Review: BLACKFIRE Detailing Clay Cleaner and Extender
(using the CEE DOG Method - CDM)
http://www.properautocare.com/blclclex.html
Product Description:
The description matches the name. It is intended to clean clay to extend the useful life of clay. Mfg's description claims it extends clay usefulness from 3 to 4 cars per bar to 10 to 12 or more vehicles per bar.
Initial Product Observations:
1.- Packaging: Black Fire black bottles
2.- Directions: Simple to follow
3.- Consistency: Liquid
4.- Color: Greenish
5.- Scent: like window cleaner (alcoholish)
6.- Size: 16 oz
7.- Current Price: $9.99
8.- Price Per oz: $0.62 (based on 16 oz. bottle)
9.- Price Per oz after diluting: N/A use straight
10.- Additional sizes: 128 oz.
11. Manufacturer: Black Fire
13.- Made in: USA
Additional products used:
1. used bar of Meguiars clay
This product was included in my order from PAC when I asked for a sub for the BFWD promo since I just got BFWD a few months ago. Until I received it, I never knew such a product existed and no one seems to talk about it.
The premise is that you basically clean the clay as you go during claying. For my review, I just used a bar of Meg's clay with a tracer of Mothers since it was the dirtiest. (Mothers was in same container and I had combined them).
Per the instructions, you just take the clay, spray some cleaner, and massage it into the clay bar.
Depending on how much clay cleaner you use, it does tend to generate the film you see on my hands. I had no idea how much to use but I tend to use too much of everything so this is no different.
Here are some pics.
Clay before:
DSC_1841-1
Kneading it since the entire clay was dirty
DSC_1842-1
After
DSC_1844-1
Pros:
1.- It did clean the dirty clay (wonder where the crud went)
2. $9.99 for any 16 oz product except for glass cleaner seems to be a bargain these days
Cons:
1. None seen. See unknowns
Unknowns:
1. I did not actually clay a car after I did the cleaning so I cannot tell if it affected the clay's properties. It seemed fine - maybe a bit slimey but I will check tomorrow.
2. I was unable to confirm the number of vehicles (12 per clay bar) claimed.
Final Observations and Summary:
It works.
Given that a 200 g bar typically can run $20 and if you do use it alot I could see how this could cut the cost down so rather than $6+ per car (cost per use) to $1.50 per car.
When you think about it, in paint prep the two major expenses seems to be painters tape and clay. Soaps, polishes, etc. have a lower cost per use (less than $1.)
I plan to use it and glad Jack included in the order.
