Claying

mikey72

Own up, who said claying was a good idea?

vaio

not gone well?

mikey72

I haven't polished my car for 8 years. I washed it a few times, but thought (don't know why, someone said claying was a good idea) I might just clean it and polish it, 3 hours later, I've clayed it. Admittedly I now know what colour it is, but I still need to polish it tomorrow, and put some wax back on it. (Back on it, - well there was some about 7 years ago). There's nothing actually growing on it anymore, all the green bits have gone, so that's better. But who invented a bit of blu tack that you have to rub all over your car? And what's in it? t cut and rubbing compound I understand, but this is just morph after a bus accident, (now a smaller morph, after being caught in all the gaps, and afro caribbean rather than white caucasian, due to the flies and the tar) Got to be honest, I won't win any prizes, but it does work, it's just about a days work.

thegirlintheattic

Good job, I personally don't bother with clay as I only just have the patience for polish and wax. I get a good enough finish without the clay (although I'm sure there is probably very small dirt particles remaining) but then I do clean the car every other week at most.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

personally cant' be bothered with claybars, though ive seen good results from them.

i'd rather old fashioned elbow grease, i heat up tarr'd up areas with a hairdryer then using microfibre cloth then rub off, some even come off with a finger nail.

i buy wool pads from a local factors the ones that sit on a buff machine (mop) then any light scrathes get spot buffed by hand with rubbing compound on wool pad with elbow grease after a wash, then a quick polish back up, then i use meguirs nxt generation wax its easy on, and easy off stuff and a tub lasts me about 2-3 years for £12.00 (on fleabay).

G3 stuff is good also.

mikey72

"Small dirt particles" My roof actually looked like someone had sprayed a black spray can over it to be fair. The rest of the car wasn't a lot better. "Tar" I washed off with white spirit, but the clay bar started to disvolve as well, so I had to wash the car inbetween. That was everything below the rubber strip on the doors, all the way round. I'm not even onto scratches yet, I think it'll just be autoglym resin polish by hand, and that'll see 2020 in. (I went mad and bought Turtle Wax Nano wash/wax, so I hope that'll do the next 8 years. But I am impressed so far.

vaio

eight hours spread over the same number of years doesn't sound excessive, and as it sounds like you are only doing it because of the accident maybe you could add the costs to the claim?

mikey72

vaio wrote: »

eight hours spread over the same number of years doesn't sound excessive, and as it sounds like you are only doing it because of the accident maybe you could add the costs to the claim?

Green bits were mold and moss.

neilmcl

I've heard using a bit of WD40 is good at removing tar and flies, not tried it myself but I'm tempted to give it a go having seen the carnage that's currently stuck to my bumper and bonnet.

mikey72

I found the Autoglym Caravan and Motorhome Cleaner shifts most things, but struggles with tar. (hence the white spirit)

scotsbob

I clay mine once a year over a month. Bonnet one week, doors the next etc.
It's worth it and really does make a difference.