Clay bar???

I have seen several threads where KJ owners were talking about using the clay bar. Now, I know what it is and I have seen them before, but never used them. How do they work and for what situations would I use one? :-k

Jeepman said:

I have seen several threads where KJ owners were talking about using the clay bar. Now, I know what it is and I have seen them before, but never used them. How do they work and for what situations would I use one? :-k

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removing road tar from front doors could be a start, especially for me..


Added this to the bottom:
mms://wm.vitalstreamcdn.com/meguiars_vitalstream_com/Leno/lenoVideo_smoothsurfaceclay6x4_300.wmv

i used a clay bar on my jeep before winter and picked up a LOT of crap off my paint, its an 02 and probbaly the first time it was ever done. it felt like glass afterwards. not saying the paint was bad, it just was never clayed before, it was still shiny, but after i clayed it, wooooow did it shine

but after winter, i noticed some road tar and road crap on the bottom of the doors that wouldnt come off with washing it. so i used the clay bar starting on the top of the jeep, then working my way down. i didnt pick up anything from the molding up. but it took off all the crap that was stuck to the door from the molding down.

so i guess you dont really need to do it very often, but its nice to remove pesky specks that wont come off with just washing it

worth every penny, love mine

It wouldnt be a bad idea to clay the paint at least once a year.. I usually clay mine twice a year, but Im car crazy. \/

You guys are a "bad influence" on me.

I just bought a "Megular's Smooth Surface Clay Kit" at Advance Auto Parts as I was driving by there today. Yup, made a u-turn and went in and the money started flowing out of my pockets. $17.95 + other stuff.

Anyway, it has 2 individually wrapped clay bars (50 grams each - so they are the size of a small bar of soap) and a 16 oz bottle of "Quick Detailer" and 4 oz sample of "Cleaner Wax" and a microfiber towel.

So I read the directions over and it seems pretty straight forward but I have a couple of questions as I am a clay bar virgin.

1) The clay bars are small. Are they a one time use thing?

2) When I'm done with the clay bar do I need to wax it right away?

The KJ is all full of mud again from the weekend and I know I'm gonna have to pressure wash it underneith and scoop the mud out of the skids. What I'm getting at I guess is I will need to figure it will take the better part of a day so I will need to plan on when I can do it. I don't know how long it will take to clay bar and wax it.

Thanks,
Dave

no claybars are not a one time use thing, keep kneading the clay over and over until you get a clean surface to work with. As far as the quick detailer, you can use that as a lubricator for the clay, keep the clay nice and wet. Honestly it isn't necessary to use the quick detailer as the lube, personally after i wash my jeep, and spray all the soap off i clay it using the water that is still on the surface as lube.

I am the former owner of an Infiniti G35, black, and claybar is essential on those cars. I suggest that you do it twice a year, once after summer, once after winter. It removed particulates forced into the clearcoat of the paint and chemicals that bond to the surface. It really is incredible when you hear the grinding of the claybar ripping off all that crap and then your paint is smooth and hard as glass. Incredible.

csukoh78 said:

I am the former owner of an Infiniti G35, black, and claybar is essential on those cars. I suggest that you do it twice a year, once after summer, once after winter. It removed particulates forced into the clearcoat of the paint and chemicals that bond to the surface. It really is incredible when you hear the grinding of the claybar ripping off all that crap and then your paint is smooth and hard as glass. Incredible.

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x2.. There are alot of bonded contaminates on the paint that you wouldnt know was there unless you clayed it.. Its amazing what it will bring off the paint if youve not done it in along time. \/

how about the liquid clay bar? i think it was called ICE. how does it compare to the actual clay bar?(i think the package came with the liquid and just a foam sponge)

akilgore23 said:

how about the liquid clay bar? i think it was called ICE. how does it compare to the actual clay bar?(i think the package came with the liquid and just a foam sponge)

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I dont think that it will work as well.

NO NO NO The only thing that removes bonded contaminants is a clay bar. Its physical properties remove that stuff without scratching your paint....its a mechanical process that no liquid can do.

ICE, however, isnt liquid clay bar, its a synthetic polish, and works amazing. The formula for it allows you to apply it in sunlight. See attached pic of my wife's Audi after a coat of this stuff. Several months later, the car looks exactly the same. Good stuff.

csukoh78,

Looks odd with the plastic not shining as much. The shine looks awesome though.

Nothing better than a Dewalt buffer and 3M's rubbing compound(with 3M's white pad) than finishing it with 3M's machine glaze(with 3M's black pad).Then to make it have that car show shine use 3M's race glaze,the best stuff for a really deep shine.

Tokyojoe1965 said:

csukoh78,

Looks odd with the plastic not shining as much. The shine looks awesome though.

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(Aeh) Of course plastic won't shine as much as painted metal... (Aeh)


German cars are designed to be driven in that country, with all the ice, snow, etc of the roads there it doesnt make sense to have the bottom of the car painted. \/

csukoh78 said:

Tokyojoe1965 said:

csukoh78,

Looks odd with the plastic not shining as much. The shine looks awesome though.

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(Aeh) Of course plastic won't shine as much as painted metal... (Aeh)


German cars are designed to be driven in that country, with all the ice, snow, etc of the roads there it doesnt make sense to have the bottom of the car painted. \/

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Not true,the paint on plastic is the same as the paint on the metal.I know,I painted enough vehicles.

wow that audi look niiiiiice, good job! those are awesome cars

tjkj2002 said:

csukoh78 said:

Tokyojoe1965 said:

csukoh78,

Looks odd with the plastic not shining as much. The shine looks awesome though.

Click to expand...

(Aeh) Of course plastic won't shine as much as painted metal... (Aeh)


German cars are designed to be driven in that country, with all the ice, snow, etc of the roads there it doesnt make sense to have the bottom of the car painted. \/

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Not true,the paint on plastic is the same as the paint on the metal.I know,I painted enough vehicles.

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Um, ok......not to get into a ******* contest or anything....but, you don't look at Audi's much lately do you? the plastic is not painted. Its just that the plastic is a similar color to the paint.

RAYMAN1007 said:

wow that audi look niiiiiice, good job! those are awesome cars

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Thanks! I LOVE this car...you have no idea how great it drives. Buttery smooth, powerful. Its the 3.0 V6 6spd Quattro. Here's another....

Is it a good idea to use rubbing compound on scratches before claybering?