Sure, your car’s finish is shining, but how does it feel? If you were to run your hand over the hood of your car, would it feel sleek and smooth or would it feel like sandpaper? If you live in a town that has a foundry or a large factory, chances are your car’s finish isn’t as smooth as you think it is. Even a new car can have a rough finish! The car sits on the lot and collects surface contaminants from the air, whether it be pollen, or sap, or dirt, and if it’s not removed right away it can actually bond with the finish. If it’s not removed properly, these trapped particles will prevent your sealant or wax from bonding with your clear coat. The best way to remove this rough surface is with a clay bar, but what is a clay bar?
A clay bar is detailing clay used to clean your paint. Detailing clay, in the past, could only be found in the garages of professional detailers and car dealerships. Now, it is known as one of the safest ways to clean your car paint and can be found everywhere. Detailing clay bars are so effective because they clean paint below the surface and safely remove all the unwanted contaminants. This leaves your ride smooth and shiny. For a useful clay bar, we like the Evercoat Clay Magic Clay Bar.
Now that we’ve answered what is a clay bar, lets now talk about how to use one. When using a detailing clay bar, you should first thoroughly wash and dry your car to remove all of the loose surface dirt. Knead your clay into a patty that will lay across your hand and fingers, but leave the tips of your fingers open to avoid putting too much pressure on the patty and putting a hole in it. Working in one small area at a time, spray the bar and the surface with a lubricant; this will allow the clay to glide over the surface. Wizard’s Mist-N-Shine or Meguiar’s Quick Detailer are great choices for this job.
You’ll need to experiment with pressure, depending on the amount of bonded contaminants you’re dealing with. Rub in an up and down motion and you’ll feel some drag as the clay encounters the debris. Rub with the clay until the it glides across the surface. Wipe the area with a microfiber cloth to remove the residue and then feel it with your hand; it should feel smooth and silky. Move on to the next section.
When you inspect your clay and see visible contaminants on the clay, re-knead the clay into itself and form a new patty. You can reuse your piece of clay until it looks really dingy, feels gritty, or is dropped. Generally, you’ll need to pay special attention to the horizontal areas of your car like the hood, roof, and trunk as these areas are more likely to gather airborne pollutants from the air. Be aware that this process will remove your previous coat of wax or sealant, so you will need to reapply.
If your car’s finish feels gritty, using a clay bar is the best way to restore it to its smooth and shiny best. The experts at ShineGear know auto detailing, so visit the website at www.sgcardetail.com where you’ll find all of the car detailing products that you need to do the job right.
No related posts.