How to get rid of clay bar marring?

Pops_20

Does anyone have any tips on how to get rid of clay bar marring?

I clay barred my car recently, and lately I've noticed marks all over the body. These are especially visible under street lights at night. The marks aren't like scratches, but like a residue that was left behind on the paint in certain areas.

I used Bilt Hamber regular auto clay which is meant for summer use, but I used plenty of water, which is the recommended lubricant.

Can anyone help? I've tried hand polishing the paint work but the marks won't come off.

myshirt

Any photos?

What car have you?

Curran

I would have said hand polish; but since you tried that, you might get it off with a small it of tar remover.

You must have been applying quite a bit of pressure? Also, I personally would always add some sort of lubrication to water; I know it says that water is fine, but I'd use a small bit of shampoo with water if a product says just water is OK.

vectra

As above.
I would have said polish as well.
What polish did you use as a matter of interest?
Again as Curran said, I would always use something to act as a lubricant when claying, Water just does nor do it for me,
My lube of choice is Halfords best. "Demon Shine" diluted in water and sprayed liberally when claying. Never got any form of marring.

Curran

Demon Shine, diluted, is a very nice clay lube; but I find that it leaves a film on the car afterwards, so I would always give it a fairly strong wash down with APC, if Ive used it as a clay lube! It is very slippery though!

vectra

Curran wrote: »

Demon Shine, diluted, is a very nice clay lube; but I find that it leaves a film on the car afterwards, so I would always give it a fairly strong wash down with APC, if Ive used it as a clay lube! It is very slippery though!

Oh yes.
Forgot to mention.
Washdown afterwards is a mix of apc and fairy liquid.

Pops_20

Thanks for the help! I've a lot to learn about detailing yet it seems.

I may have applied too much pressure. Also, I forgot to wipe down each panel with a microfibre cloth afterwards. I did wash the car thoroughly but maybe it had dried in by then.

I used Bilt Hamber Cleanser Polish. Is this not cutting enough?

I clayed a different car before with just water and didn't get any marring, but I did wipe down with a cloth. In future I will add some shampoo to the water.

I thought you're never meant to go near a car with fairy liquid?

Would claying the car again with a softer clay bar and proper lubricant get rid of the marring?

It's not that obvious in day light but you get the idea. Photo edited to bring out the marks!

myshirt

If you have soft paint you see you can risk minor marring. Don't worry though, well fixable.

On clay, do use plenty of lubricant. The Bilt Hamber clay is good, it is well regarded; a good tip I have taken on board is to have 2 or 3 pieces on the go. Keep 2 in some warm to hot water, and circulate the useage.

It's our weather here. Clay can harden up.

Curran

So this panel, has been clayed and Cleanser Polish applied?
The paintwork should look a lot cleaner, or is it dirt on the lens of the camera?

Pops_20 wrote: »

I may have applied too much pressure. Also, I forgot to wipe down each panel with a microfibre cloth afterwards. I did wash the car thoroughly but maybe it had dried in by then.

Once its marred, its marred. It wont 'dry in'. I'd say you might have been a bit heavy handed, give you'd only see marring like that on a panel that was quite hot. Havent the weather of late to be seeing those issues.

Pops_20 wrote: »

I used Bilt Hamber Cleanser Polish. Is this not cutting enough?

There isnt a whole lot of cut in that - its more of a filler product to hide defects.

Pops_20 wrote: »

I thought you're never meant to go near a car with fairy liquid?

Generally it is a no, no. But for infrequent use, to remove any residue on the paintwork before applying something, its OK

Pops_20 wrote: »

Would claying the car again with a softer clay bar and proper lubricant get rid of the marring?

It might do, but polishing with something more aggressive would probably be easier.

vectra

Maybe a full polish with gtechniq P1 could help?
as for Fairy iquid.
I would only ever use it as a washdown after claying or after stripping off old wax etc.
Never ince my lsp is on.

Pops_20

No dirt on the lens. Those dark lines are where it seems to have marred the worst.

And yes the whole roof had cleanser polish applied! I think it looks so dull because there's clay residue covering the entire panel. Similar story on the bonnet and doors. It's hard to capture a photo that shows exactly what I'm talking about.

The paintwork wasn't great to begin with, hence why I was doing a full detail. I think the whole car could do with a proper machine polish job - something I would not be confident enough to do.

Could this me resolved with a hand polish using gtechniq P1 or similar?

Mr Detail

I may have missed something but why has no one said that will need a machine polish?

Marring from Clay bar use will often take a strange effect almost like hazing or like residue has been left but I fact it is a mixture of very fine defects left from the clay and are very shallow so light reflects strangely. If so it will need a machine polish to remove. A very light finishing polish but still machine.

I am half blind and on my phone so I can't make out much from the pictures, maybe I missed something obvious.

Curran

I think we all made the assumption that the OP hasnt access to a machine polisher, otherwise Im sure they'd have tried that.