1st time clay user

[oldman]

hello,
used clay for first time today, autoglym car detailing kit, and comes with lube.

instructions are clear, except being an idiot, how do i know when i have done an area enough?
i know they say smooth to touch but area is also wet from lube! so smooth as it were.

i just used until the clay was gliding over the area.
does that sound about right?

finished off with some ag srp and like result.

scarily therapeutic as well! although had enough after doing bonnet alone.

as a side, why does my snow foam run of the car so quick?
i see pics and its sit there like snow on other cars!

thanks

 

[Blanco92]

Unless your car has some seriously contaminated paintwork (large amounts of overspray or something), the same area should only need two passes with the clay bar.

As you say, it's pretty much done when the clay bar just glides across.

You can always just rub the area you've done with a (microfibre) drying towel, then rub your finger across the paintwork to be sure you've got a smooth finish. If you're not happy with the finish, spray a bit more lube and use the clay bar a couple more times on the said area.

Claying shouldn't take long, should be able to do a whole car in 45mins max.

 

[oldman]

thanks blanco92, sums up what i thought and started doing
car was gf bmw 120 coupe as a tester!
will look at doing mine tomorrow, which unfortunately has never seen polish, just shampoo so will be fun job

 

[oldman]

sorry, another question:
how often do you clay a car?

 

[Blanco92]

Personally, once or twice a year, never more.

 

[oldman]

really, so just wash and polish, use ag srp, in between?

 

[Martin_FR]

A good clay and polish 2 or 3 times a year with a few layers of wax each time then after that a layer of wax after every wash to build up a good layer on it sounds about right

 

[oldman]

ah, wax
something never done so will have to learn and purchase.

 

[Blanco92]

really, so just wash and polish, use ag srp, in between?

Each summer I usually treat the car to a full detail; wash, clay, polish with rotary, seal, wax (twice), then do all the little bits like blacking tyres, polish exhaust etc.

Then after winter, around March, it gets clayed and waxed.

 

[oldman]

not got machine polisher and doubt will to be honest.
looks like i need a wax then!

 

[Martin_FR]

Iv been reccomended poorboys natty blue wax to use by a local company polished bliss. Using up my megs carnuba wax first before purchasing though. Im awaiting some products then going for the following this week
Wash
Clay
Wash
Polish with AG SRP
Poorboys black hole glaze
Then a few layers of wax

 

[oldman]

cool, thanks guys.
looks like i need to invest in some wax and more elbow grease!
now just for some dry weather long enough to do this work...

 

[oldman]

sorry more questions.
when i clayed my car only got halfway over roof before rained.
anyways, the piece of clay i was using was brown from the gunk it was pulling off.

At what point do i throw away and use a new bit? i mean only two side to a piece.

thanks

 

[mick-fr]

You fold the clay over on itself so you have a clean side... then when you cant get a clean side, you bin and get a new bit! Kinda like kneading dough

 

[oldman]

cool, used one side, turned over used other side and now both brown and only did half the roof. Not much else you can do folding wise to get a clean side.
gonna try again at weekend, but may be a whole bar for the car at this rate! as need to redo that half as sure i haven't done it fully.

cheers

 

[dholdi]

No, use one side then fold it in half so you have two new clean sides, then again and again until it looks dirty, then bin. You should easily do a car with 1/2 a bar.

 

[Blanco92]

Another tip - cut the clay bar up, I'm assuming the Autoglym clay kit is 200g bars? If so, cut them into two or even 4 pieces... the clay doesn't need to be dead thick, if it is then you're just wasting clay.

 

[GlanzaV]

My Tip: Keep you bar in your back pocket whilst your washing the car (in a sandwich bag or similar) then when you go to clay the car it's warm and pliable enough to fold over a few times to get a good clean surface.

 

[oldman]

nice tip Glanza, thanks as safe kneeding when going to do.

Blanco, yes its a 200g bar. have pulled bits of about size of couple of 50p pieces, flattened out to use.

dholdi, understand you.

thanks guys, such a lot to take into account when never done this before.

 

[Lodgey180]

its not so bad when you get into it..
if you can get tar and bug remover then spray the bottom half of your car with this first.. it will make your clay last longer.
then wash again
i personaly us dodo juice lime prime for glaze (this gives the wax a nice sharp wet look and helps the wax set)
then a a few layers of wax will see you about 3 month aslong as you top up with a quick detailing spray after a wash.