GARTHY Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 I'm slowly getting more into detailing. I have a 2 1/2 yr old lava grey A3 which I've paint cleansed yearly and zymoled every 2/3 months. Will claying make a big difference? Any tips/ guides for claying appreciated - do I wash again after claying or will a microfibre wipe down be sufficient before waxing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TDiAvant Posted August 17, 2006 Report Share Posted August 17, 2006 Just started to clay my old B5 A4 last night what a difference. I would wash the car before and after claying Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rs32 Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 only discovered claying after reading this forum - it's great ! Keep the surface nice and wet when you're using the clay though - otherwise you can get lots of scratches that then need sorting out. To see the benefit try a lower bumper section - get the technique right on that then move onto the rest of the car Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Keep the surface nice and wet when you're using the clay though - otherwise you can get lots of scratches that then need sorting out. To see the benefit try a lower bumper section - get the technique right on that then move onto the rest of the car [/ QUOTE ] That's why I've not clayed mine, I'm worried about swirls. The car doesn't have any and I want to keep it that way! I think I'll stick to my Zymol HD Cleanse and Carbon......... BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McGee Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 If you press to hard you will also getting marring which is even more unsightly and will need machine polishing to remove it. so long as you keep it well lubed with QD and just rest your hand on the clay you will be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John32 Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 [ QUOTE ] I think I'll stick to my Zymol HD Cleanse and Carbon......... [/ QUOTE ] But think how much better it would be after a claying I found the following really useful in understanding why - linky And the results speak for themselfs - the surface is left so smooth, the cleaner, polish and wax go on 100% better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blix Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 wast of time i found.i think if you already keep your car polished using high quality products such as swissol.meguiars or zymol you wont see much difference.if your car hardly ever gets a wash you live in the city with your car parked under a tree full of pigeons then you will Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slimtim Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 I've always found it very effective on just about all cars. Obviously well maintained cars won't have the same levels of contamination, but for 90% of cas it makes a big difference. As for swirls it won't induce these as you rub the clay in straight strokes. It's washing and drying that primarally causes swirling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted August 18, 2006 Report Share Posted August 18, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] I think I'll stick to my Zymol HD Cleanse and Carbon......... [/ QUOTE ] But think how much better it would be after a claying I found the following really useful in understanding why - linky And the results speak for themselfs - the surface is left so smooth, the cleaner, polish and wax go on 100% better. [/ QUOTE ] Thanks for the link John. I actually have two of those Clay Magic kits which I bought in the US’ last year!! I just haven’t felt the need to use them (nor had the courage). The link was very helpful and I might just do a door or wing now and see how it goes. The thing is the paint on my car is smooth as I cleanse it 3 or 4 times a year. I’ll post my results. BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miniandy Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 Give it a bash. I was nervous at first when I used a clay bar on my nice black paintwork but just remember to use lots of detail spray and be gentle - you will be so impressed you'll wonder how you managed without it. Well maybe not, but you get the idea! Cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John32 Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 Bub Will be interested to hear how you get on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted August 24, 2006 Report Share Posted August 24, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Give it a bash. I was nervous at first when I used a clay bar on my nice black paintwork but just remember to use lots of detail spray and be gentle - you will be so impressed you'll wonder how you managed without it. Well maybe not, but you get the idea! Cheers [/ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Bub Will be interested to hear how you get on [/ QUOTE ] Will let you chaps know how it goes................. BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted November 4, 2006 Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 [ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Give it a bash. I was nervous at first when I used a clay bar on my nice black paintwork but just remember to use lots of detail spray and be gentle - you will be so impressed you'll wonder how you managed without it. Well maybe not, but you get the idea! Cheers [/ QUOTE ] [ QUOTE ] Bub Will be interested to hear how you get on [/ QUOTE ] Will let you chaps know how it goes................. BUB [/ QUOTE ] Right I've finally popped my cherry! I mean used some clay Bought the wife a '54 plate Modus a couple of weeks back so it was the guinea pig. I was surprised to see that clay can actually reduce minor swirling too. The car isn't 2yo yet and has only done 8k so the paint was pretty good. But the results were truly fantastc! I was impressed So I started the A4 today....... Now as I said the car is swirl free and pretty much like new really. It didn't pick much cr*p up from the paint but it was still worth the effort. The most important thing to me was that even when you get a dry spot the clay won't affect the paint, something that I was worried about. I HD cleansed it and put a couple of coats of Carbon on afterwards. The bonnet looks like it's still wet........... BUB Look out JC! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamD Posted November 4, 2006 Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 I popped my clay cherry today as well (as seen here) Very very impressed with the easy of use and the amount of crap that it picked up on what I thought was clean paint Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexc Posted November 4, 2006 Report Share Posted November 4, 2006 An easy way of testing if your car needs claying is to do the following: After washing and drying your car, place your hand inside a plastic sandwich bag and lightly run your fingertips over the paint's surface. It should be as smooth as glass. If your car's surface has a rough, gritty or pebble-like texture, it indicates the presence of paint contamination. This should be removed with a clay bar before applying a polish or wax. Hope this helps! Alex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_C Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Look out JC! [/ QUOTE ] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted November 6, 2006 Report Share Posted November 6, 2006 BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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