Claybar for the first time!

FloydSummerOf68 · 12-26-2007, 10:34 AM

Finally got myself a claybar from tropicare and went over the car this last weekend (07 silver C6)

Holy crap....how did I not have one of these sooner?

It was a DRAMATIC difference any my car only has 13K on the clock.
I also went over my dads 06 STS and it was INSANE how much it picked up.

Took about 15 minutes to do the car using a quick detailer as a lube and then went over the car with the porter cable (for the first time...christmas present) and zymol cleaner wax (green pad) and then sprayed meguiars ultimate quick detailer on it while buffing the dried wax off.

Car looks better than it did in the showroom.

My brother just laugehd at me when he felt the car and how smooth it was, my gf couldnt stop stroking the car while we were riding in it, and I've gotten compliments already on how bright the silver looks now.

I'd get some pictures up, but my camera sort of sucks...I need one with better resolution (its like 6 years old)...so it doesnt really show detail that well.

But the short of the story....clarbars are a godsend and the porter cable makes waxing a breeze.

Now I just need to get some rejex and I'll be in business

00C Just for Fun · 12-26-2007, 01:38 PM

I was in a stealership recently and they were promoting a protective finish. They did one side of the hood and had thin plastic gloves so you could feel the difference between the two sides. Protected side smooth, other side bumpy. They probably want $500 for this and you can achieve it with a $20 clay bar and 15 to 30 minutes effort.

FloydSummerOf68 · 12-26-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00C Just for Fun

I was in a stealership recently and they were promoting a protective finish. They did one side of the hood and had thin plastic gloves so you could feel the difference between the two sides. Protected side smooth, other side bumpy. They probably want $500 for this and you can achieve it with a $20 clay bar and 15 to 30 minutes effort.

I dont even know what those people would charge...but like you said, I'm sure it's insane.

I'm just upset I didnt have a claybar sooner to use on my firebird...what a missed opportunity, lol.

I did the same thing with my dads STS though...I clayed half the hood and had him feel it through a plastic baggie. He was baffled at how someone ever decided to even run clay over their car in the first place, but was VERY impressed.

Killrwheels@Autogeek · 12-26-2007, 06:27 PM

I find most of the letters of thanks come from two senarios ---claying and polishing via machine. Both are must do or must have items in car care.

FloydSummerOf68 · 12-27-2007, 10:30 AM

I dont doubt it...the claybar is now my best friend.

steve8 · 12-27-2007, 12:04 PM

I'd be careful about letting you new found enthusiasm getting the best of you.
Be careful of slight marring, especially with silver. Meaning, it may be there but difficult to see.
I plan on claying in the near future, but polishing with my PC afterwards.

FloydSummerOf68 · 12-27-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve8

I'd be careful about letting you new found enthusiasm getting the best of you.
Be careful of slight marring, especially with silver. Meaning, it may be there but difficult to see.
I plan on claying in the near future, but polishing with my PC afterwards.

You'll only mar the paint if you're an idiot (not you in particular...just people who will do it) or you get a super agressive clay.

I've never known ANYONE to mar their paint from claybaring it.

The clay from tropicare is quite mild anyway.

steve8 · 12-27-2007, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FloydSummerOf68

You'll only mar the paint if you're an idiot (not you in particular...just people who will do it) or you get a super agressive clay.

I've never known ANYONE to mar their paint from claybaring it.

The clay from tropicare is quite mild anyway.

You will now incur the wrath of Bugman. You have been warned.

bugman · 12-27-2007, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve8

You will now incur the wrath of Bugman. You have been warned.

sorry - have been away from the board for a while.
if you want to see some severe damage from clay - see http://bugmanweb.com , click on "claybar marring". My experience and that of GMBlack3 is posted there for you. Believe me, neither one of us did anything stupid like press hard, drop the bar, nor use too little lube. The real problem is that if your claybar is doing damage, you cannot see it until you wash off the car and dry it.

That's why I just suggest trying a test area first, before you do the entire car.

There are two other brands of clay that caused bad marring for me. But Sonus Green clay did not. I'll have to try to remember the Tropicare clay - maybe I'll give that a try some time. Thanks for the post

FloydSummerOf68 · 12-27-2007, 05:09 PM

Hm...interesting, but like I said, I thought it would require doing something stupid OR having an agressive clay. I would assume with a mild clay it WOULD take something very stupid to mar the paint.

I'll be sticking with my tropicare clay though, so I'm not too worried about marring the paint...like I said, this was my first time EVER doing it and it came out smooth as glass without the slightest hint of marring anywhere on the paint surface.

I guess everyone I know that has claybared has had good luck too then, lol, because I've never heard of someone (meaning my friends) marring their paint. I believe the bulk of them have used the mother claybar.

What are the more aggressive clays that you would suggest just staying away from?