Clay bar

[tanuie]

Hi,

I am about to clay bar my car, however, I only have about third of the lubricating liquid in the bottle, can I add a little water to this so that I
have enough to carry out the work.
Many thanks
Terry

 

[Dieselman]

Yes, or use some car wash soap made up.

 

[Image2000uk]

if your bar is a bilt hamber bar you only need to use water anyway

 

[Abdul]

Yes, or use some car wash soap made up.

What Dieselman said really.

Personally I'd wait for warmer weather as you'll most likely marr the paint no matter how much you warm up the clay bar.

 

[m2287]

water and blutac works for me

 

[Rashman]

Colder conditions are better as your lubricant won't dry as quickly as you work, meaning you won't need to spray as often.

Just make sure the body is nice and wet as you work and you won't get any marring.

Marring only occurs when you swipe the clay over dry bodywork.

 

[Rashman]

water and blutac works for me

Tramp.

 

[m2287]

Tramp.

Id rather save the £20 for the crate of beers I'll need when I finish!

 

[Rashman]

Id rather save the £20 for the crate of beers I'll need when I finish!

Lol, fair enough bud

 

[norfolkngood]

Might be worth a look at the clay bar threads on Detailing World where all the real OCD sufferers live!

I use Bilt Hamber soft clay, requires only water as lube.

Give it frequent squirts, then some more as soon as the clay starts to bind - what you're trying to achieve is the clay gliding over the paintwork not digging in.

Best to do small areas, then get some wax on (Colly 476 is my preference)

 

[Abdul]

Colder conditions are better as your lubricant won't dry as quickly as you work, meaning you won't need to spray as often.

Marring only occurs when you swipe the clay over dry bodywork.

Sorry but that's incorrect. No matter how much you warm up the claybar to keep it soft as soon as you touch the cars bodywork in this weather it will cool down big time thus inducing marring. You're right about using more lube in warmer weather but I'd rather use a bit more water/QD then scratch my paint personally.

Of course if the OP is planning on machine polishing the paint afterwards etc it doesn't matter so much.

You could always tear the clay in two and keep one in a jug of warm water and alternate after a few passes.

Just my 2 pence.

 

[Samsung1uk]

Sorry but that's incorrect. No matter how much you warm up the claybar to keep it soft as soon as you touch the cars bodywork in this weather it will cool down big time thus inducing marring. You're right about using more lube in warmer weather but I'd rather use a bit more water/QD then scratch my paint personally.

Of course if the OP is planning on machine polishing the paint afterwards etc it doesn't matter so much.

You could always tear the clay in two and keep one in a jug of warm water and alternate after a few passes.

Just my 2 pence.

As above, I would also try Autoglym quick detailer as I've found this to be really good. Also I would tear a piece off just to use on the lower parts of the bodywork where most of the crap is accumulated.

 

[montreal]

..

 

[kw2010vish]

i used soapy water and finished with srp n hd wax

 

[sixpot]

I use plenty of Lubricant to reduce the marring effect. (just saves more work later on)

 

[kap02]

I would recommend the new Clay cloth! Lots of good benefits over the regular clay bar.

This is a new product by a company called ArtDeShine, more details below:

The ADS Clay Cloth - General Guide & FAQ - Detailing World

 

[tonyc280]

do not all the bits of grit etc stick to the surface of the Clay Bar and further scratch the surface ?????. T.

 

[ow125]

do not all the bits of grit etc stick to the surface of the Clay Bar and further scratch the surface ?????. T.

They get sucked into it, never had a problem with my clay bars. Just keep turning them over and absorbing it and keep paintwork lubricated.

 

[Fun4Four]

A water only clay bar, hmm, the idea sounds good so will give it a go for a comparison.

Sometimes it's the simple stuff... such as a jug of warm water, really obvious (well, it is now..) as long as it's not sub zero (point taken about it cooling on touching the bodywork). I also tend to clay only in warmer weather so never really been that concerned about marring. So looking for a few ideas for better/easier winter detailing. The garage is warmish but nothing compared to a bit of summer heat.