Motoring Discussion > How to "Clay" a car? Miscellaneous
Thread Author: Duncan Replies: 17
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New Mon 5 Jul 10 10:51 
 How to "Clay" a car? - Duncan
I have been advised to 'clay' my car.

It seems this consists of applying a washing up liquid type substance, then using a clay bar on the paintwork of the car. This will - it seems - remove the tiny bits of debris on the paint. After 'claying' you then polish the car.

Any thoughts on this, apart from too much blooming effort!

Where can I buy the liquid and the clay bar?
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New Mon 5 Jul 10 11:56 
 How to "Clay" a car? - Notdoctorchris
The clay bar and liquid are purchased together in a box from any good car accessory shop.
The process is actually easy and requires very little effort. The results can be spectacular. In particular, my daughter's car was covered in deposits from trees which came off beautifully to leave a lovely finish.
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New Mon 5 Jul 10 12:24 
 How to "Clay" a car? - Mapmaker
How?

1. Go out.
2. Get a life.
3. Come home again.
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New Mon 5 Jul 10 12:50 
 How to "Clay" a car? - VxFan
>> The clay bar and liquid are purchased together in a box from any good car
>> accessory shop.

Purchased mine last year from ebay (only the claybar - 2 great big lumps for £10 and came with a couple of microfibre cloths for free) and used soapy water as the lubricant. After all said and done that's basically what the lubricant is.
Last edited by: VxFan on Mon 5 Jul 10 at 12:50
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New Mon 5 Jul 10 12:29 
 How to "Clay" a car? - Victorbox
Seems like a good idea, but I have to build up stamina for the four hour polishing session to do my car with Autoglym polish. The thought of claying it first really puts me off!

Three examples below:

tinyurl.com/5peehz
tinyurl.com/34ck5zz
tinyurl.com/2ugu2ft
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New Mon 5 Jul 10 12:33 
 How to "Clay" a car? - Redviper
I was interested in doing this, but a little wary incase I got it wrong, and ended up pulling of the paintwork - the results do look good (pictures I have seen) as i have tar dpeosits that dispite using Auto Glym tar remover I cannot get off but I havent tried it yet
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New Mon 5 Jul 10 12:42 
 How to "Clay" a car? - Notdoctorchris
It's very hard to do wrong.
There's no abrasiveness to the process that could remove paint, the lubricated clay bar just glides over the surface of the paint.
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New Mon 5 Jul 10 12:45 
 How to "Clay" a car? - Redviper
Ah good, I might give it go one free weekend.
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New Mon 5 Jul 10 17:18 
 How to "Clay" a car? - corax
A company called Bilt Hamber do a clay bar that just uses water as a lubricant. I've used it to remove obstinate tar deposits, and very effective it is too. You do have to keep the water flowing because otherwise it will 'catch' on the bodywork. Thats all I use it for though, my old uberwagon doesn't need full body preparation anymore!
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New Tue 6 Jul 10 20:37 
 How to "Clay" a car? - VR6
I did my car a few years ago, and it did work a treat.

Make sure you cut the bar into smaller bits, incase you drop it on the floor (clay bar + lubricant = slipy bits of clay) and cake it in grit, you only ruin one bit rather than the whole bar. I used Fairy liquid / water mix in a spray bottle.
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New Tue 6 Jul 10 21:27 
 How to "Clay" a car? - Redviper
So is it a new thing then, this claying?

Ive never heard of it until about a year ago
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New Tue 6 Jul 10 21:47 
 How to "Clay" a car? - Oldgit
>> So is it a new thing then, this claying?
>>
>> Ive never heard of it until about a year ago
>>

Google for detailing cars and it will open up a whole new world to you. In fact, don't do that else you'll feel exhausted in just reading about the obsession of detailing.
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New Wed 7 Jul 10 12:20 
 How to "Clay" a car? - Redviper
Yes ive had a look at some of the specialist detailing websites, and to be honest a lot of people will spend up to 2 days "detailing" and some of the detail they go into is exhausting just reading it



I suppose thats no bad thing becasue at least they look after their cars from at least a image perspective - ive just bever heard of this claying thing until about a year ago.
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New Thu 29 Jul 10 14:29 
 How to "Clay" a car? - corax
Just used the clay bar to get rid of some tar deposits. The trouble I have with the clay bar itself is storage. If it's left in the shed for any length of time it welds itself to the plastic box it came in. I pulled some of it apart and put it on the shelf, and it superglued itself to that as well.

Does anyone who uses these have any tips on storage to stop it sticking. I thought maybe leave it on a piece of grease proof paper or something. Any ideas?
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New Thu 29 Jul 10 15:30 
 How to "Clay" a car? - BobbyG
A plastic sandwich bag is what I use for storing it.
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New Thu 29 Jul 10 16:47 
 How to "Clay" a car? - corax
I'll try that BobbyG, thanks
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New Thu 29 Jul 10 17:02 
 How to "Clay" a car? - 832ark
>> I used Fairy liquid /water mix in a spray bottle.
>>

Fairy liquid is something that you really don't want anywhere near your paintwork! Maybe try a solution of water and a decent car shampoo?
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New Thu 29 Jul 10 17:09 
 How to "Clay" a car? - Lygonos
Fairy liquid (very dilute) isn't much of an issue when claying.

Car shampoos sometimes have wax in them so use one that doesn't for claying.

Claying should be followed by washing, then polishing +/- waxing.

This will remove any taint of the fairy liquid.

And saves the ££ other makers expect for using proprietary lubes.

4 or 5 drops of Fairy in a 1 litre squeezy bottle should be adequate.

Bilt-hamber clay bars require only water as lubricant although you need to use it copiously to keep the surface wet at all times.
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