Newbie's first clay

[davavd]

I FINALLY after 5 1/2 months did my first (ever) clay. I want to encourage anyone who has never done this to give it a try. It was much easier and quicker than I imagined, using clay & detailing spray bought at the local Pepboys, and the results are really amazing. I made everyone in my family go out and feel my car. Like my daughter said, "smooth as a baby".

[ryanthemartini]

nice Be sure to protect that work with a good wax!!

For a good over the counter wax, I recommend Meguiars NXT Paste, and if your ordering online, DP MaxWax.

http://www.autogeek.net/carnauba-car-wax.html

Maxwax is probably my favorite wax next to Pinnacle Souveran, cause you dont want to know the price of Souveran... hehe

Maxwax just seems to never go down in the can. I can do my whole camry with just a few swipes of the pad! Highly recommended

[krolyat]

Originally Posted by davavd

I FINALLY after 5 1/2 months did my first (ever) clay. I want to encourage anyone who has never done this to give it a try. It was much easier and quicker than I imagined, using clay & detailing spray bought at the local Pepboys, and the results are really amazing. I made everyone in my family go out and feel my car. Like my daughter said, "smooth as a baby".

any pictures?

[kenchan]

only hard part on this car is the rear bumper. make sure you get rid of
ALL dust hiding in the boot hatch jam before starting. the sand stuck
up there tends to dust down while working on the car.

[ma78]

Originally Posted by kenchan

only hard part on this car is the rear bumper. make sure you get rid of
ALL dust hiding in the boot hatch jam before starting. the sand stuck
up there tends to dust down while working on the car.

If you have an air compressor, use this to blow all of the dust in the jams away. No, it won't sctratch.

[kenchan]

Originally Posted by ma78

If you have an air compressor, use this to blow all of the dust in the jams away. No, it won't sctratch.

that'll work. i use the narrow brush below. like an anthropologist..

[davavd]

Here are my results. I'm short on photography talent and the sun isn't shining, so this all you get for now. I did apply wax (Meguire's Cleaner Wax, sorry, purists, it's what came in the clay kit) before I moved him out of the garage. As to dust from jambs, they seem to get wet during the wash and my last step of towelling dry is to open doors, boot, and bonnet and wipe everything in sight clean & dry.

[mini_dreams]

beautiful and thanks for the encouragement... i've never used claybar before but plan to try it during my first detailing expedition!

[kenchan]

davavad- looks good!

[lotsie]

Looks good.

Another thing you can use as a lubricant is soapy water. Put some car shampoo and water in a spray bottle, and apply like you would DQ. Have a hose handy to rinse off.


Mark

[kenchan]

^^ that's a great suggestion. I use distilled water too, sometimes.

[Detailers Paradise]

Originally Posted by davavd

I want to encourage anyone who has never done this to give it a try. It was much easier and quicker than I imagined, using clay & detailing spray bought at the local Pepboys, and the results are really amazing. I made everyone in my family go out and feel my car. Like my daughter said, "smooth as a baby".

That's the fun of hearing about someone's first experience with clay! It's always so much easier than anyone ever thinks, and with such fun and dramatic results!

Congrats on your "first time".

-Heather

[ImagoX]

A great wax to uee now that you've got the paint perfectly smooth is Detailers Paradise's Epic. It's a synthetic wax, so it's long lasting, and it's very shiny. Now that your paint is contaminent-free., keep it that way with a good wax.

Congrats!