Arrrgh: My love-hate relationship with clay...(long)

jimwh · 05-06-02, 08:51

I received my Pinnacle PolyClay Kit and P21S Paintwork Cleansing Lotion from CMA this past Friday and axiously got home all ready for a weekend of detailing.

I awoke early Saturday morning and organized all my supplies. After rinsing off all the dirt & pollen, I proceeded to wash with EF PowerWash+ and my MF Wash Mitt. I was quite pleased at being able to get over 2 weeks of crud & bug carcases off with relative ease.

By now, it was fast approching 85 degrees (at about 8:45 AM) when I pulled into the garage and dried with my 2 Big Blue Drying Towels. I then dusted the interior with the dampened BBT's.

At this point, my intention was to "practice" on the wife's Volvo, but when I went to check the temperature of the car, it was scalding hot. I then had the crazy (and impatient) idea to learn a new technique on my car.

I broke out the PolyClay, Clay Lube and MF Power Scrubber towels that come included in the kit. I decided to work on the trunk lid first as it's easy to reach and was in a position to be able to guage reflectivity and shine.

After opening the clay package, I broke off about 1/3 of the bar (out of 3 bars that come in the plastic jar) and kneaded it into a flat pancake. I spritzed lube on the panel and the clay and began rubbing back and forth with only slight pressure.

At first, I noticed the clay feeling like it was dragging, but thanks to AMGTorre's comments in a previous post, this was expected. After 3 or 4 passes, the clay just glided across the paint. I continued this process across the entire trunk lid. Only once did I notice any residue, but I found that 1 spritz of lube stopped that.

Once the clay was gliding across the paint smoothly on the entire trunk lid, I wiped down the area with the PowerScrubber MF towels. The paint seemed to have a "happy" glow at this point. I broke out the P21S PCL and a couple of Viper Micro Fiber Detailing Cloths and polished the area (twice) I just clayed. I took a look at various angles and was really impressed with the shine and reflectivity. The paint felt creamy smooth!

So far, so good...but here's where the the trouble began.

I set up some concrete block I had laying around the garage as staging so that I could reach the roof of my car easily and proceeded to clay away using the piece of clay used earlier. Working from the rear of the roof to the front (on the right side) I clayed away. This area went well. As I got near the sunroof, I noticed that the piece of clay was beginning to break down and get "soupy."

QUESTION: Should clay break down over use and get "soupy?" I was under the impression that the clay would only get dirty, but not absorb liquid. Might this be indicative of using too much lube?

Continuing on, I rounded the bend and did the small section to the right of the sunroof and between the sunroof and top edge of the windshield. At some point, I must have picked up a piece of grit that went unnoticed. After wiping off the small amount of clay residue and lube, I stepped down to get the Cleasing Lotion and I notice THEM. Small swirls. NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

I tried multiple passes of Cleansing Lotion but I could not eliminate them, let alone reduce their appearance. Out of frustration, I cleaned up my work area and re-AIO'd & SG'd the areas I worked on and then hit the pool (by now, it was close to noon and around 95).

I'm not really sure what to try next in order to removed the swirls as I don't wish to make them worse, but I really don't want to be reminded of them each time I step near the car. In all honesty, they are not really visible and then only in the right angle of light, but still...

I may break down and finally get a PC from International Tool and the PC Pad Kit from CMA, but I'm afraid that my wife is not as understanding as Stephannie Ross. I'd be in the dog shed for sure.

Should I try SMR or something similar? I'd really like to be able to remove these marks, both from an aesthetic point of veiw as well as to reassure myself that I can maintain my tile as Obsessed Detailer.

My apologies for the long post, but not only does this serve as a theraputic confession, but also as sort of a notebook for a more thorough review of Pinnacle PolyClay once I'm over my fit of depression. If you're still here reading, then many thanks!

05-06-02, 09:56

haha, same thing happened to me on saturday when we did the boston autopia project (coming soon to a thread near you!) and it swirled the paint :scared . Joe then hit it with the PC with a white pad with a few drops of 3M SMR, and bam, the swirls were gone!

Eric R · 05-06-02, 09:58

I live in Tamarac. Call me. 954-720-7813.

I have 3M SMR and a holy host of other wonderful items ... plus the requisite **garage**.

E

jimwh · 05-06-02, 10:09

Eric -

I believe that I may take you up on that offer once I can clear my schedule. I live in Cooper City (corner of Flamingo & Stirling (ie: Rock Creek)), so you're just up the country lane from me.

Plus, I'd love to get some experience with a PC before dropping a C note on one.

Thanks!!

porterdog · 05-06-02, 10:30

FWIW, my experience matches that of AlB; claying my friend Robbin's BMW left some marring but the PC/SMR took that out.

Luck,
Robert

Guess My Name · 05-06-02, 07:59

what did you use for clay lube? Some clays do not like a water shampoo solution...

jimwh · 05-07-02, 05:09

I bought the Pinnacle PolyClay kit which included Pinnacle's Clay Lube. I'm wondering if something like EF CP or Meguiar's FI might be a better choice.

Eric R · 05-07-02, 07:26

Quote:

Originally posted by jimwh

I believe that I may take you up on that offer once I can clear my schedule. I live in Cooper City (corner of Flamingo & Stirling (ie: Rock Creek)), so you're just up the country lane from me.

Plus, I'd love to get some experience with a PC before dropping a C note on one.

J:

Bring it on ... You'll like the PC, but the only time I use it is when I SMR a car. The rest is usually by hand.

CUL8R.

E

amgtorre · 05-24-02, 07:10

I have not had the clay got souppy on me ...

I used the whole bar, rinsing and exposing a clean portion after each panel ... also used Pinnacle lub

Brad B. · 05-24-02, 08:01

I am concerned that you have multiple issues going on here. I don't even use motions during claying that could cause what I would consider swirls.

I clay using short back and forth motions. I also taks very small slivers of clay that I have cut off the bar. I use one side until I feel it is dirty, flip it, use the other side and then throw it away. There is never any risk on kneading any grit or dirt back into the bar and causing future damage. It is safe and cost effective.

BTW574 · 05-24-02, 08:22

I agree, when I do my car I use a small piece do a panel and then toss it. With the 3 bars I get in the Pinacle kit I am good for 3 years. I clay whonce a year in spring when I do my annual spring detail on it after winter. The rest of the year I kep it spotless until the snow flies, then it is a weekly wash at a touchless car wash unless the temp is above 45 than I do it outside.