Clay Bar

[justn868]

Have any of you guys ever used a clay bar on your fast

[cbosman]

can't say that I have, because I am not sure what it is. Is it for the paint?

[lumns]

courtesy of wikipedia

Clay is a mixture of clay base and various mild abrasives. Clay along with a clay lubricant is used to remove paint contamination. Road grime, tar, bugs, rust, tree sap and even paint overspray can be removed with a clay bar. Clay bars differ in color and density but what is most important, type and amount of abrasive particles they contain. All clay bars will be labeled from "mild" to "strong" abrasive quality. Claying does not remove the clear coat of the paint but can cause marring or dullness if used incorrectly. When using a clay bar sufficient lubrication must be present to avoid scratching the paint. It takes a few passes of clay to feel the difference on the surface of the paint. To evaluate the effectiveness of claying dry the area and assess the paint and the bar. The paint should become slick to touch. The clay bar used should be turning gray. If the clay bar is dropped it must be discarded. The clay bar should be folded over frequently to expose clean surface. Claying does not replace polishing. It is a process that should be used before polishing compound is used. Claying should be used once or twice a year.

[cbosman]

Thanks! It sounds time consuming. Is it meant to be used over the whole car?

[kryptonkid07]

i've heard it's very time consuming and yes it's supposed to be used over all the car, as far as i know..

[lumpypumpkin]

It does take forever, and it is very labor intensive...but when you do it...the car looks and feels 10x better. you can run your hand along the paint and it feels smooth as glass without wax. You only do it once in a blue moon. My brother doe's his about once a year because he is anal about the way his car looks. I'm going to do the GTI this summer when I have the time to devote to it.

[cbosman]

let us know how it turns out. maybe post some picks before and after

[Dragon]

If you clay the car, use lots of lube , make sure you wash and do a full wax job after application.

I use clay once or twice a year.

[duke togo]

If you drop the clay
Throw it it away

[lumpypumpkin]

Lol Duke...thats hillarious...you just made my day.

[justn868]

I'm gunna do it this weekend

[cbursten]

Originally Posted by duke togo

If you drop the clay
Throw it it away

Holy crap, that's funny!

[dropkick murph]

Took me 8 hours to clay my GTI.

It was mid summer, and i was drinking. I had to do over 2 days, cause i got drunk on accident....

Its worth it in the end, it doesnt make miracles happen. It does help though. Once or twice a year, damn thats alot.

IM dreading doing it this spring, but my gti has been exposed to a ton of salt this winter.

I use zaino products on my car http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/...ory_Code=Zaino I swear by this stuff. Its not a wax, its a polish. I use all there stuff, and there "leather in a bottle" makes my non leather car smell awesome.

Anyways, I used there clay bar, as far as a lubercant, I used there ultra Clean gloss enhancer spray. That spray is so awesome, it makes the paint so smooth to the touch. I use there car wash stuff, and after every car wash i do a quick once over with the gloss enhancer. I only use egyptian coton, my dads convinced me anything else will leave swirls.

[justn868]

sounds way to fancy for me...

[D.Light]

Word I'll stick to a wash and wax, even though I've seen how good cars look after having clay bar used on them, I just don't have that kind of time

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by dropkick murph

It was mid summer, and i was drinking. .

May I assume you are Green Irish?

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by justn868

sounds way to fancy for me...

Justn- you don't have to do it all at once. Pick a section at a time (keep track of which one), clay it and wax it. The hood and the roof are the best places to start, followed by the hatch. If you do it a piece at a time, it's not so much a chore.

[dropkick murph]

Green well yes
Cheers!

[Sleeper]

I do what Dragon does, but i find it hard to keep track of what sections I do, to avoid this i used to do the old clockwise (or counter-clockwise) method untill i hit the section I started with... now i write it down and start with the sections he mentioned first.

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by Sleeper

I do what Dragon does, but i find it hard to keep track of what sections I do, to avoid this i used to do the old clockwise (or counter-clockwise) method untill i hit the section I started with... now i write it down and start with the sections he mentioned first.

Recipie card left in the garage- I'm old and have CRS- (can't remember $hit!).

[Sleeper]

thats exactly my method. I have a black board and columns.

[blizzblizz]

Hey guys,

I noticed some small rust spots creeping up on my CW GTI in the middle of winter here in Canada, and have looked into using a clay bar in getting the unsightly spots out.

My question is, should I just wait until favourable weather (like spring or something) to use it and then wax/polish after? Or should I clay bar it right now??

thanks

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by blizzblizz

Hey guys,

I noticed some small rust spots creeping up on my CW GTI in the middle of winter here in Canada, and have looked into using a clay bar in getting the unsightly spots out.

My question is, should I just wait until favourable weather (like spring or something) to use it and then wax/polish after? Or should I clay bar it right now??

thanks

What year GTI?

[blizzblizz]

07

[lumpypumpkin]

don't we have a 12 year anti rust garuntee. Take it to the dealer and see what they can do for you.

[Dragon]

Originally Posted by lumpypumpkin

don't we have a 12 year anti rust garuntee. Take it to the dealer and see what they can do for you.

Yeah, if it is rust- take it to the dealer (that's why I asked what year). I know winters are harsh up north- but the car was built for German winters.

Now, when you say rust- are you sure it's rust and not some road gunk or rail dust? Where does the car get parked when it's outside and any pollutant factors you can think of?

If it's rust, clay wouldn't work for you, because the rust is in the metal and all the clay does is smooth the clear coat.

[blizzblizz]

I had just washed my car and noticed quite a few brown/rust specs all along my hatch and above back bumper as well as door panels and above wheels.
How do I tell if it's rail dust?
I usually park my car in my driveway b/c of lack of space in my garage. And at work sometimes in garage and sometimes on street (50/50 I'd say). I live in suburban area, so I'll assume there's salt and stuff all over the place as well. Quite a snowy winter too!

[boostedJTi]

I know a clay bar will remove rust, but it will take time. Done this personally on a car that sat in a shop near welders/grinders had metal specks on it and they rusted, took about 3 hours to do a whole car. Just gotta take your time with it, it will come off. try a small spot, doesn't work so well for ya take her to the dealer ./

[EuroMadchen]

Originally Posted by justn868

Have any of you guys ever used a clay bar on your fast

Not on my Fast YET! But I did on my Beetle. Its awesome...but does take forever to do. I used to break it up and do one section a week. Because the process of washing the car, drying the car, claying the car and then waxing the car, takes a long time.

That reminds me... I need to get a new clay bar kit for the spring

[dropkick murph]

How long is the rust portection warranty, I have some creeping out of my side ground effect thing in the front on my '06 GTI

[banditscout]

BTW turtle wax ICE makes a great "liquid" clay bar. I used it yesterday and it really does make the car look new. Like dragon said a while ago thogh, definately give it a good wax and polish when you're done. Sorry for resurrecting the thread, but I had to tell you guys about that product, it's great!

[EuroMadchen]

Originally Posted by banditscout

BTW turtle wax ICE makes a great "liquid" clay bar. I used it yesterday and it really does make the car look new. Like dragon said a while ago thogh, definately give it a good wax and polish when you're done. Sorry for resurrecting the thread, but I had to tell you guys about that product, it's great!

I hated the turtle wax ice, I used it on my last car and I thought it took even longer then the regular clay bar. And my friend used it as well and hated it. So I stuck with the mothers clay bar. This year I'm going to purchase the Zymol clay bar.

[banditscout]

yeah? Everyone talks about Zymol but I've never used any of their products. Are they as good as everyone says they are?

[EuroMadchen]

Zymol is the best I've used thus far! Since my last post I did buy the clay bar and used it this past weekend. It worked just as well as expected if not better. I followed it up with the Zymol wax I have, and my car feels as smooth as a baby's bottom.

I love the wheel cleaner and wheel wax too. I also have the leather cleaner and conditioner. And they work great, no oil shiny appearance or feel.

My next purchase will be the Clear Auto Bathe and the stuff they have for plastic (ie.Headlamp and taillight covers) which is supposed to make them never fog up and turn yellow.

[banditscout]

nice, I'm going to buy some of this stuff.

[onedkcharette]

Originally Posted by banditscout

yeah? Everyone talks about Zymol but I've never used any of their products. Are they as good as everyone says they are?

I just used the Zymol wax on my car and it worked awesome... best/easiest wax i have ever used. i will say however that one section at a time works best. you let it sit for just a small amount of time then buff off the stuff and it starts to pop right away. i was used to the other brands where you had to wait at least 5 minutes before buffing and did two sections at one time time. the stuff that had been sitting there took a little extra elbow grease to get off the film from the 1st section. so 1 SECTION AT A TIME. i wouldnt want to use it in direct sun. i would only put it on a cool car in some shade.
a little bit goes a long way so the 13 bucks i paid for it will last.
it looks awesome and the feel is great. smmooooooth.
i did also try some turtle wax brand leather cleaner/conditioner. it sucked. i didnt see or feel how it did anything. if i see the leather stuff by zymol i will pick it up.

[<missing user>]

your toying with me! Go ahead, rub me all over your car! Doesn't take long at all, no need to do whole car. This site explains how to do it, though you can find the tools cheaper at Home Depot...http://www.griotsgarage.com/

[EuroMadchen]

Originally Posted by onedkcharette

I just used the Zymol wax on my car and it worked awesome... best/easiest wax i have ever used. i will say however that one section at a time works best. you let it sit for just a small amount of time then buff off the stuff and it starts to pop right away. i was used to the other brands where you had to wait at least 5 minutes before buffing and did two sections at one time time. the stuff that had been sitting there took a little extra elbow grease to get off the film from the 1st section. so 1 SECTION AT A TIME. i wouldnt want to use it in direct sun. i would only put it on a cool car in some shade.
a little bit goes a long way so the 13 bucks i paid for it will last.
it looks awesome and the feel is great. smmooooooth.
i did also try some turtle wax brand leather cleaner/conditioner. it sucked. i didnt see or feel how it did anything. if i see the leather stuff by zymol i will pick it up.

13 bucks, where the hell did you get Zymol wax for 13 bucks! I have the Carbon wax and its like 40 or 50 bucks! And the leather cleaner and conditioner I've seen at Target or you can order it at www.zymol.com and depending where you live they are really quick. I ordered my last order on thursday afternoon and had it by Friday afternoon.

And I definitely would wax it in the shade and on a cool car and also one small section at a time. But for some reason it takes less time to do then other cheaper waxes.

[onedkcharette]

Originally Posted by EuroMadchen

13 bucks, where the hell did you get Zymol wax for 13 bucks! I have the Carbon wax and its like 40 or 50 bucks! And the leather cleaner and conditioner I've seen at Target or you can order it at www.zymol.com and depending where you live they are really quick. I ordered my last order on thursday afternoon and had it by Friday afternoon.

And I definitely would wax it in the shade and on a cool car and also one small section at a time. But for some reason it takes less time to do then other cheaper waxes.

autozone. its the 16 oz. (original formula) bottle.