I used a clay bar on my Mazda 3 last weekend and now I seem to have this "residue" all over the vehicle that will not come off, I sprayed the clay lube on the car and the clay, did the area and wiped it off right away then waxed the car, now when the light hits it there are spots that look like clay residue but that area is smooth as glass - any ideas?
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Clay Bar Problems
- Thread starter carguy996
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so you didn't wash the car after the claying before you waxed?
(or is that normal?)
(or is that normal?)
Can you describe the residue? Does it look like a dull spot or more like a smear, like it's oily? If you rub it with your finger or a towel, does it comes off or change in some way? Do the residue spots feel tacky, like a smudge of clay is stuck to the car?
Try taking a damp towel (not sopping wet, not bone dry) and wipe down a couple of highly visible areas, places where it would be easy to notice if you made it look better or worse. What happens?
What I do as I'm claying is I clay a small section, then wipe it down with a clean towel while it's still wet with clay lube. Maybe what you see is dried clay lube which easily washes off with soap and water. Clay smudges happen sometimes but a wipe down with a towel or a normal hand car wash will easily remove them.
Try a few things and get back to us, we'll do our best to help.
Try taking a damp towel (not sopping wet, not bone dry) and wipe down a couple of highly visible areas, places where it would be easy to notice if you made it look better or worse. What happens?
What I do as I'm claying is I clay a small section, then wipe it down with a clean towel while it's still wet with clay lube. Maybe what you see is dried clay lube which easily washes off with soap and water. Clay smudges happen sometimes but a wipe down with a towel or a normal hand car wash will easily remove them.
Try a few things and get back to us, we'll do our best to help.
You should wash it after claying. I always do because I always end up with a lot of that "residue" as well, but after a wash it is good to go for some wax.
Same here. Wash, clay, wash, dry, wax.
Sounds to me like you didn't use enough lube. I've clayed more cars than I care to remember and have taught literally dozens of people how to clay. With plenty of lube and a proper wipe off of each section after claying I've never had to wash a car between claying and polishing or waxing.
No need to wash after claying if you use a clean MF towel to wipe the area after claying. As Mike-in-Orange said, it sounds like you didn't use enough lube. Also, be sure you're clay isn't contaminated. If you drop it on the ground, don't try to re-use it...just toss it in the trash and get a new one.
Whose clay did you use? I found that with Meguiars I had to watch very carefully or I'd get leftovers. But Mothers was fabulous and very easy to work with. I generally use Meguiars though.... So not a basher as the only Mother's product I use is the Clay and detailer spray that comes with.
The residue appears to be small uniform spots when the sun hits the paint, it looks like residue specs. I have tried washing the car and everything - my friend says I didnt use enough lube and clay go into the orange peel part of the paint. I am going to buff it real good tonight - the guys here think that will get rid of my problem.
so, again: did you or didn't you wash after claying b4 waxing?
Originally Posted By: carguy996
The residue appears to be small uniform spots when the sun hits the paint, it looks like residue specs.
I've seen this happen when the hood of the car has tiny rock chips in it and a wax was used that dried white - it was actually embedded in the very tiny little pits in the paint.
What wax did you use?
Are these little specs all over the car or just on the hood/front of the vehicle?
The residue appears to be small uniform spots when the sun hits the paint, it looks like residue specs.
I've seen this happen when the hood of the car has tiny rock chips in it and a wax was used that dried white - it was actually embedded in the very tiny little pits in the paint.
What wax did you use?
Are these little specs all over the car or just on the hood/front of the vehicle?
You can buy bulk detailer clay on ebay for far cheaper than the expensive mothers boxes.
Use car soap to lube it, you don't need spray detailer.
I've had great results.
Use car soap to lube it, you don't need spray detailer.
I've had great results.
You can buy bulk detailer clay on ebay for far cheaper than the expensive mothers boxes.
Use car soap to lube it, you don't need spray detailer.
I've had great results.
I second this.
All I have ever done is wash the car and rinse. The re-soap the individual panels I intend to clay.
The soap is the lube and additional cleaner at the same time.
Works awesome.
Then I use some Griots Garage Machine Polish3 with a DA polisher.
Then their sealer, and a good carnauba wax.
Use car soap to lube it, you don't need spray detailer.
I've had great results.
I second this.
All I have ever done is wash the car and rinse. The re-soap the individual panels I intend to clay.
The soap is the lube and additional cleaner at the same time.
Works awesome.
Then I use some Griots Garage Machine Polish3 with a DA polisher.
Then their sealer, and a good carnauba wax.
I agree with Justin and Busted -- I've only used car wash soap as my lube. Most of the time, that's Meguiar's Gold Class car wash (thanks to Costco selling it in the 192 oz size!!). I'll wash the car, rinse it, put some new water and soap in and use that as the lube.
It works great, and you'll find that when you rinse the car (using just the hose end -- no spray nozzle) after claying, the water sheets off.
It works great, and you'll find that when you rinse the car (using just the hose end -- no spray nozzle) after claying, the water sheets off.
Hmmm, what are you guys using to find these on ebay? I find a few auctions for mothers stuff, and one pinnacle thing, but nothign that was an awesome deal.
Do you perhaps have a seller you used or a different search besides "clay bar", and I'm just missing it?
THanks.
Do you perhaps have a seller you used or a different search besides "clay bar", and I'm just missing it?
THanks.
I put the clay in a pan of clean, soapy water when claying after wash. I don't use the spray, plenty of soapy water. Keep kneeding it to expose fresh clay.
I love how it glides over the surface when clean. If there is any pulling then contaminats (or surface imperfections) still exist.
I love how it glides over the surface when clean. If there is any pulling then contaminats (or surface imperfections) still exist.
Originally Posted By: bustednutz
You can buy bulk detailer clay on ebay for far cheaper than the expensive mothers boxes.
Use car soap to lube it, you don't need spray detailer.
I've had great results.
I second this.
All I have ever done is wash the car and rinse. The re-soap the individual panels I intend to clay.
The soap is the lube and additional cleaner at the same time.
Works awesome.
Then I use some Griots Garage Machine Polish3 with a DA polisher.
Then their sealer, and a good carnauba wax.
Bringing this one back from the dead...
Are you guys mixing a 50/50 of car wash soap and water in a spray bottle and just spritzing each section so it's sopping wet, then claying, then kneading the clay for a fresh spot on each section?
You can buy bulk detailer clay on ebay for far cheaper than the expensive mothers boxes.
Use car soap to lube it, you don't need spray detailer.
I've had great results.
I second this.
All I have ever done is wash the car and rinse. The re-soap the individual panels I intend to clay.
The soap is the lube and additional cleaner at the same time.
Works awesome.
Then I use some Griots Garage Machine Polish3 with a DA polisher.
Then their sealer, and a good carnauba wax.
Bringing this one back from the dead...
Are you guys mixing a 50/50 of car wash soap and water in a spray bottle and just spritzing each section so it's sopping wet, then claying, then kneading the clay for a fresh spot on each section?
50-50 with car wash soap? No,no... not that much soap. Just a very small dollop, enough to make the solution slippery. That's all you need.
You are correct on the rest of the process. I wipe the clayed section with a clean towel unless I am planning to rewash the car, which I almost never do. But then, I use quick detailing spray instead of car wash soap as a clay lube as the spray wipes away clean, allowing me to go onto the next step immediately.
You are correct on the rest of the process. I wipe the clayed section with a clean towel unless I am planning to rewash the car, which I almost never do. But then, I use quick detailing spray instead of car wash soap as a clay lube as the spray wipes away clean, allowing me to go onto the next step immediately.
Originally Posted By: bretfraz
50-50 with car wash soap? No,no... not that much soap. Just a very small dollop, enough to make the solution slippery. That's all you need.
You are correct on the rest of the process. I wipe the clayed section with a clean towel unless I am planning to rewash the car, which I almost never do. But then, I use quick detailing spray instead of car wash soap as a clay lube as the spray wipes away clean, allowing me to go onto the next step immediately.
Thanks for the tips. I'll be claying this Saturday, so I'll post some pics after the claying/Duragloss 105/476S. Ought to look great on a new black car.
50-50 with car wash soap? No,no... not that much soap. Just a very small dollop, enough to make the solution slippery. That's all you need.
You are correct on the rest of the process. I wipe the clayed section with a clean towel unless I am planning to rewash the car, which I almost never do. But then, I use quick detailing spray instead of car wash soap as a clay lube as the spray wipes away clean, allowing me to go onto the next step immediately.
Thanks for the tips. I'll be claying this Saturday, so I'll post some pics after the claying/Duragloss 105/476S. Ought to look great on a new black car.
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