clay bar...sucks or do i need practice?
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From: Bay Area, CA
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clay bar...sucks or do i need practice?
after everyone here saying how awesome the clay bar is i bought one and gave it a try. i got meguairs detailing package (clay bay and detail spray). the box said to wash the car first then dry it, the spray some of the detailer spray then wipe it with the clay bar. thats what i did but it left hella sticky smears on my car! i only wiped where the spray was so it was lubricated but it would still stick and smear, i was hella pissed off!! it took f*cking forever to get those marks off! was i doing something wrong, what should i do? i seriously doubt i'll use this again unless i get some tips on how to avoid this whole mess cuz for right now, IMO clay bars suck!
I Queef > You
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From: San Diego, California, US
Rep Power: 0 umm, I think its just you man. I don't think you sprayed enough detailer on your car, which is why the clay left smears. I mean by using a clay bar, you're taking EVERYTHING off of your clearcoat, including dirt, contaminants, and even wax. Thats why you should wash your car again, then wax it after you finish clay barring. Guess you just have to be patient when detailing. I dunno man.
you definitely did it wrong when you smeared the clay onto the finish. you don't have to apply much pressure at all to use it correctly, just spray a good amount of quik detailer (on the clay as well) and then glide the clay up & down until you notice that the contaminants, black dots, dirt, etc... is off the finish (pretend like your lightly sanding). practice makes perfect and keep trying until you get it down, i've done it several times and have had no problem. if the clay is obviously smearing onto the finish... your not spraying enough quik detailer and or applying too much pressure. good luck! 
Last edited by rckdrmr; Mar 18, 2004 at 04:06 AM.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Bay Area, CA
Rep Power: 401 i was just "running" it along the paint, i wasnt putting any elbow grease into it. i sprayed the bar too and it would smear less but still smear none the less. i was doing it in circular motions and it would slide smooth and just out of nowhere just "stick" in a spot and leave a mark. i dunno, i thought i was putting more than enough detalier spray (used up about a half a bottle on just the hood, roof, trunk) but maybe i'll try it again but if it smears just once, i'm tossing that bar in the garbage.
Sounds right.
Originally posted by rckdrmr
you definitely did it wrong when you smeared the clay onto the finish. you don't have to apply that much pressure at all to use it correctly, just spray a good amount of quik detailer (on the clay as well) and then glide the clay up & down until you notice that the contaminants, black dots, dirt, etc... is off the finish (pretend like your lightly sanding). practice makes perfect and keep trying until you get it down, i've done it several times and have had no problem. if the clay is obviously smearing onto the finish... your not spraying enough quik detailer and or applying too much pressure. good luck!
you definitely did it wrong when you smeared the clay onto the finish. you don't have to apply that much pressure at all to use it correctly, just spray a good amount of quik detailer (on the clay as well) and then glide the clay up & down until you notice that the contaminants, black dots, dirt, etc... is off the finish (pretend like your lightly sanding). practice makes perfect and keep trying until you get it down, i've done it several times and have had no problem. if the clay is obviously smearing onto the finish... your not spraying enough quik detailer and or applying too much pressure. good luck!
e-married to daydreamer
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From: The Subconscious
Rep Power: 339 wash car 1st and dont dry it... let it rinse
then...
spray a small area of your car really well
take the bar and glide it gently over your cars surface that was sprayed
then take a 100% cotton terry and remover watery/spray leftover on your paint
when youre done with the entire car, wash the car again and dry it good. then youre ready to clean/polish/wax it.
then...
spray a small area of your car really well
take the bar and glide it gently over your cars surface that was sprayed
then take a 100% cotton terry and remover watery/spray leftover on your paint
when youre done with the entire car, wash the car again and dry it good. then youre ready to clean/polish/wax it.
Registered!!
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From: Metro Detroit, Michigan
Rep Power: 0 I am a professional detailer and I tried Mequiars clay once and it took me longer to get the smeared clay off than it did to polish the car! If you want to go with a local store for clay go with Mothers.
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Bay Area, CA
Rep Power: 401 Originally posted by AR
wash car 1st and dont dry it... let it rinse
then...
spray a small area of your car really well
take the bar and glide it gently over your cars surface that was sprayed
then take a 100% cotton terry and remover watery/spray leftover on your paint
wash car 1st and dont dry it... let it rinse
then...
spray a small area of your car really well
take the bar and glide it gently over your cars surface that was sprayed
then take a 100% cotton terry and remover watery/spray leftover on your paint
there's also.... www.clay-magic.com
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