The Clay Bar Process
The debate continues

Asking about the clay bar process will get you almost as many versions as there are people. Just like any other area of the auto detailing world of products, the answer will usually be based on an agenda. My experience has shown that typically, a company will highlight the benefits and skip over any drawbacks of this process. I remember when these products first came out, there used to be disclaimers on the packaging stating how a certain amount of scratching will be done when using the clay bar. I have checked all the retail clay bar products and have yet to come across any that still lay hold to this claim. Are we to believe that these bars are no longer scratching the paint on our cars?

I think not.

The Process

Let me spell out the clay bar process in a very simplified way:

• The air is full of mostly invisible contaminates; we will refer to this as pollution.
• This pollution will attach to your cars paint.
• This will create a texture on your paint that can be felt.
• This "pollution" can also be seen as what looks like tiny rust specs on light colored cars.
• The clay bar is the only process that actually works to remove this pollution.
• You use the clay bar by rubbing it back and forth over your paint until contaminates are removed.

• overspray
• brake dust
• rail dust
• industrial pollution
• Tail pipe emissions;emissions from catalytic converters.

The shot above shows a side view diagram of the different layers to a typical paint job. Notice all the contaminates that sit atop the paints surface; these are the elements that will be removed by using the clay bar. You might also notice that the rail dust and brake dust are embedded into the paint itself. This is where there are varying explanations as to exact process of the clay bar.

There seem to be three popular interpretations of this process:

1. The bar shears off any form of contaminates that are above the level surface of your paint
2. The clay bar "pulls" any contaminates from your paints surface
3. The clay bar will "sand" away surface contaminates until level with the paints surface thereby creating the smooth surface.

I think this is just one of those areas of life where there will always exist conflicting interpretations.

The Experts Opinion

Personally I think the concept of the clay "pulling" the contaminates from the paint seem to make most sense to me. If we were relying on the bar to sand, or shear the pollution off at the surface, then how would contaminates below the top surface of paint be removed?

The most critical point for me is this...

Clay Bars Work

That is correct folks...the clay bar process works regardless of whether we really know just how it works. I also know that it is the most efficient way to remove these forms of pollution.

But the critical question still exists...does it scratch your paint?

But before you freak out and leave, just know that this really depends largely on what you interpret as "scratching". The fact remains that the clay bar process is completely accepted by the professional world of car detailing.

Most car care products companies will just tell you that if you use their clay bar lubricant, that scratching will not occur; this is not true.

But the good news is that the kind of scratching we are talking about is minimal, and will be removed and/or covered by simply following up with some form of wax application. Because seriously, would you really be willing to live with textured paint?

I doubt it.

Most people do not realize just how scratched up the current condition of their paint is in the first place. My professional opinion is this: If you can stand back and look at your car in natural sunlight from 2-4 feet away and your car looks fabulous, then why over think things?I come across certain obsessive and neurotic people who want to examine their car paint under the fluorescent lights in their garage at 3 inches away, and critique and obsess over every scratch on their paint. Interestingly, these are often the same people who are unwilling to pay a professional to actually remove these types of scratches, and instruct them how to keep the condition of their car at this level.

I guess these are people who just need to find something to obsess about in their lives. I personally like to maintain a more realistic approach to life and cars, and once again, if I can stand back a couple feet from my car and have look amazing, then I say I have succeeded!

So the clay bar process is a must, and the feel of silky smooth paint still brings a smile to my face! I challenge anyone to take some detailing clay to their car, and follow up with some wax and tell me they aren't completely impressed with the look and feel of their cars paint; it has never happened on my watch!

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