Claybar repost - Detailing and Car Care Forum

Disclaimer: I am not a professional detailer nor an expert on paint care. I’m just a charter member of the ARZOA* who has a little experience with clay, and one of my cars is Jet Black and shows all of my mistakes!

Basic Rules:
Clay baring does not damage paint, only unskillful or careless clay bar users damage paint! There are several basic rules to the successful use of clay bar:
(1) use plenty of lubricant
(2) use only fresh, clean clay
(3) use plenty of lubricant
(4) use a very light hand with the clay
(5) use plenty of lubricant
(6) stretch and refold the clay frequently
(7) use plenty of lubricant
(8) on any given area, only clay until it passes the baggie test
(9) use plenty of lubricant

Step by Step:
Wash your car using Dawn liquid dish detergent. Don’t use a circular motion, use longitudinal strokes on the horizontal surfaces, and vertical strokes on the vertical surfaces. This will get rid of any wax, oils, or silicone on the paint.

Prepare a spray bottle with a couple of ounces of your favorite car wash soap and fill with water ... preferable distilled water from the grocery store.

Put your hand in a sandwich baggie (the very thin kind, NOT a ZipLoc), spray a small area of your paint with the soap/water solution as a lubricant and lightly run your hand over the paint. Any contaminants will feel like huge bumps through the baggie!

Use your claybar lightly on any areas that feel bumpy ... and use plenty of lubricant. No need to use the expensive lube sold for use with a claybar .… your car wash solution is just as good, but use it very liberally. It's much less expensive than your paint!

After finishing the claybar process, then wash the car again with your favorite car wash solution. Again, use longitudinal strokes on the horizontal surfaces, and vertical strokes on the vertical surfaces.

If your paint has any swirl marks or spider-webbing, now is the time to take care of them. First use 3M Swirl Mark Remover, thoroughly working it in; don’t just wipe it on and wipe it off. Follow the SMR with P21S Gloss Enhancing Paint Cleanser, again thoroughly working it in. Yet again wash the car again with your favorite car wash solution.

Now you're ready to protect your newly cleaned paint. My preference is a polymer, not a carnauba. Zaino gives as good or better gloss than carnauba and provides a much harder an longer lasting surface. It can be layered, and unlike carnauba which tends to give a yellow caste to the paint, it only enhances the depth of the shine.

If there are a few remaining swirls I recommend using Z-5 with ZFX until all swirls are removed, then switching to Z-2 with ZFX. Really deep swirls are best dealt with using 3M Imperial Hand Glaze, but it is not UV resistant, and must be topped with a UV protector before exposure to sunlight ... or all your swirl filling will be quickly lost.

A little caution with the claybar: Do not be tempted to save a couple of dollars by using the least expensive clay. As you use the clay periodically stretch it out and refold it to always present a clean surface to your paint. If you drop the bar, then throw it away! Always use a lot of lubricant and a light rubbing motion ... be gentle with your paint.

Recommended products:
Dawn liquid dish detergent (for wax, oil, etc. removal)
Zaino Z-7 Show Car Wash (for general car washing)
Clay Magic from the Auto Wax Company (for claying)
Big Blue Towel from Classic Motoring Accessories (for drying)
3M Swirl Mark Remover (for first step of swirl mark removal)
P21S Gloss Enhancing Paint Cleanser (for second step of swirl mark removal)
3M Imperial Hand Glaze (for day to day swirl mark removal)
Zaino Z-5 Polish with ZFX (for paint sealing and protection)
Zaino Z-2 Show Car Polish with ZFX (for paint sealing and protection)
Zaino Z-6 Gloss Enhancer (for use before and after each coat of Zaino polish)
MicroFiber Magic Towel from Classic Motoring Accessories (for buffing)

Remember: When claying use plenty of lubricant and a light touch. With a little effort you’ll have great looking paint. Good luck.

* Anal Retentive Z3 Owners Association