fogey
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,591
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May 22, 2016 18:40:27 GMT
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Mequiars seems expensive for what it is - inside the small cardboard packaging was a much smaller plastic box. Inside the plastic box was the clay bar - the bar was so small you could easily have got 3 of them in the plastic box.
However I have seen the results of claying first hand and have to say I was amazed - haven't got around to doing it myself yet.
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May 22, 2016 22:26:31 GMT
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I've heard the Meguiar's kit is quite effective at getting rusty grinding dust out of paint after absent mindedly leaving the car in front of the open garage once. It picks up a satisfying orange colour too.
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May 22, 2016 23:19:21 GMT
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I really must try this new-fangled stuff on mine one day.
I'll pop down to the local "Type R" shop and see what they've got. Don't hold your breath!
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On my old dodge truck I would clay bar once a year, it really helped even the finish out and allowed the polish to work easier. It's interesting that there are certain colors that benefit more than others during polishing from a clay bar. Black, bright red and Metallics, imho seems to minimize swirls as well.
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faker
Part of things
novanut
Posts: 271
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I have this set cost me £50 but not used it yet .. The clay bar I can use with water. Is that stuff for the car or the bathroom? !
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93fxdl
Posted a lot
Enter your message here...
Posts: 2,000
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May 23, 2016 14:39:35 GMT
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Had been firmly on the fence about clay bars, but this thread pushed me over. Just picked up a turtle wax kit, consisting of bar and lubricant. Now trying it out on our black Sedona. It had been gone over with mer last week, I was surprised how rough the surface was and how quickly the bar flatted it, rain stopped play so I cannot comment on the final result until it dries and I can give it a polish Ttfn Glenn
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May 23, 2016 14:58:15 GMT
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I have no idea what clay bar is, but I'd like my cars to be shinier ... I should probably do something about that at some point.
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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May 23, 2016 15:01:53 GMT
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On my old dodge truck I would clay bar once a year, it really helped even the finish out and allowed the polish to work easier. It's interesting that there are certain colors that benefit more than others during polishing from a clay bar. Black, bright red and Metallics, imho seems to minimize swirls as well. It may give the illusion of reducing swirls, but in reality clay doesn't alter the paint at all, just pulls contaminents out of it.
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mikeymk
Part of things
'85 Polo Coupe S 1.6 16v
Posts: 931
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May 23, 2016 15:18:55 GMT
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My car's white, so there's not much point.
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May 23, 2016 15:22:14 GMT
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I have no idea what clay bar is, but I'd like my cars to be shinier ... I should probably do something about that at some point. It's definitely worth a go! Usually the older the car is, the more contamination it has, depending on whether it's been garaged, cleaned often or been clayed before. But if it's rarely been cleaned or garaged and it's old, then you're in for a surprise seeing everything that comes off!
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May 23, 2016 15:24:49 GMT
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My car's white, so there's not much point. Having a white car doesn't make too much of a difference, the contamination still diffuses the light in the paint so decreases the shine
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May 23, 2016 22:19:18 GMT
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mikeymk you'd be surprised at how good properly prepared white paint can look
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,153
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And the difference between a clay bar and T-Cut type stuff is?*
*Genuine question.
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T-Cut is a polish that works through abrasion. You work it into the paint, removing the top level of the paint or clear coat. Clay uses a little abrasion and a tacky surface to pull bonded contamination from the paints surface leaving it smooth and clean.
Put simply... Clay cleans. Polish make the paint shiny and can remove swirls and things.
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,153
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So try a clay bar first....?
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Yep Clay to prepare the surface and make sure it's clean. Then polish to bring up a nice finish. The polish will also deep cleanse the paints pores too.
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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^This...^
But for the love of god don't use T-Cut, use a proper polishing compound.
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Right detailing people, I'd love a step-by-step, basic "this gets your car pretty clean and shiny" guide. One written for us though, doesn't need lazer checking of treatment or any of that stuff.
Product recommendations and a shopping list would be great.
I don't mind if our clay bar dude wants to do it an advertise his business, or one of you other detailing people want to give us a basic guide and then explain why taking it to you would be even better. However I'm pretty in the dark, all I seem to find online are people with guides that tell me I need 98 different compounds and a buffing machine and to gauge paint depth and all sorts of things. I just want to have a slightly shinier car.
Anyone want to step up and do it?
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g40jon
Posted a lot
Posts: 2,569
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I bought a clay bar ages ago. Used it once, haven't used it since. Works, does exactly what it is supposed to, but when you live out in the sticks and your car is dirty by the time you have driven 1/2 a mile, is there any point? I'm of the opinion it isn't. Worthwhile on daily drivers, not unless you are completely OCD. On show cars, without doubt it's worth doing.
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andyborris
Posted a lot
Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose.
Posts: 2,153
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Right detailing people, I'd love a step-by-step, basic "this gets your car pretty clean and shiny" guide. One written for us though, doesn't need lazer checking of treatment or any of that stuff. Product recommendations and a shopping list would be great. quote] Me too, I've found out about the 2 bucket method of washing a car, which works well for me, not having access to a hose! But, I'd like to know more.......
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