Claying....

1584 Views 31 Replies 13 Participants Last post by Bonefish Blues, Apr 9, 2010

fr3n2y

Discussion Starter · Apr 4, 2010

Got myself a Meguiars clay kit and will set about on the car tomorrow.

It says on the box to wash the car first...

Now I only have a wash and wax shampoo, is it safe to wash the car with fairy liquid?

I also have some Autoglym SRP and Collinite wax.

I'm guessing the order is -

Wash
Clay
SRP
Wax?

Any tips before I begin?

Cheers

1 - 20 of 32 Posts

Gs auto

· #2 · Apr 4, 2010

fr3n2y said:
Got myself a Meguiars clay kit and will set about on the car tomorrow.

It says on the box to wash the car first...

Now I only have a wash and wax shampoo, is it safe to wash the car with fairy liquid?

I also have some Autoglym SRP and Collinite wax.

I'm guessing the order is -

Wash
Clay
SRP
Wax?
Hi mate Yes you must wash the car 1st Dont use fairy liquid use a car shampoo or just water
Clay in small parts eg 1/2 door max at a time also keep the surface wet & keep turning over the clay then dry each part with a microfiber cloth

Any tips before I begin?

Cheers

fr3n2y

Discussion Starter · #3 · Apr 4, 2010

In the clay kit there's a detailing spray, I'm guessing its not safe to use water to keep it wet?

Would I need to wash the car again after claying it before polish?

ric

· #4 · Apr 4, 2010

Gs auto said:
Got myself a Meguiars clay kit and will set about on the car tomorrow.

It says on the box to wash the car first...

Now I only have a wash and wax shampoo, is it safe to wash the car with fairy liquid?

I also have some Autoglym SRP and Collinite wax.

I'm guessing the order is -

Wash
Clay
SRP
Wax?
Hi mate Yes you must wash the car 1st Dont use fairy liquid use a car shampoo or just water
Clay in small parts eg 1/2 door max at a time also keep the surface wet & keep turning over the clay then dry each part with a microfiber cloth

Any tips before I begin?

Cheers

[/quote]

don't you dare use fairy liquid! it'll attack your rubbers!

wash (2 bucket method a good idea, anyway make sure you're not spreading grit from one area to another), squirt off with hosepipe, wipe down with chamois leather or microfibre cloth.
Have you got the Meguiars quickdetail spray? Use this as lube for the claybar - you'll get the hang of it within seconds. Squirt, lightly rub the claybar over the top - it'll feel sticky in some areas, slick in others. Do it until it's all slick, turning occasionally. It goes further if you split it in half before you start.

When done your car should be clear of all bonded contaminants - any bits that don't come off or any iffy bits can be treated with t-cut or safe-cut. When done, apply SRP and wipe off, then wax.
Use plenty of microfibre cloths, and watch out for grit from car/ground getting polished in and scratching at every stage.

Harly wax is excellent and there's a guy on here who does it for 15 quid a tin.

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only-me

· #5 · Apr 4, 2010

You need to get the old wax off first put some washing up liquid in one of those spray bottles then fill it with water use this as lube for the clay.Rewash and wax.

fr3n2y

Discussion Starter · #6 · Apr 4, 2010

how'd you get the old wax off??

valvednova

· #7 · Apr 4, 2010

Should have bought te "Bilt hamber" excuse spelling, clay bar off of eBay, probably 3 or 4 times the size of most others, and for a tenner!
Oh and an be used with car shampoo and water or just water!!
Was recomended to me along with Harley wax by a guy on te BMW E36 forum who was serious about his detailing!

One of the best things I have bought/used!

I'd jet wash te car, wash with two bucket method, then clay( use hot water with car shampoo) makes clay softer and works easier, wash again, rinse, polish, wax, wax again lol

robbieleeson

· #8 · Apr 4, 2010

valvednova said:
Should have bought te "Bilt hamber" excuse spelling, clay bar off of eBay, probably 3 or 4 times the size of most others, and for a tenner!
Oh and an be used with car shampoo and water or just water!!
Was recomended to me along with Harley wax by a guy on te BMW E36 forum who was serious about his detailing!

One of the best things I have bought/used!

I'd jet wash te car, wash with two bucket method, then clay( use hot water with car shampoo) makes clay softer and works easier, wash again, rinse, polish, wax, wax again lol

Yep got to agree, Bilt hamber is a great clay for the money, it comes in both a hard and soft compound depending on the finish / condition of your paint.
Don't use washing up liquid, as said it damages seals and has salt in it, not the best thing to use really.

Don't worry about using 'wash and wax' as the claying will remove any previous fillers, wax's etc and bring it back to a fresh finish.

When i use Bilt hamber i keep about 3 pieces in a hot bucket of water, with a spray bottle filled with hot water for lube, helps keep it soft (that's the only downfall to bilt hamber, it is not naturally soft at room temperature).

The most important thing is use plenty of lube, and keep turning the clay consistently!

G-Money

· #9 · Apr 4, 2010

Always break the clay up into smaller bits and leave in some clean warm water. If you drop one of the bits then bin it and move onto the next.

I was always told that claying removes your wax and polish so be prepared to do them again.

raz128

· #10 · Apr 4, 2010

Just to add to the thread.. it's also a good idea to break your claybar into 2 pieces; if you accidentally drop the piece you're using onto the floor it'll pick up contaminents that could scratch your paint if you keep on using it, by splitting the clay-bar you've then got a spare piece that's good to carry on with.

only-me

· #11 · Apr 5, 2010

fr3n2y said:
how'd you get the old wax off??

The washing up liquid mix with water will do that just spray it on some people forget you got to take the old wax off the clay bar on its own wont do this.

fr3n2y

Discussion Starter · #12 · Apr 5, 2010

So the car is now washed, about to start on the bonnet first....

The kit came with two bars (cheers for the advice on dropping it, i would have tried to wash it!)

So the plan is to get a bowl of HOT water with abit of car shampoo in there and attack the bonnet with the clay.

Dry it off with a fresh new microfibre cloth....

Polish til my arm goes dead.. (will the SRP help remove some of the swirl marks?)

Then Wax on Wax off til I can see myself in Hi Def.....

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only-me

· #13 · Apr 5, 2010

Youll get a better job if you take the old wax off first

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Zoku

· #14 · Apr 5, 2010

Seriously, don't use washing up liquid

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fr3n2y

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 5, 2010

Well it's all done, 2 coats of polish 2 coats of wax and it's come up a treat.

I'm amazed at how well claying works!!

Still alot of swirl marks, my arms just weren't up to the job, next time I'll definately be using a machine polisher!!

robbieleeson

· #16 · Apr 5, 2010

Yeah you'll never get rid of swirls completely by hand, SRP is a good filler polish, very mildly abrasive with fillers which help to reduce the appearance of swirling!
Welcome to the world of detailing!

only-me

· #17 · Apr 5, 2010

Zoku said:
Seriously, don't use washing up liquid

This is got to be good why not...

valvednova

· #18 · Apr 5, 2010

and if your polishing the car in your avi, then autoglym do an ultra deep shine polish for dark colours and blacks, worked a treat on my old beemer!

Gave mine a wash, polish and wax again today, now have used SRP am just gonna use Merr, less abrasive and is pure polish so gives a great shine too!

Oh and little heads up... wilkinsons are doin microfibre cloths for about a quid!
I bought a massive bucket, squeegee blade, few microfibre cloths and some other stuff, dirt cheap! and they had magic tree airfreshners for ?1

fr3n2y

Discussion Starter · #19 · Apr 5, 2010

Is there anything better than the SRP or will it be more 'efficient' with a machine polisher?

Zoku

· #20 · Apr 5, 2010

only-me said:
Seriously, don't use washing up liquid

This is got to be good why not...
[/quote]

Too much salt in it, will kill your rubbers, can cause more swirls if regularly used and also, do you really want salty water sitting in the crevices of a rust-prone car?

I'd only use it on my dishes. I use car products on my cars. but that's just me.

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