Claybarred

[ax0n]

I've been using a claybar for several years now on both our black and liquid gray ZX3's. When I ran out ot the solution I just started using plain water and it works just fine. The clay bar hasn't created any scratches and as long as you keep a trickle of water flowing it lubricates just fine. It remoes everything from road grime, tree sap, and dead bugs. You just gotta love this stuff.

That's great but the instructions specifically say in bold DO NOT LUBRICATE WITH WATER. Maybe water ruins the claybar... ever thought of that? I don't know why they say don't use water...but I do know that I almost alwys follow the direction that come with my detailing products, so I probably won't test it out with water.

Besides, Detailer spray is cheap and you should always have some laying around anyways.

[dan-d]

That's great but the instructions specifically say in bold DO NOT LUBRICATE WITH WATER. Maybe water ruins the claybar... ever thought of that? I don't know why they say don't use water...but I do know that I almost alwys follow the direction that come with my detailing products, so I probably won't test it out with water.

Besides, Detailer spray is cheap and you should always have some laying around anyways.

If I have detailer I'll use it, but to be honest with you I haven't had any problems using plain water and one car is black and the other has a CF hood.

[GapBoyPCS]

That's great but the instructions specifically say in bold DO NOT LUBRICATE WITH WATER. Maybe water ruins the claybar... ever thought of that? I don't know why they say don't use water...but I do know that I almost alwys follow the direction that come with my detailing products, so I probably won't test it out with water.

Besides, Detailer spray is cheap and you should always have some laying around anyways.

We tried soap & water on a Lightning. I think water is not advised because it evaporates faster increasing the risk of scratching from the clay bar. I'd consider it a last-resort if you run out of detailing spray.

PS> YOu should have detailing spray around....best thing to have to wipe up bird poop to avoid it eating into your paint.

[Maxis24]

Nice, looks like they also went to Whirly Ball in January last year. I miss working at a place very similar to that.

Very, very clean Lightning.

[dan-d]

We tried soap & water on a Lightning. I think water is not advised because it evaporates faster increasing the risk of scratching from the clay bar. I'd consider it a last-resort if you run out of detailing spray.

PS> YOu should have detailing spray around....best thing to have to wipe up bird poop to avoid it eating into your paint.

[FrescoFoci]

Thread has graduated to Sticky status!

Continue to post your experiences and techniques of claybarring your vehicle.

[blkse03]

Thank you

[focusspelledbackwards]

First sticky evar!

[Dan_S]

Go to Zainobros.com it has the whole story on clay bar and the whole process---I personally recommend Zaino as your product to keep your car nice. I have a black SVTF and with Zaino it has a brilliant shine to it.

[TrojanMan]

I'll keep this post going! haha. OK anyway, I claybarred my Screaming Yellow SVT today and all I can say is this stuff rocks! After just 'barring it, it looks soooo clean, after a coat of polish it's more reflective than I ever thought yellow could be. It's a must have for anyone who halfway cares about how their car looks

[usdm]

Unless you have a steady stream of water going to where you're claying, it's not really a good idea to use. What i found (as some others may attest to), is that the clay can get a bit "grabby" when it hits a portion that has no water. There have been times when I used water in a spry bottle with the clay, and after I was done treating the area, I had to wipe and rewipe to remove the clay residue off the paint. Another thing to worry about is the fact that hardness of tthe water can have an effect on how well the clay can do it's job. If the water is too hard, it can help load up the clay quickly requiring you to remold more often.

The primary advantage to using a dedicated quick detail is lubricity (of course), and the ability to wipe off the access liquid to give the car a good shine without having to rinse the treated area. What i find that works for me in absence of quick detail is to use a small capful of car shampoo mixed with water, or a small amount of Woolite mixed with water.

[blkse03]

Used the claybar this weekend. Had a family photo shoot. I used megiur's. I was pretty suprised at how easy it was to use. With my car being a little more then a year old, Iwas suprised to see how much junk was in the paint. After the claybar, i used the megiur's 3 step cleaner/polish/wax. Car turned out beatiful. I was very impressed with the look of my black car. My.01

[DriverK]

I claybarred mine for the first time last night. First, I washed it with Mr. Clean Auto Dry, then claybarred, then Meguires NXT Wax. I used the Mother's Claybar and it worked great! I wanted the Meguires claybar, but no one around here carries it. But yeah, the claybar helped out soooo much and the car looks great!

[Nacron]

Parked my car by sprinklers and had huge waterspots...claybar took most of them out. I used water for lube beacuse the water was from what was left over from the Mr. Clean crap so it had a filter on it.

I used the spray detail the first time and it left all kinds of residue on my car. Had to scrub it extra hard to get it out after the claybar.

[longarm]

Hey, I ran across a really cool article awhile back. It should help yall out. It's got detailed directions. Plus the model has a SMOKIN body!

http://www.bettercarcare.com/articles.php?articleId=14

I acually recently purchased a kit from a company called Pinnacle.

http://www.pinnaclewax.com/pipoplkit.html

It looks like a GREAT BUY! I'll be doing my Foci next weekend hopefully. I hope the links help. Thats my part for all the Awsome Help yall have been to me with my Foci. Thanks again!

[fastfucus02]

I bought the clay magic and wasn't to impressed. I felt that it was a waste of time and energy! I would not buy this product again!

[Assbeard]

fastfucus02: you're doing it wrong then.

[Redlight]

[quote


I've always heard that dish soap is really bad for cars too, so I don't think I could bring myself to try it. What else can you use to strip off the wax?

Also, I live/work near a Foundry. They put off these little orange particles in the air that settle on the car. So my white car has tiny rust looking spots EVERYWHERE on it. The claybar isn't working the best for me- but I've seen it done on my car at the dealership and it works fine for them. What am I doing wrong??

[/QUOTE]


that would be rail dust i believe.....

make sure you use a good lube on the surface! I use meguiars final inspection as lube....works good....and it don't hurt to use some elbow grease..if ya know what i mean....push down and let the clay pick up the contamination!

[longarm]

If you want to strip your car down to the clearcoat to prep for waxing do the following. This method is tried and true for me.

Get yourself a good quality wash mit. (100% Lambswool) I bought mine from autopia.
Next have two buckets, one for wash and one for rinse. Use Dawn Dish Soap, it's a degreaser and will help remove old wax.
Get a clay bar and some lube, I suggest something Mothers. Reason for that, is that it's a good clay bar. It's actually the same exact clay bar that Zaino uses, they just charge you more.
After you clay the entire surface take a good quality Micro-Fiber Towel and pour some rubbing alcohol over it. Use that towel and then lightly go over your paint with it. It will remove any clay residue left behind and any wax and pollutants you missed while claying. The Rubbing Alcohol method is perfectly safe. It was suggested to me by a friend who does all the painting at a local Ford Dealership. Once your all done with that, then your ready to start polishing and waxing. I recommend Blackfire Products to everyone. Their polish and sealant is awsome! If you want to make it easier on yourself go out and get a Porter Cable DAP.

Here is a link to Autotrader where my car is up for sale. I don't think i'm actually going to sell it, changed my mind. But here is a picture of my hood after I did the above method. You be the judge. (Photos taken with a 35mm camera, so the quality isn't all that good.)

Pics of my car

[Nells]

[quote


I've always heard that dish soap is really bad for cars too, so I don't think I could bring myself to try it. What else can you use to strip off the wax?

Also, I live/work near a Foundry. They put off these little orange particles in the air that settle on the car. So my white car has tiny rust looking spots EVERYWHERE on it. The claybar isn't working the best for me- but I've seen it done on my car at the dealership and it works fine for them. What am I doing wrong??

that would be rail dust i believe.....

make sure you use a good lube on the surface! I use meguiars final inspection as lube....works good....and it don't hurt to use some elbow grease..if ya know what i mean....push down and let the clay pick up the contamination!



[/QUOTE]

What is Meguiars final inspection? Is that something else than what comes in the box with the clay bar?
I did did part of my car last weekend (I did say I wasn't the most patient person.. didn't I? ). I spent a good 2 hours on one side of my car and it looked damned perfect!
3 days later... well... not anymore. The side that I clayed is still tremendously cleaner and smoother than the other side.. but those dreaded spots are back already. What is a really good wax to use? I think I just used Meguiars cleaner wax.

[whiskeytangofoxtrot]

Meguires makes a 3 step wax system that I use, and love. It's a cleaner, polish, and a carnuba sealant. Great stuff.

Also, have you thought about getting a car cover?

[longarm]

If your looking for a good store bought inexpensive sealant, go with Meguires NXT. You can do 2-3 coats of that. I personally would order Blackfire or Sonus. I don't like the cheap store bought stuff, then again, I detail my cars for fun.

[blkse03]

Meguires makes a 3 step wax system that I use, and love. It's a cleaner, polish, and a carnuba sealant. Great stuff.

Also, have you thought about getting a car cover?

This is the best bang for the buck. Claybar before you do the 3 step. Looks awesome.

[Nells]

Meguires makes a 3 step wax system that I use, and love. It's a cleaner, polish, and a carnuba sealant. Great stuff.

Also, have you thought about getting a car cover?

I thought about it.. but I really don't want to deal with having to put it on at work and such (I only work about 2 miles away).

[Z63R]

CD Silver ZX3, built April '03; purchased new July '03.

Waxed three times, last time 6 mos. ago. Washed every ten days or once a week, depending.

I parked for an entire 20 hr. period in an industrial area near train tracks. Orange freckles (rust) all over my paint.

That was two weeks ago. Washed twice since then; spots still there. I remembered I had a claybar that I used once on my old '63 Ford (before it was hit). I checked it out; it was sealed and appeared to be moist, fresh and clean.

I used Meguire's spray Detailer with the claybar and though it took some time and patience, the paint looks brand new (except for the normal, barely perceptable fine scratches that other people say they can't see).

No more rust spots or any other contamination; I saw it come off the paint and onto the clay! It looks great!

THANK YOU [FJ]focaljet Detail Crew!