Clay bar first timer

Tbagger · 03-22-2008, 10:14 AM

So today I was at Wal-Mart picking up some new cleaning supplies seeing how old man winter is starting to give up on us here in New England. I was just getting a new bucket, mit, bug off, black wow and the other goodies when I noticed a clay bar package. Two actually, Mothers and Mequires. I picked up the Mothers which came with the clay bar, the detailer spray bottle with their own mix or junk for lubrication and some after wax. I didn't have that much time and it was only 35 out but the new products motivated me to try it out. I never used a clay bar before. All I did was wash, clay and wash. NO WAX or BUFFER after just wash, clay and wash, a quick clay at that.

The results for such a quick job are insane. The car shines so nice and the paint is soooo smooth. After I clayed the car I had to go back with bug off to get all the tar from the winter that is sticking to my doors off but still shines like new paint.

Overall I'm very impressed and I now know why everyone raves about clay bars. The kit is an off the shelf Wal-Mart special for $14.00 and it's easily the best $14.00 I spent at Wal-Mart.

Here's some quick shots in my garage with low light. . . you get the idea.
I can't wait to do this all over again and b b b b ufff with some wax!

don't mind the boxes and company car in the last pic . . .

ya I rock a '99 lumina . . . so what!!!

sujak · 03-22-2008, 11:01 AM

Uh... You shouldn't leave the car like that without a sealer on it.

wash/clay/wash/polish/sealent thats my detail steps

STI Sibb · 03-22-2008, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sujak

Uh... You shouldn't leave the car like that without a sealer on it.

wash/clay/wash/polish/sealent thats my detail steps

Meguiar's package comes with a sample of their cleaner wax to follow-up with. Grat's on your clay bar job. It is a ton of fun to feel the difference.

This week I have moved on to the 1-2-3 step clean, polish, wax routine with Meguiar's. I can play air hockey on my finish

carl s. · 03-22-2008, 08:56 PM

claybar's are awesome! just a lot of work to claybar a whole car and then do 3 stages of wax all in a row.

what wheels are those?

STI Sibb · 03-22-2008, 09:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carl s.

claybar's are awesome! just a lot of work to claybar a whole car and then do 3 stages of wax all in a row.

Amen. I opted for the cleaner wax first.

Now, I only tape off 1 section per week for the 3 step as it also takes a lot of time.

**tyler_sti** · 03-22-2008, 09:31 PM

Just spent 4 1/2hrs. Claying and waxing my car. Meguires clay and mothers synwax for finish. Car is lookin good, and is a must at least every 6 months.

***chaos311clarity*** · 03-23-2008, 02:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sujak

Uh... You shouldn't leave the car like that without a sealer on it.

wash/clay/wash/polish/sealent thats my detail steps

why not? lol its not going to hurt anything... the paint just doesnt really have any "protection"... a good coat of sealant and some carnuba would be a great next step

Tbagger · 03-23-2008, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carl s.

claybar's are awesome! just a lot of work to claybar a whole car and then do 3 stages of wax all in a row.

what wheels are those?

thanks ya the kit comes with a finish wax and my wash has a wax in it too so i'm not to worried about the paint. Plus the car sits in the garage 80% of the time because I have another car that I use.

The rims are just rota g-forces, it's not warm enough yet for summer tires so I'm still rockin' my winter setup!!!

GotSTI? · 04-01-2008, 05:47 PM

Nice job dude.

russtg224 · 04-01-2008, 11:34 PM

looks CLEAN!

STidriver12 · 05-05-2008, 05:56 PM

dude!
i renectly clay and was my car, it look clean as ur! i love this! gotta love the clay and wax combine! whoo
let me post pics up and compare with ur car, tbagger

edit: i didn't took pic after clay and wax since it get dark outside but i did took pic of car with half after wash without clay and wax, and other half with carwash and clayway with wax
ps: ignore the 1995 c4 corvette and focus on my NA 2.5 impreza

clay and wax on the passenger side, the driver side is just carwash that all

hard to tell but hey u will notice slight smoother on passenger side

i did took pic of mirror

jk

little dull

now! here the noticeable
on the driveside near trunk, u will notice something.

now on the passenger side near trunk too with clay and wax. look what final result is!

gosu · 05-05-2008, 11:54 PM

wow clay bars are magic

I cant wait to clay my car in a couple of weeks

FleaDog · 05-12-2008, 03:05 PM

I think of clay as 'wax in a bar'.
I wouldnt clay unless you really need to (hand in plastic bag test).
If youre not careful you can introduce new swirls, and if you cant/dont know how to then get them out, thats not good
I always: (1) clay, (2) polish, (3) SEAL (polymer sealant), (4) wax.

JeremyG · 05-12-2008, 04:35 PM

ClayBar is soooo sweet. Baby-butt smooth. No Spider-webbing. WELL WORTH IT!

My regimen:

Wash with dishsoap.
Claybar
Cleaner wax
carnuba wax
carnuba wax again

03-22-2008, 10:14 AM	#1
Tbagger Spec C Club Car: 06 STi WRB Location: MASS-HOLE Posts: 1,610 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (1)	Clay bar first timer So today I was at Wal-Mart picking up some new cleaning supplies seeing how old man winter is starting to give up on us here in New England. I was just getting a new bucket, mit, bug off, black wow and the other goodies when I noticed a clay bar package. Two actually, Mothers and Mequires. I picked up the Mothers which came with the clay bar, the detailer spray bottle with their own mix or junk for lubrication and some after wax. I didn't have that much time and it was only 35 out but the new products motivated me to try it out. I never used a clay bar before. All I did was wash, clay and wash. NO WAX or BUFFER after just wash, clay and wash, a quick clay at that. The results for such a quick job are insane. The car shines so nice and the paint is soooo smooth. After I clayed the car I had to go back with bug off to get all the tar from the winter that is sticking to my doors off but still shines like new paint. Overall I'm very impressed and I now know why everyone raves about clay bars. The kit is an off the shelf Wal-Mart special for $14.00 and it's easily the best $14.00 I spent at Wal-Mart. Here's some quick shots in my garage with low light. . . you get the idea. I can't wait to do this all over again and b b b b ufff with some wax! don't mind the boxes and company car in the last pic . . . ya I rock a '99 lumina . . . so what!!! This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.

03-22-2008, 11:01 AM	#2
sujak Professional STI Driver Car: 05' AW WRX STi Fav Mod: Passport 8500 X50 Location: Illinois Posts: 491 Join Date: Jun 2007 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Clay bar first timer Uh... You shouldn't leave the car like that without a sealer on it. wash/clay/wash/polish/sealent thats my detail steps

03-22-2008, 08:56 PM	#4
carl s. Senior STI Driver Car: 04 STi Location: minnesota Posts: 398 Join Date: Jan 2007 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Clay bar first timer claybar's are awesome! just a lot of work to claybar a whole car and then do 3 stages of wax all in a row. what wheels are those?

03-22-2008, 09:31 PM	#6
tyler_sti Gold Member Car: '07 CMG STI Fav Mod: carbing subframe, driving experience:) Location: los angeles Posts: 3,134 Join Date: Aug 2006 Trader Rating: (11)	Re: Clay bar first timer Just spent 4 1/2hrs. Claying and waxing my car. Meguires clay and mothers synwax for finish. Car is lookin good, and is a must at least every 6 months.

04-01-2008, 05:47 PM	#9
GotSTI? Silver Member Car: 08 White STI Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,463 Join Date: Jan 2004 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Clay bar first timer Nice job dude.

04-01-2008, 11:34 PM	#10
russtg224 Amateur STI Driver Car: blue 04 STI Fav Mod: stage 2 protune! Location: Santa Rosa CA Posts: 17 Join Date: Mar 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Clay bar first timer looks CLEAN!

05-05-2008, 05:56 PM	#11
STidriver12 Professional STI Racer Car: 07 Subaru Impreza 2. Fav Mod: Lights!(headlight, gauge, etc) Location: IL Posts: 820 Join Date: Aug 2005 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Clay bar first timer dude! i renectly clay and was my car, it look clean as ur! i love this! gotta love the clay and wax combine! whoo let me post pics up and compare with ur car, tbagger edit: i didn't took pic after clay and wax since it get dark outside but i did took pic of car with half after wash without clay and wax, and other half with carwash and clayway with wax ps: ignore the 1995 c4 corvette and focus on my NA 2.5 impreza clay and wax on the passenger side, the driver side is just carwash that all hard to tell but hey u will notice slight smoother on passenger side i did took pic of mirror jk little dull now! here the noticeable on the driveside near trunk, u will notice something. now on the passenger side near trunk too with clay and wax. look what final result is! Last edited by STidriver12 : 05-05-2008 at 07:07 PM.

05-05-2008, 11:54 PM	#12
gosu STI Driver Car: 07 WRX STi Fav Mod: Tires and Brakes! Location: AZ Posts: 200 Join Date: Dec 2005 Trader Rating: (1)	Re: Clay bar first timer wow clay bars are magic I cant wait to clay my car in a couple of weeks

05-12-2008, 03:05 PM	#13
FleaDog Grassroots STI Racer Car: 06 CGM/silver STI Fav Mod: DIY modding Location: Philadelphia Posts: 576 Join Date: Oct 2005 Trader Rating: (4)	Re: Clay bar first timer I think of clay as 'wax in a bar'. I wouldnt clay unless you really need to (hand in plastic bag test). If youre not careful you can introduce new swirls, and if you cant/dont know how to then get them out, thats not good I always: (1) clay, (2) polish, (3) SEAL (polymer sealant), (4) wax.

05-12-2008, 04:35 PM	#14
JeremyG Lurker Fav Mod: Coming Soon Posts: 5 Join Date: Feb 2008 Trader Rating: (0)	Re: Clay bar first timer ClayBar is soooo sweet. Baby-butt smooth. No Spider-webbing. WELL WORTH IT! My regimen: Wash with dishsoap. Claybar Cleaner wax carnuba wax carnuba wax again This ad is not endorsed by this member. Please register or login to hide this ad.