Clay Bars 101
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From: Enfield Connecticut USA
Clay Bars 101
By: Chris Parrish
A clayed paint surface is much easier to apply polish to and remove polish from. Also, if some of the contaminants that claying removes were left on the paint they could significantly shorten the life of the paint.
As simple and easy as clay is to use, it only makes sense that it should be included in the maintenance of your pride and joys paint finish.
First of all, before claying, you need to wash the vehicle thoroughly. This removes any grease, oil and road film as well as dirt and grit to eliminate unnecessary scratches. I recommend using Dawn dish soap for the initial pre-clay scrub wash because it is very effective in removing grease, wax, and oil film form the paint without harming the paint it's self. I have used others but I feel that Dawn is the most effective.
About an ounce of Dawn to a small (2.5 gal.) bucket of water should do the trick. Most clay products contain no abrasives and should leave no scratches as long as there is no dirt or dust between the clay and the paint. It is really important to do a good, thorough wash before starting with your clay scrub.
I should also add that you should never use clay on a paint surface that is hot to the touch. This will cause the clay material to drag on the paint surface and leave clay material transfer. You can get the transfer off but it can be a pain and it is totally unnecessary.
The next step is to decide on which lube you will use with the clay. All clay manufacturers sell a product that they recommend as the lube with their clay but I have found that some of them leave what appears to be either an oily film or a soapy residue.
I use Zaino products and use Zaino's Z7 car wash mixed with water. I mix about one cap full of Z7 car wash to 16 ounces of water in a spray bottle. Zaino Z6 also works well as a lube for clay but it is more expensive than Z7 and I prefer saving it for wipe downs between coats. I only use Z6 as a lube if I am claying a small section to remove localized surface contaminants that do not affect the entire car.
I have used dish soap and other car washes mixed with water as a lube before but I like the Z7 better as far as lubricity and it does not leave a greasy/oily or soapy film. If you use Zaino polish and use something besides the Z7/H2O as a lube I recommend a second Dawn wash after the clay scrub to remove any possible film if you want optimal results.
To begin the clay scrub, form the clay bar into a flat, half palm sized shape. Spray a section of the clean, cool paint surface with the lube of your choice (I prefer approx. 3' X 3' or so) and simply lay the clay flat on the paint surface and while applying light pressure to the clay gently slide it back and forth across the section that you lubed.
Scrub the section until you feel it getting slick and the clay glides across the paint more easily. While scrubbing with the clay make sure to keep the area lubed with the spray to avoid dragging and clay material transfer. When the paint feels slick stop scrubbing and wipe the area dry with a 100% cotton towel. The area you clayed should feel slick when you run your fingers across it.
Before going to the next section you should fold and knead the clay to expose a fresh, clean side of the clay and form it into a flat, half palm sized shape again. Then just spray the next section and repeat until the entire painted surface of the vehicle is as smooth as a baby's butt. Overlap the sections to insure that you clay every inch of paint. Also, make sure to refold and knead the clay between each section or panel so that you are rubbing the paint surface with a clean portion of the clay bar. When the clay bar looks dark or dirty even after folding and kneading discard it and get a new one. A single 80-gram bar should do a car 5 to 7 times before needing to be discarded as long as you don't drop it or get dirt into it from other sources, such as missing a spot when washing before the clay scrub.
**Important**- If you drop the clay bar onto the ground, THROW IT AWAY.
It can pick up grit and leave some NASTY scratches. The odds of you picking all the dirt and grit out of the clay are slim and a new clay bar is far cheaper than a paint repair if you get scratches that can't be polished out.
After the entire vehicle has been clay scrubbed you should wash and dry it, then apply a good paint protectant ASAP. As well as removing bonded surface contaminants, the claying process removes any and all wax from the paint, leaving it exposed to the sun(UV), acid rain, and other elements. I recommend Zaino Bros. Show Car Polish if you want the best looking, longest lasting shine and protection. Zaino polishes are also the easiest to use that I have found.
**Note to Zaino users**- If you plan to use Zaino polish and you use Zaino Z6 or Zaino Z7/H2O as your clay lube you need not do another Dawn wash after claying. Simply rinse thoroughly and dry and you are ready for Z1. If you use ANY other lube you will want to do a Dawn wash to insure that you remove any possible oily or soapy residue from the paint before starting the Zaino process to obtain optimal results with Zaino polish.
I think that covers it.
A clayed paint surface is much easier to apply polish to and remove polish from. Also, if some of the contaminants that claying removes were left on the paint they could significantly shorten the life of the paint.
As simple and easy as clay is to use, it only makes sense that it should be included in the maintenance of your pride and joys paint finish.
First of all, before claying, you need to wash the vehicle thoroughly. This removes any grease, oil and road film as well as dirt and grit to eliminate unnecessary scratches. I recommend using Dawn dish soap for the initial pre-clay scrub wash because it is very effective in removing grease, wax, and oil film form the paint without harming the paint it's self. I have used others but I feel that Dawn is the most effective.
About an ounce of Dawn to a small (2.5 gal.) bucket of water should do the trick. Most clay products contain no abrasives and should leave no scratches as long as there is no dirt or dust between the clay and the paint. It is really important to do a good, thorough wash before starting with your clay scrub.
I should also add that you should never use clay on a paint surface that is hot to the touch. This will cause the clay material to drag on the paint surface and leave clay material transfer. You can get the transfer off but it can be a pain and it is totally unnecessary.
The next step is to decide on which lube you will use with the clay. All clay manufacturers sell a product that they recommend as the lube with their clay but I have found that some of them leave what appears to be either an oily film or a soapy residue.
I use Zaino products and use Zaino's Z7 car wash mixed with water. I mix about one cap full of Z7 car wash to 16 ounces of water in a spray bottle. Zaino Z6 also works well as a lube for clay but it is more expensive than Z7 and I prefer saving it for wipe downs between coats. I only use Z6 as a lube if I am claying a small section to remove localized surface contaminants that do not affect the entire car.
I have used dish soap and other car washes mixed with water as a lube before but I like the Z7 better as far as lubricity and it does not leave a greasy/oily or soapy film. If you use Zaino polish and use something besides the Z7/H2O as a lube I recommend a second Dawn wash after the clay scrub to remove any possible film if you want optimal results.
To begin the clay scrub, form the clay bar into a flat, half palm sized shape. Spray a section of the clean, cool paint surface with the lube of your choice (I prefer approx. 3' X 3' or so) and simply lay the clay flat on the paint surface and while applying light pressure to the clay gently slide it back and forth across the section that you lubed.
Scrub the section until you feel it getting slick and the clay glides across the paint more easily. While scrubbing with the clay make sure to keep the area lubed with the spray to avoid dragging and clay material transfer. When the paint feels slick stop scrubbing and wipe the area dry with a 100% cotton towel. The area you clayed should feel slick when you run your fingers across it.
Before going to the next section you should fold and knead the clay to expose a fresh, clean side of the clay and form it into a flat, half palm sized shape again. Then just spray the next section and repeat until the entire painted surface of the vehicle is as smooth as a baby's butt. Overlap the sections to insure that you clay every inch of paint. Also, make sure to refold and knead the clay between each section or panel so that you are rubbing the paint surface with a clean portion of the clay bar. When the clay bar looks dark or dirty even after folding and kneading discard it and get a new one. A single 80-gram bar should do a car 5 to 7 times before needing to be discarded as long as you don't drop it or get dirt into it from other sources, such as missing a spot when washing before the clay scrub.
**Important**- If you drop the clay bar onto the ground, THROW IT AWAY.
It can pick up grit and leave some NASTY scratches. The odds of you picking all the dirt and grit out of the clay are slim and a new clay bar is far cheaper than a paint repair if you get scratches that can't be polished out.
After the entire vehicle has been clay scrubbed you should wash and dry it, then apply a good paint protectant ASAP. As well as removing bonded surface contaminants, the claying process removes any and all wax from the paint, leaving it exposed to the sun(UV), acid rain, and other elements. I recommend Zaino Bros. Show Car Polish if you want the best looking, longest lasting shine and protection. Zaino polishes are also the easiest to use that I have found.
**Note to Zaino users**- If you plan to use Zaino polish and you use Zaino Z6 or Zaino Z7/H2O as your clay lube you need not do another Dawn wash after claying. Simply rinse thoroughly and dry and you are ready for Z1. If you use ANY other lube you will want to do a Dawn wash to insure that you remove any possible oily or soapy residue from the paint before starting the Zaino process to obtain optimal results with Zaino polish.
I think that covers it.