Inspired by FinerDetails...

MK8

Full Member
Thank u v much, great guide, and have read it before. Decided im going to buy just the clay - thank you your advice, and cant wait till exams are over so i can hopefully get my car looking as shiney as yours one day!
 

fuey

i wana go faster
Jan 12, 2004
437
0
north west
uk.geocities.com
the 1st thing that hit home for me was to stop using the sponge.
and start using the 2 bucket method (mitts from tesco=£3, or u cud get proper lambs wool ones for more), then the wonder of claying.
then on the open day, i realised that i actually know nothing, there's so much more to learn, its fantastic.
to believe that you can perform magic on the paint-work, and not think that it needs a re-spray (obvious limits there, but u get my enthusiam)
 

jetsetjimbo

a.k.a James
Jun 12, 2005
630
0
J2 M5
With the wax on was off wipe situation it's just a very thin layer required? I did my roof last night applied verticall and removed horizontally by it took a little to get it off.

I think I must have over applied.

Also tried to clay the roof. there wasn's a lot removed... Some orangey stuff - which I assume must be sap. The surface still feels quite rough but I did it all to the instructions?

One thing I did find was that some of the grabbing was caused by imperfections in the paint itself. :(
 

fuey

i wana go faster
Jan 12, 2004
437
0
north west
uk.geocities.com
hehehe, 'Car Cleaning by FinerDetails'

dont clay after wax, cos what's the point? the contaminants are hiding under the wax.
edit: actually, im not sure if it is wrong to clay on wax....

what happened on the open day, if it's the first time your detailing, just wash the car, 2 bucket method wiv cheap shampoo, washing up liquid etc.
this should remove the wax, and stuff left over from previous noob attempts.

then the fun begins, once your back to the factory clear-coat (+contaminents), then clay to get rid of the crud.

then carry on from there, de-swirl if needed, paint cleanser, blah blah.

well, that's how i remember it.

then, for future washes, use proper shampoo, not cheap stuff that will strip away you new labour of love... :D
 
Last edited:

FinerDetails

Official SCN Supporter
jetsetjimbo said:
With the wax on was off wipe situation it's just a very thin layer required? I did my roof last night applied verticall and removed horizontally by it took a little to get it off.

I think I must have over applied.

Also tried to clay the roof. there wasn's a lot removed... Some orangey stuff - which I assume must be sap. The surface still feels quite rough but I did it all to the instructions?

One thing I did find was that some of the grabbing was caused by imperfections in the paint itself. :(

Hi james,

just pure experience here mate. The roughness could still be there due to a number of things, either clay not aggresive enough, but seem to remember you are using th megs kit, so shouldn't be that, or just need more passes....

orange -prob tree sap and pollen.....:censored: stains the paintwork damn stuff
 

FinerDetails

Official SCN Supporter
fuey said:
hehehe, 'Car Cleaning by FinerDetails'

dont clay after wax, cos what's the point? the contaminants are hiding under the wax.
edit: actually, im not sure if it is wrong to clay on wax....

what happened on the open day, if it's the first time your detailing, just wash the car, 2 bucket method wiv cheap shampoo, washing up liquid etc.
this should remove the wax, and stuff left over from previous noob attempts.

then the fun begins, once your back to the factory clear-coat (+contaminents), then clay to get rid of the crud.

then carry on from there, de-swirl if needed, paint cleanser, blah blah.

well, that's how i remember it.

then, for future washes, use proper shampoo, not cheap stuff that will strip away you new labour of love... :D

almost recited as well as your ABC sir, well done! :D :funk:
 

jetsetjimbo

a.k.a James
Jun 12, 2005
630
0
J2 M5
FinerDetails said:
Hi james,

just pure experience here mate. The roughness could still be there due to a number of things, either clay not aggresive enough, but seem to remember you are using th megs kit, so shouldn't be that, or just need more passes....

orange -prob tree sap and pollen.....:censored: stains the paintwork damn stuff

Cool - so if the paintwork looks ok whatever is causing the roughness should really come off apart from the odd paint blemish?

Am I better to lube and wax then wipe / dry with the mf and then re-lube and clay or just keep on lubing and claying?

Will too much lube reduce the effectiveness with the clay?

I assume the difficulty removing the NXT is just over application.
 

fuey

i wana go faster
Jan 12, 2004
437
0
north west
uk.geocities.com
Q: Am I better to lube and wax then wipe / dry with the mf and then re-lube and clay or just keep on lubing and claying?

A: just lube and clay. Wax comes after sealent.

wash > clay > de-swirl > cleanse paint > polish > seal (45min cure) > wax
 

jetsetjimbo

a.k.a James
Jun 12, 2005
630
0
J2 M5
fuey said:
Q: Am I better to lube and wax then wipe / dry with the mf and then re-lube and clay or just keep on lubing and claying?

A: just lube and clay. Wax comes after sealent.

wash > clay > de-swirl > cleanse paint > polish > seal (45min cure) > wax

I understand that - just wondering about judging the effectiveness of each clay pass.


Iain - maybe evening condensation preventing curing.....

How can I prevent that?
 

andyGbeatz

Full Member
May 24, 2006
71
0
Hampshire
hi guys!!

quick question even if dumb sounding.. what is Clay cleaning as such? whats the purpose..

I bought the autoglym valet kit the other day.. £39.99.. superb IMHO. quick rinse down with the shampoo conditioner, then a bit of paint renovator, then the resin polish, then the extra gloss polish.. the results if done properly are wicked..

all about a bit of elbow grease lads!!
 

fuey

i wana go faster
Jan 12, 2004
437
0
north west
uk.geocities.com
Iain, ur brains are needed :D

Q: just wondering about judging the effectiveness of each clay pass.

you keep claying till it stops 'grabbing at the paint'. if your really unsure, MF the area, and run your clean fingers over it, it should be 'glass smooth'.

if ur still unsure, find a spot that hasn't been clayed, or even a car down the road, and feel the paint, then feel where u have clayed, it'll be like chalk and cheese, then u'll know ur doing it right.

no real thing as curing (correct me if im wrong) when it comes to claying, cos ur just de-contaminating the paint work / clear coat.
 

jetsetjimbo

a.k.a James
Jun 12, 2005
630
0
J2 M5
fuey said:
Iain, ur brains are needed :D

Q: just wondering about judging the effectiveness of each clay pass.

you keep claying till it stops 'grabbing at the paint'. if your really unsure, MF the area, and run your clean fingers over it, it should be 'glass smooth'.

if ur still unsure, find a spot that hasn't been clayed, or even a car down the road, and feel the paint, then feel where u have clayed, it'll be like chalk and cheese, then u'll know ur doing it right.

no real thing as curing (correct me if im wrong) when it comes to claying, cos ur just de-contaminating the paint work / clear coat.

The curing was in reference to the NXT wax ;)
 

FinerDetails

Official SCN Supporter
jetsetjimbo said:
I understand that - just wondering about judging the effectiveness of each clay pass.


Iain - maybe evening condensation preventing curing.....

How can I prevent that?

As Fuey has said, compare with none clayed areas, and if unsure to that extent, wipe clear, feel lightly with back of fingers and continue/move on as required.

Evening condensation will stop NXT from curing properly. Quite well known with this one step product:rolleyes:
 
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