Clay Bar and Polish

[DaveH23]

I try to get our and wash my car every weekend just with a bucket and sponge and generally give the car a good once over with hot water and then use autoglym shampoo after that and it generally looks pretty good.

I have never polished or used clay bar before and looking to find out a little but more and what you guys recommend.

Would I be right in saying that the correct order is to wash the car normally first, then clay bar, then polish?

If so what clay bar and polish would you guys recommend? As suggested I'm new to this so not wanting to spend a furtune on top of the range products just yet.

Even better if there are any online guides for beginners you could point me in the direction of. I know I could google this but would rather use something that is recomended by a PH'er.

Cheers.

[Roadru77er]

Wash (No need to dry)
Clay (Follow instructions) feel how much smoother your paint is/see crap on clay no matter how clean you thought your car was!
Polish
Wax

If you like Autoglym stick with it

[theshrew]

Dont press on with the clay just glide it over the paint and use plenty of lube

[DaveH23]

Roadru77er said:

Wash (No need to dry)
Clay (Follow instructions) feel how much smoother your paint is/see crap on clay no matter how clean you thought your car was!
Polish
Wax

If you like Autoglym stick with it

So I rub the clay on to the car whilst still wet? (I assume it will come with instructions just want to clarify)

[JulianHJ]

Don't rub, glide it over making sure you fold it a lot between passes, so you're not dragging muck over unprotected paint. As has been said before, use lots of lube. I've used Bilt Hamber stuff in the past, which is fairly simple as you can use water rather than a dedicated lube.

[Roadru77er]

DaveH23 said:

So I rub the clay on to the car whilst still wet? (I assume it will come with instructions just want to clarify)

You'll need to use a lube as stated to help the clay "glide" just no need to dry as you're going to wet the areas to be clayed anyway.

Most clays have a recommended lube Bilt Hamber clay uses water as lube.

[AMG01]

Roadru77er said:

Wash (No need to dry)
Clay (Follow instructions) feel how much smoother your paint is/see crap on clay no matter how clean you thought your car was!
Polish
Wax

If you like Autoglym stick with it

Done this yesterday for the first time, loads of videos online and guides. I did

Wash
Clay
Wash
Polish
Wax

Very pleased with the results, well worth it, but took most of the day on my FN2 type r, so leave time. As said, once started, us loads of lube, and do it until it glides over the paint. It's obvious when it's done it's job. If you drop a bit of clay, throw it away, it will pick up particles when dropped and ruin your paint if you reapply. I used bilt hamber, which you can use with water, is a tenner to buy.

[DaveH23]

Cheers for the response guys will hopefully find time this weekend - Will post up before and afters If I can.

[Chromed]

Maybe point out that if you do it well like amg01 , you will be able to just wash and wax for a few months after .

[AMG01]

Chromed said:

Maybe point out that if you do it well like amg01 , you will be able to just wash and wax for a few months after .

Just on that, I was under the impression, falsely perhaps, that I would only have to wash? Wax as well?

[ShiDevil]

AMG01 said:

Just on that, I was under the impression, falsely perhaps, that I would only have to wash? Wax as well?

You are correct. Just wash with a PH Neutral Shampoo, otherwise, it will strip the wax off again. Detail spray for enhanced shine after drying

Wax should last for 3 months to 6 months depending up on Carnuba % You should only clay really once a year, or dependant on the amount of driving

Any Claying, will of course take off the wax, so best, when the time is right to wax again, wash, tar remover etc, clay, paint cleanse and then polish and wax again

Have fun

[AMG01]

ShiDevil said:

You are correct. Just wash with a PH Neutral Shampoo, otherwise, it will strip the wax off again. Detail spray for enhanced shine after drying

Wax should last for 3 months to 6 months depending up on Carnuba % You should only clay really once a year, or dependant on the amount of driving

Any Claying, will of course take off the wax, so best, when the time is right to wax again, wash, tar remover etc, clay, paint cleanse and then polish and wax again

Have fun

Cheers for that, it was as I thought, will reclay at the end of the summer

[AMG01]

AMG01 said:

Cheers for that, it was as I thought, will reclay at the end of the summer

Any recommendations for detail spray and I assume you put it on before drying after a wash?

[domster]

ShiDevil said:

Carnuba %

http://dodojuice.com/juicebar/viewtopic.php?f=15&t=311