remove wax before using clay bar

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chasm47

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Feed back please--should I remove the wax on my car before using a clay bar on it for the first time? What would be the best way to remove the wax?
 
ummmm..LOL
you should wash car-then clay it-then Polish it if your going to..if your not going to polish it then you wax the car..
 
chasm47 said:
Feed back please--should I remove the wax on my car before using a clay bar on it for the first time? What would be the best way to remove the wax?
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Use a strong citrus wash or Dawn.
 
I have heard that clay remove wax. I have also heard that it doesn't. Any opinions.
 
LOL...I thought the OP was saying he was going to use the claybar to remove the wax he applied instead of a towel..LOL
Well I always just clayed and always heard people say claying removes your old wax.
 
I haven't noticed clay bar removing my wax on my car, at least not the less aggressive types. I also don't see why you would want to strip the wax before clay barring unless you're doing a full correction (could be more contaminates under the wax layer).
 
05xrunner said:
LOL...I thought the OP was saying he was going to use the claybar to remove the wax he applied instead of a towel..LOL
Well I always just clayed and always heard people say claying removes your old wax.
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hahaha
 
Depend upon the clay and how firm you apply pressure when claying and for how long or how many passes you do over a single section and how thorough your are as you go around the entire car.

Because online enthusiasts tend to be kind of DO or Detail Oriented, I like to put thing into extreme to make a point because it seems this method of explaining things works.

As yourself this question... does claying add wax or paint sealant to the surface of paint? The answer is "no". So what's the opposite of adding? Subtracting or removing.

Pretty safe to say that unless you're using an ultra fine clay, most other clays are going to remove anything sitting on top of the surface. Claying probably won't remove wax and/or paint sealant that is embedded into the low valleys of paint, or pits, pores, or interstices, but if the clay is physically rubbing against the paint then chances are good since it's not adding wax or sealant to the paint it's removing it.

A safe way to remove previously applied wax or paint sealant is to use a light polish by machine or a light paint cleaner by hand. Both approaches will remove any product readily available to the public off the surface plus leave your paint clear and shiny and ready for wax or paint sealant.

If you want something faster like wiping a product on or washing the car with something take a look at the Griot's Paint Prep .

Some recommend P21S Total Auto Wash but I checked with P21S for their official recommendation for using this product and they recommend


the last step should be a rinse with fresh water from a garden hose, sponge from bucket of fresh water etc.
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In other words, don't just spray-on and wipe-off...


In recent years some waxes and paint sealants are stated to be detergent-resistant, so washing with dish washing soap doesn't guarantee you'll remove everything.

IPA won't remove all polymers, so that's not a 100% solution to the problem but Mineral Spirits usually will.


:)
 
chasm47 said:
Feed back please--should I remove the wax on my car before using a clay bar on it for the first time? What would be the best way to remove the wax?
Click to expand...


  • What are your working on?
  • What are you trying to do?
For example, a wax or paint sealant is going to wear off naturally with wear-n-tear and normal exposure if the vehicle is a daily driver. There might not be a lot to remove if it's been a while.

If you're going to compound and/or polish the paint, the compound will easily remove any previously applied wax or paint sealant, so wash as normal, clay if needed, (and if it's the first time it's probably needed), and then start your correction process, by the time you're done with the first correction step anything that was on the paint will be long gone...

If you're just going to wash, clay and wax and it's been a while since you waxed, I wouldn't worry about removing any previously applied wax or paint sealant.


:)
 
Here's a few articles on claying...

Using Detailing Clay

The Baggie Test - How to inspect for above surface bonded contaminants

The 2 primary benefits of using detailing clay to clay paint

Tips and Tricks for using detailing clay

Do I need to wash my car after I use detailing clay to clay the paint?

How often do I need to clay my car?


How to use detailing clay to remove "Above Surface Bonded Contaminants" and restore a smooth as silk surface.


Part 1 - How To Use Detailing Clay​
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfxAesk4Po4]YouTube - Part 1 - How to use detailing clay[/video]

Part 2 - How To Use Detailing Clay​
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opfK408uIxM]YouTube - Part 2 - How to use detailing clay[/video]
 
I've read to use some Dawn soap and I read mineral spirits too somewhere on here? The clay removes some wax too I believe.
 
Dawn is excellent at stripping most of what is present on your car. You want to avoid using Dawn if your car has been recently detailed and you want to simply maintain its look. Your goal is to rejuvenate the painted surface by polishing which is best preceded by clay barring the surface. I used Griot's Paint Prep before using the clay bar on the painted surface. This simply removes any oils such as those found in road tar, bug stains etc..Once you start to polish you won't have to worry about old wax, sealant etc.. as Mike said.
 
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