I'd just like to say I am shocked and appalled by the bullying I am witnessing in this thread!
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I'd just like to say I am shocked and appalled by the bullying I am witnessing in this thread!
Unless I'm very much mistaken, the popular Beat Combo "Electric Six" had a song in the Hit Parade some time ago on this very topic...
ELECTRIC SIX
"CLAY BAR"
You!
I wanna take you to a clay bar,
I wanna take you to a clay bar,
I wanna take you to a clay bar, clay bar, clay bar.
Let's start a war, start a nuclear war,
With a clay bar, clay bar, clay bar..
Wow! (Shout out loud)
With a clay bar.
Now tell me do ya, a do ya have any money?
I wanna spend all your money,
On a clay bar, clay bar, clay bar.
[Pause]
I've got something to put in you,
I've got something to put in you,
I've got something to put in you,
It's a clay bar, clay bar, clay bar.
Wow! (Shout out loud)
You're a superstar, with your clay bar.
You're a superstar, with your clay bar.
Yeah! you're a superstar, with your clay bar.
You're a superstar, with your clay bar.
Superstar.
Super, super, superstar
Not suggesting the post-Detailing party was anything like this though... :smilewinkgrin:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Xs8YKKZXz0
Hmm... Ok.. an answer from a very amateur point of view..
If you've thinking about keeping your car 's paint in better than average condition, a clay bar can be a good buy..
as far as any detailing goes, using a clay bar is about as far as i've gone, for example I don't have a polisher.
If you want to wax your car, you should ideally have the paint in the best possible condition first. To this end, the clay bar will take off a load of contaminants on the surface. You can also use other stuff such as tar remover etc, and paint priming products if you really want to get into it.
To be honest I didn't have a few days to do the car, I wanted to do it all in one day, and get the best results i could with what I would consider easy to use products. so.. Claybar, Black hole Glaze (cos it's a black car - You could substitute in here a good quality polish) and Wax..
To use the clay bar, wash the car first, and dry it off. spray on some Quick detailer spray (or any solution of soapy water - *NOT* Fairy liquid) to give the clay some lubrication. You can get away with doing one panel at a time gently rubbing the clay bar over the surface of the paint to remove contaminants. Remember to keep turning and folding the clay bar after each panel, so you always have a clean bit of clay in contact with the paint. When you're done, the paintwork should feel very very smooth to the touch.. and remember to wash the car again after claying to get rid of any clay residue. No you have to build up the protection on your paint - Polish / Wax etc.. There's lots of videos and tutorials online and on Youtube about this subject too...
As for the Clay itself, there's loads out there to try, I've really only ever used the Meguiars one, so can't comment on any others.. tho there are a lot, from 'mild' to 'aggressive' - I guess some will pick up more contaminants, but be rougher on your paint..
That's about it as far as I use it, there are lots of products out there, and plenty of people who detail cars professionally to a much higher standard - a few of them live round these here forums - who might be able to give a better answer than me :D
Hope that's of some help...
That was very sensible, other E :yes nod:
YOU OK? :idunno: :thud: