Recommend me a clay bar
Recommend me a clay bar
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Discussion

CaptainSlow

Original Poster:

13,179 posts

232 months

Sunday 24th January 2010
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ok, I have lots of small yellow dots on the lower panels on one side. I have tried AutoGlym Tar remover without success, reading some similar threads it looks like I need clay bar. Having not bought one befire is there anything I need to consider when getting one?

Would this suffice?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bilt-Hamber-Auto-Clay-Regula...






Chris_VRS

2,316 posts

213 months

Sunday 24th January 2010
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Yes that should see you well.
Good value for money the BH clay...and can be used with water if you don't have a quick detailing spray?!

Auto finesse

118 posts

221 months

Sunday 24th January 2010
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The Bilt Hamber clay is a good clay, but if i was to recommend what id say are the very best id say Sonus green or Dodo Juice grey clay, those two are IMO the very best.

CaptainSlow

Original Poster:

13,179 posts

232 months

Sunday 24th January 2010
quotequote all
ok thanks for the replies

KevF

1,994 posts

218 months

Monday 25th January 2010
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Auto finesse said:
The Bilt Hamber clay is a good clay, but if i was to recommend what id say are the very best id say Sonus green or Dodo Juice grey clay, those two are IMO the very best.
+1 for Sonus green.....

952man

14 posts

237 months

Tuesday 26th January 2010
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You'll need copoius amounts of water with the BH clay - almost a running hose to be on the safe side, as water isn't very viscous so is not a great lube.

E31Shrew

5,956 posts

212 months

Tuesday 26th January 2010
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Sonos green also

belleair302

6,990 posts

227 months

Tuesday 26th January 2010
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Initially start off with the least abrasive clay, make sure that the car is clean and the clay warm....put it into a bucket of warm water to make the clay soft.

If not using BH clay have some lubricant handy to enable the clay to slide across the paintwork and allow it to lift out the tar spots etc.

After claying rewash the door, polish and wax....simple.

Edited by belleair302 on Wednesday 27th January 16:44

JimWD

42 posts

191 months

Wednesday 27th January 2010
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Another thumbsup here for Sonus Green.

As Belleair says, keep the claybar warm and malleable. It's important to use plenty of lube, too.









AS you can see, it gets pretty caked-up if the paints in a bad way! Keep turning the clay to find a clean section and continue..

PJ S

10,842 posts

247 months

Sunday 31st January 2010
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Never used the Sonus or Dodo clays before, since the Bilt Hamber one has worked so well for me, I've never felt the desire to change for change sake.
Never used the Autoclay with anything but water, and have never encountered any problems with water's reduced lubrication.
As mentioned, if going for the original rather than the soft, you may find in this weather, that having 2 pieces on the go, with one sitting in a bowl/mug of warm water, is useful. That way you can chop and change every full or half panel, to one which is easier to manipulate.
Also using warm water in the spray bottle to keep the panel and clay wet, will help.

Don't let the piece get too thin in use - keep it 2-3mm thick - and check it every so often to see how much its picked up, and therefore needs to be folded to a clean side.
You'll hear and feel the clay removing the contaminants, and when it glides effortlessly over the surface, you know you can move on to the next section.
Don't use any real downward pressure - that can lead to marring the paintwork (clay skidmarks) which then needs a bit of light polish to remove.
When you run out of clean surfaces, simply squish up into a ball, and flatten out again - it'll look like a marble, but that's fine.
Remember, when you're done with the paintwork, use it on the glass too, to deep clean it.

Cotty

41,668 posts

304 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
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JimWD said:



AS you can see, it gets pretty caked-up if the paints in a bad way! Keep turning the clay to find a clean section and continue..
Do you usually let it get that clogged before you fold it in? I usually fold it to find a clean bit before it gets that bad

Nightmare

5,276 posts

304 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2010
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tried a load a while back and think Dodo supernatural clay wins by a country mile. totally effective and the nicest and easiest to use. massively better than Megs, and in my opinion much nicer to use than the bilt hamber..... just my opinion tho smile

JimWD

42 posts

191 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2010
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Cotty said:
Do you usually let it get that clogged before you fold it in? I usually fold it to find a clean bit before it gets that bad
It's pretty caked, isn't it. This was from the front-lower doors.. I knew it was bad as you could feel it, but, didn't think it'd be that bad. I had to turn the clay > repeat section > turn the clay and repeat again before it was free of showing signs of pick-up.