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If detailing clay is new to you, you might be thinking, “What is
detailing clay and what can detailing clay do for my car?” The short
answer is that auto detailing clay removes from the paint what washing
cannot. For the long answer, read on!
Auto Detailing Clay Bar is an engineered resin compound used to remove
contaminants from the surface of your car’s paint, glass, fiberglass and
metal. Detailing clay can be natural or synthetic, though most
manufacturers utilize synthetic clays.
Auto detailing clay is similar to the stuff you played with as a kid,
but the clay used for detailing is usually much more elastic. The
elasticity gives the detailing clay excellent durability as it is
rolled, flattened, smashed and stretched over and over again.
Plus detailing clay is designed to stand up to the kind of contaminants
that your childhood clay never had to face, i.e. industrial fallout,
rail dust and brake dust. These contaminants pierce paint finishes,
glass and metal and remain stuck on your vehicle through rain, car
washes, and even polishing. The only way to remove these pollutants is
detailing clay.
How Does Auto Detailing Clay Work?
Detailing clay glides along the surface of your paint and grabs anything
that protrudes from the surface. The particles stick to the clay and
therefore is removed from your vehicle. The surface being clayed should
always be wet with clay lubricant to prevent loose debris from
scratching the vehicle.
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Used properly, detailing clay is completely safe and
nonabrasive. Its a much better option than polishing to remove these
contaminants because clay doesn’t remove any paint.
There are two different grades of clay currently available to the
public. One is a medium grade detailing clay designed to clean the
vehicle once or twice a year. This grade of clay removes wax along with
anything else on the vehicle. We’re talking CLEAN.
Your other option is a fine grade that’s relatively new to the industry.
This detailing clay removes everything the medium clay removes and it is
gentle enough to use monthly or as needed for spot cleaning. If you’re
someone who’s meticulous about clean, shiny paint.
All detailing clay requires the use of a clay lubricant to prevent
scratches as you gently rub the clay on the vehicle.
What Does Detailing Clay Remove?
Your vehicle is under constant assault from airborne pollutants. Brake
dust, industrial fallout, acid rain deposits and rail dust all can
adhere to your vehicle. These contaminants often contain metal
particulates, which accounts for the ease with which they penetrate the
clear coat to attack the paint below. These contaminants then oxidize,
and they allow rust to spread beneath the clear coat. Tiny orange spots
today, total paint system failure tomorrow! Detailing clay removes these
contaminants in order to keep the paint healthy and vibrant.
Detailing Clay also removes stubborn sap, tar, and bug remains.
Detailing clay works wonder on glass as well. Try some the next time
you’re washing your windows. You’ll be amazed at the results!
Do You Need To Clay?
Chances are, the answer is yes. The surface of your vehicle faces
assaults from the environment every time it’s out in the weather. Each
road trip brings new insults from roadway debris, exhaust films, and
airborne pollution. They will splash, mar, and embed themselves in that
beautiful paint job you’ve labored over. Vehicles can accumulate these
contaminants any time, any place – even at the dealership.
The Bag Test: There’s a simple test that will indicate whether or not
you need to clay. Wash and dry your vehicle, put a plastic sandwich bag
over your hand and lightly rub your fingertips over the paint. If it
feels gritty or rough, your paint is contaminated.
Use a high quality detailing clay bar and a clay lubricant to clean your
paint before applying wax or polish.
The Bag test will tell you if you need to use detailing clay.
Waxes and paint sealants will adhere better to clean paint and the shine
will be more uniform and vibrant. Sounds like a win-win situation!
To Use Clay:
Clay is available in 2 to 8 oz. bars. Two ounces is enough to do three
or four vehicles. On average, a vehicle will need to be clayed twice a
year. At this rate, one 2 oz. clay bar will last you 18 months to 2
years if used on the same vehicle.
NOTE: To optimize both the quality of your claying and the clay's useful
life, avoid soap and water as a lubricant. They will prematurely
deteriorate today’s clay compounds. Use only clay lubricants.
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Wash and dry your vehicle.
Spray a small area with clay lubricant, no bigger than 2 square feet.
Gently rub the clay bar back and forth across the wet area. It will grab
at first. This means that it is pulling contaminants out of the paint.
When it glides
freely, the paint is clean.
Wipe the area with a microfiber towel and use the clay lubricant to
remove any clay residue. Rub your fingers across the paint now; it
should be as smooth as glass. If it’s not, repeat the process. Reshape
the clay bar as needed to expose a clean surface. Keep the clay
well-lubricated.
Continue these steps until you’ve clayed the entire vehicle. Clay does a
marvelous job on glass and chrome, too.
Store the clay bar in its original case if possible, or in an airtight
plastic bag. Spray it with lubricant to keep it moist. Do not allow the
clay to freeze and do not store it in temperatures above 200° F.
Mist a 2 x 2 sq. ft. section of paint with clay lubricant.
Rub the clay bar across the wet paint until it no longer grabs the
surface.
Always follow claying with a wax or sealant. Clay will remove existing
wax and may leave tiny holes where contaminants have been removed. They
must be sealed in order to protect the paint from corrosion.
Note: Detailing clay does not remove oxidized paint or fill in
blemishes. If your paint is mildly oxidized, clean the paint with clay
and then use a polish to remove the oxidized paint. If the oxidation is
severe, polish first because the oxidized paint may flake off as you
clay and ruin the clay bar.
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