Is it common to use paint clay regularly?

[TH3M B0N3Z]

Just recently I clayed every painted surface on my car and did my normal sealing routine. Just last week, I clayed the hood, front bumper and front fenders because I had some serious tar on those areas. The clay came back with black streaks. Kinda crazy.

So today I washed my car and I started feeling the roof of my car... and it felt gritty. Then I felt the trunk lid and the spoiler... gritty. My car does sit outside 24 hours a day, so I know that's got something to do with it, but my paint is REGULARLY maintained with sealant and spray wax, as well, on top of being washed once, sometimes twice a week. So I clayed those areas and applied more sealant, no problems.

So how often do you guys use paint clay? Just seems like every time I turn around, my paint needs more clay therapy, lol.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

It depends on the environment your car is in, garaged or not, etc. Bottom line is you clay as much as you have to.

 

[Rsurfer]

Claying before polishing is fine, but claying before washing is a bit much.

 

[TH3M B0N3Z]

It depends on the environment your car is in, garaged or not, etc. Bottom line is you clay as much as you have to.

That's good to know. Sometimes I thought I clayed too much or too often. I've been told it'll wear the paint down, but I know that's bullscheisse. :xyxthumbs:

The horizontal surfaces are always the worst for me, it seems. The hood, roof, trunk, spoiler and the quarters are always my main targets.

 

[TH3M B0N3Z]

Claying before polishing is fine, but claying before washing is a bit much.

All the claying I've done has been performed after the main wash.

 

[Rsurfer]

All the claying I've done has been performed after the main wash.

Still a bit much. Anytime you abrade the paint you are removing clear..it does add up.

 

[TH3M B0N3Z]

Still a bit much. Anytime you abrade the paint you are removing clear..it does add up.

So claying does take away clear coat? I thought that wasn't true.

I've always understood that paint clay is fine to use however often it is needed and will not deteriorate the clear coat unless it's used improperly or a very aggressive clay is used.

I've been doing some quick research and the verdict is that paint clay, when used with plenty of lubricant, is safe and will not degrade the clear coat.

 

[Rsurfer]

So claying does take away clear coat? I thought that wasn't true.

I've always understood that paint clay is fine to use however often it is needed and will not deteriorate the clear coat unless it's used improperly or a very aggressive clay is used.

I've been doing some quick research and the verdict is that paint clay, when used with plenty of lubricant, is safe and will not degrade the clear coat.

I stand by what I said..if clay can remove contaminants, that same contaminants is scratching your paint no matter how much lube you are using. There have been many surveys taken on how often should you clay and the majority answer is every 6 months. You maybe an exception being that your car is exposed to extreme fall out and is out 24/7. Have you thought about using a fine clay towel that you can rinse out after every panel?

 

[TH3M B0N3Z]

I stand by what I said..if clay can remove contaminants, that same contaminants is scratching your paint no matter how much lube you are using. There have been many surveys taken on how often should you clay and the majority answer is every 6 months. You maybe an exception being that your car is exposed to extreme fall out and is out 24/7. Have you thought about using a fine clay towel that you can rinse out after every panel?

I have a Nanoskin pad for the PC, but I have not used it. Not sure why, lol. The clay I use, Griot's paint clay, claims to not even remove wax, but I still wax after I use the clay.

I just can't imagine clay removing clear coat. Compounds and polishes? Definitely, as they cut the clear coat. I had some looney try to convince me that clay is no different that 1500 grit sandpaper, lol. I don't clay once a week or anything, but I've clayed probably 4 times in 2012 alone, and I just clayed those few areas today.

 

[Rsurfer]

It's not the clay that is removing clear, rubbing the contaminants into the paint will. I thought you clayed once or twice a week, but now your saying 4 times a year..which is fine.

 

[TH3M B0N3Z]

It's not the clay that is removing clear, rubbing the contaminants into the paint will. I thought you clayed once or twice a week, but now your saying 4 times a year..which is fine.

LOL, I see. I take care of my car like I'm crazy, but I don't clay that often. I was just wondering if maybe 4 to 6 times a year was overkill. Since my car sits outside 24 hours a day, the paint is always feeling contaminated after a month or 2, it seems.

 

[ruiomichlet]

I've always understood that paint clay is fine to use however often it is needed and will not deteriorate the clear coat unless it's used improperly or a very aggressive clay is used.

 

[CM8 6MT]

It depends on the environment your car is in, garaged or not, etc. Bottom line is you clay as much as you have to.

Agree

 

[TH3M B0N3Z]

I've always understood that paint clay is fine to use however often it is needed and will not deteriorate the clear coat unless it's used improperly or a very aggressive clay is used.

Agree

I agree to both. I seriously need to get some pics of my car... new pics, lol. I gotta post the shine.

 

[cardaddy]

I have a Nanoskin pad for the PC, but I have not used it. Not sure why, lol. The clay I use, Griot's paint clay, claims to not even remove wax, but I still wax after I use the clay.

I just can't imagine clay removing clear coat. Compounds and polishes? Definitely, as they cut the clear coat. I had some looney try to convince me that clay is no different that 1500 grit sandpaper, lol. I don't clay once a week or anything, but I've clayed probably 4 times in 2012 alone, and I just clayed those few areas today.

Say whhhhhhaaaaaat? HeII, if that were even close to true you'd have a matte finish every time you touched it! Take some 3000 grit, wet sand it and you'll STILL burnish the clear.

I'd just add that if you are claying every few weeks that you have some seriously clean clay. Perhaps keep tabs on it so that when new you do the (upper) verticle surfaces, then move it to the horizontal surfaces next use. After that you can relagate it to the lower surfaces, perhaps wheels then exhaust tips before it's sent to it's death.

 

[FUNX650]

Anytime you abrade the paint you are removing clear..it does add up.

^^^:iagree:^^^

So claying does take away clear coat? I thought that wasn't true.

I've always understood that paint clay is fine to use however often it is needed and will not deteriorate the clear coat unless it's used improperly or a very aggressive clay is used.

I've been doing some quick research and the verdict is that paint clay, when used with plenty of lubricant, is safe and will not degrade the clear coat.

I just can't imagine clay removing clear coat.

I've always understood that paint clay is fine to use however often it is needed and will not deteriorate the clear coat unless it's used improperly or a very aggressive clay is used.

From the Automotive Clay patent abstract:

"The plastic flexible grinding stone according to the present invention comprises a plastic flexible material
having mixed therewith a powder synthetic detergent and an abrasive, wherein the abrasive comprises
materials such as: silica sand, calcium carbonate, alumina, a ceramic, Green Carborundum…
composed of grains from 3 to 50 .mu.m in diameter, and is capable of simultaneously removing
minute protrusions and stain from coated surfaces such as of rolling stocks".


The inventor of auto-clay has 86 patented "claims"…I’ll just post the first one.

**********************Claims**********************

1. A plastic flexible tool adapted to remove a protrusion or stain from a surface, comprising:

A plastic flexible material having mixed therewith an abrasive comprising grains from
about 3 to 50 .mu.m in diameter, and wherein the tool distributes polishing force
per area during use such that, when the tool is applied with polishing force per area to
a surface with a protrusion or stain during use, polishing force per area applied to
the surface is less than the polishing force per area applied to the protrusion or stain.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

As to: "paint clay, when used with plenty of lubricant"

IMHO...
If there is an excessive amount of a "clay-lubrucant"...
Wouldn't the clay be more likely to incur more hydroplaning...
Thereby resulting in reduced efficacy for auto-clay's intended purpose??

Also:
Even though claying appears to elicit a smooth, non-grabbing to a sandwich bag "feel"...
(to the top coat paint-film)...Is the paint truly clean?


To conclude:
I can't help but believe that auto-clay is an abrasive product.
Which leads me to say:
Claying...especially: Over-Claying....Can be detrimental to a vehicle's CC
(Or any other top coat paint-film for that matter)




Bob

 

[Rsurfer]

From the Automotive Clay patent abstract:

"The plastic flexible grinding stone according to the present invention comprises a plastic flexible material
having mixed therewith a powder synthetic detergent and an abrasive, wherein the abrasive comprises
materials such as: silica sand, calcium carbonate, alumina, a ceramic, Green Carborundum…
composed of grains from 3 to 50 .mu.m in diameter, and is capable of simultaneously removing
minute protrusions and stain from coated surfaces such as of rolling stocks".


The inventor of auto-clay has 86 patented "claims"…I’ll just post the first one.

**********************Claims**********************

1. A plastic flexible tool adapted to remove a protrusion or stain from a surface, comprising:

A plastic flexible material having mixed therewith an abrasive comprising grains from
about 3 to 50 .mu.m in diameter, and wherein the tool distributes polishing force
per area during use such that, when the tool is applied with polishing force per area to
a surface with a protrusion or stain during use, polishing force per area applied to
the surface is less than the polishing force per area applied to the protrusion or stain.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________

As to: "paint clay, when used with plenty of lubricant"

IMHO...
If there is an excessive amount of a "clay-lubrucant"...
Wouldn't the clay be more likely to incur more hydroplaning...
Thereby resulting in reduced efficacy for auto-clay's intended purpose??

Also:
Even though claying appears to elicit a smooth, non-grabbing to a sandwich bag "feel"...
(to the top coat paint-film)...Is the paint truly clean?


To conclude:
I can't help but believe that auto-clay is an abrasive product.
Which leads me to say:
Claying...especially: Over-Claying....Can be detrimental to a vehicle's CC
(Or any other top coat paint-film for that matter)




Bob

Thank Yourops:

 

[Klasse Act]

The regular clays out there aren't removing any clearcoats, that's for sure! As far as claying too much, I see know problem with it when you feel grit, so I say g for it. If your having this problem, you might wanna wash more often, maybe try the rinseless washes and maybe step up to the newer prep towels to replace your clay bar for easier use.

Sent from my SPH-M930 using AG Online

 

[FUNX650]

Thank Yourops:

Your Welcome!

Just trying to keep the flow of: Proper-information...
from being dammed-up!



Bob

 

[jdscooby]

Well, I guess technically, anything moving against the surface of the paint will remove it to some degree :bolt: