Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay Kit

[S6 ROR]

Hi all, had the above brought me as a birthday present, and looking to use it on the Tusacn. Never used Clay before, so a little apprehensive. The result seems to be excellent. I normally keep my car to what i felt was a good standard of appearance, but this seems to be amazing stuff, and now have a real deep/gloss appearance to the car.
my questions are
once the car has been clayed, do you still use a paintwork cleanser (I have some P21S) before applying the wax (I have P21S carnauba Wax) and
once waxed, i assume that you can use the quick detailer to keep the waxed finish.
I went into Halfords this morning, but they only seem to have the quick detailer in with the pack, and not sold seperately.
What do you guys use, and whats the best way to keep the appearance once waxed.
appreciate any comments.

[tamore]

S6 ROR said:

Hi all, had the above brought me as a birthday present, and looking to use it on the Tusacn. Never used Clay before, so a little apprehensive. The result seems to be excellent. I normally keep my car to what i felt was a good standard of appearance, but this seems to be amazing stuff, and now have a real deep/gloss appearance to the car.
my questions are
once the car has been clayed, do you still use a paintwork cleanser (I have some P21S) before applying the wax (I have P21S carnauba Wax) and
once waxed, i assume that you can use the quick detailer to keep the waxed finish.
I went into Halfords this morning, but they only seem to have the quick detailer in with the pack, and not sold seperately.
What do you guys use, and whats the best way to keep the appearance once waxed.
appreciate any comments.

i do the clay bar (patience is the key), and zymol wax a couple of times a year. i just have it washed as normal in between, down at the local polish staffed place.

[The Hood]

S6 ROR said:

Hi all, had the above brought me as a birthday present, and looking to use it on the Tusacn. Never used Clay before, so a little apprehensive. The result seems to be excellent. I normally keep my car to what i felt was a good standard of appearance, but this seems to be amazing stuff, and now have a real deep/gloss appearance to the car.
my questions are
once the car has been clayed, do you still use a paintwork cleanser (I have some P21S) before applying the wax (I have P21S carnauba Wax) and
once waxed, i assume that you can use the quick detailer to keep the waxed finish.
I went into Halfords this morning, but they only seem to have the quick detailer in with the pack, and not sold seperately.
What do you guys use, and whats the best way to keep the appearance once waxed.
appreciate any comments.

Hi.
I can't help you with your first queery as i don't usethe p21s stuff i use the Maguiars 3 step paint cleaner, polish and wax but as i use the clay bar then the 3 step i'd say yes because the clay bar removes all the tar paricles etc and leaves the paint with a glass like finish the detailer it comes with is to give the bar a surface to be able to move over the paint and to help loosen the road dirt etc.
I don't think that the detailer would help to keep the waxed finish but find it useful to keep the car looking nice when it needs a quick wipe over, i usually keep it in my boot (with a microfibre cloth) when i go to events etc so i can keep the car looking nice................i was one of the few people that was seen cleaning their car at Le Mans last year when it was NOT raining.
You might find the detailer sold on its own at some retailers or failing that have you tried the Meguiars website.

Glyn.

[swanny71]

When claying use loads of the speed detailer spray for lube.
Once clayed I used a paint cleaner then wax (all part of the Meguires system) - great results, especially on my red Alfa.
Speed detailer gives reasonable results between waxings.

Edited by swanny71 on Saturday 10th May 17:17

[blueyonder]

Saw the quick detailer sold on it's own in Halfrauds the other day....they mustn't have had any in when you where there. Was tempted by the Meguires clay bar kit, I use the Gold Class shampoo & wax and the results are great and keep the quick detailer in the boot with a micro cloth!

Does the claying require a lot of extra elbow grease?

[davido140]

blueyonder said:

Does the claying require a lot of extra elbow grease?

not really massive ammounts of effort, just time consuming. Plenty of the detailing spray means the clay glides over the paintwork very easily. its just a pain to do the whole car with a tiny little chunk of clay!

I got one of these kits last year, only do it once or twice a year, just did the full spring clean today, could only be bothered to do the bonnet and around the backs of the wheels (which is where you get most tar and ste anyway)

ETA if you've never used it before you will be amazed at how much crap the clay picks up!

Edited by davido140 on Saturday 10th May 17:37

[tamore]

one more thing too. if you drop the clay bar, bin it.

when you see how it picks up particles from apparently clean paintwork, imagine what it's picking up from the road/ driveway.

[Paulo.dicanio]

Quick detailer will add a little something to the paint in between waxes. Once the car has been clayed polished, sealed, waxed etc,Itend to just spray quick detailer onto the car after I've washed it (when still wet) and towel dry. Then the next week I will give it another wax and alternate like that.

[Dift]

Be gentle with the clay bar, and drop it in some nice warm water for a few minutes before using it.

I did my car yesterday, the paint is now silky smooth.

I washed it, clayed it, put some Klasse all in one on, then used P21s. P21s is good for dark coloured cars so I have been told... certainly works on my black Ibiza.

Enjoy it, and take your time!

[S6 ROR]

Thanks for the replies guys.
How long is it advisable to use the clay before changing to a new peace?
I have noticed on closer inspection, that there are a couple of light score lines on the bonnet Looks like i may have had a small peice of dirt on the clay at some point. Can only see them if you really look hard, but you know what its like, when you know that they are there, you just keep looking for them.

[Dift]

when the face of the clay gets dirty, remould it in your hands an start again. Should be able to do the car several times with the same bit of clay. I cut mine into a few pieces when I originally got it.

[dc53]

Don't press down with the clay, let it glide over the surface.
Break it into about 3 or 4 peices use 1 piece then when that's dirty chuck tha and start over.
Clay doesn't do anything to you paint except grab the crap off of your paint (tar, over spray, industrial fallout etc) Basically the stuff you can't see.

Don't do the bits that just feel gritty, do it all, then when finished give it a polish and a nice coat of wax to lock in your efforts.

Clay the car once or twice a year depending on the use or if it's kept outside etc.

Don't forget the door sills and under the bonnet too! you want to do a good job!

Claying will take max of an hour to do, once you've done it a few times, it'll take about 20/30 min's.

Sorry to bore you all, just thought i'd fill you in.

Dan