Quote:
Originally Posted by Rick F
Your cars must be kept pretty clean. I wash my trucks every 2 weeks except for winter months, I don't like using car washes. In the spring, the first clay job, I will turn half a yellow clay bar almost brown when I am done and that includes kneeding it along the way. I use the bar until I can feel the material in the clay then I discard the bar. I would have to wash my truck every day to be able to use a clay bar 300 times. Road salt and sand are a biatch on paint plus I have a major rail yard in town where I work.
I see that Pinnacle makes a milder clay and can be used more often. I might try that or the 3m that was suggested. I might get a good deal, my uncle is a rep. for 3m.
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No the cars are in all different stages of dirty from brand new to terribly oxidized. Just because clay turns colors from dirt and grime, doesn't mean it's time to throw it away. I just detailed a 2007 Ferrari 612 Scagliatti , about a $300,000 car with some over 1 year old discolored clay Believe me if I didn't think it would work or hurt that cars paint I wouldn't use it.Take the clay put in an old sock, knot the sock with the clay in it and wash it in your washing machine ( don't wash it with any clothes , especially your girls !!! ) or when your washing your truck, clay at the same time your washing and although it may change colors, it will still be good for the next time. Certainly pick out any obvious chunks of grit, but discoloration is nothing to worry about! I know lots of folks think your can only get a few claying jobs out of clay and I'm sure the manufacturers want you to believe that , since if your using clay a couple of times then throwing it away, that means you'll be BUYING more clay for the next time. Using Clay Magic or Mothers clay may not last as long and certainly not as long as 3M, but with the magic and the mothers should last at least 100 times, where 3M last around 300-400 times. Also know that you living around a rail yard means you have industrial fallout, and you should be using overspray clay. beyond that using some Ppg DX220 or DX330 Acriliclean solvent will flush impurities from your paint. Alot of times when cars have alot of oil base contaminants in the paint I'll not only wash the vehicle with car soap, but I'll also add a degreaser in the bucket as well. because it'll help to rid the crap in the paint. I machine buff every car ; machine buff on, change pads and machine buff off once the polish, etc. has dried. This will take care of any streaking that may occur from claying as well as amy dullness that can happen in the clearcoat using acriliclean.
Once again as I've said in several other posts on this site, Clay is not the magic cure all that alot of folks think it is. It does work well for some things and poorly for others.
You can find acriliclean at body shop supply houses.
Good Luck and keep your clay longer !