Clay bars?

maxxpump · 9th April 2016, 16:12

Hello all,

I'm looking into taking my waxing of my car one step further and am thinking of buying a clay bar kit to give it a "mirror" shine?!

What kit do people recommend? Ive seen one by maguires, T-Cut, Turtle wax, and Auto Glym, and they range from £18 to £49.99! I don't have that much money to spend on the autoglym kit for nearly £50, so have a budget of about £20.

The cheapest option ive seen is to get a bottle of "Autoglym Rapid detailer spray" for £8.99 and a "Meguiar's Clay Bar Replacement Bar " for £10.49.

Or do I get a kit like "T-Cut Clay Bar Kit" for nearly £22!

How do I do it anyway? Is there any special knowledge required? and is the finishes actually that good? I've been currently just washing my car, using the shammy, then waxing it with Turtle wax (but I use a shampoo and wax combo to wash her with!)

Any tips would be appreciated!

Scaramanga · 9th April 2016, 16:22

Interested in the replies as I'm a clay bar virgin too and thinking of giving it a go as I want it nice and shiney.

Trouble is once I start....

steve1975 · 9th April 2016, 16:27

save your money and get one of these...use warm soapy water as the lube and save even more money,i use mine regular and it's great

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/car...prep-clay-mitt

steve-45 · 9th April 2016, 16:28

Bought a clay bar, auto glym polish and sealer. Now the weather is improving I've no excuse no to start, but would like some advice on the do's and dont's of using a clay bar.

Heddy · 9th April 2016, 16:30

I use the clay mitt, use it twice a year. I recommend it as a lazy novice but dunno what a professional detailer might think of it

steve1975 · 9th April 2016, 16:38

i use it on all the cars i detail and it's great,and it lasts longer than clay

Ravinder · 9th April 2016, 16:40

I use Bilt Hamber Clay Bars as in the link below. I have a stock on these and they're great and do the job.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bilt-Hamber-...ds=bilt+hamber

For lube, I use this. Good stuff. As people have said, you can also use soapy water. Just keep it well lubricated. Do not let the clay or surface dry. This will cause marring and then you have more work to do when you come to correcting the paintwork.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/detail.../prod_560.html

Teflon · 9th April 2016, 16:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by maxxpump

Hello all,

I'm looking into taking my waxing of my car one step further and am thinking of buying a clay bar kit to give it a "mirror" shine?!

What kit do people recommend? Ive seen one by maguires, T-Cut, Turtle wax, and Auto Glym, and they range from £18 to £49.99! I don't have that much money to spend on the autoglym kit for nearly £50, so have a budget of about £20.

The cheapest option ive seen is to get a bottle of "Autoglym Rapid detailer spray" for £8.99 and a "Meguiar's Clay Bar Replacement Bar " for £10.49.

Or do I get a kit like "T-Cut Clay Bar Kit" for nearly £22!

How do I do it anyway? Is there any special knowledge required? and is the finishes actually that good? I've been currently just washing my car, using the shammy, then waxing it with Turtle wax (but I use a shampoo and wax combo to wash her with!)

Any tips would be appreciated!

Looks like you've double posted - I replied on your other thread with this - hope it's of help:

The video below is a good starting point - very detailed and should give you a good understanding of the process. Be warned though, car detailing can become addictive (and therefore expensive!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=900r...&nohtml5=False

Cliff

suzublu · 9th April 2016, 16:43

Moved to valeting

Ravinder · 9th April 2016, 16:45

Also, before claying, get the paintwork as clean as possible. So wash well, then use a tar remover and an iron remover. It makes a HUGE difference.

Autosmart Tardis is highly regarded in the industry, same stuff that I use too. You can get this from a local Autosmart dealer in your area.

And Iron X is good stuff to remove iron deposits from the body of the vehicle.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/engine.../prod_726.html

9th April 2016, 16:12	#1
maxxpump Posted a thing or two Rover 75 CDT Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Brighton Posts: 1,786 Thanks: 215 Thanked 244 Times in 205 Posts	Clay bars? Hello all, I'm looking into taking my waxing of my car one step further and am thinking of buying a clay bar kit to give it a "mirror" shine?! What kit do people recommend? Ive seen one by maguires, T-Cut, Turtle wax, and Auto Glym, and they range from £18 to £49.99! I don't have that much money to spend on the autoglym kit for nearly £50, so have a budget of about £20. The cheapest option ive seen is to get a bottle of "Autoglym Rapid detailer spray" for £8.99 and a "Meguiar's Clay Bar Replacement Bar " for £10.49. Or do I get a kit like "T-Cut Clay Bar Kit" for nearly £22! How do I do it anyway? Is there any special knowledge required? and is the finishes actually that good? I've been currently just washing my car, using the shammy, then waxing it with Turtle wax (but I use a shampoo and wax combo to wash her with!) Any tips would be appreciated! __________________ Mods done: 160 upgrade, EGR bypass, Viton "O" rings, Fitted 16" unions, cleaned manifold, uprated air filter, fog lights, better bulbs, upgraded ICE and full speaker set up.

9th April 2016, 16:22	#2
Scaramanga I really should get out more....... Firefrost 75 CDTi Conn SE manual Tourer Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Wales Posts: 2,319 Thanks: 1,409 Thanked 695 Times in 500 Posts	Interested in the replies as I'm a clay bar virgin too and thinking of giving it a go as I want it nice and shiney. Trouble is once I start.... __________________ My current 75 is my 4th... 1. Starlight Silver 1.8 manual Saloon- RIP - HGF before I joined this forum 2. White Gold CDTi manual Saloon - RIP - Car accident 3. Midnight Blue 2.5 V6 auto Saloon- 'The 5th Gear Car' - Now owned by another forum member 4. Firefrost CDTi manual Tourer Lee [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

9th April 2016, 16:27	#3
steve1975 Banned rover 75 saloon Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: workington Posts: 1,890 Thanks: 385 Thanked 449 Times in 279 Posts	save your money and get one of these...use warm soapy water as the lube and save even more money,i use mine regular and it's great http://www.halfords.com/motoring/car...prep-clay-mitt

9th April 2016, 16:28	#4
steve-45 This is my second home Rover 75 Saloon CDTi Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Belvedere Posts: 4,076 Thanks: 108 Thanked 1,089 Times in 774 Posts	Bought a clay bar, auto glym polish and sealer. Now the weather is improving I've no excuse no to start, but would like some advice on the do's and dont's of using a clay bar.

9th April 2016, 16:30	#5
Heddy This is my second home None Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: None Posts: 5,556 Thanks: 465 Thanked 1,161 Times in 924 Posts	I use the clay mitt, use it twice a year. I recommend it as a lazy novice but dunno what a professional detailer might think of it

9th April 2016, 16:38	#6
steve1975 Banned rover 75 saloon Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: workington Posts: 1,890 Thanks: 385 Thanked 449 Times in 279 Posts	i use it on all the cars i detail and it's great,and it lasts longer than clay

9th April 2016, 16:40	#7
Ravinder This is my second home Rover 75 saloon x2, Rover 75 Tourer x2, Rover 220 Coupe Turbo Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kirkcaldy, Fife Posts: 9,038 Thanks: 2,278 Thanked 2,852 Times in 1,718 Posts	I use Bilt Hamber Clay Bars as in the link below. I have a stock on these and they're great and do the job. http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bilt-Hamber-...ds=bilt+hamber For lube, I use this. Good stuff. As people have said, you can also use soapy water. Just keep it well lubricated. Do not let the clay or surface dry. This will cause marring and then you have more work to do when you come to correcting the paintwork. http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/detail.../prod_560.html

9th April 2016, 16:43	#9
suzublu This is my second home rover 75 1.8 vvc club se wedgwood blue Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Seaton Carew Posts: 26,962 Thanks: 65 Thanked 7,142 Times in 4,642 Posts	Moved to valeting

9th April 2016, 16:45	#10
Ravinder This is my second home Rover 75 saloon x2, Rover 75 Tourer x2, Rover 220 Coupe Turbo Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kirkcaldy, Fife Posts: 9,038 Thanks: 2,278 Thanked 2,852 Times in 1,718 Posts	Also, before claying, get the paintwork as clean as possible. So wash well, then use a tar remover and an iron remover. It makes a HUGE difference. Autosmart Tardis is highly regarded in the industry, same stuff that I use too. You can get this from a local Autosmart dealer in your area. And Iron X is good stuff to remove iron deposits from the body of the vehicle. http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/engine.../prod_726.html