Detailing Clay
Question and Answer Series

Just Give Us the Facts Darren

Let's jump right in and start learning about this very simple yet critical part of the paint protection and enhancement process. If you are already familiar with the clay bar and looking to shop for a quality clay bar kit, my top picks are located in the column over to the right.

Q. - I heard that the clay bar will scratch my paint.

A. - Yes, but this really depends on your interpretation of scratching. I am of the opinion that most people hear something like this and go into a tail spin for no reason. Most people do not realize that the surface of their cars paint contains thousands of scratches already, and that the kind of scratching done by clay bars is insignificant in the bigger picture of things. Often this argument is put forth by the same person who allows 2 months worth of dirt to accumulate on their car in between washings and give no thought to the amount of scratching taking place to remove this kind of dirt build-up.

Q. - When is it recommended to use detailing clay?

Whenever you feel any form of texture or grit to your paint, prior to an application of car wax. Every situation is different so this could be once a month, or once a year.

Q. - I heard that you can use the detailing clay to often.

I have never found this to be true unless you are taking advice from an over-zealous "know-it-all" trying to promote themselves as some form of self appointed expert.

Q. - When I use the clay bar, I hear what sounds like terrible scratching on my car paint?

Once again, this is completely normal. The more paint contaminates that are embedded into your cars paint, the "scarier" the process will sound. This is mostly the clay bar shearing away contaminates little by little. Simply keep rubbing and you will hear the sound disappear as the contaminates are completely sheared and removed away. When car paint has been clayed effectively and you have followed up with a quality wax, your car paint should literally feel like the silkiest piece of waxed glass you have ever felt; a feel that still puts a big smile across my face to this day!

Q. - I heard that you should never use in direct sunlight.

Operating a mobile auto detailing business means you are subject to weather conditions, and working in the direct sunlight is one of them. You don't always have access to shade with use of a canopy. I have found that the only problem with working in direct sunlight on hot paint is the ability to keep the paint lubricated and the clay bar sliding. At the bottom of this page I reveal one of my tricks for this very problem.

Q. - What are these "skid marks" left behind on my paint?

This is pretty normal. This is simply some of the clay being burnished onto the paint and usually happens when there is not enough lubrication, or on the paint edges. You need not worry about this and over-think it as these will be removed during the application of wax as a follow-up to using the clay bar.

Q. - I have read from the manufacturers that I should replace the clay bar immediately if I should ever drop the detailing clay on the ground.

Simply put, no. I realize that this makes good sense if you are one of these manufacturers looking to sell more and more product; but it is advice simply based on their agenda. While it seems logical that if you were to drop on the ground the clay bar would immediately pick up all kinds of dirt and rocks, but because the clay bar is relatively stiff, most dirt and rocks do not stick very well if simply dropped onto the ground. Upon closer examination, you will find that perhaps one or two bigger rocks from the ground may have stuck, but these can simply be removed with your fingers. In twenty-plus years of working with detailing clay (actually more like 17 years as I didn't use them at first) I have never had to throw away any of my detailing clay because I dropped it onto the ground. At worst case scenario, you could shave off a thin section with a knife or razor blade if this makes you feel comfortable and are that concerned.

Q. - I have read that you should replace the clay bar as soon as any form of dirt start to appear.

Simply put, this is another strategy by the manufacturers to sell more and more product. I seriously use detailing clay for years at a time and the clay bars get very dirty looking. You will know when it is time to replace as the clay bar will literally star to fall apart and begin to break apart when trying to use it. For most people, this will be years after much use. All I do is keep my clay bars in a separate plastic container I buy from the market; the kind you would keep left overs from dinner in. I buy a container just be enough to store the amount of clay I have. Since I do this professionally have have multiple guys working for me at a time, I keep 3 slabs of detailing clay with us at all times. I keep them balled up in a single container and simply store them away dry.

Q. - Is there any tricks from you professional experience Darren you can share regarding use of detailing clay?

Yes I can. Follow along the list below for some of my time tested tricks straight from the real world of professional auto detailing:

1. In extremely hot climates, detailing clay can get overly soft. Simply place clay bar into some ice water for a brief time and this will firm up clay dramatically.
2. If you purchase a clay bar kit, after you have finished the supplied lubricant, place the clay bar under a wet chamois and use as normal. The wet chamois will keep the surface of the paint lubricated with basic water as you work. This is a real time saver for us out in the field and you will get the same results.
3. Detailing is just that; all about the details. So when using the clay bar, make sure you mold it into the tight character lines and edges of the car paint body panels in order to remove the fall out from these areas. It is always frustrating as a business owner to find after the fact that one of my employees failed to get into these tight areas when claying the car, and we have to repeat our steps later.
4. If you are going to employ the chamois method later on, you must get one of the Water Sprite chamois' listed at the bottom of the column over at the right. These chamois are the best of everything and the exact ones I use professionally. Believe me when I say, all chamois' are not created equal; and "no", the "Sham-Wow" does not even count as a chamois!

Detailing Clay Closing Tips

Detailing clay really is an amazing tool of car detailing and proper car paint care. Of all tips and tricks I recommend to beginners when looking to take care of there cars, there isn't a single tip or product that gets as a dramatic positive response as does the clay bar get when someone has just clayed and waxed their car for the first time. The end result is truly amazing! The clay bar kits over in the right column will produce professional level results for you and you cannot go wrong with any one of them.

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