Clay mitt

dredg

Has anyone used one of these as an alternative to a clay bar? Are they any good?

http://www.chemicalguys.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=CLY_303B

MetzgerMeister

From personal experience, I will never use any black clay again. I used Chemical Guys claying block which is a strip of clay compound on a sponge and I used CG's Luber along with it on my parents' last car. It marred the paint so I had to use a polishing machine to get rid of it.

JAMES VTI S

I will be as soon as I bring myself to handing over x amout of money.

They are good value.

Mick F

I haven't used the mitt, but I have used a clay cloth (same idea) and found it fantastic. Had a Quashqai clayed in under an hour with no marring!

JAMES VTI S

This brand Mick

listermint

Surely this has a short life ? catches all the dirt and the becomes unusable?



For that money .... im out

dredg

listermint wrote: »

Surely this has a short life ? catches all the dirt and the becomes unusable?



For that money .... im out

See, this is the thing. You apparently just wash it when you're done and you can reuse it. I have no idea how many uses you get out of it.

JAMES VTI S

I just ordered one.

dredg

JAMES VTI S wrote: »

I just ordered one.

My hero. Let us know how you get on
I'll be in the US in a couple weeks and will probably order one then.

JAMES VTI S

Shall do.

Chimaera

I'd presume that this would remove wax/sealant from any paintwork you use it on since it's abrasive?

JAMES VTI S

Id say not abrasive enough.

MetzgerMeister

All types of detailing clay will remove wax and sealants. The whole point of clay is to remove contaminants out of the paint so it will therefore remove anything on the paint aswell.

It has also been said that claying only cuts the head off contaminants on paintwork. Even at that rate it will still remove wax and sealant on the paint also.

Sidewayslarry

I use these regularly and have a coarse and a fine grade one here. The coarse one doesn't get used too often (only use it on cars with overspray or bad tree sap contamination), but the fine grade one gets used on a daily basis and I've had the same one since back last September. Its fairly worn now but it must have done close to 50 cars at this stage.

The only down side I have with them is that you need to de-tar the car first. So your process would be;

Wash and dry
De-tar
Wash car again
Rinse
Clay mitt

Mick F

I'd say de-iron as well as this will get rid of a lot of the contaminants before you clay.

James, it's the ADS one I have. Supposed to be good for about 40 uses. You just keep dipping it in a bucket of shampoo and water and use plenty of lubricant.

Mc Love

This definitely looks better than using a clay bar!

MAJJ

Was thinking exactly the same especially after seeing Larrys vote of confidence.

JAMES VTI S

Mine arrived yesterday.



My van needs some protection again so I will try it out this week some time.

Curran

Ive yet to use a clay mitt, but I'd certainly be very careful using it for the first time. Being unable to knead the clay to a fresh surface doesnt sit well with me. But without having tried this type of product, Im not writing it off as being bad!

JAMES VTI S

You wash it off in a bucket

Curran

Contamination often gets embedded into the clay too, that doesnt simply rinse off.

I'd have no real issue using one if I knew I was going to be machine polishing the car afterwards, but if it was just a re-seal / re-wax and I was prep'ing the surface, I'd be concerned that it would leave micro scratching.

Just saying that's what Id be wary about, but until Ive tried it, Im not saying not to use one. I just think its similar to using a sponge -vs- wash mitt.

listermint

Any word on these yet ? Im still on the fence of impossible. You cant wash dirt out of clay that the point of the clay.

Mc Love

Have you used it yet james?

JAMES VTI S

I have the flu ...

MetzgerMeister

JAMES VTI S wrote: »

I have the flu ...

So??

That doesn't answer the question, it only begs the question as to whether or not you're a man.......Jemma :P

JAMES VTI S

Screw the lot of yea.

Vexorg

@ James VTI S - Just read about your cloths here on detailingworld. The guy has a disability so cannot use a power tools to correct any marring on his paint and reckons you must use a very good lubricant to avoid marring, he uses an ONR as lubricant.

How did you get on with yours?

JAMES VTI S

Good
I love the cloth.

mik_da_man

Spotted something similar in Halfords the other day.
Much cheaper... any use I wonder?

http://www.halfords.ie/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductMobileDisplay?catalogId=10151&storeId=10001&productId=1021399&categoryId=255233&langId=-1

Bandito909

Hi mick,

Here's a thread on detailing world I found where they are talking it:

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=330602&page=6

Seems quite decent actually, and at that price seems reasonably accessible.