Porsche Enthusiasts Club Forum

Hi, guy from work uses this and swears by the stuff. He said once the 944 is resprayed I should use it.

http://www.properautocare.com/usclaybartor.html

Has anyone used it on their pride and joy or got an opinion?

Lee.

I use Meguiars claybar. I never knew about claying until I'd visited Meguiars, and whilst I am biased towards them, this has to be the single best kept secret in detailing. I swear by an annual claying now.........

I use a Bilt-Hamber clay bar. It’s great.

The clay picks up tiny particles of grit and dirt that are stuck in the top layers of your wax or paintwork. After claying them off, you have a far, far cleaner surface to apply a coat of fresh wax to.

Contentious opinion here! I've tried a claybar & I don't see it does 'owt different to using autoglym paint renovator TBH!

The claybar was Bilt Hamber as well, their Auto Balm wax is brilliant.

Hi Graham

Never used a claybar but often thought about it.....to use it properly to do a whole 928 for instance...how long would it take realistically ?

All the best Brett

I always use clay twice a year. Fave is Bilt Hamber, its harder than other clays but only needs water to act as lubricant on the surface. The softer ones tend to need something more specialised (although something like a quick detailer would do it)

Anywhere low down on the car or where the car gets hot is most likely to pick up particles (the rear wings on my 911 get it bad). It does make a difference to polishing which should be done after a clay bar.

If you drop it, bin it, its no use. So always best to break off small bits ! On cold days warm it up first by holding in hands and folding it over and over. You really only need to glide the surface not much pressure at all.

But speak to any detailer and its an absolute must stage in getting the car top dollar. I allow about one hour to do the whole car.

Big fan of the claybar process since I tried it last year, even put off giving the car a respray because the paintwork came up so well, the bar was black after one session. I used Meguiers last time but will try Bilt Hamber this year as very good reviews and has 30% off at Opie Oils this Easter Best tenner you'll spend on your car.

I used the autogylm clar bar the other week for the first time on my Audi and was very pleased on what was excellent paintwork to start with. Clay bar definately worth while using.
A wing took me about 15 minutes I would say.

As you can see from other posts, about an hour tops to do it properly.
I tend to set aside a detailing day at the beginning of the season where I incorporate the claying stage. Wash, rinse, clay, paint cleaner, polis, wax, probably wax again - job's a goodun. After this, just a wash, rinse, wax suffices.
As Clive said too, if you drop it - bin it. It's not worth picking up ground grit and rubbing that into the paint work. A small palm-full of clay, worked to warm up, spray quick detailer a bit at a time, and GENTLY work the clay over the paint, only needs fingertip pressure. You will be amazed at the results. Just lightly rub your fingertips over the paint before you clay, then again afterwards.

Hear hear, have seen it used on glass too !! amazing what comes off

wow .... will try that.... thanks

Don't remember if it was a special type of clay though

if you want to discover exactly what's stuck to your car bodywork try this;
wash & dry the car;
using a thin poly bag / fag packet wrapper etc, imagine you are sanding the surface down, so the poly is in between your finger tips and the paint, and gently rub
you'll be amazed how much it amplifies the bonded contaminants !
only a clay bar will remove these mountains

personally, I wouldn't use just plain water with any clay bar;
there is always the risk that you will mar the paint surface.
not an issue though if you are going to polish afterwards.
top tip is to put a tiny amount of your fave car shampoo into the water first - thsi will act as a basic but effective lube
just don't add to much or the clay will break up.
I use several types of clay, dependent upon the ambient temp, the type of paint, and the contaminants.

I use a meguiers clay bar twice a year and it is amazing what comes off and how smooth the paint feels afterwards, and as mentioned it is very good at cleaning the windscreen.

Not sure about the need to do it after a respray there should be no particles on the paint after a good spray job.

Hi i used Meguires claybar only yesterday for the first time and it took me around 90 mins but i didnt rush it i was amazed what came out of the surface especially on the bonnet the car is silver and its a 1988 944 so i reckon its never been done before and i waxed it after with Auto Glym Resin polish and was really easy to do and the paint work is now very smooth and i will be doing it once a year