Claybar-ing, can you damage the paintwork?

[Ari]

Ok so I've just bought a three year old MX5. It looks pretty clean at the dealers, but I've no idea how it's been looked after those three years and I want to really mint it.

So I'm thinking, maybe I should claybar it before I wax it? But I've never done it before and the idea of dragging clay across the bodywork seems vaguely disturbing.

Can I get it wrong or damage the car in any way?

Thinking of getting some Autoglym High Definition wax too. Always used two coats of Ultra Deep Shine followed by a coat of Extra Gloss Protection before, think it's worth trying the HD stuff?

[TallPaul]

Yes, it is very easy to damage your paint with a clay bar. You "should" be safe as long as you take a few precautions...
Make sure the car has just been thoroughly washed, and you've removed as much dirt as possible.
Split the block of clay into 4 pieces.
Be sure to use the recommended lubricant for whatever clay you are using.
Start at the top of the car and do a section of the panel at a time, folding the clay regularly, using short (2 or 3 inch) passes.
If the clay looks dirty, bin it & use a fresh piece, if you drop it on the floor, chuck it away too.
Remember you are in effect rubbing something that can contain abrasives across your paint, so concentrate!
Although it will leave your paint free from almost all types of dirt/sap/dead bugs etc it will also remove most waxes, so it will need some major restoration afterwards.
HTH's...

Edited by TallPaul on Thursday 22 April 21:37

[Ari]

TP, that's brilliant, thank you very much indeed.

I'll have to decide whether I'm brave enough, or whether I just polish and wax as normal!

[MGwob]

Hi, I would start with the Meguiars Smooth surface clay kit. I used it on my car after washing thoroughly and the paint is so smooth now. You can pick the kit up from Halfords or get it mail ordered online.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

The kit comes with 2 clay bars, quik detailer (clay lube) and a microfiber.

No need to get the brave pills as long as you follow the instructions

Go for it!!
Mark

[Whitean3]

MGwob said:

Hi, I would start with the Meguiars Smooth surface clay kit. I used it on my car after washing thoroughly and the paint is so smooth now. You can pick the kit up from Halfords or get it mail ordered online.

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/...

The kit comes with 2 clay bars, quik detailer (clay lube) and a microfiber.

No need to get the brave pills as long as you follow the instructions

Go for it!!
Mark

That's what I did- was slightly concerned I'd do something stupid, but in actual fact it was very straightforward and intuitive. And of course does get rid of a lo tof surface imperfections to leave the paintwork pretty smooth.

[Nigel H]

I must have clayed my cars 20+ times now, without any problems. As others have said make sure you use a lubricant and don't get any grit in the clay. I've used both Meg and Swisswax clays.

The quality of the shine depends on how well you do the prep and claying make a big difference.

I got mine from this lot

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/meguiars/quik-c...

[markbigears]

Use plenty of lube and you can't go wrong, don't skip this part, its the most important part of any detail.

[E21_Ross]

i did it briefly on my car, but was running out of time and only managed the boot and bonnet but gotta say it did wonders. easy to use, just keep folding the clay. my car was looking spotless after i cleaned it, but you run the clay over it (use plenty of lube!) and the clay bar was coming out brown/orange still! it really does do wonders. it takes forever though. expect it to take quite some hours.

i'll be claying my E21 in not too long, ready for looking smooth in the summer

[oblio]

Ari said:

TP, that's brilliant, thank you very much indeed.

I'll have to decide whether I'm brave enough, or whether I just polish and wax as normal!

I had my clay/lube for yonks before I plucked up the courage...then one day I just went for it! Wash, dry, cleance, clay, wash dary, polish, wax - took quite a few hours but well worth it for me.

It does take some nuts though to do it but when you get into it, no probs. Paintwork was as smooth as a baby's bottom!!

Just follow the advice re lube and folding the clay, not dropping it etc

Oblio

Edited by oblio on Saturday 1st May 15:36

[Dan_1981]

Also got an MX5 - and used the Meguirs kit as reccomended above.

Its a dead simple process once you get started, the lube that comes with the wax makes it glide over the paintwork, and once you've finsihed it really is silky smooth.

I don't use it very often, i've only clayed it once this year, and its hard work to get it all covered but the result is definitly worth the hard work.

All my other products are autoglym but I can't reccomend the meguirs pack enough.

[Ari]

I did it! Bought the Melgiers kit as recommended. And the paint is still on the car..!

Not too bad once you get used to it. Slow work and time consuming, but worth it.

Finished it off with two coats of Autoglym Ultra Deep Shine and one of Extra Gloss Protection, and cleaned and reproofed the hood with the twin pack Autoglym hood stuff, and it looks superb!

[E21_Ross]

Ari said:

I did it! Bought the Melgiers kit as recommended. And the paint is still on the car..!

Not too bad once you get used to it. Slow work and time consuming, but worth it.

Finished it off with two coats of Autoglym Ultra Deep Shine and one of Extra Gloss Protection, and cleaned and reproofed the hood with the twin pack Autoglym hood stuff, and it looks superb!

well done! you should notice that cleaning next time should be a bit easier too. might be worth getting some decent wax on top of that extra gloss protection too i only seem to get the EGP to last about 6-8 weeks tops.

[anonymous-user]

Ari said:

TP, that's brilliant, thank you very much indeed.

I'll have to decide whether I'm brave enough, or whether I just polish and wax as normal!

Do it, just use plenty of lube(ooerr). If you atre scared just do a small area first-you will be amazed. I did my 220 after months of thinking and it came oit mint(well the car is like new anyway), the amount of st that came off was unreal, the paint now looks like glass after a nice was. Don't rush the job though-it will take all day to do a Mondeo sized car properly.

[E21_Ross]

i'm dreading the summer clean my car really needs, it's going to take a good 2 days:

wash, clay, polish, sealant (takes 20 mins to apply, wait 20 mins for it to haze, buff off, wait another 60-90mins before it's finished doing its thing) then wax.

still, worth it in the long run i guess