Meguiar's clay bars?

[g9m3c]

Well, I tried it out today, and wasn't impressed. I was expecting it to make a good difference considering I have 16 year old paint that has only been waxed a couple times over the last 4 years, and hasn't really been kept clean like it should. I sprayed the Quick Detailer on there and rubbed the clay bar until it felt buttery smooth (felt pretty damn smooth to begin with). Didn't do a damn thing for the shine. I tried it 4-5 times on a spot that wasn't very shiny, and I couldn't tell I had even touched it. I dried it off and waxed the entire panel with some liquid Gold Class wax, and the whole panel looks identical. Why did the clay bar not do anything? I wouldn't have expected my paint to be that clean already, but maybe it was?
:dunno:

[Sierra H/O]

I usually follow claying with a cleaner wax(ColorX is my favorite) then wax, then polish. I've had real good results.

[Hydrant]

Clay, on the other hand, is designed specifically for above surface bonded contaminants, such as tree sap mist, industrial fallout, over-spray and road tar. It is important to evaluate your surface to determine which method of imperfection correction your paint may require. In some cases your vehicle may require the use of both clay and paint cleaners for optimal results.

That is from Meguiars site. Looks like it is just for cleaning up surface contaminates from the paint.

I will usually use the clay bar, then wax it with the NXT wax.

http://meguiars.com/faq/index.cfm?faqCat=Auto%20Detailing%20Clay

[g9m3c]

Black90Sport was just telling me that clay barring will take wax and everything off. Considering how vigorously I wash it, maybe everything was already stripped. :dunno:

[Timberwolve81]

Clay bar will only remove surface contaminants from the paint, it won't do anything for the shine. If the paint is as you describe, 16 years old with limited care, it's going to need more than clay bar to bring the shine back. Your probably going to need to at least polish it, if not buff it. Do you have access to a porter cable 7242 random orbital machine? I would get a few pads and some different grades of polish (I use poorboys ssr 2.5 and ssr 1) and go to town on it. If your really interested on cleaning up the paint do some reading at autotopia.com. let me know if you have any more questions.

[g9m3c]

Clay bar will only remove surface contaminants from the paint, it won't do anything for the shine. If the paint is as you describe, 16 years old with limited care, it's going to need more than clay bar to bring the shine back. Your probably going to need to at least polish it, if not buff it. Do you have access to a porter cable 7242 random orbital machine? I would get a few pads and some different grades of polish (I use poorboys ssr 2.5 and ssr 1) and go to town on it. If your really interested on cleaning up the paint do some reading at autotopia.com. let me know if you have any more questions.



It shines amazingly right after waxing, but beforehand, there are places that look dull and a few spots of stuck on stuff like you mentioned. It didn't do anythign for any of that.

[Timberwolve81]

Black90Sport was just telling me that clay barring will take wax and everything off. Considering how vigorously I wash it, maybe everything was already stripped. :dunno:

Probably all the waxed was gone, if it hasn't been waxed since last summer/fall. If there is still wax on the paint you'll want to get it off before you use the clay bar. I use dawn dish soap to strip wax off, just like you would regularly wash it with auto soap.

[Timberwolve81]

It shines amazingly right after waxing, but beforehand, there are places that look dull and a few spots of stuck on stuff like you mentioned. It didn't do anythign for any of that.

Can you better describe "spot of stuck on stuff". Is it road tar, or sap, or some other kind of surface contaminant? If it's something really "heavy" you might need to get it off with something like goo gone or goof off.

[g9m3c]

Can you better describe "spot of stuck on stuff". Is it road tar, or sap, or some other kind of surface contaminant? If it's something really "heavy" you might need to get it off with something like goo gone or goof off.



Just a few spots that feel a little rough before waxing. After it's waxed, everything shines and it's smooth as glass. I'd just like it to look pretty good when it's not freshly waxed too. Maybe I'm asking too much out of 16 year old paint. :lol:

[KarenCaren]

Usually before I wax my car. I go polish it first to remove necessary dirt for before then I go wax it. It will give a shine a little. But if I do one more polish after waxing it will give good result.


________________
If you ain't first your last!
bumper grill (http://www.thepartsbin.com/brands/aps/aps_bumper_grille.html)

[86Burb]

Maybe I'm asking too much out of 16 year old paint. :lol:

You would be surprised what you could do with that paint, get someone to polish out the paint for you, or get a PC and do it yourself, hand waxing and polishing will only get you so far.
By the way, nice truck!

[trent steel]

I'm thinking May, I will do the full works on my truck. I dont want to bust out the effort right now if its going to rain again.

[96extcab]

Usually before I wax my car. I go polish it first to remove necessary dirt for before then I go wax it. It will give a shine a little. But if I do one more polish after waxing it will give good result.


You realize that by polishing after waxing, you're stripping the wax, or at least hampering its ability to protect and seal like it should.

[GROWLNTA]

as stated... Claybar isnt supposed to make it shine... at all...

[BlackedOutHoe]

you should try a quick detailer. spray it on and shammy off.

[robwetzel]

as stated... Claybar isnt supposed to make it shine... at all...

x2

I strip the wax with dish soap, clay it, cleaner wax, buffing compound, polish, then wax. Brings out the shine in the paint and protects it.

[fortplainman]

my dad and i always use meguiars, never ever had a problem with it. I think your 16y/o paint needs a buffin the be all sexy after your done building it all up.

[Blaze5509]

I think of the clay bar as an eraser. It helps get that buttery smooth finish. Like it has been said after you clay it you still need to do the final steps.