Alternative to clay bar?

[Mjgillen]

Hello all,

Bought a used car yesterday and the paint finish is very rough and grainy. So I washed the car and started on the hood with a clay bar and meguires quick detailer. Wow it is going very slow. The bar is getting a brownish rust color and I spent about an hour and only got half the small hood done.

so my question is - what can I use to speed up the process? Break out my very nice orbital? Which compound should I use? I have some polish and some swirl remover. Lots of pads.

Thanks,
Michael

 

[Rsurfer]

Decontaminate with something like Car Pros Lift, Iron remover and then clay.

What do you have in terms of compound and polish?

 

[Mjgillen]

Double post.

 

[Mjgillen]

Thanks for the advice!

I thought I had some polish but just looked and am all out. No compound either. I am thinking I should use some Pinnacle Advanced Compound. I’ve also read to try the Nanoskin AutoScrub pad$$$. Do you think the compound will get that stuff off? I’ve never used an iron remover. However I’m guessing that’s what I have is iron/rust/oxidation.

 

[opie2]

Thanks for the advice!

I thought I had some polish but just looked and am all out. No compound either. I am thinking I should use some Pinnacle Advanced Compound. I’ve also read to try the Nanoskin AutoScrub pad$$$. Do you think the compound will get that stuff off? I’ve never used an iron remover. However I’m guessing that’s what I have is iron/rust/oxidation.

First and foremost, how aggressive is your clay you are using?

Also i have used those nanoskin mits, and while they are nice i have switched back to regular clay as i feel it does the best job imo.

Also you will get varying opinions on what abrasives to use. Me personally...i love 3D abrasives, used menzerna b4 that. Im not really into any of ago's house brands.

Not sure how deep in the rabbit hole ya wanna go. You could also just go to autoparts store and get griots garage abrasives. Many ppl use/like them.

What machine ya got?

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[Eldorado2k]

You need this. Meguiars C-2100

IME nothing else comes close. Don’t be shy, get that whole bar in your hand and spray plenty of lube on the surface and it’ll cut through and make it smooth quick. It’s all you need.

 

[Mjgillen]

The clay is just the regular stuff that came with the Maguire's Quick Detailer. White blocks of clay. I've used this stuff for years seemed to work OK however I never had to deal with a paint surface like this before. Its all scratchy like sand paper. My wife thinks its overspray from paint nearby however the clay gets a rust colored so I think its oxidation. I've never used an Iron Remover so maybe that should be my first step? I like using clay as I can feel when its nice and smooth however this would take me a lifetime and I don't have that long.

Which 3D abrasive do you recommend? There's a 3D store nearby (San Diego CA area)

The machine I got is a Groit's Garage 6" Random Orbital and it seems to work well. I've only done a few cars with it over the years but it works. I sold my Mustang a few years ago and have not done any serious detailing since then.

I can do auto parts store no big deal. I just wanted to make the finish better than it is. It's my son's car and likely he will total it before the end of the year. At least it will look good on the end of the tow hook. My wife says I'm wasting my time. But you know I hate to see a nice looking car with a crappy paint finish knowing I could make it look and feel amazing with just a few hours of effort.

Any other recommendations? I'll pick something up tomorrow and get going on it.

 

[Mjgillen]

You need this. Meguiars C-2100

IME nothing else comes close. Don’t be shy, get that whole bar in your hand and spray plenty of lube on the surface and it’ll cut through and make it smooth quick. It’s all you need.

OK I can do this!

 

[opie2]

The clay is just the regular stuff that came with the Maguire's Quick Detailer. White blocks of clay. I've used this stuff for years seemed to work OK however I never had to deal with a paint surface like this before. Its all scratchy like sand paper. My wife thinks its overspray from paint nearby however the clay gets a rust colored so I think its oxidation. I've never used an Iron Remover so maybe that should be my first step? I like using clay as I can feel when its nice and smooth however this would take me a lifetime and I don't have that long.

Which 3D abrasive do you recommend? There's a 3D store nearby (San Diego CA area)

The machine I got is a Groit's Garage 6" Random Orbital and it seems to work well. I've only done a few cars with it over the years but it works. I sold my Mustang a few years ago and have not done any serious detailing since then.

I can do auto parts store no big deal. I just wanted to make the finish better than it is. It's my son's car and likely he will total it before the end of the year. At least it will look good on the end of the tow hook. My wife says I'm wasting my time. But you know I hate to see a nice looking car with a crappy paint finish knowing I could make it look and feel amazing with just a few hours of effort.

Any other recommendations? I'll pick something up tomorrow and get going on it.

First you need an agressive clay. Get what eledo just posted. I have megs mild clay, just used it for the first time its miles better that fine clay.ill get agressive clay at some point too.

I have, 3d aca500 and 510...both compounds and work great, 510 is said to cut faster.

3d aat 502 is the polish i currently use leave a great finish. I will be trying the aca520 polish next since its supossed to cut faster as well.

I also have aat505 which is body shop version of 3d speed.

Id just pick either 500 or 510, and 502 or 520.
Your choice cuz price is little more for the ACA stuff

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[Mjgillen]

First you need an agressive clay. Get what eledo just posted. I have megs mild clay, just used it for the first time its miles better that fine clay.ill get agressive clay at some point too.

I have, 3d aca500 and 510...both compounds and work great, 510 is said to cut faster.

3d aat 502 is the polish i currently use leave a great finish. I will be trying the aca520 polish next since its supossed to cut faster as well.

I also have aat505 which is body shop version of 3d speed.

Id just pick either 500 or 510, and 502 or 520.
Your choice cuz price is little more for the ACA stuff

Thanks!

 

[Mjgillen]

If I use the 3D compound do I still need to use the clay? Trying to do as little as possible.
Also, if I use the compound do I still need to use the polish or can I just put on a wax?

 

[Jeeky123]

You need this. Meguiars C-2100

IME nothing else comes close. Don’t be shy, get that whole bar in your hand and spray plenty of lube on the surface and it’ll cut through and make it smooth quick. It’s all you need.

We might deal with rough paint on my friend's incoming Civic project. It needs a more aggressive clay as per initial impression. It's in the shop for the mounting of new brake pads and tires from 4Wheelonline, plus the alignment. We'll consider that Meguiars C-2100

 

[opie2]

If I use the 3D compound do I still need to use the clay? Trying to do as little as possible.
Also, if I use the compound do I still need to use the polish or can I just put on a wax?

Yes you should still clay. There will still be bonded contaminants that your machine will not be able to remove.

I have absoutly used a lc force orange cutting pad and used thier compound, then went straight to my lsp of choice. As long as your clear is not soft, you should be able to do the same. You just might not get max amount of gloss and refined finish.

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[Mjgillen]

OK will use the clay.

Any benefit in using the Iron X iron remover first? What will that buy me? Less stuff to remove with the clay?

What do you think of the 3D One product? Looks like it might also be an option.

 

[opie2]

OK will use the clay.

Any benefit in using the Iron X iron remover first? What will that buy me? Less stuff to remove with the clay?

What do you think of the 3D One product? Looks like it might also be an option.

I use an iron remover but mostly for part of ceramic coating decons. Any brand will do, but its not needed.

Never used 3d one, and have no interesr in it. Its pad dependant.

You could PM Dlc95, dan used 3d one alot. He might be able to help you on that product

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[Eldorado2k]

OK will use the clay.

Any benefit in using the Iron X iron remover first? What will that buy me? Less stuff to remove with the clay?

What do you think of the 3D One product? Looks like it might also be an option.

The iron remover will do what it does but honestly it’s sort of irrelevant because the clay will do it regardless. In other words all you need is the clay. That specific aggressive clay.

Be sure to use plenty of lube. If you’re using Meguiars Quick Detailer, make sure to pick up at least another bottle of it. A big bottle.

 

[Mjgillen]

Update: I got some of the Meguire's Aggressive clay and it worked great! Did the rest of the hood and the trunk in 20 min. Really worked great. 2008 Scion tC.

I stopped by one of the very very few local detailing stores and they a lot of the 3D products so I picked up some 3D One and a pad that they recommended. It's an orange medium cutting pad. That combination worked great and I don't see any swirls afterwards. I have to look extremely close with just the right light to see that there are still the remnants of water spots however looking at the paint in bright sun it looks good.

There are still a LOT of blemishes in the paint I am not sure what they are or what causes them however they are deep. If anyone can tell me what they are that would be great. I don't plan on doing anything about them as they look like they are there to stay.

Here are a couple of "before" pictures:

View attachment 76397

View attachment 76398

a couple of "after" photos

View attachment 76399

View attachment 76400

Thanks to all that chimed in. I haven't detailed a car in a few years and it was fun to get back into it. After I'm done with my son's car I'm going to do my Toyota Avalon.

Best,
Michael

 

[Eldorado2k]

Update: I got some of the Meguire's Aggressive clay and it worked great! Did the rest of the hood and the trunk in 20 min. Really worked great.

That’s great to hear. I knew it would.Thx for the update.