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The clay bar has a specific job – to remove bonded contaminants from your paint. If it’s been done recently, your paint is likely still smooth. The fact is, you should never clay bar your car and stop there. Clay bars are abrasive and will mar your paint while they remove the contaminants.
Are clay bars worth it?
Over time, these particles could permanently damage your paint. 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.
What does a clay bar do to your car?
Used as a complement to washing, polishing, and waxing, clay barring a car grabs and removes life’s harsh contaminants such as overspray, road tar, acid rain, and bug fossils. Doing so not only improves the car’s shine, but it also smooths out the surface for a glassy feel.
Does clay Bar get rid of 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 are the benefits of using 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.
Does Claying remove wax?
When you clay your vehicle, you remove the contaminants, making the coat easier to wax. The detail clay also removes tar, sap, bug remains, wax, and sealants from the coat of the car. With these substances removed, waxes and sealants will adhere to the surface better.
Does clay Bar damage clear coat?
Clay bars are not supposed to damage the paint or clear coat finish, the particles that are being removed by the clay bar might remove some of the clear coat (see image below for example) the the damage these particles can do over time is worse than the clear coat being removed – and this valleys will be filled in with Jul 19, 2007.
How often should you clay bar your car?
Although there’s no specific schedule to clay bar your car, you must do this at least 2 to 3 times a year. How often you clean your car will determine the grade you use. To be on the safer side, try being more conservative with the grades, especially when you’re not entirely sure.
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.
Do clay bars damage paint?
What Is an Automotive Clay Bar? Clay bars used by professionals will be more “aggressive” in their ability to cut contaminants from auto finishes, but they can also cause damage to paint in the wrong hands.
How long do clay bars last?
clay 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.
Do I need to polish after clay bar?
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.
What can I use instead of a clay bar?
There are different styles when it comes to clay bar alternatives. Sponges, mitts, towels, blocks, and even discs for your DA Polisher are now available. These can make decontamination much quicker and easier, but you still need to be careful.
What liquid do you use with clay bar?
Q: What can I use to lubricate a clay bar? You can use a specifically formulated lubricant, a quick detailer, or soapy water. All of these will sufficiently lubricate your vehicle so that the clay bar can glide over your vehicle’s surface without damaging it.
Do you clay bar before or after wash?
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.
Can you clay bar glass?
Glass does not need a special clay bar, and most clay bars are safe for glass. They may leave marring on the glass and need to be polished afterwards. With any clay bar, make sure to use the proper clay lubricant. Soaps and water-less washes can often breakdown the clay bars, causing them to crumble and fall apart.
Can I reuse clay bar?
Improper Claying “The fact is, clay needs to glide over the surface to be effective in cleaning the paint.” As simple as it sounds, it’s the truth. Jim also strongly advises against reusing clay bars. “Once a clay bar has picked up debris, it’s contaminated,” says Jim adamantly.
Can you clay bar without waxing?
Sure. Should you, no. If time is an issue, clay and wax part of the car this weekend and clay/wax the other half next weekend. If you use Nanoskin “clay” and incorporate it into the wash step, then claying really adds a few minutes of additional work time, at most.
