Claying every time you wax?

Bill1234

Bill1234

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I was on another forum and really was trying to be reasonable but someone else asked if it was necessary to clay every time you are going to apply an LSP I totally understand the point of the baggie tes however, if you are going to apply a new lsp definitely why not clay? I was also argued it would damage your clear coat doing it that often. I feel like if you use enough lubrication, that should not matter too. Basically feeling that if you would need to apply a new coat, it should not be done before claying

Thoughts?
 
My opinion, without any scientific evidence, is that clay is an abrasive, regardless of how much lube you use. For me, if I clay, I polish. I think marring is inevitable if you use clay. I think a synthetic clay may mar less.
 
I don't always clay before applying sealant. I feel that if the paint passes the baggie test it's fine enough to seal after a thorough bucket wash.

However every once in a great while [like after 1yr. or more] I'll clay even though it really doesn't need it. That's what I just did to the Kia. However I messed up and clayed it last Sunday evening and it got late and condensation kicked in... Combine that with a busy week and I wasn't able to lay down lsp until today. I didn't really like that, but things aren't always perfect.

a4d1bf61ccf83f9b41f29b7c195eec1a.jpg


I used the Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay. I could see it pick up the occasional blackhead on the paint, but overall the paint was clean enough to not show much of anything as far as grit on the claybar.

26cd13c1509eeaf4a001fcc07407c3fa.jpg


If the vehicle was any other color besides white, I would've went straight to lsp.

Nothing wrong with claying as long as you use plenty of lube and aren't 1 of those people who claim they marr their paint every time they clay. I personally never marr my paint.
 
My 2016 Camaro paint mars when you blow on it!


Sent from my iPhone using AGOnline
 
I will not clay if I know my ride is clean and it's been only a week or 2 for the 2nd or 3rd coat.

If you are adding a new type of LSP, I will clay (my case Nanoskin Blue) and then use a dedicated wax remover or an ultra fine polish and polish the car. My polishing will be very minimal, just enough to remove the LSP. If there are areas that do need polishing I will just do that. If I feel my ride doesn't need a light polishing then the dedicated wax remover will suffice.

So I am in your camp if you are going to use a new and completely different LSP from the current one you have then I do the aforementioned above. Even if this is OVERKILL I could care less....I ENJOY and HAVE FUN doing this procedure. It's my stress relief!
 
"Claying every time you wax?"

No...

Claying once a year is plenty.
If you make a scratching sound when rubbing the paint or fail the baggie test, then yes. It would take a year or more to get that bad. So once a year is plenty.

Tom
 
Also consider how often you wax. If you wax once a month it is very unlikely your car will need to be clayed each time.

ScottH
 
Eldorado2k said:
If it's the best, then why does it marr your paint?

Have you tried this? It's supposed to be ultra fine grade.

83b97c39d7195e16eae12f982b7c6a80.jpg
Click to expand...
I think Camaro paint mars easily. The baggie test mars the paint! I have not tried Pinnacle, but you can feel the difference between English and US clay very easily.
 
I like this guy and how he is going in depth with things.

https://youtu.be/A3-iTYjCkl8

I think clay is micro marring at some extent. And if you do it regualar it will be more visible in time. That's if you don't polish the paint afterwards. It's alot that is depending on different situations and the most is how easy your car scratches and is sensitive to marring.

Do a test spot with clay and then light it up with a good flashlight or take it out to the sunlight and see what the claying does to your paint. That way you see if you will want to polish or not. But do you have a good finishing polish that can refine your finish then do it.
 
Bill1234 said:
I was on another forum and really was trying to be reasonable but someone else asked if it was necessary to clay every time you are going to apply an LSP I totally understand the point of the baggie tes however, if you are going to apply a new lsp definitely why not clay? I was also argued it would damage your clear coat doing it that often. I feel like if you use enough lubrication, that should not matter too. Basically feeling that if you would need to apply a new coat, it should not be done before claying

Thoughts?
Click to expand...

It depends how often you are applying a new lsp. If its 3 months then yes, If its 3 days because you want to change it then no. Please dont get worked up over what people say on the internet.
 
Eldorado2k said:
I don't always clay before applying sealant. I feel that if the paint passes the baggie test it's fine enough to seal after a thorough bucket wash.

However every once in a great while [like after 1yr. or more] I'll clay even though it really doesn't need it. That's what I just did to the Kia. However I messed up and clayed it last Sunday evening and it got late and condensation kicked in... Combine that with a busy week and I wasn't able to lay down lsp until today. I didn't really like that, but things aren't always perfect.

a4d1bf61ccf83f9b41f29b7c195eec1a.jpg


I used the Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay. I could see it pick up the occasional blackhead on the paint, but overall the paint was clean enough to not show much of anything as far as grit on the claybar.

26cd13c1509eeaf4a001fcc07407c3fa.jpg


If the vehicle was any other color besides white, I would've went straight to lsp.

Nothing wrong with claying as long as you use plenty of lube and aren't 1 of those people who claim they marr their paint every time they clay. I personally never marr my paint.
Click to expand...
Thats because its white, try buying a black car with no flake
 
Eldorado2k said:
If it's the best, then why does it marr your paint?

Have you tried this? It's supposed to be ultra fine grade.

83b97c39d7195e16eae12f982b7c6a80.jpg
Click to expand...

I have and you are right it doesnt marr if you go lightly. Maybe under a strong light you will see a tiny bit of marring i forget.
 
fightnews said:
Thats because its white, try buying a black car with no flake
Click to expand...

The front end on my daily driver is pretty close a color to black [believe me I deal with the same dusting a black car does] and I've never marred this paint while claying.

b0d5f51f479610a994b8bc558c28b95e.jpg


a6a13268d83e9aa5b90b2c454f5851af.jpg


Straight to lsp everytime unless I feel like polishing my car, which I haven't done in a very long time now.

6f84b8480f744ef4a533bb6c6b53aadb.jpg


Here's just 1 example of a black car that was loaded with contaminants. Medium Grade claymitt, no clay induced marring. I never even worry about clay marring because it's so rare.

49c9d919f109091df6193113857a5e16.jpg


No clay marring.

5ccccd13a2f32ddb56fece837cdabbc9.jpg


Medium Grade claymitt, straight to wax. I never plan for "mandatory" polishing after claying.

4d59c0cba9e6ef0ef01f0d288a39c360.jpg


I don't even own a fine grade clay mitt. I go straight for the medium every time if I'm using clay alternative and not including that weird strip of paint underneath the rear window on the Kia [you know exactly what part of that car I'm talking about] I've only experienced clay marring 2 maybe 3 times tops, ever.
 
Eldorado I was going to ask you what you thought of the clay mits or towels?
 
fightnews said:
Please dont get worked up over what people say on the internet.
Click to expand...

Most notably in the "Detailing 101 by Autogeek" Facebook group. Some really interesting folks in there.

"What's a good one step compound or polish?" - HD Speed!

"Using more than one foam pad per compound/polish step on a car is a waste of money"

"Pads work better when they've been broken in by use on 5 or 6 cars"

The "Pro Only Tips" posts from 17 year old Chemical Guy disciples are usually pretty interesting as well.

Interesting place...
 
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