I still prefer to mix a soap and water solution to use when I clay bc it does provide better lubrication IMHO.

 

Good to know, thank you. Just trying to be cautious I suppose - or just talking out my ...

 

as always, thanks guys for your feedback

 

There is a possibility of waxing too much. RollingRock, JP, can tell you about that. I've got it, too. It's not fun. Once you get there, the only thing to fix it is to remove the wax. I clay 3-4 times a year and I think that's a pretty good rule of thumb. I mean if you live next to a railroad station or work at a concrete plant, you'll probably have to clay more but you see my point. My opinion is that under normal circumstances you should only be waxing maybe every other month. I usually do a sealant, NXT is considered one, but I use Poorboys EX-P. Followed up with one or two coats of Meguiars #16. In your case, I think 2-3 coats of NXT is the absolute maximum you'd want to do otherwise you're going to be wasting your time, your money, etc. NXT has a slight cleaning property to it as well. So if you don't waste that 12 hour cure time, it's going to be removing the last coat. The only thing you'd be gaining is if you missed a spot with the first coat, it'd be gone probably. Also claying isn't going to remove any clear coat when using a lubricant, IMO so don't worry.

I hope this helped ...

 

thanks for the input as well Thump, Im gonna have to cut you some slack for overlooking Yamaha when you made your Sea Doo purchase last year

 

Your procedure isn't flawed... several folks use the lubrication of car wash shampoo mixtures for clay. The only problem with it is that it will strip the oils and such out of the clay and turn it in to a crumbly piece of goo that you'll have to replace more frequently.

Additionally, it is important to note that there is a thing as too much lubrication (at least in this instance). If you think about how a clay bar works (that is, by mechanical abrasion over a bit of stuck on crud across the semi-flat surface of the clear), in my opinion, it would be possible to lubricate to the point that the clay doesn't catch the stuck on gunk particle and you just glide over it...

Lastly --- No, that's not what has 'saved your clearcoat'... While you DEFINITELY want great lubrication between your clay bar and the paint, you're presenting VERY VERY little abrasion to the clear with a properly lubricated clay bar. Yes -- there is some but, it's unbelievably minor IMO.

You're not going to present a significant problem to your painted surfaces using a clay bar -- be it a catalyzed dual-stage paint or an uncataylized single-stage paint with no clear. It's just that simple...

-RP-

 

Can't beat 72 mph across the water, stock !!

Don't remind me though, I don't do much riding. I'm having surgery on the 18th so I'm pretty much laid up right now.

 

Thanks RP, I hear what you are saying. And true- the clay wasnt lasting as long with car wash as a lubricant as it is now with QD, but I still kind of liked the way the wash lubricated better. And the end result was still a smooth as glass finish so I may have still achieved the result I was looking for without over lubricating too much. But yeah, the clay didnt last as long.

Anyway, I know these are basic questions, but its still good to hear everyones routines a little more in depth.

72 stock???...uhhhh thats why a couple of Doo's squeaked by my GPR this weekend... but I thought they had some mods done. Damn...

Good luck with your surgery. Hope its not too serious

 

Well that's what my speedometer reads but it's really like 67-68 GPS verified. It's back and forth between the two.

I don't know if you know but I broke my back three years ago. I had to have all sorts of crap done. I've having to have the hardware removed because of immense pain. But of course that's the abbreviated version of the already abbreviated version.

 

mine is topping out at 68 on a flat lake, but the speedo is off, its really a only doing 65 tops.

I knew you had some injuries from riding. I didnt know about your back. Man, that sucks. Good thing you dont live in New England because all the old riding injuries I have flare up like a pack of hemroids. My ankles, wrists, and knees are hard to deal with during the winter months

 

No kidding, it's hell for me during the winter down here. Although it sucks with all of the humidity we get. I can usually tell when it's going to rain without looking at the weather. My body just hurts so damn bad those days. Lately it's been 90+ degrees with high 80%s humidity. It sucks ...