Newbie to claying

[alesi27]

Hi all;

have current car now 5 years and never clayed one before. Looking for advice on what to get. Car is Magico Black, mrs Ibiza is Mar blue, both metallic.

Have been using the two bucket method for the past few years, but only learned of the badness of sponges and changed to mitts a couple of years ago.

Current routine is;
Garden Hose wash/rinse, not power hose but decent pressure from nozzle;
Turtle wax ZipWax Super Concentrate Wash & Wax shampoo stuff...
Alloy wheel cleaner (Aldi stuff with agitating brush)
garden hose rinse;
second lighter shampoo;
Air dry while having coffee (or start doing Mrs car);
wipe dry with chamois (Just realised, not good idea... Oops)
Auto Glym tyre dressing.

Wax with Turtle wax Colour Magic every 4 or 5 washes.

Thinking as the old bottle of colour magic is also getting on for 5 years old, and god knows what's embedded in the paint by now, I'd chance a clay bar. What do you recommend, preferably one that is stocked by Halfords (not much else available here...)

I'm looking at the following products;
The Turtle Wax Refine & Shine Clay Bar Kit
The Meguiars Smooth Surface Clay Kit
The Mer Clay Bar System
The Autoglym Surface Detailing Clay Kit
The T-Cut Clay Bar Kit

Has anyone used any of the above with just water as a lube? I'll probably run out of what's in the bottle before I finish... Edging towards the Turtle and AG products as I know the brand.

and to follow;
The Turtle Wax Black Box Detailing Kit
More of the Turtle Wax Colour Magic (been doing a decent job of hiding the swirl marks so far)
or Auto Glym Super Resin Polish.

What's the difference between the Super Resin Polish, and other waxes? Is it a polish or a wax? I always assumed that a polish was an abrasive and a wax was a sealer. If I use the SRP do I need to put something else on over as a sealer?

Cheers,
Roy

 

[Blanco92]

If you're restricted to what's in Halfords, I'd use the Meguiars clay kit. However, you will need to use the clay lube provided. If you wanted to use a clay bar designed to be used with (lots of) water, you'd need the Bilt Hamber autoclay which will need to be ordered online, Halfords won't sell it.

I've used the Meguiars clay bars and they're great for beginners, they're nice and soft so there's less chance of marring. In my experience the clay lube lasts longer than the bar... so you needn't worry about running out

If you're polishing by hand, I reckon you're best bet will be to use AG SRP. I've used it myself and it very much suited to being applied by hand. It is a polish though, so you'll need to wax afterwards.

My choice of wax would be Collinite 476S purely for it's longevity but Halfords probably won't sell it, though they should sell Meguiars Gold Class Liquid wax which should do the trick.

 

[G.P]

Wax with Turtle wax Colour Magic every 4 or 5 washes.

I've never been a fan of this colour magic, but their liquid wax (green in colour) is good however, I think they are about to relise a range of new products. IMO Turtle wax walks all over AG. . .

 

[alesi27]

Anyone try the Turtle Wax Black Box stuff?

is it something I can put on over the AG SRP and after a claying or an alternative to claying?

 

[alesi27]

and another;

AG Super Resin Polish or the Ultra Deep Shine?

Will be first time using either...

 

[Fishy]

I've used the Turtle Wax box kit of clay, seems a medium abrasive, just make sure to use plenty of the lube. Remember to keep the clay warm and kneaded, maybe keep it in a cup of warm to hot water before usage.

Fish

 

[ovalpegs]

and another;

AG Super Resin Polish or the Ultra Deep Shine?

Will be first time using either...

I've used both regularly and find SRP to be very easy to use, goes on easy and comes off easy. UDS gives good results but is more difficult to polish off. I use SRP alot more than UDS just because its easier, hope it helps.

 

[alesi27]

Well, thanks to a nice birthday present voucher, I managed to get quite a bit from Halfords the other day.

As advised above, I bought the Meguires clay kit, a pair of Megs polishing pads (because they were the only pads in the shop), a bottle of Meguires Gold Class liquid wax, Turtle wax glass polish and a bottle of Auto Glym Super Resin Polish. There was only one battered 1 litre bottle of the old formula left in the shop, reduced to €17, the new formula was priced at about €24 for one litre but came with the free cloth, the 500ml bottle was €15 and the 325ml was €15 I bought the 1 litre new formula and was pleasantly surprised to find I was charged the old formula price...

Got to wash both cars on Sunday, the rain held off long enough to get them both done, and as the Ibiza was fairly mank after a trip to the woods I only just got finished before the Rugby match..... less said about that the better...

Match over, I managed to try the bar out on the tailgate and rear passenger door of the Leon. A heavy mist started to fall so I called it a day.

Impressed so far, I noticed the difference in feel (but not in looks) at lunchtime today in the carpark at work. Although, I wondered how much was due to the claybar and how much was due to the quick detailer.

My plan is to do the following Wed or Thurs weather permitting as I'm off work.
Wash car again garden hose/2 buckets/microfibre noodle mitt/Turtle Wax zip wax shampoo;
Clay car with Megs kit; (Should I dry car first?)
Wash off Clay and detailer; (Is this necessary?)
Apply AG Super resin polish; (How long should I leave this cure before waxing?)
I now have 3 waxes to choose from; the old Turtle wax Colour Magic, the freebee Cleaner wax sample from the Clay kit, and the Gold Class liquid wax. Assuming 2 coats of wax is better than one, should I mix'n'match or stick to the one and use it for multiple coats?

I notice that some of the online videos show claying with rapid detailers and then waxing straight over it (or at least inferring this) which leaves me confused as to whether or not to wash car again.
If I run out of quick detailer, can I use soapy water or something else? (I have a bottle of halfords bug & tar remover). Sorry about all the questions, new to this and want to get it right.. TIA Roy

 

[Blanco92]

Clay car with Megs kit; (Should I dry car first?)
Wash off Clay and detailer; (Is this necessary?)
Apply AG Super resin polish; (How long should I leave this cure before waxing?)

1) Personally I wouldn't dry the car, you want as much lube as possible so the clay doesn't mar the paintwork, so any excess clean water will only add to the lubricity provided by the Quick Detailer lube.

2) At the very least I would rinse the clay and detailer off, if you have time you could wash it again, certainly no harm in doing so.

3) I'd leave the SRP about 15mins before buffing. It's waxes that need a fair amount of time to cure.

I now have 3 waxes to choose from; the old Turtle wax Colour Magic, the freebee Cleaner wax sample from the Clay kit, and the Gold Class liquid wax. Assuming 2 coats of wax is better than one, should I mix'n'match or stick to the one and use it for multiple coats?

I'd apply two layers of the Gold Class liquid wax. I don't really rate the others mentioned.

If I run out of quick detailer, can I use soapy water or something else? (I have a bottle of halfords bug & tar remover). Sorry about all the questions, new to this and want to get it right.. TIA Roy

If you run out, I'd mix up some of your preferred choice of car shampoo and water, and spray that onto the car. That's basically all the Quick Detailer is.

 

[alesi27]

Thanks for the help....

Will put up a few pics when I'm done

 

[alesi27]

My plan is to do the following Wed or Thurs weather permitting as I'm off work...

Bloody rain.....

As I'm waiting, one last stupid question. Applying the Gold Class wax in 2 coats, how long should I leave before wiping off haze and how long between coats? Thinking at least a couple of hours?

 

[Blanco92]

Bloody rain.....

As I'm waiting, one last stupid question. Applying the Gold Class wax in 2 coats, how long should I leave before wiping off haze and how long between coats? Thinking at least a couple of hours?

I'd personally say 45mins to an hour before buffing the haze, leaving at least a couple of hours before adding the second coat. The longer the better really, if you can leave it until the next day, do so!

 

[alesi27]

Well, what fun I've had over the last 2 days....

While you lot in the UK have had it a tad chilly, we've been basking in positively tropical temps of 8-10 Celsius over the last few weeks, but it's been a bit on the damp side...
Yesterday dawned bright and sunny so I made the most of it. Washed car again (very quick rub as it was only done 3 days earlier) and set about claying.

I was amazed at what it took off a supposedly clean car, especially off the front half of the bonnet and lower half of the doors. Roof was better than I expected, but still some gunk came off. Broke one bar in half, but still ended up using it all. I took the advice of putting some clean wash water mix in an empty bottle and used that on some of the lower areas, while trying to make the quick detailer go further.

Washed car again, and once dry set about with Super Resin Polish. Never have I felt a car so smooth. It didn't take out all the scratches I hoped, but was a vast improvement over before. It was starting to mist by this time, (late afternoon) so I called it a day.

Today was duller, but I started on the wax. I took a gamble and used the Colour Magic (the old stuff) on the front and rear bumpers, from the numberplates down. I got the first coat of Gold-class on before more mist threatened, so I gave up. Tomorrow will see second coat of Megs wax, windows polished and wheels cleaned and waxed....

Smiley face!

 

[alesi27]

 

[bazza2011]

Hi mate looks like youv'e made a nice job there.
Mines the same colour did mine today luckily i've got a garage so managed to polish and wax and get back in garage just as it started to rain.
I use srp and then ag high def wax.The stuffs amazing.
A mate dropped down his new focus(brand new)and its been treated to something called diamonbrite protection?,but stood side by side mine looked better and he'd paid £200 to have it done.
Anyway good job,but it's a nightmare keeping it like this esp in this weather
Daz

 

[Blanco92]

Looks a good job to me!

Keep an eye on the beading when it rains, when you notice the beading becomes quite ineffective then it's time to re-wax. You could also take a couple of pictures of the beading if you like, be nice to see how good the Megs Gold Class is in that respect.

You need a bit of tyre gloss too

 

[alesi27]

You need a bit of tyre gloss too

Indeed! That's the plan for today, taking off the wheels to clean them thoroughly and will wax them as well to seal, and apply AG tyre dressing. I've got some old rain Dance carnuba paste wax I use on them once a year or so.

I should have taken before pics but forgot. To be fair to the turtle wax colour magic, it may not be a premium product, but does a decent job of making the more significant scratches disappear, if only temporarily. I used it on the door sills and door shuts, and front & rear bumpers lower halfs. We'll see if the Megs Gold Class goes over it without any issues.

I also used the AG tyre dressing on the window rubbers and mirror plastic casings. Hope it's safe!

Back to work tomorrow, but off again on Thurs-Fri, so plan is to do the Mrs Ibiza then. I will defo put up a before pic, as that gets seriously dirty.

 

[fuey]

check out
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=92683

 

[webwysard]

Is there a consensus about which clay bar to use or any would do ?

Another confusion, that there are different tyres of clay bars like soft, medium, aggressive and regular.

Do they all work the same way or it all depends on what is going to be clayed(condition of the paint work) ?

Looking at bay of E there are some quite cheap clay bars, which makes you think are they any good ?

 

[Blanco92]

Is there a consensus about which clay bar to use or any would do ?

Another confusion, that there are different tyres of clay bars like soft, medium, aggressive and regular.

Do they all work the same way or it all depends on what is going to be clayed(condition of the paint work) ?

Looking at bay of E there are some quite cheap clay bars, which makes you think are they any good ?

1) As in clay bar manufacturers? That's very much a personal choice, I'd say the most common ones (in no particular order) are Meguiars, Dodo Juice, Bilt Hamber and Sonus. Others are available.

2) Personally I only use regular or soft clay. You'll know how badly your car needs claying by running your fingers over the paint. If it is bumpy and gritty (despite being clean) you need to clay the car. I used a regular clay bar on the parents car, the bonnet had been affected by overspray from painting the gates outside the house. The regular bar removed 100% of the overspray, leaving silky smooth, contaminant free paintwork. For cars that are clayed reasonably regularly (every 6 months or so) I'd recommend a soft clay bar.

3) They all work the same way to a degree, they are all used to remove contaminants from the paint prior to polishing. Some people prefer certain clay bars because they may be easier to use, last longer or are less likely to inflict marring (though this can often be due to misuse).

4) I've personally used Meguiars and Bilt Hamber clay, I'd recommend you purchase one from an established manufacturer. I'm not saying buy the most expensive or the most well known, but I would buy something that other people have tried and tested and are happy with.