Using clay bar on new truck?
- Thread starter Glenn54
- Start date
MattPersman
New member
Sure shouldn’t hurt
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Accumulator
Well-known member
Glenn54- Welcome to Autopia!
The "whether to clay or not?" is one of those "it just depends.." sort of things. Even brand-new vehicles can be contaminated, and if the contamination is an issue for you claying might be a good solution. But I don`t see any point in doing something that`s not necessary, so first I`d consider whether it is necessary (e.g., the "baggie test").
Note that claying always involves a risk of inducing additional marring (swirls/scratches/etc.). The most gentle clays, which are less likely to do that, are often too gentle to really do much decontaminating. That`s why I tend to like/recommend Chemical Decontamination.
If your concern/issue is Ferrous Contamination ("rail dust", rust-blooms) then the chemical route would definitely be my choice/recommendation. If it`s a light-colored vehicle I`d definitely consider doing that even if it does pass the baggie test. Not a big deal, basically just washing the vehicle with the Ferrous Contamination Remover stuff.
If it`s a darker color, and you don`t notice any contamination, I myself would quite probably just go straight to polishing (after a very thorough wash). But that`s just me and saying that borders on Autopian Heresy
since I suspect that few here would polish without first doing some kind of decontamination.
The "whether to clay or not?" is one of those "it just depends.." sort of things. Even brand-new vehicles can be contaminated, and if the contamination is an issue for you claying might be a good solution. But I don`t see any point in doing something that`s not necessary, so first I`d consider whether it is necessary (e.g., the "baggie test").
Note that claying always involves a risk of inducing additional marring (swirls/scratches/etc.). The most gentle clays, which are less likely to do that, are often too gentle to really do much decontaminating. That`s why I tend to like/recommend Chemical Decontamination.
If your concern/issue is Ferrous Contamination ("rail dust", rust-blooms) then the chemical route would definitely be my choice/recommendation. If it`s a light-colored vehicle I`d definitely consider doing that even if it does pass the baggie test. Not a big deal, basically just washing the vehicle with the Ferrous Contamination Remover stuff.
If it`s a darker color, and you don`t notice any contamination, I myself would quite probably just go straight to polishing (after a very thorough wash). But that`s just me and saying that borders on Autopian Heresy
since I suspect that few here would polish without first doing some kind of decontamination.
Dan
Well-known member
Clay bar, no, clay towel/pad...yes. Its not how many miles but how long it was parked and how it was transported. I mean if the paint feels silky smooth with the baggie test, I guess you can skip it.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Dan- Heh heh, we could always do a "clay vs. towel" debate and *really* get Glenn54 scratching his head! Just kidding, just kidding...well, sorta 
But seriously, since he *is* planning to polish anyhow I doubt that the (right) towel/pad would really be all that riskier than the clay, and I do acknowledge that I`m much more paranoid about the towel/pad than most here.
But seriously, since he *is* planning to polish anyhow I doubt that the (right) towel/pad would really be all that riskier than the clay, and I do acknowledge that I`m much more paranoid about the towel/pad than most here.I had a customer that bought a brand new Benz C-class sedan. He brought it over to have me do a quick polish and coating within the first week with less than 200 miles. It was one of the most contaminated cars I have ever clay barred. Turns out it had been parked in the dealer`s lot right next to the entrance coming off a very busy boulevard. So all the cars going down the road where leaving their brake dust over the front line up cars at that dealership.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Glenn54- Some sorta-random tips follow:
-Tear the clay bar into small pieces, if only so you don`t trash the whole thing if you drop it (I know, I never drop clay either But I still do this just in case 
) The little pieces are easier to inspect/knead too
-Knead/replace your clay *VERY* frequently; the instant it picks up a bit of abrasive contamination it becomes sandpaper and will scratch your paint
-Use *lots* of good lube; the clay should float across the surface of the paint on a film of lube, bumping into contamination and shearing it off (clay *does not* "pull contamination off/out of the paint", that`s just now how it`s supposed to work)
-Don`t let clay/lube residue dry on the vehicle, it can be a pain to clean off
-Tear the clay bar into small pieces, if only so you don`t trash the whole thing if you drop it (I know, I never drop clay either
But I still do this just in case ) The little pieces are easier to inspect/knead too-Knead/replace your clay *VERY* frequently; the instant it picks up a bit of abrasive contamination it becomes sandpaper and will scratch your paint
-Use *lots* of good lube; the clay should float across the surface of the paint on a film of lube, bumping into contamination and shearing it off (clay *does not* "pull contamination off/out of the paint", that`s just now how it`s supposed to work)
-Don`t let clay/lube residue dry on the vehicle, it can be a pain to clean off