Claying question and iron remover

[tasdisr]

I want to clay my car before winter sets in and was wondering if I am going to clay it do I need to use an iron remover. I thought that is what claying was for.

 

[noorth]

I want to clay my car before winter sets in and was wondering if I am going to clay it do I need to use an iron remover. I thought that is what claying was for.

I used an iron remover last week on my fathers white rogue it was littered with these little rust spots which the iron remover turned purple and most where rinsed off but a few days prior to that i just used the clay, it took twice as long to get all the little rust spots off with clay only.

I detailed the car in sections. It was my first real good experience with an iron remover on paint work.

 

[tasdisr]

What iron remover did you use? I was thinking of trying Griots.

 

[noorth]

I used a brand that i don't think autogeek sells, i'm sure Griots would work. Carpro's ironx is another popular option.

 

[Coatingsarecrack]

I’ve tried Griots, Gyeon, Meguiars ultimate wheel, CP Iron X, Eagle one black and plast dip and Black Fire.

All worked pretty much the same. The two tire cleaners (both iron color change) worked fine too. I now buy what’s on sale.

The Griots and BF are nice as they are gel’ish and seem to cling better. Don’t know if that’s better but i like it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bobby B.]

I use both products before paint correction. Iron Remover will help dissolve ferrous contaminants and the Clay Bar will help pull embedded contaminants from the paint surface.

BLACKFIRE Iron Remover

BLACKFIRE Poly Clay Fine Grade

 

[2wookies]

Best practice is Iron remover first, then a tar remover on the lower sections rinse and then clay entire vehicle. Thats if you want that perfect prep for the surface, just remember this will pull any sealant or wax off the vehicle.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I used an iron remover last week on my fathers white rogue it was littered with these little rust spots which the iron remover turned purple and most where rinsed off but a few days prior to that i just used the clay, it took twice as long to get all the little rust spots off with clay only.

I detailed the car in sections. It was my first real good experience with an iron remover on paint work.

So you’re saying the clay got all the rust spots off but took twice as long?

You also say the iron remover got the rust spots off and they rinsed away? Please clarify.

 

[noorth]

I found the iron remover really helped to remove this light looking rust spots. I assume its iron or something. T

They were all over certain sections of the car. I used a fine clay and they would come off relatively quickly but when i broke out the iron remover it certainty got rid of a lot of the little spots before i put the clay back on the paint.

I used iron remover on my blue car few times before and i never seen a difference only wheels.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I found the iron remover really helped to remove this light looking rust spots. I assume its iron or something. T

They were all over certain sections of the car. I used a fine clay and they would come off relatively quickly but when i broke out the iron remover it certainty got rid of a lot of the little spots before i put the clay back on the paint.

I used iron remover on my blue car few times before and i never seen a difference only wheels.

Did you notice a difference with the iron remover in the sections you used the clay beforehand? Was there still iron that needed removing? Or had the clay pretty much removed it all?

 

[noorth]

Did you notice a difference with the iron remover in the sections you used the clay beforehand? Was there still iron that needed removing? Or had the clay pretty much removed it all?

I never used any iron remover on the first 2 doors. I still got all the spots out it just took more effort in this case.

The rear end and other 2 doors were treated with an iron remover and really helped with the claying. It was a mild clay, started with the mothers speed pad 2.0 but switched other to a mild grade traditional clay. Its 3 years old and it was the first time i clayed it. Parents car. It was never clayed before.

I'm sensing you have a dog in this fight?

It worked. It was the best experience i've had with an iron remover. I never used any iron remover on my personal car this year and one of 2 coatings i have on my car is doing fine since may, CQUK.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I'm sensing you have a dog in this fight?

Not at all, but it’s making me want to do some 50/50 tests to see whether the claybar can do everything the iron remover can do.

 

[noorth]

Not at all, but it’s making me want to do some 50/50 tests to see whether the claybar can do everything the iron remover can do.

Go for it.

It certainty helped in this case. I don't think you need an iron remover frankly but again it really helped.

I don't do this professionally. Just a hardcore enthusiast.

TMI: Covid has prevented me from travelling for over 2 years now. I got obsessed with machine polishing lol I'm living in a smalltown right now, it's safe to say i have the most shiny car around.

 

[2black1s]

Not at all, but it’s making me want to do some 50/50 tests to see whether the claybar can do everything the iron remover can do.

I'd be interested in the results if you ever go ahead with that test.

Without ever doing such a test here is how I think it will turn out... Like the OP has said, I think using an iron remover first will make the claying step easier/faster (assuming there is iron contamination to begin with). But if you were to only clay the car (no iron remover), the end result would be the same, although it will be more work and time for the clay process.

Another way of looking at it... As long as you do a thorough job during the claying process step, you can skip the iron remover altogether. The end result will be the same.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I'd be interested in the results if you ever go ahead with that test.

Done.

Ok so here I’ll be testing claybar vs. iron remover to see if the claybar can do everything the iron remover can do. Lets begin.

1st I get the panel prepped by giving it a quick wash. Tape it off, now I’m ready to begin claying the left side of the hood.

I want to point out that this was a very easy claying. So much so that I thought it would render this test a dud. This is what the claybar looked like afterwards.

Ok, so I remove the tape and spray down the entire hood with Meguiars Ultimate Wheel Cleaner.

After 1 min.

After 4 min.

After 5 min.

Just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke, I washed the entire rear of the vehicle, and clayed only the left side. This time there was a significant amount of contaminants on the claybar.

Sprayed the entire panel with iron remover.

5min. later.

Notice the difference in the left side of the emblem where I had clayed.

Conclusion: Are iron removers overrated? I’d say they are. It could be argued that they’re pointless if the claybar is going to do what it does and more.. It’s not as if an iron remover can do what the claybar can do.

Btw, this test cost me $14 dollars. I feel like I could’ve just saved the money and simply used my claybar.

 

[noorth]

I think you should buy more iron removers lol I don't think we overly care about your "tests".

I seen them work with my own eyes, it was difficult to clay a 3 year old car, with the iron remover it helped considerably. I don't need no "tests" or "experts" to tell me otherwise.

So yeah you have a dog in this fight.

 

[Eldorado2k]

I think you should buy more iron removers lol I don't think we overly care about your "tests".

I seen them work with my own eyes, it was difficult to clay a 3 year old car, with the iron remover it helped considerably. I don't need no "tests" or "experts" to tell me otherwise.

So yeah you have a dog in this fight.

Take it easy. My post wasn’t in reply to you.

If an iron remover made claying so easy, then why did my most time consuming claying of a vehicle come after using and iron remover 2x happen on this vehicle. Pictures to prove it.

Ok so before the next bucket wash, I decided to try the DUB Wheel Cleaner on the paint again in order to see if there was any more iron particles in the paint, and also to see if the whole color changing deal was just for looks... As we can see it didn’t change colors the 2nd time around. No gimmicks. The DUB did a thorough job the 1st time around.

Now lets have a close look at this paint... After 2 washes, 2 iron decontaminations, and an intensive claying with a med. grade claymitt, this is what it looked like.

Pretty crazy huh?

So at this point I realized the claymitt was nowhere near as effective as I thought for all the time I spent with it on the paint... I decided to use the claybar for round 2.

After 4 times thoroughly going over it with the claybar... The paint was finally decontaminated. This was among the dirtiest paint I’ve ever seen.

The hood is now fully prepped for polishing. That’s not clay marring, that’s just plain oxidation.

Here’s a look at the roof, fully decontaminated. No reflections. I couldn’t see the reflection of sun or my super bright led flashlight on any of the horizontal panels. This is as bad as paint can get!

Can it be restored? Lets try some Megs D300 w/Lake Country HDO Microfiber Cutting Pad.

Here’s a 50/50 shot after 1 round of D300, followed by 1 round of Megs M205.

I did the other half of the hood with Griots Fast Correcting Cream and a Lake Country Blue HDO Foam Cutting Pad and followed it up with M205 and once I was done it went from this...

To this!

Before.

After.

I restored the shine all around..

Including the taillights.

Detailed every last bit, including the keyholes.

I detailed underneath the door handles, all the rubber trim, inside the trunk, door jambs, I bought new license plate trims, and applied new emblems..

I also got brand new window pillars.

All done. I’m happy.

Thanks for checking it out.

 

[PaulMys]

Nice test, Ric.

To be 100% honest, I have found using iron remover on my paint is just a waste of time. (Results-wise). I have never gotten that "reaction" color change.

Wheels however?? Big time.

 

[2black1s]

I'd be interested in the results if you ever go ahead with that test.

Without ever doing such a test here is how I think it will turn out... Like the OP has said, I think using an iron remover first will make the claying step easier/faster (assuming there is iron contamination to begin with). But if you were to only clay the car (no iron remover), the end result would be the same, although it will be more work and time for the clay process.

Another way of looking at it... As long as you do a thorough job during the claying process step, you can skip the iron remover altogether. The end result will be the same.

Done.

Your results are exactly what I expected. Simple logic (in my mind) was the basis for my hypothesis quoted above.

It is clearly evident in the pictures of your test that the claying process removed the iron particulates. Therefore the iron remover becomes optional... You can do it if you'd like, and it may make the claying process easier, but the iron remover is not an absolute necessity. You can do just as good a job with or without.

Thanks for the effort. And the 14 bucks

 

[Eldorado2k]

Thanks for the effort. And the 14 bucks

Thank you, that small bit of appreciation makes it worthwhile. Lol.

So yeah you have a dog in this fight.

What dog do I have in this fight? Explain that.