ahaydock Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Can anyone tell me whether the Megs Clay Bar is worth the money? I have seen it in my local Halfrauds, and heard it mentioned on here breifly a couple of times and just wondered. I wash my car weekly with Zymol and wax about once a month, and just wondered whether I ought use this clay bar to see if it brings up a shine I didn't know was possible. Also how do you apply it and do you have to wash before and after, how long does it take etc. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sponge Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 I've used clay at 6 months and 12 months and it did remove some crap from my car (which I've had from new and washed/waxed weekly). After using it I'm happy in the knowledge that my car is squeaky clean and that it gives a good foundation for all my other cleaning products. As for making the end result any better, I can't say it has, in my case. But then my car wasn't that bad to start with. Unless your car was rotten to start with, and it sounds like yours isn't (you wash it every week), I wouldn't expect any dramatic, gob-smacking, light-and-day type results simply because you clayed. It does, however, play an important part in the whole cleaning process and is highly recommended by many. As for how to use it, there's dozens of threads in this section on how to. Search Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
P_G Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 The easiest way to know is by very lightly running your fingers over your washed paintwork. If it does not feel like you are touching a pain of glass, i.e. a bit rough and rippled then you should use a clay bar. I wash and wax my car regularly too, however when I came to clay it last weekend the amount of dirt the bar picked up was amazing. And that is with the car having been body polished, sealed and waxed only 9 weeks earlier. It's amazing that with a bit of mototrway miles it needs doing but it did. Worth giving it a try for the sake of £12. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Take a look Here Give it a go, it's worth it even if you doubt it. BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigR Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Reading that thread Bub actually stopped me buying a clay bar, to many "what if"'s. I'm happy with the results from the megs paint cleaner and alternate months for polish and wax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexc Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 It's well worth doing on all daily driven cars as even the best kept ones pick up small levels of surface contamination. Plenty of "how to" guides and advice available! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahaydock Posted December 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Thanks guys, sounds like I will give it a go. I did try a search but for some reason didn't stumble across the threads you have pointed me towards. I guess the full product name is "Quick Clay Detailing System"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Reading that thread Bub actually stopped me buying a clay bar, to many "what if"'s. I'm happy with the results from the megs paint cleaner and alternate months for polish and wax [/ QUOTE ] I thought it had a happy ending Craig? Honestly, go for it. I was concerned about causing swirls but it's not an issue on a well kept car. BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahaydock Posted December 19, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 Definitely gonna try it but is it the Quick Clay Detailing System kit I need for about £12? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted December 19, 2006 Report Share Posted December 19, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Definitely gonna try it but is it the Quick Clay Detailing System kit I need for about £12? [/ QUOTE ] That's the one Click BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigR Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 So do you spray the car body , or keep the bar moist? Still not convinced Bub Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J_C Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 You spray the car body, not the clay. As long as the area you're claying is kept moist with plenty of lubricant (ooer) and you keep rolling and flattening the clay bar, you'll avoid marring the surface. IMO you're a lot more likely to inflict swirls through poor washing techniques, such as not using a proper wash mitt or not using the two bucket method (keeping your rinse water separate from the wash water) etc. Go for it Craig - I wasn't entirely sure about claying at first either, but once I saw the amount of crap it lifted off of my supposedly 'clean' paintwork I was converted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyopolis Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 I tend to spray both the clay bar as well as the panel with lube. I find that this method works very well. The key as others have said is not to let the panel and the clay dry out or else you will end up with dried clay on your car..! Another tip I have is to cut the clay into about 3 or 4 smaller sizes as if you drop a bit of clay while your working with it you will need to bin it as even though you may see no bits on the clay bar, trust me they will be there.... It can get quite costly if you use one whole bit at a time! Before you start make sure the clay is warm and putty like, people this time of the year put clay in hot water first to help it get supple. When using the clay bar you need to use your hands to test the panel, you will not be able to see the contaminents on the paintwork but you will be able to feel it. My process would be to clay wipe off with a microfibre and check to make sure the piece you have done feels like glass, if it doesnt give it another go Once you have finished with the clay, if its not all manky and ready to be relegated to the wheels (yes you can clay your wheels too) I keep mine in a zip lock bag for the next time I have two bags, one for the bodywork clay and one for the wheel clay. Clay imho is an important part of prep on your paintwork for your detailing regime. I tend to do my car twice maybe 3 times a year now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahaydock Posted December 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 One more questions please: How many applications does a £12 kit last roughly? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyopolis Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 On an A3? I reckon it would last 6 months to a year... Depending on how often you used it. Johnny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahaydock Posted December 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 Thanks, I wasn't sure on if the bar could only be used the once. I guess I plan to do it a few times a year like yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahaydock Posted December 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 How does the clay compare to say using Zymol HD and then a Zymol Carbon Wax? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnnyopolis Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 The Clay is a diffrent product to Zymol HD Cleanse and Carbon. The HD Cleanse is a paintwork cleaner that prepares the paint for Carbon to be applied. The clay would be part of the process used. So you would Clay then HD Cleanse and then use Carbon. By using the clay your taking the surface contaminents off and the HD Cleanse is actually cleaning the paint rather than cleaning the contaminents! Johnny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahaydock Posted December 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 Thanks, Johnnyopolis. I actually intend the sequence to be as such: 1. Wash with Zymol Auto Wash 2. Chamis dry 3. Apply Meguiars Auto Clay 4. Re-wash as step 1 5. Chamis dry 6. Apply Zymol Cleaner Wax Does this sound right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avus_Bub Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Thanks, Johnnyopolis. I actually intend the sequence to be as such: 1. Wash with Zymol Auto Wash 2. Chamis dry 3. Apply Meguiars Auto Clay 4. Re-wash as step 1 5. Chamis dry 6. Apply Zymol Cleaner Wax Does this sound right? [/ QUOTE ] I take it you mean HD Cleanse not Zymol Cleaner Wax. That's the budget stuff they sell in Halfords isn't it? I use HD Cleanse and Carbon. I also 2nd all of the above comments. You will just have a smoother, cleaner base for the HD Cleanse and then Carbon. But while you're at it a sealant might be a good idea too (After the HD Cleanse and before the Carbon). Wolfgang Deep Gloss Sealant is fantastic stuff and highly recomended. BUB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexc Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 [ QUOTE ] Thanks, Johnnyopolis. I actually intend the sequence to be as such: 1. Wash with Zymol Auto Wash 2. Chamis dry 3. Apply Meguiars Auto Clay 4. Re-wash as step 1 5. Chamis dry 6. Apply Zymol Cleaner Wax Does this sound right? [/ QUOTE ] As mentioned, go for a paint cleaner, then seal, then wax. Chemical Guys M-Seal or Poorboys EX-P give great results as a sealant. For a durable wax, especially at this time of year you can't go wrong with Collinite #476s or #915. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahaydock Posted December 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 OK, I am a little confused. Firstly I did mean the Zymol Cleaner Wax, and I know it is the budget stuff however until very recently I have not been one for going crazy cleaning the car. Whilst I wash it once a week and keep it waxed Auto Glym has been fine, but using the Zymol (despite it being the budget stuff) has made me think twice. I am thinking that maybe I want to get a step further but currently cannot justify spending lots of money of cleaning products (tut tut I hear you say), that is why I was drawn to the clay as it is only £12. So what process do you recommend bearing in mind I had planned to use my existing Zymol products, with the addition of the Megs Clay. Although if you can recommend other good but cheap products I will consider them. alexc - I am not sure if you are saying use a paint cleaner instead of the clay? Thanks for the help so far guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steelwind101 Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 They Zymol cleaner wax is acutally Turtle Wax. Its what was called Extreme wax before they bought out the Nano with a different colour. Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alexc Posted December 20, 2006 Report Share Posted December 20, 2006 [ QUOTE ] alexc - I am not sure if you are saying use a paint cleaner instead of the clay? Thanks for the help so far guys. [/ QUOTE ] No, I'd still advise you to clay, then wash again, then apply the paint cleaner and move on from there with the other steps. Hope this helps! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahaydock Posted December 21, 2006 Author Report Share Posted December 21, 2006 So just insert a step using a paint cleaner (i.e. like one you have recommended) between the 2nd wash and application of Zymol Cleaner Wax? I do have some Auto Glym Super Resin Polish - is this any good? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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