Clay Bar - Lube with hose....

I

imported_Luster1

New member
A good friend and fanatic detailer told me to use this method when claying and I'd never go back to using the QD method or the Car-Wash-n-Water method.



1. Thoroughly wet the clean car with water from the hose.



2. Keep the hose running with a very light stream (low pressure) and clay while the hose is running water onto the painted surface.



He says you can clay the car twice as fast and it lubes better.



I tried this method and it seemed to work. (Surface was as smooth as glass.)



Has anyone used this method?



Are there any negatives to doing it this way?
 
Never tried that. Is there any benefit to using this method over claying right after you've washed a panel and using the car wash soap mixture as lube?



Michael
 
Interesting....certainly saves money over the QD method. At least for those of us not living under water restrictions.
 
I have done it"Water only" and found it to be better than with a QD spray. By better, I mean smoother- faster, works instead of slipping on the QD. I just keep the area wet-wet, like as if I was Color Sanding. A plus, the clay(mothers) seems to hold and fold better, then if loaded with QD.
 
mpauly said:
Never tried that. Is there any benefit to using this method over claying right after you've washed a panel and using the car wash soap mixture as lube?



Michael
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I guess you can just keep going from panel to panel without having to stop to rinse off individual panels once you finish claying? Also no risk of having the soap or QD drying into spots or streaks on the paint surface before you can rinse off, it would seem. I've thought about doing this before but was concerned whether the lubrication with continuous running water would be adequate. I may have to try this next time.
 
IMO, not is it the best, but the only way.....I wash 1st, rinse, then keep surface wet with hose and just lay the clay in the palm of my hand and clay away.....Folding occasionaly as needed. The only downside is if the cars surface is really polutted, you will have too much lubricant, and not enough clay will touch the surface for removal....It really helps when you can feel the cars surface on the palm of your hand, helps guide your efforts....
 
Break ? I didnt even know clay bars could break.....Ive never heard of such a thing !
 
Patrick,



I think "break down" might be a better way to put it . . . The couple of times it has happend to me, the clay begins to get soft and porous and not hold together as it should. This could be for a couple of reasons; the clay may not be reacting well with the QD or car shampoo be used as a lube, or it may be from folding too much liquid into the clay.



I've found the latter to be the cause of my problem; since I've started to dry my clay before folding (just dab the business side on a clean MF or even my shirt ot remove the bulk of the lube), I haven't had a return of the "squishies".



Tort
 
If the clay isn't breaking down, as Tort described, but rather breaking apart, it could be from too cold water, causing the clay to get hard enough to break. Ever try using clay on a cold morning? It's not the thing to do....
 
rek said:
If the clay isn't breaking down, as Tort described, but rather breaking apart, it could be from too cold water, causing the clay to get hard enough to break. Ever try using clay on a cold morning? It's not the thing to do....
Click to expand...



I have been known to put my clay in the microwave for 25 to 30 seconds to "warm it up" on cold days.



I have never used the hose method. I wash, rinse, then clay using a fresh batch of car wash soap and water, doing a panel at a time, then rinsing.
 
its actually ALOT easier to soap the car up then do it, not with straight water but i use meguairs gold class car wash, get the whole car soaped up, use the clay, wash the car again, works like a charm, not too much water and no hassle of using QD
 
Ive never had to rewash again, its interesting what people do or find necessary to do....One of the tricks of detailing is knowing short cuts, thats why i never use QD's or soaps.....But if they find those things valuable to there process, all is well......;)
 
greathuskie said:
its actually ALOT easier to soap the car up then do it, not with straight water but i use meguairs gold class car wash, get the whole car soaped up, use the clay, wash the car again, works like a charm, not too much water and no hassle of using QD
Click to expand...



Me too. Very quick and easy:xyxthumbs
 
I always worry about the soap interacting with the clay eventually, and ruining the clay......
 
I take my clay bars and split them up into smaller pieces, so it really does not matter...as after I do a car, the piece of clay used is either relegated to doing the extreme lower body panels or tossed...
 
Patrick said:
I always worry about the soap interacting with the clay eventually, and ruining the clay......
Click to expand...



that's what I meant by "break"... pardon the term... the clay bar basically turns into mush and will not return to its kneadable form... occured with 3 different brands of clay bars
 
I use the low pressure detergent feature on my pressure washer with either Meg gold class or Meg #00 Hi Tech Wash and soak the car with suds.



I them get a big spunge and saturate the surface while claying if needed.



I try not to do this in direct sunlight, can leave detergent spots on the vehicle. It however speeds up the claying process.



Hope it helps
 
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