How to properly clay bar your car?
Nov 05, 2021 · Using a clay bar to remove contaminants from your car’s surface is called a clay bar treatment. Rail dust, brake dust, and industrial fallout are all common contaminants that damage and degrade your car over time. Even after several washes and polishes, these contaminants may permeate paint, glass, and metal and deposit on them.
What does a clay bar do to your car?
Clay bars are made of a special detailing resin that allows you to grab and pull contaminants from the clear coat to deep clean your finish and prep your paintwork for polishing. Car detailing professionals use a clay bar any time they’re going to perform a paint correction or apply a new layer of wax to their finish.
How to use a clay bar to clean your car?
Sep 01, 2020 · Clay bar treatment is often used before a vehicle owner prepares to apply some sort of paint-protection, such as a ceramic coating, paint sealant, or PPF. This is because before applying any sort of coating, the surface should be completely smooth, which is what clay bar treatment does by removing all the debris and contaminants that are stuck to your car’s clear …
What lubricant should you use with a clay bar?
Oct 17, 2017 · Here I describe the process and need for clay bar treatment of your vehicle as an essential part of the detailing process.www.visualprodetailing.com
Is clay bar good for your car?
A clay bar is an engineered, clay-like product that pulls contaminants like water spots, brake dust, metal dust, industrial pollution and road grit from your clear coat. When used with a clay lubricant, these contaminants come loose from your car and get stuck safely in the clay so they don't damage your clear coat.
Is Claying your car worth it?
These particles also prevent wax and polish from working properly, which means you don't get as clear a shine. If you want to protect your paint job in the future and have your car looks its best, clay bar detailing is absolutely worth it.May 30, 2018
How long does clay bar last on car?
18 months to 2 yearsclay bar will last you 18 months to 2 years if used on the same vehicle. If you buy clay in an 4 oz. bar, like Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay or BLACKFIRE Poly Clay, cut it in half and keep the unused portions moistened with lubricant in the storage case.
When should you clay bar a car?
Generally, you should Clay your car every time you give it a thorough clean including polishing and waxing, etc. Claying doesn't have to be undertaken every time you clean your car as this is simply not required. Check your car after washing and before polishing to see if claying is required.
Do you wash car after clay bar?
When you're finished claying your car, you may need to wash it to remove any lubricant film. If you plan to use a pre-wax cleaner polish, it will remove clay residue so there's no need to wash. Last but not least, after using clay, seal your freshly cleaned paint with your choice of wax or sealant.Sep 17, 2021
Should I polish my car after Claying?
The detailer's rule of thumb is to always decontaminate the surface with a clay bar before putting on a new coat of wax, or polishing any exterior paintwork. Those foreign particles block wax from sticking to the paint, making it last for a shorter time and not shine as bright.
Does clay bar remove wax?
Removing your car's wax, sealant or coating prior to claying will help the clay bar fully remove the contaminants without being impaired by the paint protection layer. However, in most cases the clay will be capable of removing both the wax/ sealant/ coating, as well as the contaminants.
Does clay bar remove scratches?
A clay bar does NOT remove any scratches from the surface of the paint because it contains no abrasives. A clay bar is useful for when a car's paint feels rough and is no longer smooth to the touch as it can help restore that nice smooth feeling you once knew and loved.
What does a clay bar do?
A clay bar is either a natural or synthetic engineered resin compound designed to remove or 'lift' contamination from your vehicles surface to provide a contamination free, smooth surface to apply protection to. Contamination such as: industrial fallout, rail dust, honey due, tree sap and bitumen tar.Aug 15, 2019
Will clay bar remove rust spots?
The Clay Bar is very easy to use: from the original bar, just take a piece off and mould it into a flat shape that can act effectively on the bodywork. Then pass the clay bar on rust spots by rubbing with small and very fast movements.Aug 9, 2017
Do you have to wash your car before Clay Bar?
Does this come before or after I wash my car? Claying should always come after a good wash. You want to get as much of the dirt out as possible, by scrubbing and brushing and scrubbing some more. Your choice of cleaning agent will also ensure that your vehicle is ready for the use of a clay bar.Feb 10, 2014
What surfaces benefit from a clay bar?
Clay bar is essentially used to remove the grunge from your car's paint surface, so that you can see a clear, bright finish. After claying your car's surface, the most noticeable benefit your car encounters is that of slickness and smoothness. Using a clay bar definitely makes waxing easier and more effective.Aug 31, 2016
What is clay bar treatment?
Using a clay bar to remove contaminants from your car’s surface is called a clay bar treatment. Rail dust, brake dust, and industrial fallout are a...
How often you should use clay bar treatments?
We recommend claying twice a year, but if you’re confident in your technique, it’s OK to do it whenever you choose.
Is it advisable to do clay bar treatment at home?
Preferably, NO. The process appears simple and easy to be done in the comforts of your home. But this entire process needs precision and experience...
How to use a clay bar on a car?
Carefully follow these steps to learn how to use a clay bar on your car: 1. Clean your car. Before using a clay bar, we suggest that your vehicle should be washed and dried to eliminate most of the surface containments. 2. Use detailer spray. Start by spraying a small area of your car with the lubricant or detailer spray.
What is a clay bar?
What is Clay Bar Treatment? A Clay Bar Treatment is the process of using a clay bar to remove containments from the surface of your car. Common containments that pollute and slowly destroy your vehicle include things like rail dust, brake dust, and industrial fallout. These pollutants can penetrate through paint, glass, ...
How long does a 2 oz clay bar last?
bars. Typically, 2 ounces is enough to do three or four vehicles. We estimate that one 2 oz. clay bar will last you 18 months to 2 years if used on the same car.
What is a good alternative to clay bars?
A popular alternative to clay bars is mitts or clay mitts. They’re efficient and do the job as well. A typical clay mitt is a rugged microfiber mitt with one side made of a rubber polymer coating that picks up surface contaminants like tar or bugs.
How to store clay bar?
Do not allow the clay to freeze and do not store it in temperatures above 200° F. V. How to use a Clay Bar. Carefully follow these steps to learn how to use a clay bar on your car: 1. Clean your car.
How to clean clay off of paint?
You can also use the lubricant to remove any clay residue. To check if it’s clean, slide your fingers across the paint. If it’s smooth, then you’re solid. Otherwise, you will need to re-clay that area.
What is microfiber cloth?
Microfiber towels (sometimes called microfiber cloths) are one of the most essential tools used by car detailing experts. A microfiber is an incredibly tiny synthetic fiber. It is approximately 1/100th the diameter of a human hair. The fiber is made from a blend of two materials: polyester and polyamide.
Why use a clay bar on a car?
There are 4 primary reasons to use clay bar treatment for your car: 1. Bonded contaminants above the surface can be safely removed by claying.
What is clay bar treatment?
Clay bar treatment which is often referred to as the claying or clay baring is a form of complex detailing treatment that should not be used or attempted to use without necessary precautions. In cases where it is properly used, can be of great benefit to your vehicle’s paint. If you want to achieve the desired contamination-free finish ...
Why clay a car?
If you are planning to get your vehicle’s surface coated with wax or a paint sealant, then claying your painted surface is essential because it will not only make your investment worth it but will also maximize the effect of wax or sealant.
Does clay bar work on car paint?
If they are not removed, they tend to get bonded with the paint and will not come off from normal washing. This is where claying has proven to be beneficial. Clay bar is formulated in such a way that will scrap off contaminants from the surface of your vehicle’s paint without damaging your car.
What is paint contamination?
Paint contamination can also result from the friction between the brake pads and rotor. This contamination is called brake dust. When the brake is applied friction between metals is created, and that causes tiny particles of bare metal to disperse off into the environment and get stuck on the vehicle’s surface.
Can you use clay bar lubricant on car paint?
It is important to use specially designed clay bar lubricants beforehand or a product that is formulated to provide slip, such as a detailer spray or a protectant shampoo. It is a popular misbelief that the clay bar is abrasive and can remove the paintwork on your vehicle’s surface.
What is a clay bar treatment?
If you want to take your car’s shine to another level, or if you just want to restore your old car’s paint job , then a clay bar treatment is a good step in doing so.
What is a clay bar?
A clay bar treatment is when a piece of clay is used to remove contaminants from the surface of your car’s paint. Although you might not be able to see all of the contaminants with your naked eye, there’s a lot of dirt and dust that have a handy way of sticking to your car’s paint as you drive around.
How to make a clay bar?
As far as the actual clay bar process, here are the basic steps, courtesy of The Drive: 1 Wash and dry your car thoroughly 2 Remove the clay bar and separate it into halves or quarters (you won’t need all of it) 3 Work the clay with your fingers and make a small, flat disc out of it 4 Pick out a small section of your car to work on first (hood, fender, etc.) 5 Spray the section liberally with a quick detailer or clay lube 6 Lightly glide the clay over the lubricated surface in a back-and-forth motion 7 Wipe off the excess detail spray with a microfiber towel 8 Fold the clay over itself and work it with your hand to flatten it out and reveal a cleaner portion of it 9 Continue the same process until the rest of the car is completely clayed 10 Be sure to wax, polish, or ceramic coat your car’s paint afterward for extra protection
What you need to know
The longer dirt and stains are allowed to dwell on your car, the more likely they are to become embedded in your clear coat. If you’ve gone several weeks, or even months, without washing your car, there may still be traces of brake dust, bird droppings and water spots stuck to your finish after you scrub away the stains.
Wash and dry your car
Start by washing your car from the top down with a car wash mitt and an all-purpose car wash shampoo like M.A.X. Power Detergent and a bucket of water. Continue to scrub until you’ve lifted all the stains and soils from your vehicle, then rinse your car thoroughly with agarden hose. Towel dry using a fresh, microfiber towel.
Separate and shape your clay
Pull your clay bar into two halves and return one half to the package. Shape the other half of your clay into a flat oval about the size of your palm. You only need as much clay as will fit in your hand. Clay bars pick up contaminants easily, so if you drop it,you won’t be able to use it again.
Apply clay bar lubricant
Add a quarter-sized drop of clay bar lubricant to your detailing clay, as well as directly to a 2’ x 2’ section of your car. This will make it easier to slide the clay bar over the surface of your car without pushing contaminants deeper into the clear coat.
Rub the clay into your finish
Next, you’re going to rub the clay over the surface of your car using a back-and-forth motion to pull the contaminants from your paint finish. Avoid circular motions to prevent leaving any scratches or swirls in the clear coat.
Check your work
Once you’ve clay barred the entire section, use the baggie trick to check your work. If the surface of your car still feels gritty, continue to apply the clay bar to this section until it feels smooth like glass.
Follow up with a polish and wax
And just like that, you've clay barred your car like the pros do. Now that your car is actually squeaky clean, it’s time to follow your clay bar treatment with a quick polish and wax to correct and restore your paintwork to its original, showroom gloss.
How does clay bar work?
Clay bar treatment works by gliding across your car’s paint surface and grabbing any items that are on the surface , such as grime and dirt. Since clay is so sticky, it can even absorb particles that are bonded with the car’s clear coat. The tacky nature of clay requires lubricant to be applied to the surface of whatever is being clay barred to reduce the amount of friction and heat build-up, and thus helps reduce any potential paint damage.
What is a clay bar?
A clay bar is a natural or synthetic tool consisting of a resin mixture and other synthetic ingredients that automotive detailers use to remove contaminants and pollutants from fiberglass, paint, glass, or metal. Basically, it’s one of the best and easiest ways of providing a clean surface. The average clay bar looks like this one pictured.
How to get rid of grip on car paint?
After your car paint is fully lubricated, take the synthetic clay bar or mitt and gently rub it back and forth across the surface. You should feel the fine clay bar or mitt grabbing/picking up bits and pieces from the paint’s surface. Continue moving the clay bar or mitt backward and forward across the car, until you feel the level of grip start to reduce. Add more lubricant if needed.
Can you use a clay mitt on a car?
To perform a clay treatment on your car, you have two options, both of which are sold as DIY kits: either a clay bar or a clay mitt. There are pros and cons to each, so it all comes down to whichever you prefer.
Can you use clay bar lubricant on a car?
Take your clay bar lubricant and spray a large amount onto the surface of your car. The lubricant can’t damage your car’s surface , but the clay bar can, so more is better in this case.
Can you use clay bar on car paint?
If you are new to DIY car maintenance, it’s quite possible that clay bar treatment is a bit outside of your wheelhouse. But believe it or not, using clay to remove tiny imperfections and debris in the paint’s clear coat surface has been around for quite some time.
What is a clay bar?
A “Clay Bar Detail” is most commonly used on paint, but also works on glass, fiberglass, and metal. When done properly, using Clay as a detailing product is non-abrasive and should not damage your car. Steps.
How big is a clay bar?
Clay bars usually come in sizes ranging from 2–8 oz (57–227 g). The 2 oz (57 g) size is more than enough for 1 car, and is a very manageable piece of clay to work with. If you buy a larger bar, you can cut it into sections with a sharp knife and seal up the pieces you don’t need for later use. For example, you can cut a 6 oz (170 g) ...
How to protect paint from corrosion?
Apply a coat of wax or sealant after “claying” the whole car. Follow the instructions on the packaging of the clay bar and the wax or sealant. Waxing or sealing protects the paint from corrosion that can form in the tiny holes that had been previously filled with contaminants before “claying.”.
Who owns West Coast Tires?
Tom Eisenberg is the Owner and General Manager of West Coast Tires & Service in Los Angeles, California, a family-owned AAA-approved and certified auto shop. Tom has over 10 years of experience in the auto industry.
Who is Tom Eisenberg?
Auto Technician. This article was co-authored by Tom Eisenberg. Tom Eisenberg is the Owner and General Manager of West Coast Tires & Service in Los Angeles, California, a family-owned AAA-approved and certified auto shop. Tom has over 10 years of experience in the auto industry.
What is a clay bar?
A clay bar is typically the final step that makes sure your paint is surgically clean. The results you can expect from using a clay bar alone are not very exciting. As a matter of fact, you probably won’t see any visible difference at all. A clay bar’s purpose isn’t to change the look of your paint.
What is the purpose of a clay bar?
A clay bar’s purpose isn’t to change the look of your paint. Its job is to make it feel slippery and smooth. For this reason, you can’t judge a clay bar treatment’s success with your eye – it’s all about touch (and in extreme cases, sound). Clay Bar Alternatives.
Can you clean a clay bar?
One of the biggest draws to these is that you can actually clean them safely if you drop them on the ground. Dropping an actual clay bar seals its fate, and it’ll have to be sent to the trash.
Can you use a clay bar on a car?
Although using a clay bar on your car is an essential part of detailing, it shouldn’t be done unless absolutely necessary. The clay bar has a specific job – to remove bonded contaminants from your paint. Even when used properly, it should be considered a necessary evil since it can be abrasive.