Never Clayed Before: Is it worth a go?

[Darren350]

Hey guys, have had the Z for a week now (2004 UK GT) and the initial shiny bling appearance the dealer gave it has vastly vanished, surprisingly so in fact. It now looks quite washed out and dull. I think they did a basic wash and spray wax or similar to be honest, as the beading from the rain it had the first and second day I had it doen't happen at all now.

 

I have heard alot about claying and was thinking this is the ideal car to apply it to, all my other cars have merely had a simple wash and spray wax, and although they came up nice it wasn't a shine that lasted. At all, lol

 

Has anyone clayed their Z and does it do the wonders of dirt removal it is supposed to? Is it best to buy a FINE clay bar or MEDIUM or what? Advice needed all round really please.

[Ekona]

Yes, and there's loads of this been covered before, but basically you want to be doing this in this order:

 

WASH to get the obvious dirt off

CLAY to remove the very fine stuff

POLISH to improve the paintwork and give the shine

WAX to protect that shine

 

Many different products available for each step, but even if you chose the crappiest of each you'd still end up with a car that looks much better than it does now.

[coldel]

As above, but would recommend you use a detox shampoo to wash, as this will remove any of the temporary wax and stuff hanging around on the car.

[Payco]

Done right as per the above it will transform your car.. Good luck..

 

Payco

[Tigerzed]

Absolutely. Follow Ekona's recommendations though. You won't be disappointed

[Darren350]

Thanks guys! Apparently when using the clay bar you also have to use a 'Quick Detailing Spray'. I have Demon Shine spray wax, cheap and cheerful stuff, would this be a good lubricant to use when using the clay bar? I have a tonne of it in a tub which I pour into a spray gun and used to use that to wax all my old crappy cars, would it do the job?

[Tigerzed]

Thanks guys! Apparently when using the clay bar you also have to use a 'Quick Detailing Spray'. I have Demon Shine spray wax, cheap and cheerful stuff, would this be a good lubricant to use when using the clay bar? I have a tonne of it in a tub which I pour into a spray gun and used to use that to wax all my old crappy cars, would it do the job?

 

I've never heard of a quick detailer being used as a lube and wouldn't use one myself, but I'm no expert. You certainly don't have to as you can use water however I personally would use a genuine lube. My own preference is dodo juice born slippy

[AndyG8nby]

I have the meguires clay bar kit and it's the quick detailer that is used for the lube it works a treat and the paint work afterwards feels like glass! :-)

Edited January 28, 2014 by AndyG8nby

[Ekona]

Don't use the spray wax: That's a wax, not a detailing spray

 

Get yourself the Megs clay bar kit, it comes with a perfectly decent clay and a full spray bottle.

[350zedd]

Bilt Hamber clay bars are good and you can use plain water as a lube

[Darren350]

What I want to do ideall is buy an entire kit so I don't have to get all the bits separate. Poorboys and Dodo both seem like good bets, Meguiars seems a bit overpriced in my opinion for full kits? Or am I looking at the wrong sites, lol

[coldel]

Megs is fine, I used it, Wasso really rated Autoglym. But yes its the quick detailer spray that you use with the clay bar in general and comes in most kits.

 

With Megs and Autoglym you can buy off the shelf, the others you will need to order, as long as you dont mind waiting.

[Darren350]

Am fine with waiting as I use the car as a daily driver and the weather doesn't look like it's going to get much better any time soon, lol

[Tigerzed]

Poorboys is good stuff but I don't like the Megs but again, it's all down to personal preference. I use all dodo juice products, they get really good reviews on detailing world forum. If I'm claying I wash with born to be mild, clay with basics of bling clay bar plus born slippy lube, wash again with BTBM, coat of lime prime then two coats of banana armour wax. All available online usually next day delivery

[Dave-350]

The best clay bar for the money is Bilt Hamber clay. Buy it!

 

You can use anything with it, including plain old water.

[The G Man]

Yes, and there's loads of this been covered before, but basically you want to be doing this in this order:

 

WASH to get the obvious dirt off

CLAY to remove the very fine stuff

POLISH to improve the paintwork and give the shine

WAX to protect that shine

 

Many different products available for each step, but even if you chose the crappiest of each you'd still end up with a car that looks much better than it does now.

 

Just to add, wash and dry after claying and before polishing

[Ekona]

Preferable, but not necessary IMHO. I've never washed after a clay or before polishing, as if you do the initial wash properly along with using enough QD, then it's not needed.

 

Of course, each to their own and you cannot possibly do any damage by adding another washing stage in, it just adds time to the process.

[Grundy]

Megs is fine, I used it, Wasso really rated Autoglym. But yes its the quick detailer spray that you use with the clay bar in general and comes in most kits.

 

With Megs and Autoglym you can buy off the shelf, the others you will need to order, as long as you dont mind waiting.

Wait Wasso Washes his car?

[ilogikal1]

No need to buy a specialist clay lube, any decent QD will do the job but even that's unnecessary as you can simply use a decent, properly diluted car shampoo as lube.

 

Better still though;

The best clay bar for the money is Bilt Hamber clay. Buy it!

 

That, & use water for lubrication.

[Davectr]

Yes, and there's loads of this been covered before, but basically you want to be doing this in this order:

 

WASH to get the obvious dirt off

CLAY to remove the very fine stuff

POLISH to improve the paintwork and give the shine

WAX to protect that shine

 

Many different products available for each step, but even if you chose the crappiest of each you'd still end up with a car that looks much better than it does now.

 

Just to add, wash and dry after claying and before polishing

 

+1

[Stutopia]

Hey guys, have had the Z for a week now (2004 UK GT) and the initial shiny bling appearance the dealer gave it has vastly vanished, surprisingly so in fact. It now looks quite washed out and dull. I think they did a basic wash and spray wax or similar to be honest, as the beading from the rain it had the first and second day I had it doen't happen at all now.

 

I have heard alot about claying and was thinking this is the ideal car to apply it to, all my other cars have merely had a simple wash and spray wax, and although they came up nice it wasn't a shine that lasted. At all, lol

 

Has anyone clayed their Z and does it do the wonders of dirt removal it is supposed to? Is it best to buy a FINE clay bar or MEDIUM or what? Advice needed all round really please.

 

The advice on here will set you right, but as a little test for you to feel the difference as well as see it, gently run the back of your hand over your paint before you start and feel the texture and the drag against it. After you've clayed, do the same thing, you should be amazed at the difference (I was), it's like glass afterwards.

 

WARNING claying is stage one on a slippery slope to OCD - obsessive compulsive detailing. Have fun.

[nowhereboy]

Man I can't wait for the summer. I love a good detail in the nice weather, I find I get bored quickly when its freezing cold outside.

[Darren350]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have bought the Dodo Juice Basics of Bling Clay Bar and Lube. Apparently the lube comes so that you have to concentrate it? Also the clay bar is a 55g. Hope that's enough to do my car lol

 

For the polishing and waxing what do you guys reccomend? Will I be okay using a decent spray wax for the waxing or am I better off spending more on a wipe on-wax?

[Darren350]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have bought the Dodo Juice Basics of Bling Clay Bar and Lube. Apparently the lube comes so that you have to concentrate it? Also the clay bar is a 55g. Hope that's enough to do my car lol

 

For the polishing and waxing what do you guys reccomend? Will I be okay using a decent spray wax for the waxing or am I better off spending more on a wipe on-wax?

[Tigerzed]

Thanks for the advice guys. I have bought the Dodo Juice Basics of Bling Clay Bar and Lube. Apparently the lube comes so that you have to concentrate it? Also the clay bar is a 55g. Hope that's enough to do my car lol

 

For the polishing and waxing what do you guys reccomend? Will I be okay using a decent spray wax for the waxing or am I better off spending more on a wipe on-wax?

 

Good choice mate that's what I use you won't be disappointed. Your car will be wet from washing before claying so I just spray the lube on.

 

Spray on wax products are more for maintenance in my opinion. I'd go for good quality wax such as dodo juice purple haze or banana armour is what I prefer but my zed is yellow