Claying

B

BlackSunshine

2005 Chev Cavalier, Black
Just wondering if you guys wash after claying or just continue with polishing and then wash before sealing and waxing. Just looking for some different processes that have been working well for people. Thanks.
 
You can clay while washing use some clean soapy water for the lube then rince the car. You can also use QD spray to clay after you wash then wipe down and you are good to go to the next step
 
Hey BlackSunshine,

I feel alot of the time it is a waste of time to rewash the car after claying. If I am going to clay, I am going to polish. This could be an intermediate polish, then final polish, or even more at times. The type of clay "may" depend on some of the issues people have brought up in the past of washing or not washing. One thing to ask is if you are using a clay with or without abrasives. IMO (and I stress that), even if you use one with abrasives (mild or medium grade), the chances of you doing damage while polishing (w/o washing) are slim to none. Otherwise, why would we clay with such a damaging tool in the first place?

So after claying, I go straight to polishing with the PC or rotary, possibly multiple steps of polishing, and then go to a wax/sealant. I don't rewash the car unless I use the rotary and a product that dusts up a lot. That's what I do~~
 
The most common would be to clay after drying using a cheap QD as a lube, or to clay while washing using the water/soap as a lube (requires the two bucket method). I like to clay after washing and drying because for me it provides a better feel. I like being able to control how lubed the surface is and I like to monitor the progress frequently while the surface dry which is much easier when claying with a QD on a dry surface. Either method does work well but like many things it is a matter of preference. Either way no rewash is needed, just go right to the polish.
 
I feel that washing then claying then washing again is a wasted step & wasted time. I usually clay during the wash phase. Don't have to use an extra lube or anything. Wash the panel then rinse with soapy water. Works very good for me.
 
Thanks for the info....sounds like common sense to me....do you know if Mothers clay system is abrasive? or what grade it is? that's what I'll be using.

Also, a Carnuba wax cleaner is offered in this kit....should i just trash this and buy the pre-wax cleaner without the wax......since you shouldn't apply sealants over wax.

Wait a minute, i'll be applying glaze first before sealing and this is a wax...I'm starting to confuse myself:) What's the deal on this step?
 
BlackSunshine said:
Thanks for the info....sounds like common sense to me....do you know if Mothers clay system is abrasive? or what grade it is? that's what I'll be using.

Also, a Carnuba wax cleaner is offered in this kit....should i just trash this and buy the pre-wax cleaner without the wax......since you shouldn't apply sealants over wax.
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I wouldn't necessarily "trash" it. You may find a use for it down the road for a "quickie" detail or something. I would say that you need a good polish to use after the clay. Are you looking to remove swirls/scratches? Maybe you could try the SSR line from Poorboy. Maybe if you will describe what exactly it is that you're after, someone can suggest some products to you.

BlackSunshine said:
Wait a minute, i'll be applying glaze first before sealing and this is a wax...I'm starting to confuse myself:) What's the deal on this step?
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It's okay to use a glaze before a wax/sealant, durability might not be as good as it could be without the glaze though. I would say use the glaze if durability is not an issue. If you are shooting for "not having to do anything" for a while (to the paint) I'd say skip the glaze. Just for future reference, a glaze and a wax are two different animals.
 
and remember one thing, if you drop the clay on the ground dont use it anymore. just throw it away cuz most likely the clay picked up some dirt. there is a strong possibility that your car will get scratches from a dropped clay.
 
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