits of gravel and dirt that will scratch the paint

- When it gets dirty, fold it over onto a clean side

- To make it soft and pliable, keep it in a bowl of hot water when not using it

- Don't use it to remove tar, you'll be there forever. Use a tar remover first

- Make sure to keep the surface lubricated i.e. Spray as you Clay*




* I just made up that phrase now! "Spray as you Clay" © MetzgerMeister 2013