Winter Clean Up and Clay Problem

**JSFM35X** · 10-09-2010, 09:24 PM

Steve,
I am hoping you can help me figure out what went wrong?

Decided to get the truck ready for Winter. I did a total interior and exterior detail. Thankfully the truck is SILVER.

Washed 2-BM w/ PB SSS. Clay with PB gray clay (new tub 2 bars). SSS and water as Lube. With in 1 pannel the clay got very soft and spongy, it was sticking to my gloves. It continued to degrade until it was like oatmeal and was leaving more clay on the paint then anything. I opened the next bar and used it for the balance of the car without issue.

See Pick of the clay below. It is sitting in my glove in this picture.

Below that is the picture of the completed truck.

**CGdetailing** · 10-10-2010, 12:49 AM

i just use car soap as clay lube. works fine to me

**Ronkh** · 10-10-2010, 09:15 AM

I`ve never used wash media as lube. I use spray and wipe. Steve says to dilute sw 1:1, but I`m too lazy to dilute it, so I use it straight. Has always worked fine.

**JSFM35X** · 10-11-2010, 06:55 AM

I am hoping Steve can shed some light on this.

**Poorboy** · 10-11-2010, 08:40 AM

sorry Jeff, not a clue ... like Ron I prefer to use Spray and Wipe (diluted), but I have used soap before.

**Beemerboy** · 10-11-2010, 10:01 AM

I`ve had this happen as well, not with Steve`s clay. I was using soap for lube at the time I think that`s your problem. I use either S&W or QD for clay these days and have not had any problems since

**JSFM35X** · 10-11-2010, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by Poorboy

sorry Jeff, not a clue ... like Ron I prefer to use Spray and Wipe (diluted), but I have used soap before.

Originally Posted by Beemerboy

I`ve had this happen as well, not with Steve`s clay. I was using soap for lube at the time I think that`s your problem. I use either S&W or QD for clay these days and have not had any problems since

I am on the 2nd container of clay from Steve (P

and have not had an issue prior. I finished the detail with the 2nd new bar form the same container and the same lube without issue. Either it picked up a contaminate it did not agree with or it was somehow defective. Guess we will never know. I was just wondering if anyone else had that experience?

Steve, the spray and wipe is better than shampoo and water why? I like the shampoo and water becasue it feels much more lubricating and that is better in my mind. My car swirls if I thik about touching it so I am always looking for the best practice.

Thanks for the input.
Jeff

**Poorboy** · 10-11-2010, 10:49 AM

Unfortunately Clay Magic makes everyone`s clay and all we can do is package it in a jar and hope for the best. In a country where Monopolies and Anti-Trust have laws on the books, it`s incredible that there is no competition allowed for this product.
Ok ..jumping off soap box ...

Jeff the Spray and Wipe has more lubrication than soap and water .... it also allows you to move right on to the next step without re-washing and having water dripping out of crevices. it also seems a lot easier on the clay, as i have bars that are years old that we use for demos at shows and they work as good as the day we opened the package.

**C. Charles Hahn** · 10-11-2010, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Poorboy

Unfortunately Clay Magic makes everyone`s clay and all we can do is package it in a jar and hope for the best. In a country where Monopolies and Anti-Trust have laws on the books, it`s incredible that there is no competition allowed for this product.
Ok ..jumping off soap box ...

Isn`t that moratorium on clay supposed to end in another year or so? I seem to recall reading something about October/November 2011 somewhere....

**black bart** · 10-11-2010, 11:37 AM

I have read about this on other forums.

Some soap & Water & clay combos do not play well together.
Do as Steve suggest and use S&W and your problems will disappear.

**JSFM35X** · 10-11-2010, 11:56 AM

Originally Posted by Shiny Lil Detlr

Isn`t that moratorium on clay supposed to end in another year or so? I seem to recall reading something about October/November 2011 somewhere....

I have this product and might try it. Do you feel you need to wash after claying with this?

Originally Posted by black bart

I have read about this on other forums.

Some soap & Water & clay combos do not play well together.
Do as Steve suggest and use S&W and your problems will disappear.

I would believe that this would be a soloution except I used the 2nd clay bar from PB and continued using the same lube and had no issues. As far as the Monopoly goes, it sure raised prices for clay that was a cheap product before they started enforcing the patent.

**C. Charles Hahn** · 10-11-2010, 01:34 PM

JSFM35X: No, I usually don`t have to wash after claying -- only time I do is if I have to get really aggressive over a small area, and then I just use a few extra squirts from the lube bottle and a MF.

At least that`s how I do it with the clay lube I use (evidently I can`t mention what product that is, even though most sponsored forums recognize and allow discussions describing the mixing and matching of products from different vendors as long as one of their own products is part of the mix). YMMV.

**JSFM35X** · 10-11-2010, 02:14 PM

Originally Posted by Shiny Lil Detlr

JSFM35X: No, I usually don`t have to wash after claying -- only time I do is if I have to get really aggressive over a small area, and then I just use a few extra squirts from the lube bottle and a MF.

At least that`s how I do it with the clay lube I use (evidently I can`t mention what product that is, even though most sponsored forums recognize and allow discussions describing the mixing and matching of products from different vendors as long as one of their own products is part of the mix). YMMV.

Did the mods delete your post? I saw the name earlier and I appreciate your honest response. I will try it. Can you tell me how many oz per 32 oz bottle use use of product X for Clay Lube?

I get that these forums are sponsored by manufacturers but autogeek sells the product you mentioned right? For me this forus and the others is about learning more about detailing. I purchase many products form the manufacturers of this forum but if there is a product from someone else that might be better I need to learn about that as well.

SPAM sucks and should be outlawed but members helping members should NOT be stopped.

thanks again for your honest answer. I hope the Mods read this and get real with Free exchange of Ideas. Bottom line is get people talking about your products buy building the best mousetrap at a fair cost.

Jumping off my soap by.

**C. Charles Hahn** · 10-11-2010, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by JSFM35X

Did the mods delete your post? I saw the name earlier and I appreciate your honest response. I will try it. Can you tell me how many oz per 32 oz bottle use use of product X for Clay Lube?

I usually use about an ounce to 1.5 ounces in a 32oz. bottle. I`ve tried a few different brands of clay with this lube (PB`s included) and have had good luck with it.