My first attempt at claying...what did I do wrong?

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RamFishTruck

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Hi Mike...great info here! I have a 2014 Ram truck in a rare black gold pearl color...kind of a metallic root beer that changes color depending on how the light hits it. I generally take pretty good care of it. Wash it regularly by hand only and wax by hand several times per year with McGuires products. I had my vehicle clayed, polished, and waxed by a professional detailer shortly after buying it knowing it was subject to the rail dust and what not being an ordered vehicle. It had not been clayed again until this past weekend by myself. I used the McGuires Clay kit with the QD, clay, and microfiber towel. So I followed the instructions to the T except for the micro fiber towel as I ended up using a cotton terry cloth towel as I find it removes QD ad wax off the surface better imo. I have used QD before and while it can look nice I found I had a hard time getting it completely removed from the surface which may be some or all of my problem post claying.

So...on to my issue. I washed and dryed my truck used the QD for the clay lube all over the vehicle. It worked very well I thought. Tried a microfiber towel but noticed I couldn't get the QD completely off the vehicle so I started using the terry cloth as I noted above...seemed to work better. I noticed on the kit box it did not mention anything else that needed done but I had plans of doing a polish and wax in a 2nd and 3rd step. So I did the polish with McGuires Ultimate polishing glaze and that seemed to work well. Did one section at a time and wiped it off before it dried as instructions stated. I never really saw much polish come off on my rag like wax would so assumed that was normal. Next step I used McGuires Carnauba Plus wax something I've used before and liked.

The truck was as smooth and shiny and slick as I've ever seen it! Thought everything was right on the money...until I caught it in the right light the next day. If you get it in the right angle you can see these consistent wet looking tiny little wet spots all over the entire vehicle. It's not like just a spot I missed wiping it's everywhere and consistently across the surface like it was hit with tiny rain specks almost. Don't know if it was from trying to polish over the top of the QD or if I just used too much (a little less than a bottle for a full size 4 door truck with a full canopy)QD or what? Like I mentioned I have had trouble removing that QD from my truck before. My buddy at work swears on the stuff but he has a light silver color. My vehicle looks black in low light. Anyway, your thoughts and others are welcomed!
 
Bump...after driving home from work today I got out and looked at the surface closely again. All those little grease spots on the paint were getting dust/road grime stuck to them. It made the surface feel 10 times worse than before I clayed the truck. i couldn't look at it another day and went ahead and just washed it. Definitely something went wrong in my previous wash, clay, polish, and wax process the other day.
 
Missed the last part trying to read all that with no glasses. Maybe to much product hard to tell without pictures. So did the re washing the truck remove the grease spots?

:postpics:
 
rbss said:
Wiping with a cotton terry cloth could cause some issues. Clay itself can cause marring as well. Post some pics!

:postpics:
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I took a couple before I washed it off today. I'll try and post them up...
 
Some strange looking pics because of the bright sun and the reflection and shine on the truck. Even with the spots, the shine was intense! Obviously I need some help in the photo editing dept as well...
 
It sounds really odd, "you can see these consistent wet looking tiny little wet spots all over the entire vehicle".

The polish, even if done by hand, should have removed the QD.

Maybe you just drove through something, or some lovely person dumped their coffee or soda out the window.

Did you dress the tires after you were done?

Edit: I see what you mean, at least on the closer ones.

All over the vehicle?
 
Mantilgh said:
It sounds really odd, "you can see these consistent wet looking tiny little wet spots all over the entire vehicle".

The polish, even if done by hand, should have removed the QD.

Maybe you just drove through something, or some lovely person dumped their coffee or soda out the window.

Did you dress the tires after you were done?

Edit: I see what you mean, at least on the closer ones.

All over the vehicle?
Click to expand...

The 4th picture posted is on my hood so yea all over the vehicle. I actually noticed it first before the vehicle ever moved but the first pic that looks kind of dirty is down behind my back tire so was probably the effect from the spots hanging on to what ever I drove through. I'm more than certain though it was all over the vehicle before it ever moved. I've tried to find some answers online and I'm just getting more confused. I read something that if the polish dried at all before getting it off that could possibly cause it. It was pretty hot that day...upper 80's but I was in the shade in my garage so not sure.
 
Could it be that you have had etched in water spots for a long time and just never looked at just that perfect angle to notice before now?

I had them so bad I had to use a compound and still didn't get them completely my first attempt. No one would ever notice them, you have to be looking at just the right angle to light source to see them, but once I noticed they bug the hell outta me.
 
Am I correct in assuming the spots didn't come off with a wash?
How about with a little more QD and a towel?
What is the name of the QD you were using?
Are the spots uniform in appearance on the entire vehicle (horizontal/vertical panels, at the bottom of the doors)?
on the chrome or rims?
Equal appearance/distribution on driver/passenger sides? Glass?
Did any QD have a chance to dry before being wiped off?
 
Harpolith said:
Were you polishing by hand?
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yes, 1 section at a time. Noticeably less time than I would wait to take off wax. I was removing that section before I started another. I didn't see much coming off on the rag though but it was my first time using a designated polish so not sure what that means.
 
CanyonCarver said:
Could it be that you have had etched in water spots for a long time and just never looked at just that perfect angle to notice before now?

I had them so bad I had to use a compound and still didn't get them completely my first attempt. No one would ever notice them, you have to be looking at just the right angle to light source to see them, but once I noticed they bug the hell outta me.
Click to expand...

I don't think so. I would have noticed that before...

Harpolith said:
Am I correct in assuming the spots didn't come off with a wash?
How about with a little more QD and a towel?
What is the name of the QD you were using?
Are the spots uniform in appearance on the entire vehicle (horizontal/vertical panels, at the bottom of the doors)?
on the chrome or rims?
Equal appearance/distribution on driver/passenger sides? Glass?
Did any QD have a chance to dry before being wiped off?
Click to expand...

I just washed it this evening and although it was starting to get dark by the time I was done I think they came out. I'll check it over good tomorrow. The spots were consistent in size and distributed all over the vehicle from what I could tell. It almost looked like it was hit with a sticky rain mist. I was using the Meguires QD that comes in their clay kit...red/purple bottle. Don't see it on the glass, plastic or trim to speak of but I was pretty careful where I sprayed it. It is possible that some of it may have dried a little before being completely wiped off...not sure. Don't think it was the case all the way around though.
 
RamFishTruck said:
I don't think so. I would have noticed that before...



I just washed it this evening and although it was starting to get dark by the time I was done I think they came out. I'll check it over good tomorrow. The spots were consistent in size and distributed all over the vehicle from what I could tell. It almost looked like it was hit with a sticky rain mist. I was using the Meguires QD that comes in their clay kit...red/purple bottle. Don't see it on the glass, plastic or trim to speak of but I was pretty careful where I sprayed it. It is possible that some of it may have dried a little before being completely wiped off...not sure. Don't think it was the case all the way around though.
Click to expand...

Confirming the spots did come off after washing yesterday. Looks like the only harm was losing a little of the shine and wax from needing to wash so soon. Hoping Mike can chime in here so I don't have to repeat this result the next time I try this...
 
Is your car kept outside? Ive had similar stuff when I leave the car outside during my night shift, cause dew formed on the car and dried up in the morning after getting some dust or dirt on it, causing the somewhat droplet spotting.
 
TheAverageMan said:
Is your car kept outside? Ive had similar stuff when I leave the car outside during my night shift, cause dew formed on the car and dried up in the morning after getting some dust or dirt on it, causing the somewhat droplet spotting.
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No, it is kept in my garage and was also detailed in my garage. After doing some more reading I'm leaning more towards the polish being the issue and not the QD. It was a hot day even in the garage. Even though I was only doing one section at at a time it was drying very fast. I'm wondering if I just couldn't get all the polish off the vehicle?
 
Sometimes when I polish, if the pad or surface is wet, or I'm using too much product and/or I do not work the product long enough I will get something like that. Its basically rock hard left over polish, of course I'm working by machine. Lots of things can have an effect, working in the sun, temperature, humidity. It really just comes down to experience and knowing how your products will work in their given environment. Detailing is a true art form. If you have never detailed before, I would strongly suggest not starting on something you care about. As for the terry cloth, throw that in the garbage. That should never touch your paint as it will inflict a ton of damage by it self. If it is left over product like I suspect, I suggest trying an IPA wipe down. Wear gloves and use micro fibers. If that doesn't work call a local detailer, that beautiful truck deserves it.
 
Your Dodge Ram is beautiful. The Black Gold Pearl is one of my favorite colors on these trucks. I have a Bright White single cab express model.

By any change did you use an aerosol product to dress your tires and plastic trim? The wet spots in the paint look to me like a "tire sling" from a tire dressing or "overspray" from and aerosol tire & trim product. if that's what these wet spots are from, just wash the truck again an they should come right off. Good luck!
 
When you polish you want to do it in small sections, doing it one panel at a time on a full size truck I'll bet it did have something to do with your issues. Most people here polish in an area roughly 2'x2' or smaller. Also I'm not sure if this has been addressed but on a full size truck I'll use 6-10 towels as I'm polishing
 
sweatthedetails said:
Sometimes when I polish, if the pad or surface is wet, or I'm using too much product and/or I do not work the product long enough I will get something like that. Its basically rock hard left over polish, of course I'm working by machine. Lots of things can have an effect, working in the sun, temperature, humidity. It really just comes down to experience and knowing how your products will work in their given environment. Detailing is a true art form. If you have never detailed before, I would strongly suggest not starting on something you care about. As for the terry cloth, throw that in the garbage. That should never touch your paint as it will inflict a ton of damage by it self. If it is left over product like I suspect, I suggest trying an IPA wipe down. Wear gloves and use micro fibers. If that doesn't work call a local detailer, that beautiful truck deserves it.
Click to expand...

I don't know if I would consider the pad wet but definitely damp as I rinsed and squeezed before each section was done similar to what I do when waxing. I find just about anything so hard to spread otherwise. Maybe too much water left in the pad? Got it...will toss the terry cloths from now on! So if a product does not come off easily with a microfiber towel it is not the towel's fault? Do you think I should do the IPA wipedown even though a wash has appeard to have removed those spots?

Bobby B. said:
Your Dodge Ram is beautiful. The Black Gold Pearl is one of my favorite colors on these trucks. I have a Bright White single cab express model.

By any change did you use an aerosol product to dress your tires and plastic trim? The wet spots in the paint look to me like a "tire sling" from a tire dressing or "overspray" from and aerosol tire & trim product. if that's what these wet spots are from, just wash the truck again an they should come right off. Good luck!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the comments on the truck...I like the color too. I did use an aerosol product on the tires (Griot's Garage Black Shine) but the truck only moved a few feet into the garage and wasn't driven until the next day so I know it was dry. But I agree with you that some of that was tire sling from those new AT skins I just put on going through a spot of some sprinkler runoff on the street.

vobro said:
When you polish you want to do it in small sections, doing it one panel at a time on a full size truck I'll bet it did have something to do with your issues. Most people here polish in an area roughly 2'x2' or smaller. Also I'm not sure if this has been addressed but on a full size truck I'll use 6-10 towels as I'm polishing
Click to expand...

Point taken I think you are probably right. Although the bigger sections were divided up in half I think the temp in my garage plus the fact that I was polishing by hand may have caused the drying to happen quicker than I realized. Here's another question for you. When you do a stand alone polish product, will you see a similar amount of residue removed on the towel as compared to removing wax? I noticed my polish rag didn't really get as dirty as my wax rag would when wiping off but I still changed them as often as I do with wax. Agree...6 towels is about what I would normally use.
 
If it was me I would start over on a test section.

Rub a baggy over the spot and see if above surface or below.

If above clay-check after with baggy.

Once smooth can move on to polishing steps.
 
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