So today was going to be the big day for my first full detail. I washed and dried as usual. I then proceeded to use the Maguiars Professional Mild Detailing Clay along with the extra soap from the wash earlier. I started and it worked fine taking out the white specs that looked like paint. I decided to clay the whole car because I am planning on using epic later. the sun came out from behind some homes and it started to become harder because the water was drying fast. When I was done there were claybar marks. Im sure everyone knows what those are... hopefully.

Is this normal to have that claybar streak or mark on the paint? If not what did I do wrong? I used a couple of dollar coin size pieces for the entire car.

Do I need to Epic ASAP or can I wait until tomorrow morning when the sun is not on the car? I have a garage but its a tandem two car...so its tight.

I also saw a bunch of swirls on the black paint on the top of the car. I try being careful as Richard's video points out, but is it pretty much inevitable to get those?

Any links to help on waxing would be great! I have the applicators and epic...no PC. Take one panel at a time and squirt some epic into the pad and wipe on, and let sit for 15 min and then wipe off with starfish mit.

Thanks everyone!

 

I would do the panels that have marks again. I would use detail spray instead of the soapy water. Lubrication is critical when claying, so be generous with the detail spray. Clay one section at a time with detail spray, and wipe clean with a microfiber towel until the whole car is done. It shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes to do the whole car. Follow with a good swirl remover product, polish, and wax.

Here's an instructional video from Adam's Polishes. I use their products and think they're great, but any other quality product should work.

I hope this helps,

FP

http://www.adamspolishes.com/t-videos.aspx

 

When you say you used the claybar along with some extra soap from the wash earlier, are you saying you washed but didn't rinse and then went straight to the claybar ?

If so, I'm not sure if that's clay residue on your paint or dried soap. I've never heard anyone do that.

Please clarify what you used along with the clay so I (or we) can figure out what happened.

As far as swirls, they are pretty much unavoidable over time. Before you wax, I would recommend you polish those out. Otherwise, you're just sealing the swirls under a fresh coat of wax. Without a PC, you have some work cut out for you, but you can still accomplish the job. Do you have any mildly abrasive polish like Prima Swirl ?

 

I used the soap as lubrication because I have read that it works just as well. I washed the car first, sheeted with water, then dried with MF towels. Then I used the Mystique soap water (from the earlier car wash) to lubricate the panel and clay. I used the clay on each panel. The marks are definitely not dry soap...so its the clay that is leaving the marks.

Would these marks be an indicator that not enough lubrication was used? I definitely did not clay dry..there was water and soap on all the paint when I used the clay.

I have some Prima Glide that I did not use....which i could have. After seeing some of the marks I tried using the Glide with a starfish mit to get rid of the marks. Not sure if it worked since I was in the garage with little light.

At this point I do not have a polish product and I merely wanted to try to clay before I wax the car.

Tomorrow I will inspect again and reclay using the Glide, clay, and starfish mit to reclay the areas that look bad. Then I will hit up the Epic. Instructions on Epic would help....because I do not want to screw up my paint even more...

For now I will leave it in the garage and wait until tomorrow morning.

 

I use soapy water when I clay, but it is fresh soapy water, that I get on the car with a microfibre cloth, and I use LOTS of it. I also rinse each area as I go. Then I replace that soapy water, and wash and rinse again.

Sounds like you have dried clay, and soap on the car. Wash really well and it should come off.

I use QD when I spot clay.

Mark

 

should i reclay with QD tomorrow morning and then wax? or should I reclay, then wash, then wax?

oh man...this is starting to get difficult...

 

Nah, it's not too difficult. Just think about what your goal is and then apply the proper step logically.

You left soap residue behind when you clay barred. It should wash off. Might need just a bit more elbow grease than normal since that soap is thoroughly dried on. You are using a good MF wash mitt, right ? Or some folks like lambs wool mitts. And two bucket method with a grit guard ? Okay, it is getting a little difficult. ANYWAY....

After the wash, test your paint to see if the clay did the job the first time, even though you had the dried soap problem. Likely, it did. To test, take a baggie (you know, a sandwich bag), place your hand in it, and using your index finger, run it along the paint. If it feels smooth, you don't need to clay again. If you have ANY doubts, take the time to clay again, it's well worth it.

Then you're ready to polish and wax.

 

I agree. I would start all over again, but I would use a QD instead of soapy water.

 

Have any of you tryed the new product from turtle wax it call ICE. I just tryed and it work very nice..and they have the clay bar liquid to..

 

A friend of mine did. It's OK, but I prefer Clay Magic.

 

yes I bought Richards beginners pack with the lambswool, and DP WF towels. So I guess this morning Ill wash it again.... my neighbors are going to think Im crazy...

 

Don't worry about them ! ... if neighbors could have us committed for washing MINIs too often, I would have been in the assylum looooong ago ! :impatient

 

Well I for one think they are crazy to not be washing as often as we do.

 

I know they think I'm crazy. They've told me so. I'm always washing all of my cars. I'm **** about keeping them clean, and I like all of them the same.

 

My neighbor across the street says one of his favorite things to do in the summer is have his morning coffee while watching me QD or wash my car. He says it makes him grateful he's not OCD