Clay polishing pads

[Hobbit]

Anyone ever try one? My car gets very contaminated - rough paint - within 12 mths because i park close to a shipyard for a few months a year.

I'm thinking of using it on my SPTA 15mm cordless. Quick and easy.

Doesn't seem to be a popular tool. I have a new clay towel but its mild, much like the blue clay scrubber i got from The Rag Company. I'm starting to think these products are too mild and a waste of time. You have to do so many passes you get swirls anyhow. The blue scrubber destroyed my trunk lid panel one time. Made for a fun polishing session however lol Very easy to polish out with a polishing pad and fine polish - with a real machine polisher. I'm sure if i was using a palm sander i would of beat the thing up.

Another fallacy - Modern Clay products like towels don't leave swirls in the paint.
Any clay will make swirls on dark soft paints and it's leaving the same swirls on white you just can't see it very easily.

 

[DUBL0WS6]

I used a clay towel and it marred the paint significantly but it was several years old. New ones might be softer.

 

[yakky]

What are you using as your paint protection? I used to need to clay twice a year but now ceramics, I do it as needed and that's not very often.

I used one of the da pads that used traditional clay in it, and it was terrible, but that was right as the new pads were coming out. Now with the nanoskin pads I can clay a whole car in 30 minutes if it's not too bad.

 

[Hobbit]

Ok i just tried the Clay towel i picked up from Infinty Wax - it made quick work of my bonnet.

I did use The Rag Company's blue scrubber with an acidic cleaner a few years back maybe it got trashed by the cleaner. Labocosmetica purifca cut 10:1 which is a potent product.

VERY happy with the towel. I will clay the rest of the car with it now. Shouldn't take more than 2 hours. Its pretty quick. I'm not chasing the smoothest paint in the world, like i would try to do with regular clay. Tedious...

 

[Hobbit]

What are you using as your paint protection? I used to need to clay twice a year but now ceramics, I do it as needed and that's not very often.

I used one of the da pads that used traditional clay in it, and it was terrible, but that was right as the new pads were coming out. Now with the nanoskin pads I can clay a whole car in 30 minutes if it's not too bad.

I seriously doubt ceramics do a whole lot in preventing heavy contamination close to a shipyard that cuts and sand blast steel.

Ceramics are grossly over rated when it comes to "protection". It's the industry's dirtiest secret.

Side note: I see Esoteric is becoming active on youtube again. Todd is now saying to reach the pinnacle you have to use brand new pads much more than you wallet will probably like. Then in the same week he puts off a rather boring "1 step correction video" for beginners mind you, the same week telling the same audience you need 15 pads to do a car - sarcasm. with a rupes yellow foam. That doesn't correct very much - its not a correction pad, its a freakin finishing pad....And what makes Rupes "Professional Grade." Shinemate as been kicking rupes ass for over 5 years now. They still don't even have some kind of washer mod. Reminds me of harley with the carbonator.

Still not sure who gave this guy some kind of authority. Zero question in my mind he gets paid directly from Rupes. Maybe more brands like Sonax, polish angel, Kami etc

Rupes pads are good but not class leading and well the machines...lol Overpriced and low performance.

 

[Bunky]

I used a clay towel and it marred the paint significantly but it was several years old. New ones might be softer.

Some videos I have watched have said clay towels are less prone to marring than clay. But surely technique is a variable. I watch one YT personality use a clay towel and I thought it was trying to remove the paint!

 

[Desertnate]

Have you thought about using a traditional clay bar? I always keep one in my garage because it's much more effective than my clay mitt. It will mar more than a clay mitt/towel, but you seem prepared for that.

I can usually clay a car pretty rapidly regardless of what I've used, so a pad on a buffer may not be that much better.

 

[Hobbit]

Have you thought about using a traditional clay bar? I always keep one in my garage because it's much more effective than my clay mitt. It will mar more than a clay mitt/towel, but you seem prepared for that.

I can usually clay a car pretty rapidly regardless of what I've used, so a pad on a buffer may not be that much better.

I have regular clay yes, some coarse clay from gyeon.

The towel actually worked much better than i expected. I'm going to run with that.

From my research clay pads have a place for xtreme cases and few questions to some fulltime detailers. Don't take anything as conclusive of course unless you prove it to yourself... Even then, things always change...

Side note: I can see why 3D Speed stood the test of time. Super nice product to work with outside. And its always fun to see your clear reflection - of your face - in the finish when you polish.

 

[yakky]

I seriously doubt ceramics do a whole lot in preventing heavy contamination close to a shipyard that cuts and sand blast steel.

Ceramics are grossly over rated when it comes to "protection". It's the industry's dirtiest secret.

Sounds like you are flipping off ceramic tech, is that it? Almost reads like a bad review on Amazon, I bought X and it was supposed to keep my car spotless, I went offroading and my truck is dirty and scratched up. 1-star.

Ceramics aren't magic force fields regardless of what some ads say. But people have been making crazy claims since the beginning of detailing time. I still have the Auri commercials etched in my brain where the guy lit the hood on fire.

I used to need to clay several times a year. Now I clay before its time to polish paint, and usually that's in years. But some would have you believe crap like FK1000p is the force field (anyone want to buy some old stock...lol??).

Anyway, it sounds like your mind is already made up. Hope the DA pads work out for you.

 

[BLM]

I would think a ceramic coating would make it easier to clean the shipyard fallout. However it could also be done a lot cheaper and easier with a good sealant. Not a ceramic coating user here and not likely to be either.

 

[yakky]

I would think a ceramic coating would make it easier to clean the shipyard fallout. However it could also be done a lot cheaper and easier with a good sealant. Not a ceramic coating user here and not likely to be either.

Hey BLM, thanks for the reminder, I should have made it more clear, when I say Ceramics, I mean Si02 based protection, not necessarily a traditional high prep and tedious/high effort application type product (what I call a coating). While a few traditional coatings do have superior release properties, some really fall short of the spray and wipe products currently available.