MINI COOPER :: North American Motoring

drftobin · #1 05-07-2009, 09:13 PM

Is there difference in clays, and if so who make good clay???

MiniMaybee · #2 05-07-2009, 09:30 PM

I like the Detailers Paradise clay since it is a bit stiffer then the rest. They are out though. Back up would be Meg's blue - softer but not sticky. I picked up some Mothers for the club event this weekend so I'll be testing that.
I hate the Zaino clay - falls apart when using wash water for lube and the Sonus clay is just crap - no really they bag crap.
All that said the word is there is just one maker of clay (Clay Magic) so they must customize it based on client wants or have different grades or both.

Some Guy · #3 05-08-2009, 01:44 AM

I found it a little different. The Prima clay is indeed firmer than the Meg's but it liked to stick to my paint when I tried using Griots QD as a lube, the Prima didnt have that issue.

Fastlane · #4 05-08-2009, 04:23 AM

I have Griot's Garage clay right now and am happy with it.

CR&PW&JB · #5 05-08-2009, 04:51 AM

I found Griot's clay to be too soft.

Any of the others are fine by me... Clay Magic and Meg's are my favorites.

**BlimeyCabrio** · #6 05-08-2009, 05:44 AM

I'm using the Prima now and it's fine. Previously I used the plain old retail Clay Magic and it was fine, too.

countryboyshane · #7 05-08-2009, 06:37 AM

I don't know about this claim that Zaino's clay falls apart when using soapy water. I definitely have not had any problems like that!

BGA · #8 05-08-2009, 06:38 AM

plus 1 for Griot's Garage clay

**lotsie** · #9 05-08-2009, 07:10 AM

I got this from OG. I like it, holds together well, but I have not tried it with soapy water yet, just QD.

Mark

kenchan · #10 05-08-2009, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fastlane

I have Griot's Garage clay right now and am happy with it.

that's not clay. it's mud.

i have some and use it on my G and MCS though.

it's too soft to use on dd's daily contamination. just takes too long to remove the crap off the car.

im going to get me some of that meg's clay next time (above by lotsie).

MLPearson79 · #11 05-08-2009, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotsie

+1, I've tried Griot's, Prima, 4-Star, Clay Magic, and both Meg's (the blue and the one you can get at Auto Zone with the kit). The Meg's blue is my favorite, then the 4-Star. I find Prima's too hard and Griot's wayyyy too soft (sticks to my fingers!).

kenchan · #12 05-08-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MLPearson79

Griot's wayyyy too soft (sticks to my fingers!).

yah, unless you wear gloves your hands look like there were somewhere it shouldn't have.

**OctaneGuy** · #13 05-08-2009, 07:27 PM

Any clay that dyes my fingers yellow, or leaves sticky residue on them such that I have to wear gloves...which prevents me from feeling the paint as I clay..really isn't desirable.

I've used the Meguiar's Professional (C2000) clay with Glide, Last Touch, Soapy water and have had no issues...though I don't soak the clay in soap water. I did that once with the Meguiar's consumer clay and it became brittle. I just store the clay in the included jar.

Richard

daflake · #14 05-08-2009, 07:56 PM

Using Adams and love it.

**lotsie** · #15 05-09-2009, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

that's not clay. it's mud.

Come on Ken, tell us what you really think

Mark

Rixter · #16 05-09-2009, 11:14 AM

I was speaking to somebody at DP once and they mentioned that there's really only one place in the US that makes clay, but that they make it to slightly different specs (color, firmness, etc) depending on who the customer is. I've only use the Mcguire's and Mother's (my Pima is on backorder) so I haven't tried all thats available. I must say though, that the liquid that comes with Mother's whatever it is once left a nasty streak on my white 318is on a spot that I neglected to wipe off. Maybe all QD's would do that, but I certainly wouldn't use the Mother's product again.

CR&PW&JB · #17 05-09-2009, 11:37 AM

Yeah, pretty much any lube, you don't want it to dry before you rinse it off and dry that panel.

I liked Mother's Clay when I used it but didn't use their lube and I still ended up with some spots on my stripes that took some effort to get off. That's how I learned that lesson. Work small sections, rinse, and dry. Move to the next.

kenchan · #18 05-09-2009, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lotsie

Come on Ken, tell us what you really think

Mark

ok, it's like yellow terd.

but it works well if you have the patience. that's the only clay i use on my
MCS and G. it's so soft it is very easy on the wax and glaze under it.

a lot of times i have to rewax after using regular clay. with Griot's clay
the wax is still under there so it's great for spot claying. i dont actually
see spots of where i did and didnt clay especially on a dark car like my
MCS. so i can move straight to Best of Show without having to worry
about missed spots or having to have to do a 2nd app.

El_Jefe · #19 05-19-2009, 11:35 PM

Yeah, supposedly Griot's doesnt remove wax. How this occurs.... lol, no one knows. OC guy said it's possible once to me, griot's people claim that's the case as well.

shrug?

To me? it removes it slightly I will say at the most.

Anyways, that blue Meg stuff looks swell. I use griot's. If you keep folding it over it stays rubbery. Stuff pulls off junk like a champ. They also give you a huge chunk of it. I cut off smaller chunks and work it. The blob lasts a super long time for an outdoor car.

Oh, I also use Glide. I do this because I can apply any wax I want without considering what's binding to the paint from a QD spray. the BEST was griot's speedshine. That was the silkiest gliding action possible. However, being that I it has some waxes and cleaners and etc in it, I fear it would mess up the binding of DP's Epic, so glide wins out. I wish there was a larger volume of it though for savings.

jw34 · #20 09-07-2009, 09:05 PM

Yeah I'm digging up an old thread (gotta love that searching stuff).
My only clay purchase was from Detailers and now I can't even find it on their site. It's what I'm used to and would like to find it again. Doesn't sound like anything else is the same.
I see Meguiars comes in Mild and Aggressive. What would be closer to what DT had?

kenchan · #21 09-07-2009, 09:08 PM

i think a tad softer than meg's blue but the blue is wat im currently using and it's not bad. it gets a tad aggressive after doing half the car (depends on how dirty the car is too and how much QD you use) so im using a generous amount. (silver dollar sized, 3pcs to do a car).

i think i still prefer the griot's mud for cars that aren't too contaminated.
i hope DP brings back their clay too. although it was a biotch to kneed it, the firmness was perfect, imo.

**rwwilsonjr** · #22 09-08-2009, 07:19 PM

I've used Clay Magic for years and have no reason to change. Works great.

Bigshot · #23 09-09-2009, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MiniMaybee

I like the Detailers Paradise clay since it is a bit stiffer then the rest. They are out though. Back up would be Meg's blue - softer but not sticky. I picked up some Mothers for the club event this weekend so I'll be testing that.
I hate the Zaino clay - falls apart when using wash water for lube and the Sonus clay is just crap - no really they bag crap.
All that said the word is there is just one maker of clay (Clay Magic) so they must customize it based on client wants or have different grades or both.

Should never use the wash water for lube. Usually not enough lubricants and it can break down the binders in the clay.

MiniMaybee · #24 09-09-2009, 05:27 PM

Works well with DP clay & Mothers - not so well with Zaino. As for lube, all you need is enough to keep the clay sliding. Actually the less lube you use the more effective the clay is as long as you can keep it moving.

Bigshot · #25 09-10-2009, 08:03 AM

But the car wash soap will break down the binders used in some clay bars. Best to use a QD or similiar product.