SOS Clay bar

Snowdrifter

Snowdrifter

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The amount of imbedded contaminants in the batch hatch of my car is nauseating. Like, you don't even need to do the plastic bag trick to tell it needs to be clayed. Just by lightly rubbing the back of my hand on it, it feels like 800 grit sandpaper. I can hear it too.

After doing a 4x8 or so piece of the panel my clay bar is dirty already and needs to be folded. I also need to go over the same section 3-4 times before it begins to feel smooth. And when I do it, the contaminants are so plentiful that it grabs hold of the clay bar and makes it 'stick' to the paint. Regardless of how much lubricant I use (soap water / wash&gloss / Mother's QD / Turtle wax ice). With the spot I went over, the clay bar glides just fine, but it is very annoying going out from that area as I have to constantly peel the clay bar off the paint.

I am using the Mother's clay bar kit.



Is there a better way to go about this? It is annoying trying to work on this panel and I feel like I will go through several clay bars on just this one piece of paint.

I will have a video posted in a second
 
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4IzAeakSyU]I need a better way - YouTube[/video]
 
of course there is

you have the option of clay block (search Ultima Elastrofoam or Chemical guys Clay block)

or the newest tech but cost you $60, the "Speedy Prep Towel"

hope you find something that works to your needs

Also, surf city has a "polish" that works the same as clay? I don't know how effective it is though
 
When was the last time you clayed? What are the side panels like?
 
This sentence is confusing:
"With the spot I went over, the clay bar glides just fine, but it is very annoying going out from that area as I have to constantly peel the clay bar off the paint."

Do you mean you move the clay bar outside of the lubed area and it sticks? That's perfectly normal and something you shouldn't do. You should only clay the lubed area.

Did you spray the bar too ? Not just the surface but also the clay bar itself needs lube before it touches the paint surface.
 
I had the same problem with my sisters car. The clay portion took me 1.5hrs

I checked the car soap her boyfriend was using and it had wax in it. The wax sealed the dirt on the paint. I'm not sure if that is your problem as well.

Just keep at it! I'm sure it will look and feel great.
 
Look up nano skin auto scrub it Is a pad that hooks on to your DA and works like a clay bar only faster. Also when it is dirty you just rinse it off with water and keep goin.
Good luck


Chad@Divine Details
 
I would stay the course. Some portions of my VW, the rear wheel quarter-panels, are killer for me and required 5-6 passes.
 
I remember Mike mentioning this a while back. Many modern cars are designed for aerodynamics. So most of the air current in drawn to the back of the vehicle. So of course all the air draws dirt and contaminants to that specific area. I notice on my car the back actually gets more dirty than the lower panels. And because of that specific reason of air flow.

With that said you may need to clay those areas multiple times or use a more aggressive clay bar. If this is your first time claying the vehicle, it's going to be bad. So the next time you do clay it, it shouldn't be as bad.
 
weekendwarrior said:
This sentence is confusing:
"With the spot I went over, the clay bar glides just fine, but it is very annoying going out from that area as I have to constantly peel the clay bar off the paint."

Do you mean you move the clay bar outside of the lubed area and it sticks? That's perfectly normal and something you shouldn't do. You should only clay the lubed area.

Did you spray the bar too ? Not just the surface but also the clay bar itself needs lube before it touches the paint surface.
Click to expand...
I guess that was confusing. I mean to say that the clay glides over the smooth area like it should, but if I 'venture' into the unclayed area, it sticks really bad

RGL said:
I had the same problem with my sisters car. The clay portion took me 1.5hrs

I checked the car soap her boyfriend was using and it had wax in it. The wax sealed the dirt on the paint. I'm not sure if that is your problem as well.

Just keep at it! I'm sure it will look and feel great.
Click to expand...
I use Megs GG. I don't think it has wax in it, but I may be wrong.

Eandras said:
When was the last time you clayed? What are the side panels like?
Click to expand...

The car has only been in my possession for a few weeks now, this is the first time I am claying it. But I have no knowledge of it's history other than it has been maintained per the maintenance schedule and I am the second owner.

The doors (front and back) are smooth as is the hood and the lower part of the hatch. I have a feeling that the dealership's detailing place (not going to mention names) only buffed these areas as they are the spots that will see the most attention. Everything else like the roof, front quarter panels, rear quarter panels, and the rest of the hatch is all like the video I posted :(
 
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