Turtle Wax Ice Liquid Clay Bar (new)

[wagsg]

I saw a commercial for this last night. Has anyone else seen it or used it yet? I wonder if it is basically just a mild rubbing compound?

I have been interested in trying a traditional clay bar for some time, but have yet to do it. The black '95 Accord I just bought for my son should be a good candidate for trying out this new product. I may try it this weekend and will try to remember to get before/after pictures.

 

[mazduh30]

I am happy with the results with the clay bar. It seems to smooths out and cleans the painted surface prior to using wax (I use Ice paste wax). I think the final polish leaves an extremely glossy shine.

 

[wagsg]

Just to clarify mazduh30, you have used the new LIQUID clay bar?

 

[globey]

I've used the Liquid Clay Bar. It seems to work pretty decently and it removes layers of old wax and other impurities in paint. The one thing I didn't like about it is that you really had to make sure you rinsed it off. I rinsed it real well (or so I thought) only to find some residue left during the drying stage. After I was finished, I found white powder left on my door seal from where the liquid clay bar seaped.

I will not hesitate to try any of the TW Ice products. So far I've used the polish, detailer and the clay bar and I found them all to be very high quality and easy to use.

 

[mazduh30]

Yes, wagsg, the new Ice liquid clay bar. Like globey stated, it leaves a whitish coating after rinsing. I just take a clean cloth and re-rinse. Very happy with TW Ice products.

 

[wagsg]

Thanks for the info.

I've determined that the paint on the Accord is past a clay bar. I think I'm going to try it on my Saturn, Windstar, and Galant prior to their spring waxing.

I'll update on my impressions of the liquid clay bar in a few weeks.

 

[BradC]

I used the liquid clay bar on my car today.

Did a nice job dealing with most of the finish problems except the deeper scratches in the clearcoat from the winter snowbrushes.

It does leave a bit of white residue which cleans up nicely though.

I applied a good coating of TW Ice Paste polish afterwards.

 

[GT Mike]

I guess you all like silicone then if you like Ice. That's all it is.

A liquid clay bar??!? I've seen it, but like most Turtle Wax products, it's probably 90% marketing hype and 10% performance and quality.

Best clay on the market is Clay Magic. You can get different grades if you buy online at www.automagic.com and AutoZone sells the blue medium grade in the stores.

Here's a claying trick...
Get yourself a thin cellophane wrapper like the kind that's on cigarette packs, the "crinkly" kind, not a sandwich baggie, and place a couple fingers in it, and glide it over your paint. The cellophane will magnify any imperfections to your touch, and you'll be able to tell if your paint needs claying, or if you missed any spots.

 

[MonumentOiler]

So is the TW Bar actually a bar or actually a liquid ?

GT Mike is right on about the cellophane trick . I have used both the Clay Magic and Meguires Clay bar and preferred the Clay Magic Blue.

Wagsg - what about the Accord's paint is beyond a clay bar ?

 

[BradC]

It's a "3 layer" liquid.

 

[wagsg]

Quote:

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Wagsg - what about the Accord's paint is beyond a clay bar ?

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Everything... it's in bad shape and in need of a strong buffing along with some sanding and touch-up. A friend who does body/paint is going to help. My other vehicles should be a good test of the product though.

 

[GT Mike]

Quote:

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It's a "3 layer" liquid.

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Take away the marketing hype and this reads "mild water soluble polishing compound".

 

[Mike-in-Orange]

Claying is so easy to do and when done properly (ie, with a quick detail spray rather than soapy water) there's no need to rewash the car after so you can go straight to your polishing step. The best review I've read on the TW Liquid Clay Bar was done by Richard Lin at Show Car Detailing in Fullerton, CA (disclaimer: I have no financial interest in SCD or Mr. Lin) and the bottom line is it's just a lot more work for less result. I don't see the point.

Discussion at http://www.showcardetailing.com/forums/showthread.php?t=807

 

[GT Mike]

A very thick mixed bucket of very good quality carwash soap does do a satisfactory job of lubricating the claybar. You should use at least 3 times as much soap as you would with a regular carwashing though.

I've done this many times and have never experienced problem one. It's just a huge timesaver if the car needed to be washed anyways. Most times it does anyways, unless it's in a garage covered up from a previous wash before detailing. Been doing it for years. Your spray detailer works decent, and is really the "correct" way to do it, but like I said, I see no problem using thick soapy water to lubricate the bar. If it starts to drag on the paint, then you need more lubrication, or less hand pressure on the bar. It should glide easily over the painted surface.

 

[wantin150]

I just bought some of the Liquid. I'll see how it works and post back. If it doesn't work well, I'll store it with the rest of my car care junk.

 

[wantin150]

I finally tried the liquid clay bar on my Matrix and it did OK, just not as good as a regular clay bar. I washed the car first and left it wet. I just squirted the stuff on the included sponge and went to town. One section at a time and rinsed as I went. You could really tell which parts were done and which were not as it really removes old wax and such. The product had a fairly strong smell, just can't put my finger on what it was. I followed up with Meguiars 3 step applied by a random orbital buffer and removed by same.

The water spots are still visible but it doesn't look half bad!