just curious - how does each clay bar last? is it 1 bar = 1 car??

 

Never used one myself but I've been reading up a lot the past couple days, and how you tell if a clay bar is nearing full usage is by how dirty it looks.

THe best technique I've heard is to break it into smaller pieces, flatten and use one side until it's dirty, then flip it. After both sides are used, don't bother re-kneeding it or reusing it like you would if using the whole bar at once. Doing so risks particles coming up after some use and scratching the car. Just use one small piece at a time, flip, and dispose.

As to if one bar will cover one car, I have no real clue. Minis aren't huge, so I imagine one could do it. I'll leave a definite answer to someone else though.

 

I dropped a piece or two the first time I clayed, and still have bits left over from my Zaino clay bar. Think I cut one in half, then into thirds, and three bits should be enough for the whole MINI, definitely.

Excessive pressure will keep your claybar from lasting, so nice and easy does it. As long as you lube the surface you're cleaning, and keep it that way 'til you're done claying that spot, you should be fine.

Geez, listen to the new guy here, he's clayed his MINI exactly once!
Just call me Perfesser!

I owe it all to agranger, Bradb, and the other obsessive-compulsives that haunt this forum...

Cheers,
Matthew Z.

 

For my TSX I take a standard bar (100g?) and break it into 4 pieces. I use one piece for an entire claying of the car. I haven't done my mini yet, but I'd say my TSX has nearly 2x the painted surfaces, so a bar should last you a long time.

IMO You're better of kneading the clay when it gets a little dirty, rather than let it get very dirty and flip it over. My clay baring method has never made a scratch on my white TSX, but the light color doesn't show micro scratchs. Make sure to use a lot of lubricant. On my DS Mini I'll have to see how successful my methods are.

 

Clay is cheap.

I cut up a bar into small pieces, knead them once or twice, then pitch them.
Why SOFTLY, rub dirt over your car.
Main thing is SOFTLY when claying.
Take your time, use lots of lube, either detailer spray, or soapy water.

 

I can get one bar's worth of clay (cut up) to do two to three Mini's depending how dirty the lower panels are. (tar, road debris, etc)

 

thanks for the feedback

how often should i clay the car? should it be as often as waxing ie once every 6 months?

 

I don't think there's any hard-and-fast rule to how often you need to clay...if it looks/feels like it needs it, do it.

I did a thorough claying in the spring, and now just "spot clay" when washing to remove any stubborn material.

The first clay after a New England winter took some time, (2+ hours...I was obsessed) but if you keep up with it at each wash it's not a lot of extra work.

FWIW, I used up a whole bar the first time I clayed my MINI, mainly because I was inexperienced, deathly afraid of scratches and my car was a mess. Now that I know what I'm doing and my MINI is in better shape (several coats of Zaino helped!) I'll probably go the rest of the year with a single bar using the "spot clay" method.

 

The first time I did my daily driver it took the entire bar of Zaino clay... I had been driving the car for 5 years with waxing every 6 months or so. After that, I can do the car 2-3 times with the same bar... no problem.

I also like BradB's method of cutting the bar into many small pieces, flattening them out and using them front, back and then pitch (or use them for your wheels). If you drop one, you haven't lost the entire bar of clay... you can just go and get a fresh piece. It's safer and more economical... what could be better?

 

I am planning on switching from NXT to Zaino as the slickness of the NXT wears off after 3 weeks. I clayed my car a few months ago and then NXT'd it twice since then, but plan to clay prior to Zaino-ing it when I switch over in a month or two... but if I want to clay again 6 months later does anyone know if it is better to strip the Zaino off at that time or can I clay over what is remaining of the Zaino and then re-apply fresh layers of Zaino on top of that?

 

No need to strip off the Zaino. Claying will slightly abrade the existing Zaino but will not remove or destroy it. I frequently clay, then wash the car with Z7 car wash, and reapply fresh Zaino coats. Works a charm!

...........
NOTE: Be sure you remove ALL your old NXT or other wax completely before doing your initial Zaino job. A virgin paint base without old wax or contaminents will provide the best results for gloss and durability for Zaino.