clay, polish, or glaze - least abrasive?

[tommyslash]

ok, i'm a newbie, but i've been checking out tons of forums and i'm still confused: i have a black 98 honda but paint/clearcoat is ok with some stains from water, etc. i thought about claying, but seems to be disagreement on whether it's abrasive or not.

So, I'm gonna wash (w/ maguiers soft gel) and wax (probably Meguiar's Gold Class Wax and microfiber towels) ... after washing notice that finish feels a little rough, which should i do inbetween that won't take off paint:

clay, polish, or glaze?

what's been experiences with y'all? thanks in advance

[beau]

hi tommy.

a '98 black honda. i'm gonna guess that it hasn't had much pampering in the past? are there swirls? when you pass your palm along the car after a wash, do you feel bumps?

perhaps if you could give us a little more info on your paints condition exactly, we could give you a better prescription.

[darbh]

Hello Tommy,

Re clay, I have not heard any concerns that clay is abrasive. Yes, if you let dirt build up on the clay, you can stratch your paint, but that is easily prevented by monitoring the clay and stretching and folding it often. The clay itself is not abrasive.

Most products called "glazes" have filler-type oils or silicon and are a bandaid.

[beau]

sometimes i think clay is used too often in some cases, or used when not necessary. here is an article from carcareonline i'd like to share.

"There have been tremendous amounts of advertising and "hype" about overspray clays. Let us set the record straight. Overspray clays have been around since the 1930's (No, they are not brand new.) What is new is the marketing of a product for a use other than it was designed.

Overspray clay is a plasticine matrix with an abrasive intermixed throughout. It was designed and is still the best product to abrade (read grind off) fresh paint overspray from existing paint. This is a classic scenario of its designed usage. A body shop repaints a fender of your car and during the preparation process does not mask off the entire car. A little overspray finds its way onto other areas of your car. This overspray consists of tiny little dots of paint on top of the existing paint. The easiest way to remove this unwanted overspray is to "grind" it off with the clay. Copious amounts of lubricant such as Meguiar #34 Final Inspection or One Grand Show Off are sprayed on the paint and the clay is hydroplaned across the surface to abrade the little bumps of fresh paint from the existing paint. The body shop person "floats" the clay back and forth across the paint using only lateral pressure until the resistance ceases, indicating that the unwanted droplets have been ground off.

Many people are touting overspray clay as the new way to "clean" your paint. This is somewhat like washing your face by peeling off the top layer of skin. You will uncover a layer of fresh clean skin, but this may not be the most comfortable nor beneficial experience for your face. Clays smooth the surface of paint by grinding off the microscopic high spots of your paint, much like sandpaper smoothes a piece of wood. They are the best way to remove paint overspray, tree sap build up and other impossible to remove surface contaminants. Realize that you are also removing some paint with the contaminants, so usage of a clay should be utilized only after all other more gentle methods of cleaning your paint have failed.

Overspray clay is a double-edged sword. It can be a scratch waiting to happen. It must be used with only on a well-lubricated area and must be continually checked for contaminants. If you rub it on areas of the paint that have not been well lubricated or a piece of grit lodges in the clay, you have made "sandpaper" that will scratch the paint. The trick to properly using a clay is use copious amounts of lubricant and "float" the clay over the surface. The clay works best when it hydroplanes over the paint surface. You must continually refold the clay to expose a fresh clean surface. If contaminants lodge in the clay, simply tear off the section and discard. Once you have ground off all the surface contaminants, wash with a car wash, dry thoroughly, apply a quality polish to add emollient oils into the paint and finally wax."

[RIC]

Classic Motoring Accessories also has a good article about clays, the new polymer clays, and what clays will and will not do.
http://properautocare.com/usclaybartor.html

[darbh]

The article Beau posted says clay removes paint. The link Ric posted goes to an article that says that clay does not remove paint.

What have your experiences been?

[tommyslash]

Not enough pampering, plus rough environment (outdoor parking lots are murder) ... have a carport now, wanna get this baby back in shape. some swirls from when i had it detailed last year (guy used glaze) but no bumps, just feels a little "gritty" even after washed (meguier's soft gel and chenille mitt) ... anyway, checked out the properautocare.com link, they say:

The final solution, a special clay bar, was developed in Japan nearly five years ago. This clay safely removes rail dust and industrial fallout by "pulling" it off the surface. It does not "cut" or perform any abrasive action normally associated with polishing or compounding.
****When clay bars were brought to the United States several other usages were found for them. Clay bars were found to be effective for removing overspray, tree sap, acid rain & water spots and a variety of other surface contaminants.
****Today, clay bars are routinely used by professional detailers and body shops as a simple, safe way to remove overspray and surface contaminants from painted surfaces, chrome and glass.

then they go on to talk about the new polymer clays. i'm still confused about clays but there seems to be some consensus that polish is ok ???

[Guess My Name]

IF you use the clay properly ( lots of spray lubricant) it is awesome at getting rid of tiny specs and other contaminates. I would not do it too many times a year though.

I got into clay when I bought a new Tahoe. At work we have lots of industrial paint overspray. My previous Trooper had so much overpsray it looked like metal flake from a distance. Zeibarts told us of clay.

I went to local PPG store and bought some clay when I traded in trooper for new Tahoe. I had to clay often. once a month. The Tahoe color was the dark pewter. The clay never scratched the clearcoat finish.

Claying is hard work.

I just clayed my new vehicle. Amazing the difference from off the showrrom floor to after claying. Now I only inspect the paint and look for contaminates and feel for them. Put your hand in a plastic baggy and run your hanbd over the paint to find bumps.

Then clay just that spot. Ensure the area is clean first and wash afterwards. Also recoat with your was/polish of choice!

[mleskovar]

I have been using clay for about 4 years. Empirical evidence that clay removes paint/is abrasive does not exist...or please enlighten me. I feel it does less damage/paint removal than chemical cleaners. Like everyone else, my knowledge about clay comes from where the sun don't shine.