Skip claying

[Accumulator]

Bill D - When you use Valuguard ABC, (is that 3 steps?), does this leave the paintwork as smooth and clean as when you use a claybar properly?
Thanks,
Dan F

-AND-

Yes, it`s 3 steps and yes it can leave the paint very smooth. However if you determine the paint is quite contaminated to begin with, I`d suggest using clay during step B. I never had to do this though. I understand B can eat clay so have plenty on hand to do this step.

Same experience here, though I *have* had to either clay or use the VG/AI "bug pad" (or whatever they call it) when the contamination was really bad. As noted, it destroys the clay in one hot minute.

[Lonnie]

My experience with of why to clay is to remove these four types of contaminants found on the paint:
1) Tree sap from parking under or near such trees
2) Road tar residue, after first removing the majority of it with a tar-remover.
3) Paint over-spray, and that can come from a variety of sources, including highway road striping or parking near a building being painted on a windy day OR the unfortunate experience of unavoidably driving though a paint-spill accident .
4) Ferrous or iron contamination from rail dust during transport and/or brake rotor from daily vehicle use.

I still clay using a clay bar. It might be time to consider "upgrading" to the newer clay mitts.
I`ve only used a mild clay (the ubiquitous clay-standard Blue Magic), but even with judicious rubbing and the correct amount of clay lube (Meg`s Mirror Glaze No. 34 Final Inspection), still induce some marring, especially for stubborn-to-remove highway paint over-spray or industrial paint. Yes, I figure I can polish that out, but not always.

Your question to clay or not on a brand-new vehicle is a good one. Chances are it only has iron-ferrous rust flakes and a liquid ferrous decontaminate will remove that, but hence, the suggestions for a visual and tactile inspection are required to REALLY know what is on your new vehicle paint, and if found, that their removal may require a mechanical claying by whatever method (old-school bar or new-school mitt) for a truly clean paint surface.

Let us know what you find and how you removed it.

[Bill D]

Hi Dan

Yes, it`s 3 steps and yes it can leave the paint very smooth. However if you determine the paint is quite contaminated to begin with, I`d suggest using clay during step B. I never had to do this though. I understand B can eat clay so have plenty on hand to do this step.