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The detailer’s rule of thumb is to always decontaminate the surface with a clay bar before putting on a new coat of wax, or polishing any exterior paintwork.
Can I skip polishing after clay bar?
you could skip polishing after claying and apply your lsp if you use a fine grade clay if it doesn’t marr/scratch (IME it will a little). i would at least do a light polishing step after which may be all that is needed if the paint is in good shape.
Is it necessary to polish after Claying?
The clay bar if used properly should not be marring the paint. You should not have to polish after claying, unless the paint was already bad. Sometimes, using a clay bar will reveal hidden damage underneath. There are different levels of clay bars.
Should I wax my car after clay bar?
I would recommend at least a detail spray following claybar. Claybar removes all surface residue including wax, ie: your car will be without protection until you wax it.
Can you clay a car without polishing?
Re: Do you clay without polishing afterwards? Yes and no. On my personal truck when i clay i`ll do a quick hand polish to remove any light defects.
Can I wax without polishing?
You can go and wax your vehicle straight away (with some preparations, of course). There’s No Need To Polish Your Car Before Waxing: If the paint still looks great, without damages (swirls, scratches, fading) If you already have the wax on your car and now you want to reapply it.
What’s next after clay bar?
When you’re finished claying your car, you may need to wash it to remove any lubricant film. If you plan to use a pre-wax cleaner polish, it will remove clay residue so there’s no need to wash. Last but not least, after using clay, seal your freshly cleaned paint with your choice of wax or sealant.
Does clay Bar damage clear coat?
Clay bars are not supposed to damage the paint or clear coat finish, the particles that are being removed by the clay bar might remove some of the clear coat (see image below for example) the the damage these particles can do over time is worse than the clear coat being removed – and this valleys will be filled in with Jul 19, 2007.
Will clay bar remove scratches?
A clay bar does NOT remove any scratches from the surface of the paint because it contains no abrasives. A clay bar is useful for when a car’s paint feels rough and is no longer smooth to the touch as it can help restore that nice smooth feeling you once knew and loved.
How often should you clay bar your car?
Although there’s no specific schedule to clay bar your car, you must do this at least 2 to 3 times a year. How often you clean your car will determine the grade you use. To be on the safer side, try being more conservative with the grades, especially when you’re not entirely sure.
Does Claying a car remove wax?
When you clay your vehicle, you remove the contaminants, making the coat easier to wax. The detail clay also removes tar, sap, bug remains, wax, and sealants from the coat of the car. With these substances removed, waxes and sealants will adhere to the surface better.
Should I wax or polish after clay bar?
The detailer’s rule of thumb is to always decontaminate the surface with a clay bar before putting on a new coat of wax, or polishing any exterior paintwork. Those foreign particles block wax from sticking to the paint, making it last for a shorter time and not shine as bright.
What liquid do you use with clay bar?
Q: What can I use to lubricate a clay bar? You can use a specifically formulated lubricant, a quick detailer, or soapy water. All of these will sufficiently lubricate your vehicle so that the clay bar can glide over your vehicle’s surface without damaging it.
Can you clay bar a black car?
It is easy to use a clay bar in your black car without marring or harming the finish. Make sure to clean and polish the finish before treating black paint with a clay bar. It is also important to finish off by waxing the paint to seal the smoothness and shine.
Is Clay Bar better than polish?
Polishing will romove the bonded contaminants but the particle would probably get trapped under the pad and be ground into the paint surface. Therefore, claying is much safer.
Should you polish or wax a car first?
Car polish is used before you apply the wax coat. It is used to remove grease, dirt, scrapes, and scratches that cannot be removed from washing. This is a type of car wax prep and car detailing product. Polishes are different from waxes as the polish will remove dirt but will not provide any protection.
Can you wax a car straight after polishing?
You should always wax a car as soon as possible after it has been polished. Polishing will remove all paint protection on your car, so waxing afterwards will add a layer of protection to shield your car’s paint from UV damage, dirt, tree sap, acid rain etc.
What is the difference between buffing and polishing?
Polishing generates a brushed or lined finish, where buffing removes the lines and creates a bright luster finish. The process of buffing generally requires surface refinement polishing prior to buffing.
Can you use clay bar on glass?
Glass does not need a special clay bar, and most clay bars are safe for glass. They may leave marring on the glass and need to be polished afterwards. With any clay bar, make sure to use the proper clay lubricant. Soaps and water-less washes can often breakdown the clay bars, causing them to crumble and fall apart.
How long can you use clay bar?
clay bar will last you 18 months to 2 years if used on the same vehicle. If you buy clay in an 4 oz. bar, like Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay or BLACKFIRE Poly Clay, cut it in half and keep the unused portions moistened with lubricant in the storage case.
Do clay bars really work?
The clay bar has a specific job – to remove bonded contaminants from your paint. Even when used properly, it should be considered a necessary evil since it can be abrasive. If it’s been done recently, your paint is likely still smooth. The fact is, you should never clay bar your car and stop there.
