car washing tips
Discussion
jatinder said:
WTF claying?Am I just not in to this or simply missing something. Is it a professional term dor something else?
When I was a young un, we used to clay cars and if you got a long enough stick, you could get them from about 200 yards off. An inch ball of clay on the end of a 3 or 4 foot stick was about ideal and with practice you could easily get a car from over 100 yards, double decker buses were a sitting duck.
See also "shit sticking" for different results.
If you wash your car with a mitt and two buckets, dry with a waffle weave towel and then rub your hand across a panel you can feel the surface is not smooth....it is rough and stubbly. Over time contaminates attach themselves to the surface and claying a car is how to remove these. Auto clay is like blu tac, you roll the clay into a ball, flatten it into an 8-10cm disc, use the correct lubricant and rub across the bodywork to remone contaminates. Keep lubricating, and re rolling the clay. 15-20 mins later you have beautifully smooth paintwork, ready for re-washing and then drying, polishing, glazing, sealing and waxing with Carnauba wax. Its simple.
Am I just not in to this or simply missing something. Is it a professional term dor something else?
When I was a young un, we used to clay cars and if you got a long enough stick, you could get them from about 200 yards off. An inch ball of clay on the end of a 3 or 4 foot stick was about ideal and with practice you could easily get a car from over 100 yards, double decker buses were a sitting duck.
See also "shit sticking" for different results.
Greensleeves said:
jatinder said:
WTF claying?Am I just not in to this or simply missing something. Is it a professional term dor something else?
When I was a young un, we used to clay cars and if you got a long enough stick, you could get them from about 200 yards off. An inch ball of clay on the end of a 3 or 4 foot stick was about ideal and with practice you could easily get a car from over 100 yards, double decker buses were a sitting duck.
See also "shit sticking" for different results.
My tuppence worth:
Don't use car wash soap with loads of crappy additives such as polish, 'extra glossy finish' or 'streak free drying'. Just use basic but decent quality auto wash and apply a polish afterwards.
Avoid alloy wheel cleaning sprays like the plague! (unless you want your brake caliper paint to corrode and any non alloy surfaces on the wheels, such as plastic or painted centre caps, to fade and crack)
And the obvious one - never buy a black car (as I always do
) and never wash the car in the sun.
ETA: I buy all my stuff here, as do a lot of the pro valeters! http://www.autobritedirect.co.uk/shop/ Half the price of Halfrauds and twice the quality!
Don't use car wash soap with loads of crappy additives such as polish, 'extra glossy finish' or 'streak free drying'. Just use basic but decent quality auto wash and apply a polish afterwards.
Avoid alloy wheel cleaning sprays like the plague! (unless you want your brake caliper paint to corrode and any non alloy surfaces on the wheels, such as plastic or painted centre caps, to fade and crack)
And the obvious one - never buy a black car (as I always do
) and never wash the car in the sun.ETA: I buy all my stuff here, as do a lot of the pro valeters! http://www.autobritedirect.co.uk/shop/ Half the price of Halfrauds and twice the quality!
Edited by john_r on Tuesday 5th June 08:55
john_r said:
Avoid alloy wheel cleaning sprays like the plague! (unless you want your brake caliper paint to corrode and any non alloy surfaces on the wheels, such as plastic or painted centre caps, to fade and crack)
If you use a non-acid wheel cleaner, you'll be fine. Most of the more niche cleaners are not acid based, and so don't destroy either your alloys or your calipers. 
morebeanz said:
john_r said:
Avoid alloy wheel cleaning sprays like the plague! (unless you want your brake caliper paint to corrode and any non alloy surfaces on the wheels, such as plastic or painted centre caps, to fade and crack)
If you use a non-acid wheel cleaner, you'll be fine. Most of the more niche cleaners are not acid based, and so don't destroy either your alloys or your calipers. belleair302 said:
If you wash your car with a mitt and two buckets, dry with a waffle weave towel and then rub your hand across a panel you can feel the surface is not smooth....it is rough and stubbly. Over time contaminates attach themselves to the surface and claying a car is how to remove these. Auto clay is like blu tac, you roll the clay into a ball, flatten it into an 8-10cm disc, use the correct lubricant and rub across the bodywork to remone contaminates. Keep lubricating, and re rolling the clay. 15-20 mins later you have beautifully smooth paintwork, ready for re-washing and then drying, polishing, glazing, sealing and waxing with Carnauba wax. Its simple.
Am I just not in to this or simply missing something. Is it a professional term dor something else?
When I was a young un, we used to clay cars and if you got a long enough stick, you could get them from about 200 yards off. An inch ball of clay on the end of a 3 or 4 foot stick was about ideal and with practice you could easily get a car from over 100 yards, double decker buses were a sitting duck.
See also "shit sticking" for different results.
15-20 mins? Greensleeves said:
jatinder said:
WTF claying?Am I just not in to this or simply missing something. Is it a professional term dor something else?
When I was a young un, we used to clay cars and if you got a long enough stick, you could get them from about 200 yards off. An inch ball of clay on the end of a 3 or 4 foot stick was about ideal and with practice you could easily get a car from over 100 yards, double decker buses were a sitting duck.
See also "shit sticking" for different results.
Took me an entire day to clay mine properly 
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
See this topic! It's a "tell me how to wash my car" thread and covers exactly what you so desire.
Hope it helps
T
See this topic! It's a "tell me how to wash my car" thread and covers exactly what you so desire.
Hope it helps
T
belleair302 said:
The preparation before the polish and wax is what makes the paint shine and claying a car twice a year is all that is required. Are you happy with your Griff's paintwork after the clay?
After four and a half days polishing with a clay bar, scratchX, HD Clense and Carnuba wax it's as smooth as it'll ever get 
The Griffalo said:
belleair302 said:
The preparation before the polish and wax is what makes the paint shine and claying a car twice a year is all that is required. Are you happy with your Griff's paintwork after the clay?
After four and a half days polishing with a clay bar, scratchX, HD Clense and Carnuba wax it's as smooth as it'll ever get 
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