All I can say is wow. I have been fascinated with this "clay" for a while and when I saw it on the shelf at the local Walmart I picked some up. I got the Meguiar’s Smooth Surface Clay Kit, which came with two 50g clay bars, a bottle of Quick Detailer, microfiber cloth and a small bottle of cleaner wax. My car is fairly new so the paint wasn't that dirty (so I thought) but as it turns out a lot can bond to your paint within a few months.
I started by washing the car with Meguiar’s Gold Class car wash soap, which I usually stay away from because I find it extremely hard to rinse off. Next I dried it with this Armor All drying towel that is moist to begin with. Then I was ready for clay, I started with the hood and I was immediately impressed with the results. I have a silver car so the results aren't as satisfying as they would be with a black car but rubbing my hand across the paint and feeling where I did/didn't do was pretty cool. After the hood was clayed I applied some of the cleaner wax with a foam pad and proceeded to clay the driver side, back, and passenger side, applying a coat of wax to each panel as I went. It was hard work to get the tar and whatnot off, but it looked great once I was done. When I was done claying it was time to buff, and boy was I amazed. My last car was black so when it was waxed it looked great, so that's why I did it. My last car was waxed every year if not more and it was never clayed, because I didn't know about clay then but I wish I did. When I would wax it it would take FOREVER to get the clay off, I mean FOREVER, there would be swirl marks from left over wax and the last few times I waxed it it didn't really look good because of all the imperfections with the paint. When I waxed my new car after I clayed it, the wax came right off, wax on, wax off, I was amazed and my shoulder didn't hurt the next day either! The car looks great and now I can't wait to wax, I only wish I could have clayed the old car because it would have looked even better! Now I know how new paint should feel and when it's time to clay!
I'm going to take some pictures soon and post them!
__________________ 2008 Highlander Sport V6 AWD, classic silver, black leather, Canadian version, 90 000 KM. 2009 Tacoma AC V6 4X4, SR5 w/ power package, timberland mica, beige cloth, 48 000 KM.
2002 Highlander Limited V6 4WD, black, tan leather, 134 000 KM (SOLD)
You can use a product call Blackfire Clay Extended that works very well and extend's the life of your clay, it also cleans it too. Your in Canada right, try Riccardo Clay.
glad you found the claybar! I just claybarred (with the same kit, coincidentally) the 2005 Prius then added a layer of Mother's Sealant/Glaze and topped it off with Mother's pure carnuba wax paste ("pure" meaning it's not a cleaner wax. Actual pure carnuba wax is expensive, so I've heard)
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2010 Prius Technology Package (Cdn)
OEM Cargo Mat, OEM All-Weather Mat, LED ext/int lights, 5000K HID, OEM Fogs, Euro Mudguards
glad you found the claybar! I just claybarred (with the same kit, coincidentally) the 2005 Prius then added a layer of Mother's Sealant/Glaze and topped it off with Mother's pure carnuba wax paste ("pure" meaning it's not a cleaner wax. Actual pure carnuba wax is expensive, so I've heard)
It sucks when a mid sized car eats up an entire clay pack. I had to work on my aunt's Accord Coupe after the fires in SoCal and used up 2 Meguiars Mild packs in the process. Looking back, I should have gotten a decontamination kit but I do have some great shots of the clay in action
This is just for shits and giggles since I generally never let my clay get this dirty before molding it. 1/2 the roof was clayed before this shot was taken. I had to follow up with a fresh side shortly after . I would also like to mention it took 5 hours of claying before it was smooth again
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1996 Beige Lexus ES300
2010 Blue Ribbon Metallic Camry LE
Darn, you guys just ruined my day. Spring is coming and you have reminded me I will soon have over 8 hours of good wash, Clay bar, Klasse one step then Klasse, followed by pure wax.
Then of course after the wife sees my car well That will take care of Sunday!
After claying, use the carnuba wax a light coat let it settle a little bit and use a very soft cloth cheese cloth or smoother perfered to avoid streaks..and buff it out.. you get a nice glass coat look with a buffer .
Darn, you guys just ruined my day. Spring is coming and you have reminded me I will soon have over 8 hours of good wash, Clay bar, Klasse one step then Klasse, followed by pure wax.
Then of course after the wife sees my car well That will take care of Sunday!
I need a beeeeer.
Definetly its alot of work but worth the effort to clay and than 3 coats of protection buts its the only way to go for the best results.
What do you mean that the color is not in good shape? Claying only removes contaminants that are on the surface of the pain, it doesn't help the color, that is, unless there some sort of stuff on the paint that is distorting the color of it.
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