What if I did compound and no clay?

[rmagnus]

What if my car is smooth after I compound? Does that mean I didn't need the clay after all?

I suspect your paint is clean after compounding. What everyone here is trying to tell you is the right way to polish your car. Polishing is polishing regardless of the material you are using ie compound, polish or wax When you put a buffer to your paint you do not want to transfer contaminants to your buffer pad only to risk damaging the paint and making more work for you to correct. Thats the reason to lay the car. Claying a car is actually pretty fast and leaves a clean smooth surface behind. Does that make sense?

There are some great resources for you on this forum. Just spend some time reading Mike Phillips articles. Very educational.

 

[ShowCar]

Yes. That makes sense. If a car needs to be clayed, after that, do you always use a compound? Now I'm wondering if I should have bought it.

edit: even in this post: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ing-wet-deep-look-suggestions.html#post882830

He has "compound/polish" I thought those were two different things. That's why I bought the ultimate compound and the cleaner wax that was supposed to have all of it in it (meguiars)

 

[c8n]

Claying can leave marring of its own on soft paint. If it does, then you go over with a polish like m205 to clear it up. If your paint is in good shape with no scratches or swirls, there really is no need for compound.

 

[dooyaunastan]

Yes. That makes sense. If a car needs to be clayed, after that, do you always use a compound? Now I'm wondering if I should have bought it.

edit: even in this post: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ing-wet-deep-look-suggestions.html#post882830

He has "compound/polish" I thought those were two different things. That's why I bought the ultimate compound and the cleaner wax that was supposed to have all of it in it (meguiars)

Auto Detailing Facts, auto detailing Tips, How to detailing Guides, how to polish, how to wax, DIY detailing, do it yourself guides

 

[dooyaunastan]

Yes. That makes sense. If a car needs to be clayed, after that, do you always use a compound? Now I'm wondering if I should have bought it.

edit: even in this post: http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum...ing-wet-deep-look-suggestions.html#post882830

He has "compound/polish" I thought those were two different things. That's why I bought the ultimate compound and the cleaner wax that was supposed to have all of it in it (meguiars)

They are two different things, you use a compounding step when the car has heavier defects, you use a polish to refine the finish by that step, or you can use a polish alone to correct minor defects and enhance gloss.

 

[Setec Astronomy]

I keep reading how I was supposed to use clay, and then how compound is only for something "terrible," some terrible condition.

Old school compounds, what we sometimes refer to as "rocks in a bottle" can do more harm than good in some situations. However, you used Meg's Ultimate Compound, which is "new school", don't sweat these details.