Clean & Extend Life of Detailing Clay w/Blackfire

**Todd@RUPES** · 09-12-2011, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by GearHead_1

I have the same sink but with a goose neck spout, great for tall buckets.

Nice write up though I question the "value" (cost/performance/time) of the product compared to just throwing clay out when it`s dirty. Kind of silly because as I`m typing this the thought went through my mind that I could say the very same thing about just throwing buffing pads out and of course I wouldn`t consider that.

Clay is 19-29 dollars. I have personally extended the life of clay at least 3 fold by using less than 1/4 of a bottle of Blackfire Clay Cleaner and Extender. On a cost basis, it is a HUGE savings to use it.

**C. Charles Hahn** · 09-12-2011, 08:28 PM

Originally Posted by Todd Helme

Blackfire Clay Cleaner and Extender was developed specifically for cleaning modern polybutene clays, not for cleaning carpets, interior parts, etc. When the chemist was working on the formula it was only tested on various grades of clay, nothing else. All of Blackfire`s products are hand made in small batches to exacting standards, and it is a lower volume, high quality line.

Buetyl and buetyl ether are common ingredients in cleaners and it is my understanding that both of these products will eat through and dry polybutene based clays. Blackfire Clay Cleaner and Extender uses polymers and surfactants that were carefully chosen in development to have no ill-effects on clay. It is a very focused product.

See, THAT is the kind of information I was looking for. Thanks, Todd!

I showed David Fermani how to use a OPC to clean clay two years ago, before I ever tried Blackfire Clay Cleaner and Extender, which is my current preference. The entire Optimum line is amazing and we are proud to carry it at Autopia-CarCare.com and I would love to read about other`s positive experience with it in a separate and educational thread that would benefit all.

And David was the one I first heard about cleaning clay from.

**AutopiaTech** · 09-12-2011, 08:44 PM

Originally Posted by Todd Helme

Blackfire Clay Cleaner and Extender was developed specifically for cleaning modern polybutene clays, not for cleaning carpets, interior parts, etc. When the chemist was working on the formula it was only tested on various grades of clay, nothing else. All of Blackfire`s products are hand made in small batches to exacting standards, and it is a lower volume, high quality line.

Buetyl and buetyl ether are common ingredients in cleaners and it is my understanding that both of these products will eat through and dry polybutene based clays. Blackfire Clay Cleaner and Extender uses polymers and surfactants that were carefully chosen in development to have no ill-effects on clay. It is a very focused product.

Ultimately what makes AutopiaForums so unique is we truly have no product bias and it is an open forum. If any forum member has had a great experience using a different product then I would encourage them to share that knowledge with the forum members by creating a how to thread and posting their experience there.

I showed David Fermani how to use a OPC to clean clay two years ago, before I ever tried Blackfire Clay Cleaner and Extender, which is my current preference. The entire Optimum line is amazing and we are proud to carry it at Autopia-CarCare.com and I would love to read about other`s positive experience with it in a separate and educational thread that would benefit all.

Excellent Todd, thanks for the information.

I knew from using the product first hand that Blackfire Clay Cleaner & Extender works great, and now I know why it works so well. Your technical analysis of the product really shed some light on what differentiates it from any regular, run-of-the-mill all purpose cleaner or degreaser. It`s always refreshing to have a product available from any manufacturer that excels at its intended use.

**JaredPointer** · 09-12-2011, 08:46 PM

Why not just buy new clay when you need it? Seems like trying to artificially lengthen the life of a piece of detailing clay is somewhat "against the grain" of our normal thought processes. It`s not like clay is all that expensive. Maybe I am missing the big picture here.

**AutopiaTech** · 09-13-2011, 08:32 AM

Originally Posted by JaredPointer

Why not just buy new clay when you need it? Seems like trying to artificially lengthen the life of a piece of detailing clay is somewhat "against the grain" of our normal thought processes. It`s not like clay is all that expensive. Maybe I am missing the big picture here.

The Blackfire Clay Cleaner & Extender is highly concentrated so it doesn`t take a lot to clean the pads, and if you only have one or two clay bars this allows you to get the most out of them before having to order more.

**Bill D** · 09-13-2011, 10:24 AM

I guess it all depends how often one clays, then again, clay, and I assume this product, has a long shelf life, so it`s something one could purchase and be able to have in the stash for a long time.

**C. Charles Hahn** · 09-13-2011, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by JaredPointer

Why not just buy new clay when you need it? Seems like trying to artificially lengthen the life of a piece of detailing clay is somewhat "against the grain" of our normal thought processes. It`s not like clay is all that expensive. Maybe I am missing the big picture here.

Personally I look at it as being more akin to cleaning your buffing pad on the fly while working. A quick spritz with your cleaner of choice, scrub, rinse, knead, and continue on with your work.

Just another aspect to the whole idea of "working clean."

**Todd@RUPES** · 01-12-2012, 03:11 PM

Originally Posted by Bill D

I guess it all depends how often one clays, then again, clay, and I assume this product, has a long shelf life, so it`s something one could purchase and be able to have in the stash for a long time.

It has a long shelf life for sure.

**Gurge** · 01-13-2012, 02:43 PM

interesting this thread came back to life because I was just considering a purchase to give it a shot

from my perspective, I find I spend a fair amount of time kneading clay to begin with (especially in cold temps - clay magic blue in the cold is brutal). So if a quick spritz here and there could reduce the number of times I have to knead, plus the savings in life of the clay bar, I suppose its worth a shot.

todd`s tech explanation was very helpful btw

**Stokdgs** · 01-13-2012, 03:42 PM

I have been using this Blackfire Product since it first came out at PAC, years ago. Angelo told me about it and I tried it.

Out here where its raining crap from mega-tall trees 24 x 7, and raining at the same time, everyone`s car is full of embedded crap, and at the Claybar stage, you can run through a bar pretty quickly kneading it.

This product has saved me much kneading for the trade-off of keeping an extra bucket of hot water next to me to dunk the claybar in after spraying and wiping it.

And it has also cut down on the number of claybars I buy a year.

Havent timed it to see if its faster than just kneading the clay to a clean spot, but I think for the trade off of keeping the claybar cleaner longer, it is worth it to me in my shop.

What it looks like it is doing in my humble opinion, is removing a very thin layer of clay that is holding the gunk and releasing it so it rinses off with clean water.

Works great !!!

Dan F

**CT3** · 01-13-2012, 03:52 PM

Looks like I`ve been wasting money by just tossing clay out after using it.

**Iomcamaro** · 01-13-2012, 04:06 PM

Another BF product that I`ve been wanting to try, just been too cheap because I didn`t have enough info about it.

Thanks Todd!

**Dr Oldz** · 01-13-2012, 04:21 PM

I have a bottle that I still have yet to try. With clay being a bit expensive, I can see this being beneficial. Some of the contaminants may get burried in the clay like the bigger chunks if you will. So I imagine this may give the false appearance that ur clay is clean and in turn you are actually marring the paint more than with a truly clean piece of clay. ??? Just a tought.

**TroyScherer** · 01-13-2012, 05:56 PM

Originally Posted by Dr Oldz

I have a bottle that I still have yet to try. With clay being a bit expensive, I can see this being beneficial. Some of the contaminants may get burried in the clay like the bigger chunks if you will. So I imagine this may give the false appearance that ur clay is clean and in turn you are actually marring the paint more than with a truly clean piece of clay. ??? Just a tought.

Good point Jim. I see this as a cleaner but I also realize it will not get it back perfectly clean. But it will help.

**Rocket** · 01-13-2012, 05:57 PM

But I think you would notice the bigger pieces of dirt that get imbedded. Even cleaning the clay with this I still would knead and fold it just to be safe. The good thing is most of those contaminates would not be folded back into the clay and cause damage later