Will clay bar remove wax or sealant?

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cheekyage

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Hi everyone

With my car now being used as a daily driver for the last 12 months I’ve noticed the surface is no longer smooth where I can feel some roughness to it.

I’m wondering if I give the car a clay bar treatment only (no other decon) will it remove the existing protection of wax and sealant that I’ve applied?

Thanks in advance.
 
Anything abrasive or any degreaser will remove wax/sealants. But if you have contamination, it's better to remove it and then re-seal the surface afterwards.
 
•For me:
Re: “Will clay bar remove wax or sealant?”
-the question is actually moot.


•Anytime I clay, I’m also going to be
doing some degree of polishing—the
one sure-fire way to remove existing
Wax/Sealant.


Bob
 
I think it'll take off contamination that happens to be topped with a LSP but don't think it'll take anything else off
 
IMO after you clay, you will need to re-apply a sealant or wax. IMO based on what you are stating, you have no protection on your ride.
 
Interesting thread. So if I was to apply a ceramic coating. Then clay bar, the next day, would it remove my ceramic coating?
 
carlg said:
Interesting thread. So if I was to apply a ceramic coating. Then clay bar, the next day, would it remove my ceramic coating?
Click to expand...

It surely could effect its long term durability. Likely not remove it completely.

Most coatings take several days to completely cure. Things always vary like how aggressive the clay is or how aggressive the user of the clay is and what you are using to lube the surface with.

It’s a form of abrasive on the surface it’s going to effect it some how


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For the op you can clay with OCW per Yvan’s method and basically save a step in your process.


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cheekyage said:
Hi everyone

With my car now being used as a daily driver for the last 12 months I’ve noticed the surface is no longer smooth where I can feel some roughness to it.

I’m wondering if I give the car a clay bar treatment only (no other decon) will it remove the existing protection of wax and sealant that I’ve applied?

Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...

How long ago did u apply the wax? It might not even be there anymore
 
Thanks for your replies guys.

I applied Gyeon Wetcoat about two months ago.

Prior to that I was using Optimum Car Wax.

Just to also confirm the correct steps that are required for the clay/decon process:

1. Rinse
2. Wash
3. Rinse
4. Iron fallout / Tar removal
5. Rinse
6. Dry
7. Clay with lube or detail spray
8a. Wipe down with quality microfiber cloth OR do you
8b. Wash
9. Dry if required
 
Wash
Decon
Clay/clay alternative
Compound and/or polish
LSP

Those are my steps .
 
PaulMys said:
Wash
Decon
Clay/clay alternative
Compound and/or polish
LSP

Those are my steps .
Click to expand...

Thanks PaulMys

I wasn’t planning to compound or polish as the paint is in pretty good condition. Can I still clay bar anyway?
 
cheekyage said:
Thanks PaulMys

I wasn’t planning to compound or polish as the paint is in pretty good condition. Can I still clay bar anyway?
Click to expand...

Any time you touch clay to the paint surface, you risk marring. Myself, I will only clay if polishing afterward.

That said, it's up to you to decide if that is something you want to do.

Done correctly, claying (with the ample amount of lubrication) shouldn't mar the paint very much, but there is always the risk. (Human factor).
 
cheekyage said:
Thanks PaulMys

I wasn’t planning to compound or polish as the paint is in pretty good condition. Can I still clay bar anyway?
Click to expand...

You can, preferably with a fine clay and move it very lightly on top with TONS of lubricant, otherwise it can cause marring; part of a reason to polish afterwards to remove those tiny scratches.

With the above being said, it’s a daily driver, it hasn’t been polished recently and probably has some swirling anyways and ultimately you get to decide what you are OK leaving for now. If it’s not time to polish, don’t worry about it, but try to clay with good technique
 
Mike@ShineStruck said:
I think it'll take off contamination that happens to be topped with a LSP but don't think it'll take anything else off
Click to expand...

Yes, I tend to agree with this. I doubt claying removes all wax, but rather removes it where the contaminants were lying previously, and possibly weakening or partially removing wax in other areas where the clay and paint rubbed directly.

I would still always follow with an LSP, but I don’t think I can assume the car is stripped clean due to claying.
 
Why do people bother with claying and not polishing.
There is some goofy myths floating around on those car shows.

It's like a miracle cure for smooth, defect free paint before you wax. Yep I said wax.
Those fellas fail to mention how the paint looks, it's all about the touchy touchy, feel.
 
spazzz said:
Why do people bother with claying and not polishing.
There is some goofy myths floating around on those car shows.
Click to expand...

Eldorado2k mentions claying without polishing regularly enough that I started to pay very close attention to my technique.

The last couple times I’ve had to clay i haven’t seen any marring present afterwards.

As far as I’m concerned, if Mike Phillips says claying is safe and non abrasive to the paint if done properly, I’m inclined to believe him.

So I guess the answer is ultimately; because you don’t need to polish if you’re being careful.



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I can't remember the correct answer so someone help me out.

Why are we worried about claying without polishing afterwards?

What are the benefits of claying without polishing?
 
spazzz said:
I can't remember the correct answer so someone help me out.

Why are we worried about claying without polishing afterwards?

What are the benefits of claying without polishing?
Click to expand...

Marring caused by claying is the worry.

Benefits of only claying is time not spent polishing.
 
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