Clay towel at the end of its life?

[Eldorado2k]

I’m outside claying my car right now when I notice my fine grade clay towel marred the heck out of my hoods normally hard paint..

That’s twice in a row this has happened. Has anyone ever noticed this to be one of the signs of a clay towel being near the end of its life? In the past my other clay towels just quit removing contaminants and I replaced them, but this is the 1st time I’ve seen this happen. I guess I should’ve taken better care of them.

Back to the claybar for now. I’m in no mood to polish my whole car right now..

 

[WillSports3]

I don't know if it's the clay towel at the end of its life but it could be that there was stuff on it that wasn't cleaned off properly? Either that or there was some really rough stuff stuck on your paint.

 

[Belair]

^^ Yeah, it's either the towel or the clay that's dirty.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I don't know if it's the clay towel at the end of its life but it could be that there was stuff on it that wasn't cleaned off properly? Either that or there was some really rough stuff stuck on your paint.

Well I’ve had less trust in my clay towels lately due to my lack of care for them... For example I’ll usually let them dry outdoors and then bring them in and lay them flat with nothing protecting them from dust. Clay towels are sort of a PITA to put away.

I wouldn’t say there’s noticeable stuff/debris on the clay towel but I also wouldn’t say it looks like it did when it was new...

I went outside just now to inspect the rest of my paint after using the regular claybar and it’s just fine. No marring and ready for lsp. Then I decided to shine the light on my hood to get a closer look at the clay towel marring... Holy damn! My paint was perfect just before I used that claymitt on it! Wow what the hell!

That clay towel is officially done.

 

[Opti]

Just out of curiosity...other than rinsing it out how would you clean out a clay towel???

BTW...ive had the same problem at my winter prep in october as shown in the first pic. I later gave the car a light polish (with menzerna 3500) and the marring was gone.

 

[Desertnate]

I've never used a clay towel, but I did use a Nanoskin Speedy Prep Sponge. I was never able to clay a vehicle with it without causing damage. No matter how much or the type of lube used, it always left heavy marring like you experienced. I eventually tossed it because it was causing me more work rather than minimizing it. I happily went back to clay.

 

[DBAILEY]

How many cars has it been used on? Just curious.

Mike Phillips advised a year or two ago that the Blackfire Clay cleaner & extender can be used to safely clean that rubber surface. I don't know if it is available anymore with their changes. I still had a bottle of from probably a decade ago that I never used. I didn't like using it on actual claybars. I've used it to clean my medium clay towel and fine clay mitt a few times. It did look a bit cleaner but it was hard to tell being black rubber. It hasn't seemed to cause any problems with the rubber so far.

 

[mmhammer]

Well I’ve had less trust in my clay towels lately due to my lack of care for them... For example I’ll usually let them dry outdoors and then bring them in and lay them flat with nothing protecting them from dust. Clay towels are sort of a PITA to put away.

I wouldn’t say there’s noticeable stuff/debris on the clay towel but I also wouldn’t say it looks like it did when it was new...

I went outside just now to inspect the rest of my paint after using the regular claybar and it’s just fine. No marring and ready for lsp. Then I decided to shine the light on my hood to get a closer look at the clay towel marring... Holy damn! My paint was perfect just before I used that claymitt on it! Wow what the hell!

That clay towel is officially done.

Just a question: So how did you manage to make the clay towel create perfect circular scratches?? Are you sure the clay towel is the only problem?

 

[Kevin845]

I thought the same thing, the marring is circular.

 

[Eldorado2k]

How many cars has it been used on? Just curious.

I’d say close to 30 + numerous window clayings. It’s put in some good work.

I went to grab my other claymitt last night after I posted this thread and it looks like it’s for sure done as well... I left it on my detailing cart to dry and it looks like my cat decided to take a nap on top of it. Lol.

I’ll be sure to take better care of my next clay towels.

Just a question: So how did you manage to make the clay towel create perfect circular scratches?? Are you sure the clay towel is the only problem?

I thought the same thing, the marring is circular.

Did you guys know that swirls, as far as our eyes see them are an optical illusion? They appear circular because of the human eye. I forgot who told me about that [my 1st guess is Michael Stoops] But I’m being totally serious, swirls are mostly always circular not because they are, but because that’s the way our eyes are able to see them. Maybe someone can help properly explain in full detail.

But in reality, no swirls, including the ones in my pic are actually perfect circles in the paint.

 

[DBAILEY]

Only the edges of the marring is catching the light. With a point light source the edges catching the light will look circular.

 

[Eldorado2k]

...But the swirls could’ve also been caused by this lame Beagle Edgeless towel which I used to waterless wash my hood just prior to claying it...

I’m not saying it wasn’t the clay towel.. But I will say that everytime I use those towels something seems to go wrong or not feel right. I hate those towels. Lol.

I fixed my hood last night.

Back to normL.

 

[Mad Wax]

I've only used the Nanoskin clay mitt...I've used this thing on at least 100 cars and still hasn't worn out. Very durable.

 

[WillSports3]

After I clay with my claymitt, I normally spray it down with some Zep citrus cleaner and brush it a bit before rinsing it clean. Just to make sure.

 

[Eldorado2k]

After I clay with my claymitt, I normally spray it down with some Zep citrus cleaner and brush it a bit before rinsing it clean. Just to make sure.

Does Zep Citrus Cleaner qualify as a solvent? And what kind of brush do you use on it?

 

[WillSports3]

Not sure, it's the citrus oil in it that acts as the degreaser. And I use a regular interior detailing brush, a small-ish one inch thick one, just something to agitate the surfaces and then off we go. Mostly, it's to get rid of certain things the clay mitt might've picked up.

 

[Tempest45]

Did you use D114 for lube? I like to have a bucket of rinseless to dunk the mitt in to help clean it as I go.

 

[atgonzales]

When store my clay towel or mitt after it dry, I wrap the towel and or mitt in tissue paper even with a towel folded or wrapped around the mitt if any paper sticks to the rubber portion, a quick dunk in water and office it comes and ready for action

 

[Eldorado2k]

Did you use D114 for lube? I like to have a bucket of rinseless to dunk the mitt in to help clean it as I go.

Yea I used a ton of D114@1:128 as lube. I usually dilute it with distilled water but lately I’ve been just using filtered drinking water like the kind you get from the water store. That can’t be that big of factor right?

 

[TMQ]

Why not isolate and double check?

Take half of hood. Use one part of the hood just to dry using the blue towel and the other half, just use the clay mitt but blow dry or use another towel. Then check...

Just a thought...

Tom