wannafbody
wannafbody
The only downside to a mitt is that you really can`t see what you`ve removed as it`s in the wash bucket.
Using Clay Mitts vs Traditional Claying
- Thread starter bes225
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Accumulator
Well-known member
Maybe that touches on why my experiences seem different from those of many others. I don`t expect the clay to absorb contamination, I expect it to become sandpaper the instant it picks something up. So I`d *NEVER* clay some big area without kneading/replacing the clay, and I define "big area" as anything larger than maybe a one-inch square. I`d sure never move the clay for two/three inches of uninterrupted pressure because I`d expect it to cause marring. And yeah, that`s why it takes me so long to clay.
The paints on my Ford and Jag correct a *LOT* easier than those on my Audis/Chevy, so they are apparently softer, but as for marring-resistance any differences are insignificant. If I move abrasive contamination across the paint under pressure the result is marring, no matter how hard the paint supposedly is.
Dan
Well-known member
I guess it comes down to how big are the particles your clay is picking up? I`m getting mostly tiny pieces of tar and other sticky stuff off. Things that are not as hard as paint. I agree with you 100% in principle, in practice is where things come apart!
Accumulator
Well-known member
Dan- Heh heh, I take the view that decent theories work great in practice 
But anyhow...I`m hardly getting any contamination these days (don`t clay for years except for spot-claying), I just ASSume that any contamination is harder than my paint.
But anyhow...I`m hardly getting any contamination these days (don`t clay for years except for spot-claying), I just ASSume that any contamination is harder than my paint.
Fishing
Member
dennis hiip
New member
Nanoskin here, also a cheap Chinese knockoff from eBay for a few dollars. Works.
Does anyone have any experience with the Griots Brilliant Finish Synthetic Clay ? Thinking about trying it. Thank for any response.
Scott on Dallas Paint Correction did have a horrible result with this. And even after breaking it in on the windows. Think it`s on the video where he demonstrate the water behavior from DPC Armor.
I have not so much of experience with claying in longterm use. But the safest way to clay is the way accumulator mention he does. That is the going over the well lubed spot 1 time and then refold the clay bar. And do so until you have the spot smooth and clean. This is also something I have been wondering if the fine grade clays works against. As if you have contaminants that don`t get the fine grade clay to remove them in one go but you would need to be going over the spot 3-5 times and with a aggressive clay you would only need 1-2 passes to get it removed. I also don`t think it`s a big problem if doing claying 1-3 before you do a light polishing to get other small defects. It was more when the claying got popular and some people started to do it monthly or even extreme cases every wash a full claying. Of course this also depending on the paint you are doing if extremly soft or and extremly thin that you don`t get to correct the paint with a light polish. And also IMO and IME the cleaner you get the paint with both a TFR remover and a tar remover and an iron remover. The less contaminants you have when you clay. And also a big difference to a well maintained vehical than a neglected vehical you get in when you either buy one used or do it for a living and get a new customer.
I have not clayed my car since it was polished 2 years ago. So will be interesting to see how much and if it picks up any contaminants from the paint when it`s going to be polished this spring. The same is with the other car I maintain that it`s not been clayed since I did it 1 1/2 years ago. I have not feeled any roughness on the paint from either car since then. But some contaminants I`m sure it will be picking up when clayed. Time will tell and I maybe get a lot of contaminants removed when claying LOL. It`s seems that with the chemical decon I do that the need of claying has not been something I have been wondering about to do. Maybe I try to clay a spot behind the front wheel and on a horisontall panel the next time I wash and see what the clay picks up
Accumulator
Well-known member
Yes, the milder clays (I`ve liked Sonus SFX for ages but I wasn`t thrilled with the last batch
) it can indeed be hard to remove contamination. I see such clays as being for "claying the LSP clean" and nothing more, and I used them to spot-clay at every wash. I don`t mind going over an area numerous times *as long as each pass is too gentle to mar* (that touches on a related topic about "how often" vs. "how aggressive", but anyhow...).For anything more tenacious I switch to Smart/Ricardo clay, still trying to "merely clay the LSP clean" and if I compromise my LSP when claying I chide myself for [messing] up, even though sometimes it`s unavoidable.
I do find that my usual LSPs are quite good with regard to shedding contamination. It`s simply not a problem for me these days whereas it was when I used other LSPs.
SWETM said:
Yeah, that will be interesting! Especially since I keep thinking to myself that your conditions are *awfully* severe compared to mine. Just because my "claying after years of not" were basically a waste of time, that sure doesn`t mean that yours will be, in fact I suspect you`ll get quite a bit of contamination off.
Dr Oldz
New member
I have been a fan of traditional clay.
The new Optimum Clay towel has shifted my thoughts tho. It is by far my favorite clay towel on the market.
The new Optimum Clay towel has shifted my thoughts tho. It is by far my favorite clay towel on the market.
wannafbody
wannafbody
I used a mitt today on my single stage white 96 Miata. The mitt did a good job at removing a winters worth of embedded dirt and was white when I was finished. Washed it off and it`s good to go. I think real clay would be trashed using it on single stage paint.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Having clayed ss many times...it depends on whether or not it`s really oxidized. On decently-maintained SS it`s never an issue at all for me.
Just curious, but why do you think the Miata got so contaminated over the winter? Just your conditions there? I guess it seems like many people are encountering this more than I am, and I find that odd...
wannafbody
wannafbody
Lots of atmospheric fallout and they put ash on my road in the winter. That kicks up a dust storm as people drive up and down the road.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Ah, interesting! Never know what that stuff`ll be like I bet...I gather it doesn`t always just wash right off.
wannafbody
wannafbody
It takes some force to clean the single stage after winter. My clearcoated vehicles fair much better.
Accumulator
Well-known member
Huh, never woulda thunk it! I drove my single-stage Volvo as my Winter Car for years and never had to do anything more than with my b/c ones. Oh, [snap] now that I`ve thought of that I`ll probably spend the rest of the day missing that car, really liked it...