What is the best lubricant to use with the clay bar?

 

In a spray bottle mix about one cap full of Car wash liquid and fill it with water. A bit more expensive way would be to use the quick detail spray. I've had good luck with the soap.

 

Thanks for the info

 

I use Meguiar's Clay bar. It comes with a bottle of spray lubricant. Be sure to get all the dirt off the body that you can before you start and keep turning the bar over onto itself for a fresh and clean surface. This will keep the dirt from making any scratches in the paint. It will look great after you get it waxed.

 

I just clay bar'ed mine for the first time prior to waxing it this weekend (so bear with my excitement).

WoW!

It did'nt take that much time really (a little less time than washing/drying).

I bought the Mothers kit and used the included lubricant and wax.

Outstanding results.

I was wondering... if you are going to use soap/water lubricant why not clay bar at the same time you wash it. (Maybe that's what the experienced folks do) Because I don't see the need to wash/dry and then claybar/wash/dry as I did (Remember it was my first time).

So why not wash the panel, rinse the panel, claybar the panel, next panel, etc.

Anyhow, it made my paint look great and I recommend it.

XLT_D

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Y2K Oxford White XLT S.C., V6, Auto, FoMoCo Mud Flaps, Lund Bugflector, Tinted windows, Auxillary BU lights, 2x55W DRL, UNGO Keyless entry, FoMoCo/Duraliner bedliner

 

XceLenT Driver:

You are right, it is good to clay as you wash, as long as you can do it in shade.

If you do use soap/water or QD make sure you use enough, completely soak area. Only thing with using a quick detailer (QD) is 1-gets expensive (can use 8-10 on a good sized vehicle), and depending on what you are putting on after you clay, if the QD has carnuaba in it it might hinder the bonding of a glaze etc.

If you use a QD while claying I would wash with dawn to strip any wax it left.

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ORDERED 4/16/01 - WOOHOO!!!
2001 F-150 Supercrew XLT 4wd. 5.4V8, 507A, 3.55LS, Captains chairs, bed extender, cab steps, power moonroof, power seat, skid plates, trlr towing, aluminum wheels, AM/FM cass with 6 cd changer. Bright red clearcoat with DARK graphite interior

IMMEDIATE MODS:
Wet Okole seat covers
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AR Baja's 16x8
MIchelin LTX M/S 265/75/16
Tint front
Line-X
Ravin Z-55 Duals out the back
Lightening headlights, corners and tails

 

I was told that soap, especially if in too heavy of a concentration, can attack and break down the clay bar. I've used the detailing type spray and it works great. Guess it depends on how long you want the clay bar to last. I've used it twice and figure it probably only has a couple more uses left in it.

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- 2001 F150 Harley Davidson Special
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I have a suggestion for a lubricant that I know some folks will have a fit over, but I've been using it for several years now with no problems. In a spray bottle mix one part Armor All with 10 parts water. Spray it, clay it and wipe it off with a wet towel, then polish and wax. It's slippery as snot and it's cheap.

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Leather Captain's Chairs and every option but the leaky slider window.
Mods: Duraliner bedliner, Bugflector II, Hide-a-hooks.
& a leeetle chrome tip on the exhaust.

[This message has been edited by Indyfan (edited 05-15-2001).]

 

Indyfan- what you do obviously works...til you need to have paint work done. The paint will "fisheye" and you will have all kinds of problems with it.

 

I use plain water. When I'm done washing, I dial my nozzle to "mist", wet the surface, then begin using the clay while keeping water constantly misting over my work area. Works like a champ, and i've never had a problem. This idea was given to me by the guy who owns autofanatics.com, where I orig. purchased my Erazer clay. He does the same thing with his Porsche Carrera. The slimey stuff just makes it a little more convenient. As long as there's liquid to float the clay, it doesn't matter what it is.

 

Gearhead. You are correct, I've heard of those silicone-on-paint problems, but I would assume that if you're going to repaint, you're also going to prep the surface including sanding and a chemical cleaning to remove any contaminants.


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1999 Lariat Super Cab, S.B. 5.4L, 3.55 LS, Bright red w/ gold 2-tone,
Leather Captain's Chairs and every option but the leaky slider window.
Mods: Duraliner bedliner, Bugflector II, Hide-a-hooks.
& a leeetle chrome tip on the exhaust.

 

Indy, guys,

Please excuse my ignorance but am I assuming correctly that a clay bar is something like a polishing compound bar but much less abrasive? Simply for cleaning a painted surface in preparation for a quality wax?

Obviously I have never used one.

 

Dunbarton. Yes.

ps: have you been "away" for a while?

 

Indy,

Thank you .......... I'm here, not as often with other interests taking more time.

Could never leave "family."