Clay is not Rocket Surgery

Discussion in 'Detailing' started by lotsie, Oct 21, 2010.

  1. Cubby

    Cubby Member

    Sep 18, 2010
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    Clovis, CA
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    To whom are you a stagehand for? Sorry for getting off topic, but was a little curious.:D
     
  2. lotsie

    lotsie Club Coordinator

    May 5, 2009
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    stagehand/part time detailer
    Right here
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    For whomever pays me to stagehand :Thumbsup:

    Mark
     
  3. MINImum

    MINImum New Member

    May 5, 2010
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    Thanks, that's good to know. And ask docv suggested, I'll watch the edges as well as I can. Great, another project on my list, but I'm excited to see how it turns out. :smile5:
     
  4. Octaneguy

    Octaneguy New Member

    Apr 24, 2009
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    Dream job
    Anaheim, CA
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    Had a customer stop by today to buy some Prima and he brought his 2008 BRG MCS that he bought from CarMax..with a measly 9,500 miles on it! We brought it into the shop and tested out some products including how to properly clay as he did it for the first time last week. I felt the paint, and I still felt contamination. So I reclayed the bonnet, and let him feel the paint a few minutes later, and he gasped...how amazing it felt. As usual, what it came down to was that he was NOT applying enough pressure and that's what I seem to encounter the most among newbies. They lightly glide the clay across the paint thinking they are claying, afraid they might do damage if they press too hard. So don't be afraid! :Thumbsup:

    My video is coming! At 12 minutes and 2.8GB in HD, it's too large for YouTube and FaceBook...and haven't had time to edit it into two segments, but I just got a new Mac Pro, and this should improve my workflow by many times!

    Richard
     
  5. WildThang

    WildThang New Member

    Oct 21, 2010
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    Retired Steel Horse Cowboy
    Fremont Nebraska
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    I was shy the first few minutes when I clayed a car the first time. Had someone watch over my shoulder in case I started to mess the paint up. But I remember feeling the clay drag with the first piece I used, then as I continued to rub the same area the clay started to glide over the paint. Had to touch it. Smooth...no more junk in the paint. Made sense. And yeah, put some pressure on those stubborn dead bug chunks stuck in your paint job on your hood, mirrors...etc.

    Quality clay saves time and effort. A lot less rubbing going on with good clay.

    My wife saw me claying the front of our MINI last fall. She watched and asked some questions, ripped off a piece and started rubbing. She believes it equals waxing your car in terms of how hard is this to do.

    Which reminds me...time for the fall clay job...:cool:
     
  6. Justa Jim

    Justa Jim Well-Known Member
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    May 6, 2009
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    Hummm, I thought it sounded a little kinky. What with all these pictures of cross dressing lumberjacks, you can never be sure. :D

    Jim
     
  7. ZugZugMcD

    ZugZugMcD New Member

    Jul 21, 2009
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    Pasadena, Maryland
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    My Clubman is coming up to it's 2nd birthday and although I'm fairly good about washing it and finishing with Hydro, I've only waxed it once (Banana Gloss).

    So today after a thorough and much needed wash, I used the clay. Amazing results and really surprised me that it wasn't more difficult and time consuming.

    Fortunately I'm off work tomorrow so I can wax it. =)

    Taken prior to claying.

    [​IMG]

    Look how dirty it was...

    [​IMG]
     
  8. Octaneguy

    Octaneguy New Member

    Apr 24, 2009
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    Dream job
    Anaheim, CA
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    Ok, I reshot my Clay Bar video yesterday and fortunately You Tube removed the 15 minute video limit, although this new one is only 7 minutes, lol. Enjoy (btw, this is my new 3,000 SF shop I just moved into)

    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu8TpYGF9Fg]YouTube - Claybar 101 With OctaneGuy[/ame]
     
  9. MINIMaybee

    MINIMaybee Club Coordinator

    May 4, 2009
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    Engineer
    Centennial, CO
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    Thanks Richard. Great video.
     
  10. Octaneguy

    Octaneguy New Member

    Apr 24, 2009
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    Dream job
    Anaheim, CA
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    Thanks Chuck! More coming!

     
  11. Dave.0

    Dave.0 Helix & RMW Powered
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    May 4, 2009
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    Clay in MF towel = trash
     
  12. BoCRon

    BoCRon Active Member

    Mar 27, 2011
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    #32 BoCRon, Apr 24, 2011
    Last edited: Apr 24, 2011
    I'm about to clay Mozart for the first time today or tomorrow. I just realized I only have a small amount of Glide(lube) left. Can I just mix up some Mystique with water in the spray bottle to use? I do have a full bottle of Hydro so can use that, but hate to waste it since I'm heading to the Dragon on Wednesday and want to have the Hydro on hand while I'm there ;).
    Also, I'm guessing I don't need to clay the clearbra? It has been on the car for exactly 30 days.
    Annette
     
  13. MINIMaybee

    MINIMaybee Club Coordinator

    May 4, 2009
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    Shhhh...don't tell anyone but Glide is just Slick mixed 50% with distilled water. If you don't have any Slick, soapy water works just fine depending on the clay. I've used Zaino clay before with soapy water and it just falls apart. The old DP gray clay held together well as did the Mag blue. Even the yellow Mothers clay works with soapy water but the Sonus didn't.
    I need to add that if you use soapy water it does leave a residue that wiping alone won't remove so when using it I just rinse the MINI off after doing the clay.
     
  14. pjv1k

    pjv1k New Member

    Apr 23, 2011
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    truck driver
    mass
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    yes you can use soapy water to clay also...
     
  15. Octaneguy

    Octaneguy New Member

    Apr 24, 2009
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    As I stated in the video, if you're washing your car, you can use the water to clay, before you dry it. It's not as slippery as lube, but as long as the car is clean, it works well. I wouldn't use Hydro diluted for clay lube. The lube is a "throwaway" product. You just need to lubricate the clay and nothing else. I like using Glide for the simple fact that after I clay, and wipe it dry after each panel, there is no residue and I can easily tell if I need to clay some more.

    Richard
     
  16. Rixter

    Rixter Well-Known Member

    Jun 14, 2009
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    Very helpful, thanks Richard!
     
  17. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    May 4, 2009
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  18. Redbeard

    Redbeard JCW: because fast is fun!
    Supporting Member

    Dec 17, 2009
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    Glorified spreadsheet jockey.
    Austin, TX
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    Honestly, I'm too damned lazy to wax or clay my own car. That's why I pay guys like Richard to do it for me... :D
     
  19. CHKMINI

    CHKMINI Club Coordinator
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    Sep 1, 2009
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    I like your style!
     
  20. Gutterman

    Gutterman Member

    Apr 24, 2011
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    Claying

    I have be working up to clay my 07 chili red convertible with black hood stripes & invisible mask, do I clay the hole car & act as they are not there. Will it hurt the stripes & invisible mask?
     

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