Can clay bars go bad/expire???

AutoApollo

AutoApollo

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Hey guys, approximately 6 months ago I bought some cheap bluemagic clay. (Set of 5 bars.) The first two months or so they seemed to be performing ok and I haven't clayed a car since. I went to go clay my other car today and it was smearing a thin layer of clay over the paint??? How odd, I tried another unopened bar. Same thing. Can anyone explain??
 
Sounds like you didn't have enough lube on the car when working the clay bar. I've never had a bar go bad. Once they get a lot of grit in them dedicate them to wheel cleaning or trash can.
 
Not enough lube, wrong solution used as lube, or surface too hot. One of those is probably the answer.
 
rmagnus said:
Sounds like you didn't have enough lube on the car when working the clay bar. I've never had a bar go bad. Once they get a lot of grit in them dedicate them to wheel cleaning or trash can.
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That's the thing, I used a TON of lube. Specifically detailer spray and it was still grabbing the paint like crazy. Mind you I clayed this car last year so the paint and the paint didn't feel that bad.
 
AutoApollo said:
That's the thing, I used a TON of lube. Specifically detailer spray and it was still grabbing the paint like crazy. Mind you I clayed this car last year so the paint and the paint didn't feel that bad.
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I always use DAWN in a water spray bottle for lube. Just a small amount is needed. Also spray the bar directly on first use of it it starts to drag. When workin in the sun you have to work small areas. I've used off brands before but try to stick with Meguiars medium clay bar. They all work.

Go buy a new bar and see if you get different results.
 
rmagnus said:
Go buy a new bar and see if you get different results.
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And new lube, and do it on a cool surface.

I'm still bettin on Wrong lube since you said you used a ton, or a hot surface.
 
ronkh57 said:
And new lube, and do it on a cool surface.

I'm still bettin on Wrong lube since you said you used a ton, or a hot surface.
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Literally used the lube provided with the mothers clay bar kit. Also it was done in my garage and the paint was cool to the touch. Maybe i shouldn't have cheaped out to save a few bucks :/
 
AutoApollo said:
Maybe i shouldn't have cheaped out to save a few bucks
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What do you mean by this? The Mother's kit? The Bluemagic clay?

I've been quite happy with the Mother's kit. I did once run into a problem using it on a hot surface, but that was my fault not the product's.
 
Eldorado2k said:
He's probably talking about those cheap 3m bars.
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Bingo! You're spot on. They had 3M packing on them and like weird Japanese writing or some kind of East Asian writing on them. I've used mothers clay bar kit and it works beautifully. I meant to say I used the lubricant spray from the mothers clay bar kit (I had some left over from last time).
 
AutoApollo said:
Bingo! You're spot on. They had 3M packing on them and like weird Japanese writing or some kind of East Asian writing on them. I've used mothers clay bar kit and it works beautifully. I meant to say I used the lubricant spray from the mothers clay bar kit (I had some left over from last time).
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I have some of that clay and it's serviceable, bearly.. That clay is not very pliable which makes it anything but a pleasure to work with. If I remember correctly it's also kinda hard to see the contaminants you've picked up with it on the bar. But I guess I can't knock it too hard, as I've never had it mar any paint and it passes the baggie test after I'm done. But it's definitely my last pick of the litter..

I've never had it do what you're describing. I use Megs D114@1:128 for claylube, and use it liberaly.
 
I had some clay from 1997. Meguiar's clay.

It disintegrated on me when I started using it in 2008. I think some air got in the container too.
 
Eldorado2k said:
I have some of that clay and it's serviceable, bearly.. That clay is not very pliable which makes it anything but a pleasure to work with. If I remember correctly it's also kinda hard to see the contaminants you've picked up with it on the bar. But I guess I can't knock it too hard, as I've never had it mar any paint and it passes the baggie test after I'm done. But it's definitely my last pick of the litter..

I've never had it do what you're describing. I use Megs D114@1:128 for claylube, and use it liberaly.
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Alright, that pretty much answer my original question. Thanks!! Aka (poor quality clay) never again.
 
I still have several of the BIG Clay Magic bars in the Red Aggressive formula from at least twenty years ago and they are still just as like new. One waas opened and then put in a zip lock plastic bag, the rest are still in the factory cellophane. The one on the bag is just fine whenever I need a red one.
 
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