Clay Question

Awfulnice · #1 (**permalink**) 03-29-07, 07:12 PM

I learned a lot from the people on this web site, with much thanks. Last month i never even heard about claying a car. Anyway i clayed today. I have a 93 sedan de ville, metallic silver. I washed the car with Dawn and left it on. I used Meguiar's Smooth Surface Clay Kit. I sprayed the clay and the car with the Quik Detailer which comes in the kit. The question is, not once did the clay drag or pull. It was like using an ice cube it was so smooth. I know the kit say's Smooth Surface Clay Kit but did i do something wrong? Shouldn't the clay drag somewhere on the surface? From viewing other posts i know the clay is supposed to be hard to move at first, but not for me. After i washed the car again with Meguiar's wash for hard water and used Meguiar's step 2 Polishing Crystall's then NXT Tech Wax. The car came out really beautiful but i'd like to why there was no drag on the clay. Thank's for any answers, Hank

Superior Detailing · #2 (**permalink**) 03-29-07, 08:22 PM

The consumer grade clay is far to mild to actually remove ALL the contaminants in the paint. Not to say when you clay with the professional products your going to remove 100% of the contamination, but the consumer grade clays aren't going to grab anywhere near as much as the tougher stuff. Next time you go to buy clay buy some Clay Magic BLUE/FINE grade.

Also, for anybody who is wondering. One company owns the patent rights to all the clay that is legally produced in the world. Auto Wax company in Dallas, Texas produces all the clay for meguiars, mothers, all of them. They're all the same.

codewize · #3 (**permalink**) 03-30-07, 09:21 PM

Awfulnice; I don't want to start another war here because I know this went on forever but I think Dawn or any dish soap is a bad thing to put on your car.

Having said that I'd like to share my claying method. I too used the Meguiars kit. I washed the car thoroughly and rinsed it well then I re soaped the car and left the soap on it.

I also carried a bucket of soapy water with me to rinse the clay during use. On the soapy wet car I sprayed ahead of myself with the quick detailer being sure to go over the entire surface and rinsing the clay in the soap water every so often.

Mine did drag here and there I could definitely see a difference in the shine when it was done. NOW on the other side of the coin my Brougham was just buffed last summer and I clayed that this week. During that session I felt almost no dragging at all.

Bottom line is I would say that if you don't feel much dragging or grabbing the surface was probably pretty clean to begin with.

Now go get some Polly Seal from gary and shine her up.

Awfulnice · #4 (**permalink**) 03-31-07, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by codewize

Awfulnice; I don't want to start another war here because I know this went on forever but I think Dawn or any dish soap is a bad thing to put on your car.

Having said that I'd like to share my claying method. I too used the Meguiars kit. I washed the car thoroughly and rinsed it well then I re soaped the car and left the soap on it.

I also carried a bucket of soapy water with me to rinse the clay during use. On the soapy wet car I sprayed ahead of myself with the quick detailer being sure to go over the entire surface and rinsing the clay in the soap water every so often.

Mine did drag here and there I could definitely see a difference in the shine when it was done. NOW on the other side of the coin my Brougham was just buffed last summer and I clayed that this week. During that session I felt almost no dragging at all.

Bottom line is I would say that if you don't feel much dragging or grabbing the surface was probably pretty clean to begin with.

Now go get some Polly Seal from gary and shine her up.

I think you're right because when i finished claying the whole car the white clay was just as clean as when i opened up the package. Next time i won't use Dawn and i'll try that blue clay from Clay Magic. Thanks, Hank

codewize · #5 (**permalink**) 03-31-07, 09:34 PM

My new regime is this. beginning of the year, like now, I do a full extreme cleaning. Wash, clay, paint cleaner if needed and a good coat of Poly Seal then Poly Seal spray. That makes me feel like I'm starting the year with a good clean car.

Then throughout the year I keep the car clean by rinsing it frequently. When it needs to be washed I wash and apply the Poly Seal spray again. In addition I keep the tires and interior dressed as needed. So I clay once a year.