Clay bars – opinions?

[thebigfelly]

Del

[scooby222]

once you try it youl be converted! though if youve never used anything like this on your car id use autosmart tadis - your bodywork will have all sorts of nasty stuff stuck to it and you'l need an aggressive bar to get it all off easily.

what i did last weekend with the audi was snowfoam,wash,tardis one panel at a time then straight onto polish and sealant - tardis'ing the whole car isnt something to do often but itl leave it smooth as Bobbys heid then a couple of times a year use the clay bar to keep it tip top

[dan_jess]

Are there any detailers still on the forum? Apologies if ive missed them in this thread. My car has really bad swirls marks on it and i dont think i will be very confident with a machine polisher. would be happy to pay someone to do it properly, if the price is right of course

[mystery machine]

A free bar

As long as it's no' "Bar L" Deek, we can aw sleep the night

[C_WRX]

Are there any detailers still on the forum? Apologies if ive missed them in this thread. My car has really bad swirls marks on it and i dont think i will be very confident with a machine polisher. would be happy to pay someone to do it properly, if the price is right of course

There is Paul from Ultimate Shine, not sure if that's too far away over in Fife??

Corsa mentioned Chemical Guys, there's a guy that works out of their doing more along the detailing side of things.

Both of the above are very very good at what they do. Prices best speak to them, you'll decide for yourself what's acceptable.

I'd perhaps suggest considering getting it done closer into spring time, the rubbish weather will not just spoil its new clean look but when you go to clean it there's more grit etc to possibly mark it again...if you get what I mean.

The change in its appearance will always bring a smile to your face, of the folks cars I did always made it worthwhile to see their genuine positive reaction when they first set eyes on it.

[salsa-king]

wwhich Clay bar on ebay should I buy?

also is it worth getting a polishing machine with those sponge pads?.... if so... which one thats not expensive?

[C_WRX]

wwhich Clay bar on ebay should I buy?

also is it worth getting a polishing machine with those sponge pads?.... if so... which one thats not expensive?

I'd just stick to buying from a recognised supplier. Even though the Halfords Meguiars set is okay the price is tad steep and the spray doesn't go too far when used properly. Loads of suppliers to choose from and give details for you to read through as to what would suit you - check out their websites or even better call them and ask : PolishedBliss, Chemical Guys, Clean Your Car, etc etc etc.

The claybar is just one piece of it, you need lube as well (easy on the giggling folks!!). It is basically the spray you put on the bodywork before you rub the clay over it. Some use small drop of car shampoo mixed with water / I use a product called Meguiars Last Touch (can also be used to aid drying giving streak free finish after normal washing).

The cheap machine polishers are cheap for a reason, not much better than by hand at times. The decent ones in the wrong hands can do damage, although you have to go some with a Dual Action in fairness. The kit as a whole is not cheap,then of course there's the time it takes to do the whole car...many many hours. May come across a bit negative but trying to point out there's a lot more to it than a quick spin over the top of the car in an afternoon.

Different poeple will have different opinions above is just mine.

[subarucraig]

i got mine from performance motor care good online company that also give you guides if you want them

[salsa-king]

been looking on YouTube at how to do it,

saw that some pro's use a mix of water with car shampoo as lube

would like a small headed polsher.. can't be that hard to whizz over the car, as long as a I tape up, also the car doesn't move out the garage all week, so I could do a bit each night.

I need to get these sponge skate marks out!!

[C_WRX]

Well if your keen on it go for it, get on to Detailing World (where all the ocd car cleaning folk hang out ) and have a read through some of the guides on there. You'll also find some suppliers on there for polisher kits.

Edited March 11, 2011 by C_WRX

[mystery machine]

Thanks again for all the replies... roll on some dry and warmish weather, eh?!

Well if your keen on it go for it, get on to Detailing World (where all the ocd car cleaning folk hang out ) and have a read through some of the guides on there. You'll also find some suppliers on there for polisher kits.

Cheers Colin – if it's good enough for you, then it's certainly good enough for the likes of me

[salsa-king]

saw this 200g bar on ebay, think I might give it a try

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270712539587&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:GB:1123

anyone else used it?

[marky.t.s]

As all these questions over car detailing and specialist products would it be worthwhile organising a wee demo night at the Chemical guys in Canbuslang, im quite sure if he was to get business out of it then he would be happy to show off his services and wares?

If enough interest i can have a word with him.

Davie

Davie,did you take this idea any further?now that the summer is here there might be a few more folk interested in this,maybe a wee meet that doesn't clash with the usual Glasgow one?I'm heading over this week for a few bits'n'pieces myself.

[corsa]

Davie,did you take this idea any further?now that the summer is here there might be a few more folk interested in this,maybe a wee meet that doesn't clash with the usual Glasgow one?I'm heading over this week for a few bits'n'pieces myself.

Nobody really said either way if they would be interested but will pop in and see Davie on Friday when i am back from Sunny London and see what he says and post the reply.

Cheers

Davie

[marky.t.s]

Nobody really said either way if they would be interested but will pop in and see Davie on Friday when i am back from Sunny London and see what he says and post the reply.

Cheers

Davie

No probs Davie,see what they say and if its something they would go for you could always start a wee thread in 'Events' and see if it gets enough interest to warrant a wee meet/open day/night sort of thing,mibbies even a wee SIDC 'Show'n'Shine with product demo's,anyways i'll leave it in your capable hands.

[mikeyb13]

I gave Chemical Guys a phone when i bought the Exige to ask for advice as to what would work best and the guy recommended I go through to his unit. He showed me several waxes/polishes on the car so I could see which one worked best. The difference between what I wanted to buy and what he recommended was massive. The one I bought wasn't cheap but im still using the same tub 2 years later. Top service just give them a phone.

[salsa-king]

here was my write up about the Carkandy Clay bar i bought, Richard at Carkandy is still giveing 10% off if you use the MOJO discount code.

and using there other products ...

very pleased how my car's look using the stuff.

Edited April 12, 2011 by salsa-king

[Dougs Scoob]

Have just spent the best part of half a day on the bodywork. Finally got round to giving it the full bhoona.

Wash

Autoglym intensive tar remover

Meguiars quik clay bar start kit

followed by the Werkstat acryllic kit.

And what a result. 1st time using the Autoglym tar remover and claying.

Tar remover brilliant and so easy. Just sprayed it on, left for a minute and wiped off runing tar.

Claying also v easy. Made sure had plenty lube on and it worked a treat.

Hard work but the results are well worth it.

Thanks for all the tips.

Dougie

[beefoss]

Being a bit worried myself about using a clay bar I bought the £10 one from Halfrauds, cut in half, lots of lube (car shampoo and water in squirty poundshop bottle). Took me 2 hours to do the whole car and Well chuffed to say the least. Good soapy wash afterwards, complete dry and then polish.

Have heard a lot of good things about the products and folks from CarKandy so think I will be investing in them shortly.

[salsa-king]

2hrs???

I went iover all of mine in 45mins.

did a porcshe cayman in 25mins.. went over it twice too.

you need to work quick with it.. well lubed up... your not trying to cut the paint work down, like you would using fine sand paper.

[davey l wrx]

It's on my to-do list for the next week. Wash, clay, seal and wax the 2 scoobys and possibly the C4.

I've got all the gear in the garage including clay bar (tried it once) and a rotary buffer that i've never even plugged in! Hopefully there'll be a nice enough day in the next week or two.

[baldobaz]

Chemical guys stuff is the dogs danglys, wouldnt use anything else now. Would def be interested in doing a meet at there unit.

[beefoss]

2hrs???

I went iover all of mine in 45mins.

did a porcshe cayman in 25mins.. went over it twice too.

you need to work quick with it.. well lubed up... your not trying to cut the paint work down, like you would using fine sand paper.

It was my first time and I get mild OCD when cleaning. I'll be removing the wheels to do them next weekend haha