Questions about using clay bar

[Gregmcguire1170]

If a clay bar is used does that mean you must compound or polish with orbiter or can you go right to sealing?

 

[Mike Phillips]

If a clay bar is used does that mean you must compound or polish with orbiter or can you go right to sealing?

There are two general practices for this, I only subscribe the second approach.

1: Wash car, clay and seal. You will likely MARR the paint, but if it's a light color or you don't care about the marring/scratching, then this is a valid approach. Just an approach I've never used and likely never will.

2: Wash car, clay and then do at least ONE machine polishing process to not only remove any marring inflicted by the clay bar, but to also remove any built-up traffic film, (common if you drive your car in the rain), and/or oxidation and other normal wear-n-tear type of defects.


What I practice, teach and preach is the second option. I know there are detailers that use the first approach, that is they clay and then seal the paint. I simply don't and cannot do this type of low budget work, but I have no problem with those that choose this route.


Mike

 

[Mike Phillips]

Here's a black Tahoe I did a quickie on a few years ago, back in 2014.

High quality production detailing by Mike Phillips


Here's a few pictures from the above write-up that show the marring left by rubbing the paint on this black Tahoe.

And one key thought, it's easy to see the clay towel marring on BLACK paint. If a person were to use the same clay towel, or any clay type product, clay bar, clay mitt, clay disc, etc., to a WHITE or light colored car, chances are good, the majority of people would never see it. A trained detailer's eye would see it, but not the average person.

So the type or quality of work any of us do really comes down to the needs of the vehicle and our own approach.


Hope that helps...

Mike

 

[Gregmcguire1170]

There are two general practices for this, I only subscribe the second approach.

1: Wash car, clay and seal. You will likely MARR the paint, but if it's a light color or you don't care about the marring/scratching, then this is a valid approach. Just an approach I've never used and likely never will.

2: Wash car, clay and then do at least ONE machine polishing process to not only remove any marring inflicted by the clay bar, but to also remove any built-up traffic film, (common if you drive your car in the rain), and/or oxidation and other normal wear-n-tear type of defects.


What I practice, teach and preach is the second option. I know there are detailers that use the first approach, that is they clay and then seal the paint. I simply don't and cannot do this type of low budget work, but I have no problem with those that choose this route.


Mike

Thank you very much I will also follow the second option as well!!