Clay bar? Who has the best?

[MiniMac]

I need to get a clay bar. But I want to know who has used what brand.
How did it work for you?
I have a black top and I want it to look like glass!!!

[dave]

I have used 3M and Mothers. I definitely preferred the 3M. It's larger and grabbed more stuff off the paint before getting totally gunked up.

[dominicminicoopers]

Has anyone noticed, the clay bar stuff looks just like modelling clay?

[MSFITOY]

Originally Posted by dominicminicoopers

Has anyone noticed, the clay bar stuff looks just like modelling clay?

I've noticed that...I'll grab some from work and try it out:smile:

[BradB]

Ouch. This could be scary.

[FrogGuts]

I have used Meguiars and I have also used Griot's Garage. Both worked very well. Griot's Garage has a whole line of nice products that can be found at Griot's Garage.

[dominicminicoopers]

Oh, I used Zaino's Clay Bar on my MCS.
Looks like a big shiny billboard, eh?



Brandon, how soon for that roof graphic?

[Minzila]

The only one I've ever used was "Mothers" California Gold. It is a kit, compleat with a spray lubricant. I thought it worked very well. I really only needed it for the rear of the car. I think it was about $15. Follow the directions and you'll have no problems. Good luck.
MB

[Casey]

Mothers and ClayMagic are my two favorites...if you do a search at autopia.org you will find tons of people that use these two products. As someone earlier mentioned about the 3m one being large - don't waste a whole claybar if you get a large one - cut it up and just use smaller pieces(it is an autopian sin to use the whole claybar if it is large). Griots stuff while great is very very very very overpriced. I have used their clay, worked well, but think ClayMagic was the best. I love zaino products, but actually didn't really like the feel of their clay, and while it did a good job, It just seemed harder to fold and work with. Alot of the kits come with a special spray - those really aren't needed...a simple spritzer with water in it and just a few drops of a car wash soap works just as good and is cheaper then the sprays.

[MiniMac]

Wow, so many choices.
Did anyone buy theirs and use is specifically on black or a dark color?
That is my manin concern.

Dominic, don't you read your email?

My media should be in on Friday, or Monday. I can print on Monday or Tuesday.
So, by next weekend, you will be motorin in he shade!
I plan on doing mine as well.
We can make a time and do each. A graphic party

[Casey]

I have a Jet Black and White MCS and I used ClayMagic on this car and it worked wonderfully.

[dominicminicoopers]

>> Did anyone buy theirs and use is specifically on black or a dark color?

I've never tried a clay bar before getting my MINI and it has no dark colors on it. I'm sure all clay bars will do the same thing. I really wouldn't think one was better than another.

>>Dominic, don't you read your email?

Oh, the one from last week? I mistook you for saying you'd have them in last Friday or today. My mistake. Won't happen again

>>We can make a time and do each. A graphic party

[dave]

thanks for bringing that up Casey. I was tearing off small chunks of the 3M bar. I just brought up the size of the bar because the mothers bars are about 1/2" the size of the 3M. Just an observation. Either way, they work about the same (based on my experience anyway).

[dominicminicoopers]

>> I love zaino products, but actually didn't really like the feel of their clay, and while it did a good job, It just seemed harder to fold and work with.

That's odd, I found the Zaino clay to be extra plyable and even left behind a couple of bits of itself. I clayed in the shade, but it was still about 108 F that day. So maybe the heat made it extra pliable.

[SCoop]

Originally Posted by dominicminicoopers

>> I love zaino products, but actually didn't really like the feel of their clay, and while it did a good job, It just seemed harder to fold and work with.

That's odd, I found the Zaino clay to be extra plyable and even left behind a couple of bits of itself. I clayed in the shade, but it was still about 108 F that day. So maybe the heat made it extra pliable.

Last spring a friend and I got together for a 'clay party'. I had a 2 bars of Zaino which were about a year old, one of which was used, and he had a year-old bar of Meguiar's. I went with my previously used bar without any problems whatsoever. No crumbling and easy to fold, etc. His Meguiar's left streaks and bits on his black roof. I gave him my unopened bar and it took the Meguiar's right off! He used it on the rest of his car with no problems. The temp that day was about 85 degrees in relatively dry climate, and we didn't have much shade to work under.

One note: I kept my clay bars in the jar they came in with the lid tightly closed; he kept his in the plastic it came in, unsealed, with air exposure.

[fins4284]

Go with Mother's claybar system. Comes with lubricant. Doesn't break down like Zaino claybar. Don't forget to Dawn wash after claying. Top it off with Zaino Z2, Z6, Z5, Z6 & repeat. This is what it does on black (from previous Vette):

[fins4284]

Is this glassy enough for you???




_________________

I'm growing older but not up. My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck - J. Buffett

[MiniMac]

I'm sold! That is a sweet Vette. Looks like a mirror........
Claymagic looks like a winner.

What is the "Dawn wash"? Dishwashing soap?


Then finish up with Zaino Z2 then Z6 then Z5 then Z6. The repeat the Ziano process.
As long as I finish up like that Vette, I have nothing to complain about.

[fins4284]

Not Claymagic but Mothers clay.

Dawn wash (yes, the detergent) is required to strip existing wax from car. Make sure to Dawn wash after clay process as well.

Good luck, you won't regret all the prep work!

_________________

I'm growing older but not up. My metabolic rate is pleasantly stuck - J. Buffett

[BradB]

Originally Posted by fins4284

Not Claymagic but Mothers clay.

Dawn wash (yes, the detergent) is required to strip existing wax from car. Make sure to Dawn wash after clay process as well.

Good luck, you won't regret all the prep work!

Dawn wash is indeed what is used to strip the wax off the car, for instance in prep for a whole new routine such as Zaino, Klasse, etc. It promotes the initial bond to the surface.

But why do you insist on doing a Dawn wash after claying? It's really not necessary. You can easily remove any excess clay residue with any quality shanpoo. In fact, if you are lubing clay properly, you will have almost no residue at all. Lubing with shampoo is more effective than using QD, by the way.

Claying is something you can do periodically throughout the year for any spot touch ups. If you had to Dawn wash and rewax your car everytime you clayed you would be needlessy wasting a lot of time. Just wanted to clarify.

I have used Mothers, Zaino, ClayMagic, 3M, Pinnacle, and a host of others I have forgotten. Zaino is my favorite. Mothers is also fine. The new Perfect Shine detailing clay also works great. Meguiars is the only one I really dislike. It leaves too much residue.

[danbanger]

After washing your car before claying it, do you need to dry it (thoroughly at least)?

[sbgobig]

No need to dry because clay should be applied to a wet surface.

P.S. I like the Zaino clay but have not tried others.

[Flatsix]

I LOVE the zaino clay bar, but then again im biast since i have the whole system ..

[no_affiliation]

Originally Posted by danbanger

After washing your car before claying it, do you need to dry it (thoroughly at least)?

The Mother's clay bar system you are supposed to dry the car completely. Then apply the spray they provide you to the target area, then clay it, polish it out.

[BradB]

Originally Posted by no_affiliation

The Mother's clay bar system you are supposed to dry the car completely. Then apply the spray they provide you to the target area, then clay it, polish it out.

They just want you to use their QD spray. :smile: Good marketing. I use QD spray for touch ups and localized areas but for whole car treatments always use shampoo.