ThePollitt
Posted a lot
Fix up, look... at that car on eBay!
Posts: 4,696
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What does 'claying' a car mean? As far as I'm concerned dirt keeps the weather off, so cleaning a car is an alien concept. Having said that, the Merc is a tidy old boat that shows some potential so I'm happy to giver her some love. Having spent some time digging around I can't help but feel that some Turtle Wax might not be enough. Do explain fellow RRers, as I have no clue! Have some shiny tin as a pre-emptive thanks... Chris
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rld14
Part of things
Posts: 351
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Basically it's where you rub a lubricated clay bar across your paint surface, it removes surface contaminants and gives you a truly clean paint surface. watch that
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88 BMW E28 M5
62 Vauxhall Velox
60 Vauxhall Velox
60 Lincoln Premiere Coupe
60 Lincoln Continental Mark V Convertible
54 Ford Customline Fordor
32 Ford Roadster
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kevfromwales
Posted a lot
the conrod's REALLY out the block now!
Posts: 3,909
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calling VIP!!
I have seen dan's skillorz in action, and even as a sceptical, never EVER wash my truck type - I was impressed!
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Almost on the road: b11 sunny breadvan, e36 tds, 325i skidcar,
nearly there: ford f250 tathauler, suzuki alto, u11 bluey
not for a while: ford pop, 32 rails,
not in this lifetime: ruby, '29 hillman
''unfortanatly I'm quite old and scruffy and in need of some loving. my drive shaft needs a new boot....''
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I thought it was snake oil until I tried it, weird as it never actually touches the paint, just smoothly slides over the surface. Yet once done the paint is glass smooth, jolly strange!
Follow up with polish and a wax, jobs a winner!
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backzilla
Part of things
0 - 60 in 5.3 ............in the wet
Posts: 151
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Its not as hard to do as you think. once you get going you fly though it. don't press to hard, if you get the right clay you can even use water as lube. Think its the bilt hamber stuff.
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rld14
Part of things
Posts: 351
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Yes,
Do NOT press too hard and keep the paint surface WET with the solution. Letting it go dry can scratch the heck out of your paint.
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88 BMW E28 M5
62 Vauxhall Velox
60 Vauxhall Velox
60 Lincoln Premiere Coupe
60 Lincoln Continental Mark V Convertible
54 Ford Customline Fordor
32 Ford Roadster
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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I use the Bilt Hamber clay, as it's the only one that only requires water as a lubricant. However, I still use a Quick Detailing spray dilute, about 10 parts water to 1 part QD. Basically, tree sap, road tar, industrial fallout will all stick to your paintwork, and no amount of regular washing with shampoos and power washers will remove it. Think of a detailing clay as giving your car's bodywork a shave. The pic below kinda explains it. If you ever bring the Benz to a A52, I'll gladly give you some detailing tips/demonstration.
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Last Edit: Mar 10, 2011 9:07:08 GMT by VIP
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Pic of the bonnet of my Merc after a clay, paints about 12 years old and it comes up like a mirror. Do it, you'd be amazed!
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Remember the days when sex was safe and motorsport was dangerous. Vintage bling always attracts pussy.
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ThePollitt
Posted a lot
Fix up, look... at that car on eBay!
Posts: 4,696
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Mar 10, 2011 10:46:58 GMT
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If you ever bring the Benz to a A52, I'll gladly give you some detailing tips/demonstration. I may just take you up on that. It's not quite there yet as there are a couple of teeny rust spots to sort, but other than that the old girl is surprisingly mint. I see some real potential to have a mintier than mint car here, which would be a change for me! Chris
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Mar 10, 2011 10:49:56 GMT
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If you've never done it before you will be shocked how much $**T comes off of your supposedly clean car.
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Mar 10, 2011 10:53:36 GMT
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Its good stuff. I was converted first time I used it. Watch for dirt getting caught in it, don't drag that all over the paint... Don't press on. Other than that, easy.
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1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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EmDee
Club Retro Rides Member
Committer of Autrocities.
Posts: 5,922
Club RR Member Number: 108
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Clay?EmDee
@emdee
Club Retro Rides Member 108
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Mar 10, 2011 11:33:32 GMT
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I am worried about the clay bar changing the colour of my primer now. But yeah the stuff actually works - although I have heard of some people using other stuff like Blutak (or something similar) as a cheap substitute, anyone know more about this? Can't remember where i read it now.
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Mar 10, 2011 12:09:23 GMT
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No offence to anyone here for asking, but I swear that we have this thread often enough that it should be a sticky. It's one of those threads on the perpetual roundabout. Clay bar, car insurance, what is retro?, is tyre stretch legal, etc. I've never actually used the clay but I'm interested to give it a go this year now that I actually have a car with half-reasonable paint. If I ever get a spare weekend when none of my cars need mechanical work that is, so probably not till Easter at least!
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Ian
Part of things
Posts: 977
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Mar 10, 2011 14:31:24 GMT
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it is really good stuff, it is great at getting bonded contaminants off your wheel as well, even removes stuff that strong acid wheel cleaner wont shift! It can put marring on the paint however, it also strips any polish or wax that may have been on already. Give a nice smooth surface to polish so that you don't start poilishing and use any material that may have been left on the surface that could sctach the paint.
Tardis by Autosmart is also a really good point safe solvent that dissolves tar that can stick to the paint .
Iron X is another great product for but it doesnt half stink!! this is good on wheels that may have maetal contaminants on them!
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Mar 10, 2011 20:29:41 GMT
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I wrote a thread on detailing with a section on clay, it didn't get moved to the FAQ though.
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1937 Austin Street Rod - 1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1976 Rover V8 - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Seth
South East
MorrisOxford TriumphMirald HillmanMinx BorgwardIsabellaCombi
Posts: 15,517
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Follow your dreams or you might as well be a vegetable.
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Clay?HARDCORE
@hardcore
Club Retro Rides Member 190
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I wrote a thread on detailing with a section on clay, it didn't get moved to the FAQ though. 'Tis now
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Sinky
Posted a lot
Run Baby Run......Please!
Posts: 1,395
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Mar 11, 2011 11:01:09 GMT
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Help! some simple questions I need to ask 1.Can clay be used again or do use bin it after 1 car? 2.Can clay be used on a Black car then a white car? 3. How long does clay last? 4. How do you look after your clay? 5. Is 1 clay enough for a largish car (Grannie)? Sorry but Iv never seen a clay and the Auto shops here don't have a clue what I'm on about when I show then a piece of Blu tac. I think they think I'm nuts lol Thanks Sinky
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2001 Volvo XC70 wagon
2003 Piaggio X9 Evo
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EmDee
Club Retro Rides Member
Committer of Autrocities.
Posts: 5,922
Club RR Member Number: 108
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Clay?EmDee
@emdee
Club Retro Rides Member 108
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Mar 11, 2011 12:02:18 GMT
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Help! some simple questions I need to ask 1.Can clay be used again or do use bin it after 1 car? 2.Can clay be used on a Black car then a white car? 3. How long does clay last? 4. How do you look after your clay? 5. Is 1 clay enough for a largish car (Grannie)? Sorry but Iv never seen a clay and the Auto shops here don't have a clue what I'm on about when I show then a piece of Blu tac. I think they think I'm nuts lol Thanks Sinky retrorides.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=usetharch&thread=997581.Can clay be used again or do use bin it after 1 car? Use it until it's filthy 2.Can clay be used on a Black car then a white car? yes 3. How long does clay last? Until it gets dirty (depends on the amount of dirt removed and the size of the bar) 4. How do you look after your clay? Cuddle it and take it to bed 5. Is 1 clay enough for a largish car (Grannie)? Yarp
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ThePollitt
Posted a lot
Fix up, look... at that car on eBay!
Posts: 4,696
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Mar 11, 2011 12:09:17 GMT
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4. How do you look after your clay? Cuddle it and take it to bed Quote of the week, right there. Chris
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