I just clayed my Tacoma today for the first time...its about 2 months old...
It was like kissing the nape of Angelina Jolie's neck...
It was a lot easier than I thought...and the feel of the paint is like glass...I couldn't believe the difference between the clayed panels and unclayed...Does it wear down the paint quicker? I might like to do this every time I wash...
I used QD spray instead of soapy water, than used my PC and applied some Klasse AIO...
Tomorrow I am putting on some P21S carnuba...I'll post some pics but silver doesn't show off the wax shine very much in pictures...
I used the Mother's clay bar kit...which has a bottle of QD spray and a little bottle of carnuba wax as well...
It's yellow in color which I believe denotes a moderately fine clay. It is slippery on the paint with the QD sray as lubricant...doesn't even feel like you are doing anything...but the paint becomes smooth as glass.
It's only recommended to clay your car twice a year. When you use the clay bar it strips off any paint protection (wax) as well as contaminants. Here's the official word from Mothers. It works great. Remember to do small sections at a time and keep kneeding it. IF you drop it, toss it. You'll be grinding in crap from the ground...
Clay's easy to use, and can make a dramatic difference in the paint on any vehicle suffering from surface contamination.
For starters, wash and dry to remove any surface dirt. Working out of direct sunlight, remove the clay from its wrapper. Knead until it's flat and fits in your palm. Lubricate a small (2' x 2' or so) area with the included instant detailer/clay lubricant and rub the clay back and forth with light pressure. There's no need for pressure or circular motions. Clay works because it's so sticky -- the contaminants will adhere to it, pulling-up and out of the paint. If you're working in a quiet environment, you'll be able to hear the clay pulling the contaminants from the paint surface, and gradually the sound will go away as they are all removed. When you're done with the area, dry with a towel and check the surface by running your fingertips lightly over the just clayed area. It should be perfectly smooth, with no bumps or rough spots felt. Once smooth, move on to the next area; if you still feel bumps repeat the process. Knead the clay on a regular basis -- I do it at the end of each body panel.
Once you get the routine down, it should take 20-30 minutes to do an entire vehicle. Clay will remove embedded contaminants like overspray, industrial fallout, rail dust, tree sap, etc. It won't remove oxidation, nor will it do anything for swirls.
Clay is safe to use assuming the instructions are followed and you never:
1) drop the clay on the ground and try to reuse it (dirt, etc., will stick to it and scratch the paint) or
2) use an improper lubricant. Water isn't slippery enough -- it'll cause the clay to drag, leaving streaks on the paint.
I trust my 10 year year old to use clay -- it's that simple.
BTW, you'll want to wax after claying, as claying removes any paint protection product on the vehicle -- that's why we include a sample size of our Carnauba Cleaner Wax, but you can follow with the wax product of your choice.
It's truly amazing to feel how smoot the paint is...and it makes you realize how much stuff gets imbedded in your paint. My truck is only a few months old with only 1500 miles on it. I had my wife and my neighbor run their hands over the clayed and un-clayed panels. Htye kept oohing and ahhing, and my wife wanted to know why I didn't do that to her car. I told her I did better last week when I polised it with my PC and Sonus SFX polish.
Touring camry, you clayed befor you polished? I thought if you polish there's no need for claying...as polishing does the same thing, only deeper...
It's truly amazing to feel how smoot the paint is...and it makes you realize how much stuff gets imbedded in your paint. My truck is only a few months old with only 1500 miles on it. I had my wife and my neighbor run their hands over the clayed and un-clayed panels. Htye kept oohing and ahhing, and my wife wanted to know why I didn't do that to her car. I told her I did better last week when I polised it with my PC and Sonus SFX polish.
Touring camry, you clayed befor you polished? I thought if you polish there's no need for claying...as polishing does the same thing, only deeper...
Not trying to be flippant but did you read the directions when you clayed? It removes contaminants from the finish. It also removes any protectant such as wax or polish from the car. Even a brand new car off the lot is a good candidate for claying. IF you polish without claying you run a risk of grinding in those contaminants into the finish. Go to the Mother's forum on waxing...
Clay Magic is a better clay. The bar is harder and pulls more contaminants out. The down side is that its really hard to kneed. A family friend came down from Michigan and I clayed their car.....I used the entire clay bar and had to throw it away cause it was completely used up.(It'll turn black) Polishing kinda does the same thing but it really tries to even out the paint over shallow scratches. Novataco where do you get your Klasse and your polishs, waxes. Wait a couple of months and that tailgate is going to chew up the rest of that Meguiars bar. Right now it doesn't feel like its doing anything but when contaminants really start to dig in it will feel like you need to apply more lubricant, but you won't need to its just alot of crap, just kneed and continue. And I've heard about using Soapy water but it can get sticky so thats not recommended. but water works just as well when the QD runs out, it just doesn't shine the paint as well as the QD would. Oh and becareful, I have had the QD dry up quick and those clay bars can remove paint.
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Jösħ-Sågë õf Ušlešš Kņowłedĝe
"Now imagine yourself a particle of air, which one looks easier to get through? The K&N thats looks like miniature chicken wire, or the original that looks like 4 sheets of construction paper?"
Clay Magic is a better clay. The bar is harder and pulls more contaminants out. The down side is that its really hard to kneed. A family friend came down from Michigan and I clayed their car.....I used the entire clay bar and had to throw it away cause it was completely used up.(It'll turn black) Polishing kinda does the same thing but it really tries to even out the paint over shallow scratches. Novataco where do you get your Klasse and your polishs, waxes. Wait a couple of months and that tailgate is going to chew up the rest of that Meguiars bar. Right now it doesn't feel like its doing anything but when contaminants really start to dig in it will feel like you need to apply more lubricant, but you won't need to its just alot of crap, just kneed and continue. And I've heard about using Soapy water but it can get sticky so thats not recommended. but water works just as well when the QD runs out, it just doesn't shine the paint as well as the QD would. Oh and becareful, I have had the QD dry up quick and those clay bars can remove paint.
I got Sonus SFX pads for my PC, Sonus SFX polishes, Klasse AIO, P21S carnuba wax, some polishing cloths. everything else I got at local auto stores.
Clay color determines the grade. Sonus sells a green clay which is an extra-fine, and a clay bar which is medium. The Mother's bar is yellow and falls somewhere between those two. What color is the Clay Magic?
I have no intention of re-using the clay, other than for cleaning the glass. It's just not worth it to me to risk contaminants the clay picked up already. I didn't use any polish on my Tacoma yet beacuse it doesn't need it...being two months old. I used that for my wife's 1993 Corolla. I used the clay to get rid of whatever contaminants it picked up since it left the factory...
I just laid down a coat of P21S on the truck, but maybe the last time. I think I will use the Klasse SG on top of the AIO for durability and longevity, given the amount of work involed on a body the size of a Tacoma. I am also concerned about something soft like carnuba picking up more contaminants.
I agree with the Carnauba wax. It gets cantaminanted on my car, and you can only do so many layers. I think it four before it starts to eat away at itself, and slide of. Thats in preperation for the winter salt. Clay magic is blue.
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Jösħ-Sågë õf Ušlešš Kņowłedĝe
"Now imagine yourself a particle of air, which one looks easier to get through? The K&N thats looks like miniature chicken wire, or the original that looks like 4 sheets of construction paper?"
You read the directions yet has no clue ? You did it wrong buddy. You didnt follow all (correct) steps of detailing at all. I hope you did not think you've been doing good to the car.
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