I just clayed yesterday and about half way through, the clay started breaking down. It was actually falling apart . I was wondering if there is a shelf life on the Zaino clay? I bought my stuff last year and kept it in the container tightly sealed. I also keep it in my basement so it has had a constant temperature. I know it didn't break down last year when I used it.

 

I have not let a bar sit that long to know - I would email them. www.zainobros.com

 

I've had that happen once, but I figured it was because of the car I was claying. It was a '79 Corvette and it had an enamel finish. I had to go buy a Mother's claybar half-way through. If you find an answer from Sal, I'd be very interested to hear!

 

Sounds like your clay got over saturated. I break off my claybar into several smaller pieces and then use one small piece at a time. Knead it into a silver-dollar sized pancake about 1/8" thick. Use one side until it's visibly dirty then flip and repeat. When both sides are dirty toss it.

If clay is kept in the container sealed it will last over a year.

 

I use pieces the same size but I knead it as I go along. Last year when I clayed the piece was like new when I finished. Of course it wasn't quite as clean.

I did send Zaino a message, I'm waiting on a reply.

 

This is what I got back from Sal Zaino:

"Sometimes using too much water, especially if the water is warm. You must always use cold water.. Also the acid in some people's skin can make the Claybar get mushy... "

I'm not sure if I was using too much water. Especially when the clay started falling apart on the door. The soapy water was just running down. Anyhow, it got done and with the desired results. I figure it's better to be using too much water than not enough .

 

Well tonight I just had this happen to one of my Zaino bars, it was only the 2nd time it was used, and it was brand new.


The problem, however, was nothing to do with the clay or Zaino. It was indirectly my fault, perpetrated by the operator - my GF. She was claying her new beetle, and I was on the other side of a partition applying coats of Z2 to the Mini. I showed her how to use the clay, how to lubricate, when to flip it, what it feels like - then observed her doing part of her hood, and let her go to town.

I neglected to do one thing, however - tell her to fold the clay and re-kneed it in.

When I use it, I do a small section, flip it, do another section then fold and kneed, repeat. I'd say I do it 10-12 times to do a Mini sized car.

When she yelled over to say she was done I washanded an absolutely SHREDED former Zaino clay bar, that looked like a wet, torn rag - the poor thing! My mouth dropped, and the first things I thought of were this thread - and the fact that I never told her to fold.

Given what I saw tonight and my experiences with using it correctly, I would put money on it happeneing to someone else, solely due to improper use.

 

I knead as I go along. If you don't knead then all the stuff the clay is picking up is just being rubbed back on the paint. Not good.

Last year when I clayed I had a full piece of clay when I was done. This year it acutally was falling apart half way through the car (roof, bonnet, and side). The boot had it's own piece of clay. There was so much junk back there I didn't want to continue to use the same piece on the rest of the car.

I just thought it odd and was wondering if there was a shelf life to the clay.