I debated dawning my car as well when I recently gave my new 04 coupe its first claybar treatment. To me the rationale basically boiled down to just how clean the surface of your paint is intially. If it's fairly clean already, an additional cycle with dawn would seem overkill, but if it's fairly caked on with dirt, bird droppings, etc. then a quick wash would at the least extend the life of your claybar since you'd be need to be folding over the clay less as you'd be picking up a good deal less surface contamination.

 

Ditto

Thanks - Joey Avino

 

Will a clay bar remove fine layers of paint / clear coat each time it's used?

 

Sometimes it's hard to feel the bonded contaminants with just your bare hand (these contaminants is what the clay bar is removing). To REALLY feel them, try putting your hand in a plastic sandwich bag and rub your hand across surface of the paint. You can really feel it then. Then clay it, and do the bag thing again. You should feel a noticeable difference!

This is also a good way to determine which sections of the car to clay. Normally, horizontal surfaces have more contaminatns as they don't run off.

 

IM new to this ... what is clay baring ?

 

I just bought a claybar yesterday for the first time. It's a 3M perfect-it. Anyone ever use this bar? I'm not sure if it's quality or not, but it was the only thing available in my area. Autozone had NO claybars whatsoever, and I didn't feel like taking a drive to pepboys.

So, with that said, could someone who knows how to clay the correct way make a detailed post on the procedure/techniques, and could a mod make it a sticky? That would be great as I am about to clay the car for the first time in my life. I'd hate to screw up on the G.

I took the day off & plan on fully detailing the lady in red before the winter comes.

 

1. Wash the car thoroughly (do not dry it)
2. Take clean soapy water and reapply it to your clean paint.
3. Hold the clay firmly and simply wipe from top to bottom on the sides of the car and wipe from front to back on your hood, roof and trunk. Make sure to reapply soapy water to lubricate your painted surface. I recommend doing 1/2 of a quarter pannel or 1/2 of your door at a time.
4. Take your hand (soapy and wet) and feel the vehicle after you clay to make sure it's super slick. Keep using the clay until your car is as slick as whale snot. If you've never felt whale snot, it's similar to the feel of a babys bottom... [img]/w3timages/icons/tongue.gif[/img]
5. Rinse the soapy water off and move on to the next section.
As the clay get dirt and debris in it, simply "smush" (that's an extremely technical term) the clay to always have clean clay contacting your paint.
6. If you ever drop the clay in the concrete THROW IT AWAY!

When you're done claying, dry the car and polish or wax as to your liking.

 

Here's a pic.

Would Mr.Clean soap be a good enough lubricant? I have some detailing spray...but for some reason that just doesn't sound good to use as a lubricant.
<P ID="edit"><FONT class="small"><EM>Edited by Serum on 10/11/04 07:30 AM.</EM></FONT></P>

362936-Mediawebserver.jpg

 

I've noticed that lots of people use "detailer sprays" of some sorts as lubricants. My mothers clay bar came with a detailer spray that you're supposed to use with the clay.

---
2004 TB/W 6mtC. Sunroof only.
Bel Vector 985
Grounding Kit
Splash Guards
Custom Carputer
Custom FG Sub
Infinity KapPerf6.1, Ref 6002si, 5760 6-ch AMP.
30% Huper

 

Cool. I just went out and grabbed some detailing spray. Made no sense to wash the car w/Mr.Clean, then throw some other car wash on to clay bar it.

Off I go to clay and hopefully not screw up the car.

 

I can eat off the car now. What a difference that claybar makes. I was afraid I was scratching my paint because it felt a little odd gliding this stiff clay over the car...but everything is cool. It definitely got rid of some tar/bugs/odd spots, etc...

I have another question & instead of making a new thread I'll just ask here.

Ya know how the windshield has this odd haze over it? I'm assuming it's wax from the factory...how the HELL do you get this stuff off? It's killing my driving at night...oncoming headlights shine & my windshield is all odd...and it sucks in the rain too. What's up w/those spots where the wipers land? How do you remove this? It's really pissing me off. If I wipe the windows down w/a damp cloth you can see some film on the windows...I've tried baking soda & a sponge, I've tried vinegar, I used the claybar today...nothing seems to remove this stuff. Any help would be appreciated.

 

odd haze?

Did you use any sort of cleaners on the windows other than just car wash (stoners invis glass, rain-x, etc..)?

If so, that's likely causing it.

---
2004 TB/W 6mtC. Sunroof only.
Bel Vector 985
Grounding Kit
Splash Guards
Custom Carputer
Custom FG Sub
Infinity KapPerf6.1, Ref 6002si, 5760 6-ch AMP.
30% Huper

 

No, I've never used those products. The car came like this. Perhaps the dealer used something? In any case, I have to find out how to remove it. It impairs my driving at night.

 

vinegar and water and a paper towel.

It's probably outgassing from the plastic and leather parts in your car. Should stop after a year or so...

 

Actually, I've tried that as well & to no avail. I've had the car for over a year. I'm 25 years old and having a hard time seeing at night due to this crap on my windshield, especially when it's raining. That's ridiculous!