question on claying

[fpalattao]

I plan to clay my car for before I layer it with my polish, sealant and carnauba wax.



However, I haven`t clayed before and plan to include it during my rinse cycle of washing the car. Is it safe to clay the WHOLE car while using car soap as a lube. Or should I rinse it quicly after I do a panel then I apply the soap again unto the next panel. Or is water good enough?



Thanks

[Black240SX]

You want to wash and rinse your car first, then use the clay. Don`t use just water with the clay -- you need a lubricant, such as quick detailing spray.

[MacGyver]

If you feel the need to use a product, sometimes I use one of two, either showroom or body shine, however soapy water will do just fine, unless the bucket and mitt are really dirty in which case I would use one of the products as a lubricant. Detailing lubricants for use with clay bars are a rip-off, imo.

[a.k.a. Patrick]

Water during your rinse will work just fine. The notion you need a "lubricant" is nonsense. Water in itself is a lubricant. "You" may elect to use something a little more slippery though. My feeling is too much lube, yield too little results. I have the best luck just using water, the clay tends to work better as opossed to sliding and perhaps missing particles. Just my $.02.

[Eliot Ness]

Originally posted by a.k.a. Patrick

Water during your rinse will work just fine. The notion you need a "lubricant" is nonsense. Water in itself is a lubricant. "You" may elect to use something a little more slippery though. My feeling is too much lube, yield too little results. I have the best luck just using water, the clay tends to work better as opossed to sliding and perhaps missing particles. Just my $.02.

What brand clay do you use Patrick? I haven`t been too successful just using water, but different brands/types of clay may behave differently.

[a.k.a. Patrick]

John, Ive used MOthers, Clay Magic, and Meg`s, even Dura-Glo. Also make sure the surface is cool.... never ever had any marring or residual problems. The most difficult was the old Megs Yellow formulation.

[texas328ci]

Originally posted by fpalattao

I plan to clay my car for before I layer it with my polish, sealant and carnauba wax.



However, I haven`t clayed before and plan to include it during my rinse cycle of washing the car. Is it safe to clay the WHOLE car while using car soap as a lube. Or should I rinse it quicly after I do a panel then I apply the soap again unto the next panel. Or is water good enough?



Thanks

Here`s what works for me. I wash and rinse thoroughly. Then I rinse out my wash bucket and fill it up again with a slightly more diluted concentration of Meg`s NXT wash. I wash the car again and clay while the panels are soapy & slick. I use the Sonus clay from Autopia and have had excellent results with this method. Then, if I have some wash left over I`ll do a quick once over after I`m done claying. This final 10 minute step gets rid of most of the clay residue.



IMO, this is the best method. I`ve tried using clay with a lube like sonus "glyde" but that method takes much more time. Not to mention it took me over half a bottle of lubricant to do one car. This could get expensive over time.



Lastly, if you`re relatively new to detailing like I am you should always follow the "least aggressive product first" rule of thumb. Go with the soapy claying first. If that doesn`t produce the results you are after, then perhaps consider other options. It`s worked for me though, and saves a bunch of time compared to other methods I`ve tried.

[fpalattao]

I`m still unsure if I can use the soapy water clay and move to next panel or do I have to rinse after I clay the panel. I`m worried that by the time I get back to rinse the area, it can potentially be a little drier and the particles can be embeded again in the cars paint.

[vdog0531]

i have used Meg`s QD when i clay and i have also used water. i find the QD to be easier just because it stays on the body panels better than water. on some vehicles that i detail that have no sealent or wax left, the water just doesnt` stay on the horizontal panels which doesn`t provide much lube for clay.



Vernon

[RedCivic95DX]

I use megs #34 as my lubricant. The only time i`ve ever seen anyone go off of carwash soap is a lube they wrecked their paint. Hardcore.

[Eliot Ness]

Originally posted by fpalattao

I`m still unsure if I can use the soapy water clay and move to next panel or do I have to rinse after I clay the panel......

I usually rinse after I clay a panel or section so I don`t risk having any soap dry on the finish. I also try to keep the whole car wet while washing or claying until I`m ready to dry it (to avoid any water spots).



Patrick: thanks for the info, next time I`ll just try water and see how it works.

[texas328ci]

Originally posted by RedCivic95DX

I use megs #34 as my lubricant. The only time i`ve ever seen anyone go off of carwash soap is a lube they wrecked their paint. Hardcore.

Do you know what kind of wash soap your friend was using? It sounds like either it was a low end wash, or perhaps diluted way too much. Most of the "better" car washes out there contain lubricants. I`m surprised your friend had a problem.

[MongooseGA]

I use Patrick`s methad to clay, unless I`m teaching someone else to do it.



What I do, is put my hose attatchment on "Shower" (same spray pattern as your shower head) and hold it on the panel as I clay, never letting the stream stop. This way, there`s no possibilty of the water beading up/ running off before I`m done with the panel. If I`m really in a rush, then I use the wash as my lube. I would only do this if the car wasn`t too dirty to begin with.

[White95Max]

I use car wash soap and distilled water as my clay lube. Currently my wash soap of choice is Meg`s NXT wash.

I have also used Mother`s Showtime QD as a lube, but I don`t think it yields better results than the car soap + water. It feels a bit smoother after using the Showtime with the clay, but that`s only because Showtime contains ingredients that enhance slickness.

[saling4]

I put an ounce of Meq`s Detailr wash in a spray bottle filled with water and spray as I clay. Has been working great. Then a rinse and I am done.