CLAYBAR TUTORIAL! *Q&A* *VIDEO*

[Skylinegtr06]

yeah I keep dropping my Clay, so damn slippery!! Its alright I just reshape it

[av911]

I finally started claybarring my car after 34,000+ miles. This is my first time ever claybarring, so I started from my lip spoiler to try to get the hang of it. Then moved on to the trunk. The sun was coming down, so I stopped there and will wait what it'll look like in the morning. But the initial results were night and day, in terms of the feel of the surface.

[irichard]

cool. just brought a claybar kit from mothers

[Teebo07si]

wow heres the page i was looking for.

[HkyGrL2]

Ok, so I've read the entire thread and am a bit confused......
Wash
Dry
Clay
Paint Cleaner
Polish
Wax

or

Wash
Dry
Paint Cleaner
Polish
Wax
Clay

It seems as though people think claying should be done at different times? When should you clay?

I have never polished, waxed or clayed my car before. I live across a school and they just repaved all of the parking lot and entrance. I noticed tire tracks next to my car. Sure enough, there are the little black rocks on my car. You have NO freakin' idea how pissed I was. You would think being ten feet away from my vehicle they could have left a note a week prior to work being done!
I think it's definitely time for me to go through the steps above, but need to get an accurate step by step in order to do so.

[si_civic]

Originally Posted by HkyGrL2

Ok, so I've read the entire thread and am a bit confused......
Wash
Dry
Clay
Paint Cleaner
Polish
Wax

Remember, always WAX after you claybar, so yes, the first step seems right. You've added a few other steps, like polish and cleaner, which aren't required, but in your case it might be :)

[HkyGrL2]

so....
wash
dry
clay
wax

I might need to use bug and tar remover. Should I do that while washing?

[aec13]

Anyone who might be skeptic about claybars, I say go for it. I just finished doing my car with one and I sit here in disbelief as to what it removed from my car. These are worth every penny.

[si_civic]

Originally Posted by HkyGrL2

so....
wash
dry
clay
wax

I might need to use bug and tar remover. Should I do that while washing?

If there are bugs on the windshield and front bumper, use a degreaser on that. The claybar will remove most of the tar-buildup, but if its all over you car, soak the car first in mild detergents (dish soap --- THE ONLY time you would use that!!!!).

[ehlive]

hey si_civic

You are a car detailer and live in kamloops BC?

I live in vernon, can you recommend any one to go to in Vernon?

Or if I am in Kamloops, what are your rates? :)

Or is there any chance you'd have the time teach me how to detail my car? I just bought my first 'new' car but I don't know anything about detailing it and don't want to ruin it :)

[jennerz22]

Great tutorial! I plan on trying this tomorrow.

[si_civic]

ehlive, hello. I work for Smith Chevrolet, so our rates are very competitive. I don't know any one in Vernon to recommend. I can do it on the side for a little cheaper than what we charge ($249 + tax at work). I can do it for $175, which includes full interior, exterior, engine, trunk, polish, wax, etc etc !

Let me know!

[ehlive]

Awesome - well at this point the car is only a couple of months old - but I'll be sure to get in contact with you when I need to

[andywho]

is degreaser safe on plastic?

[si_civic]

Originally Posted by andywho

is degreaser safe on plastic?

Yes and no. Complicated?

It really boils down to what contents the degreaser has. Without sounding too technical, if degreaser A has Sodium Metasilicate, and degreaser B has Sodium Hydroxide, degreaser A would be safer on plastic as it won't corrode.

You really have to read the labels to see if its safe to use on plastics, especially interiors.

Our degreaser at work can be sprayed literally over the whole car, top to bottom, but left on interior plastics would turn white.

Test spot the degreaser on the plastic first.

Always make sure the surface is cool to the touch.

- Darryl
GM Canada

[Smoot]

good shit, I plan on doing this to mine one of these days

[mrdimsum]

whats your tip on getting out, set in water marks, cause my sister's car is parked by sprinklers and always gets wet, and i dont know what to do.

[truflip]

try paint cleaner. meguiars has a good one

[GreenHokie]

I tried this on my dad's truck (wanted to see what happens to it before doing it on my new civic ), and it's absolutely incredible what a difference it makes. What I did was..

1. Rinsed the hood down with water
2. Washed the hood with Dawn
3. Claybarred with Meguiars (Quik Detailer as lubricant)
4. Washed hood again with Deep Crystal (DC) Car Wash
5. Applied DC Paint Cleaner
6. Applied DC Polish
7. Applied DC Carnauba Wax

The hood looks fantastic and really is as smooth as glass. I was wondering, however, if I should still Dawn my new civic (to remove whatever wax is already present, for instance)? Anyway, thanks for the video, probably wouldn't have attempted this without it! +rep

[si_civic]

Originally Posted by GreenHokie

I tried this on my dad's truck (wanted to see what happens to it before doing it on my new civic ), and it's absolutely incredible what a difference it makes. What I did was..

1. Rinsed the hood down with water
2. Washed the hood with Dawn
3. Claybarred with Meguiars (Quik Detailer as lubricant)
4. Washed hood again with Deep Crystal (DC) Car Wash
5. Applied DC Paint Cleaner
6. Applied DC Polish
7. Applied DC Carnauba Wax

The hood looks fantastic and really is as smooth as glass. I was wondering, however, if I should still Dawn my new civic (to remove whatever wax is already present, for instance)? Anyway, thanks for the video, probably wouldn't have attempted this without it! +rep

Thanks! Glad you found the tutorial helpful !

There wouldn't be wax present on a new vehicle, however you should use it to degrease the whole car yes. If you waxed the car previously in the past 6 months, it wouldn't hurt!

Darryl