do you have to clay bar b4 every wax?
- Thread starter DiSpLiFF
- Start date
Mike Phillips
Active member
- Dec 5, 2022
- 51,004
- 6
After washing your car or wiping it clean, you use you clean hand to feel the paint and check for above surface bonded contaminants and if discovered then you would clay the paint.
Claying removes most all the wax off the surface so if you clay you should always build-in the time to at a minimum re-wax the vehicle.
If you want to strip off the old wax to lay down a fresh coat you can do this by using any mild paint cleaner or cleaner/polish.
If you do this often then maybe consider using a good quality cleaner/wax.
Claying removes most all the wax off the surface so if you clay you should always build-in the time to at a minimum re-wax the vehicle.
If you want to strip off the old wax to lay down a fresh coat you can do this by using any mild paint cleaner or cleaner/polish.
If you do this often then maybe consider using a good quality cleaner/wax.
maddenbowler
New member
- Jun 3, 2008
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get a plastic bag and put your hand in it. Run your hand over the paint and if it feels rough then you should clay. To remove all old wax there is stronger soap you can buy, paint cleaner, or you can do an IPA wipedown
IPA=Iso alcohol and water mix
IPA=Iso alcohol and water mix
Jimmie
New member
- Dec 12, 2006
- 4,349
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Good advice from the guys above but once you've clayed your car you won't have to do it very often. I probably average twice a year on mine.
Claying will remove old wax, but the purpose of claying is to remove embedded contamination that normal washing just does not remove.
If you want to prep your paint for new wax/sealant that doesn't have any cleaners, I suggest a wipe-down with Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA). Just use a quality microfiber towel and spray and wipe down the paint as if you were using a quick detailer. That will remove all of the existing paint protection and will allow the wax to bond to the surface nicely.
You can even mix the IPA 50/50 with water and it will still easily remove all the wax. You don't have to do it, but diluting it will not use as much alcohol and will get the job done just fine.
If you want to prep your paint for new wax/sealant that doesn't have any cleaners, I suggest a wipe-down with Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA). Just use a quality microfiber towel and spray and wipe down the paint as if you were using a quick detailer. That will remove all of the existing paint protection and will allow the wax to bond to the surface nicely.
You can even mix the IPA 50/50 with water and it will still easily remove all the wax. You don't have to do it, but diluting it will not use as much alcohol and will get the job done just fine.
AustinAaron
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- Aug 6, 2009
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Will IPA damage the clear coat? Probably a stupid question, but I've never used it.
maddenbowler
New member
- Jun 3, 2008
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No, no damage to the clearcoat. Just removes all the waxes and leaves the paint LSP ready
awheeler3296
New member
- Mar 21, 2009
- 115
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I wash, plastic bag test and if needed clay bar and wash again before wax.
DisPliff, I really enjoy waxing my car so I like to wax every week or every other week. It's completely unnecessary but I enjoy it and choose to do it frequently. After around a month or two, I like to do an alcohol wipe-down and start all over again. I can't seem to stick with one combination for very long because there are so many good sealants and waxes out there !!
Billd, your method looks great.
Billd, your method looks great.
Last edited:
gewb
New member
- Oct 13, 2008
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Yes. I would make your step 6 as "seal" than add step 7 "wax" but that's just me.
Regards,
GEWB
Rsurfer
Active member
- Jan 26, 2007
- 14,154
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Wolfgang 3.0, UPGP, 4*, Blackfire, OS.
Rsurfer
Active member
- Jan 26, 2007
- 14,154
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IPA is just plain old rubbing alcohol.
oldmodman
New member
- Sep 25, 2007
- 2,563
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Here's an anecdote about claying.
My neighbor and his wife each own a Mini.
Her car stays in the garage and is driven maybe 70 miles a week.
His car is parked outside and driven 400 miles a week. And it gets parked under a sap dripping pine tree.
Her car is fine with a once a year clay and twice a year wax.
His car needs to be clayed every other week and gets washed and waxed every Saturday morning. Any less and the sap would eat through the wax and damage the paint. And he goes through a bar of clay every two months.
But his wife loves that damn tree.
My neighbor and his wife each own a Mini.
Her car stays in the garage and is driven maybe 70 miles a week.
His car is parked outside and driven 400 miles a week. And it gets parked under a sap dripping pine tree.
Her car is fine with a once a year clay and twice a year wax.
His car needs to be clayed every other week and gets washed and waxed every Saturday morning. Any less and the sap would eat through the wax and damage the paint. And he goes through a bar of clay every two months.
But his wife loves that damn tree.
