Notices
Maintenance & Car Care Tune-ups and shake-downs...

Clay Bars

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-03-2003 | 02:46 PM
  #1  
its_ikon's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,128
From: Henderson, NV (was 909)
Default Clay Bars

I have recently found the enjoyment of using a clay bar and how amazing the finish is afterwards. I will be waxing a my parents car and then a couple friends car and I wondering if anyone knows where to get just a clay bar? i have went to every autoparts start around here and they only sell the clay magic kit.
Old 10-03-2003 | 06:07 PM
  #2  
sithscripter's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 356
From: North County, SD
Default

I've seen them on eBay but they're almost as expensive as the complete kits.
Old 10-03-2003 | 06:13 PM
  #3  
dickpeter's Avatar
Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 54
Default

Try this place.
http://www.griotsgarage.com
thry sell the best window cleaner that I have ever used.
I have their clay bar and the porter cable kit and it works great.
Sooooooomth ___ paint.
Old 10-03-2003 | 06:22 PM
  #4  
nacy333's Avatar
Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Scion Evolution
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 70
From: Huntington Beach, CA
Default

I use Zaino Brother's Clay bar which can be found online at http://www.zainostore.com/. If you're going to a standard auto parts store, I highly suggest to stay away from the Meguiar's brand clay bar. Its much to soft and will easily rub off into the paint if you don't keep the painting surface lubricated. I've used a Mother's brand clay bar and that one seemed much better.
Old 10-03-2003 | 07:33 PM
  #5  
its_ikon's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,128
From: Henderson, NV (was 909)
Default

at the time i was only able to find the clay magic one and that worked great on the back of my car since most of the dirt sits there. thanks for the info.
Old 10-03-2003 | 09:40 PM
  #6  
GINNJUICE's Avatar
Member
5 Year Member
AlphaSquad
SL Member
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 56
Default

look for the 3m brand thats what the profesionals use
Old 06-07-2004 | 03:01 PM
  #7  
Al-Truistic's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 521
From: Silverlake, CA
Default Re: Clay Bars

Is the clay bar good for getting bugs off?

Al.Truistic
aB

Originally Posted by ikonXone
I have recently found the enjoyment of using a clay bar and how amazing the finish is afterwards. I will be waxing a my parents car and then a couple friends car and I wondering if anyone knows where to get just a clay bar? i have went to every autoparts start around here and they only sell the clay magic kit.
Old 06-07-2004 | 03:35 PM
  #8  
bBted's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,405
From: SF Bay Area
Default

never use a clay bar before...how do u use it?
Old 06-07-2004 | 05:28 PM
  #9  
snuppy's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 182
From: Milpitas, CA
Default

it's fairly easy to do (just time consuming)... wash your car first... the lubricate the area (soapy water/quick detailer/etc)... rub the clay bar over the area until smooth to the touch... results are awesome and worth the effort...

how to:
Using a clay bar on Automotive paint.


as far as cheapest clay bars... i found this site:
http://detailplus.com/detail_supplies.htm

click specialty products... 8oz = $19.95, 5 or more $9.95... i haven't used them personally but its probably one of the better clay bar deals out there... can anyone vouch?...
Old 06-07-2004 | 07:35 PM
  #10  
its_ikon's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,128
From: Henderson, NV (was 909)
Default Re: Clay Bars

Originally Posted by Al.Truistic
Is the clay bar good for getting bugs off?

Al.Truistic
aB
it gets spots and bugs off that normal scrubbing doesn't. you will be amazed by it.

here is a before pic from my tahoe drive


after clay bar and wax



Originally Posted by bBted
never use a clay bar before...how do u use it?
it comes with a spray bottle and you just spray the liquid and then rub the bar over that area.
Old 06-07-2004 | 11:00 PM
  #11  
Al-Truistic's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 521
From: Silverlake, CA
Default Re: Clay Bars

Damn that is great!
Is it easy to do a large area like the xB hood or the roof? I definitely will have to pick this up...Thanks!

Al.Truistic
aB

Originally Posted by ikonXone
Originally Posted by Al.Truistic
Is the clay bar good for getting bugs off?

Al.Truistic
aB
it gets spots and bugs off that normal scrubbing doesn't. you will be amazed by it.

here is a before pic from my tahoe drive

after clay bar and wax
Old 06-08-2004 | 12:11 AM
  #12  
abbfanuc's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Scinergy
Scion Evolution
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 190
Default Re: Clay Bars

Originally Posted by ikonXone
i have went to every autoparts start around here and they only sell the clay magic kit.
have you tried a car detail store yet? I know that there is one on the I5 at 'Valley View. I believe they have a big inventory there. Sorry but i don't remember the name of the place
Old 06-08-2004 | 12:47 AM
  #13  
mikochu's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Premium Member
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,525
From: Orlando, Florida
Default

I bought a Mothers kit for like 15 bucks at Discount Auto...didn't fix my spots, but it was fun to play with.
Old 06-08-2004 | 12:47 AM
  #14  
Infiz's Avatar
Former Sponsor
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 294
From: Chatsworth, CA
Default

Check out Premium Auto Care http://www.premiumautocare.com They carry clay bars from all major manufacturers, including Meguiars, Clay Magic, Wolfgang, etc.

Here's the link to the Clay Magic bar:
http://store.premiumautocare.net/claymagredgr.html
Old 06-08-2004 | 01:46 AM
  #15  
its_ikon's Avatar
Thread Starter
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 4,128
From: Henderson, NV (was 909)
Default Re: Clay Bars

Originally Posted by Al.Truistic
Damn that is great!
Is it easy to do a large area like the xB hood or the roof? I definitely will have to pick this up...Thanks!

Al.Truistic
aB
doing that area will not be hard. everytime i do it i do the whole car because of the finish you will get.
Old 06-10-2004 | 08:37 PM
  #16  
CBSIMONSEZ's Avatar
Banned
SL Member
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 2,202
From: Motel 6
Default

I have used 2 different brands of the clay bar system. The frist was almost 5 years ago when i first had my Neon. I belive it was Clay Magic .. had a little pic of a cartoon clay bar with a cape on the front. The other was Mothers, both worked just great. In the first kit they gave a thin plastic glove for you to FEEL the before and after. Before you can feel little bumps and stuff like tiny grains of sand. Use the clay bar system, then run your hand over the paint again with the glove on and it was like moving my hand over glass.

Using a clay bar system removes all the embedded stuff in your paint like grit, chemicals, tree sap, bugs etc. It works great as long as you keep rotating the clay bar while you are using it. Do a small section and then kneed the bar till its fresh again. I do belive that after your done with the clay bar, you need to apply a fresh coat of wax. Not hard to do, just time consuming. Wash car. Dry car. Clay bar car. Wax car.
Old 08-29-2004 | 01:42 AM
  #17  
jct's Avatar
jct
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 13,961
Default

reviving a lost subject :D

i tried the clay bar bought the mothers clay bar kit it worked ok guess i didn't put much time in too it

but after i waxed it it seem that it got even more crap off my car :D

but now i have a small dent in my hood, DAMN THOSE ACORNS!!!
Old 08-29-2004 | 01:50 AM
  #18  
DibujoB's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
Scion Evolution
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 1,214
From: Chicago, IL
Default

I love clay bars. I haven't had the time to really give my car a good detail in months though. It takes forever to do your whole car but man it looks good when you're done.
Old 09-01-2004 | 08:46 PM
  #19  
iowagary's Avatar
Senior Member
10 Year Member
5 Year Member
SL Member
 
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 1,323
From: Seattle, WA
Default

Wash car
Clay Bar car

then... wash again before wax, or can you go straight to wax? Is the car "clean" after the clay? I know you spray the detailer on then rub it with the bar and then wipe it off, but do you need to wash it again? I sure hope not. I live in an apartment and we can't wash cars there, so every time I have to go somewhere else is a fairly large PITA.
Old 09-05-2004 | 12:01 AM
  #20  
Stardumb's Avatar
Junior Member
5 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 20
From: Orange County, CA
Default

You can either wash again before waxing, because sometimes people don't get off all the detailer spray/ soapy water. Personally, I just wax right after claying. I just clayed and detailed my bsp xB a week after I got it. I did a better job than the dealer. I'd love to show pics of my car, but I don't know how to post them. Anyways, I recomend clay baring. :D [/img]


Quick Reply: Clay Bars



All times are GMT. The time now is 01:32 PM.