Best Clay Option

[Lamented]

I know there are several options for claying your car. What is everyone’s opinion and favorite product to use. I know any kind of claying will cause some marring of the paint. I don’t have a buffer and my car is silver so I’m thinking it won’t be that visible if I pass on the polishing step. Any opinions are greatly appreciated.

[Bobby B.]

I've always enjoyed working with the Pinnacle Ultra Poly Clay. You could always follow up with the new Pinnacle Souveran Jeweling Wax by hand.

Pinnacle?s Ultra Poly Clay is the single finest clay composition available today. (https://www.autogeek.net/piulpoclkit.html)

Pinnacle Souveran Jeweling Wax (https://www.autogeek.net/pinnacle-souveran-jeweling-wax.html)

[Nix]

Any claybar that is made in japan..

Meguiars Professional Auto Detailing Clay, meguiars C2000 clay bar, Detail Clay cleans better than polishes! Clean your car with Meguiars Detailing (https://www.autogeek.net/megovclay.html)

its bit expensive but does the job nicely..

[camaro2ssblack]

The Nanoskin wash mitt is so freaking easy its ridiculous. I clayed my wife's Nissan Armada in less than 10 minutes. I will never look back, I don't know why anyone would to be honest.

[RippyD]

Agree - mitt is the way to go. I still use clay for wheels, really bad areas, or tight areas. Probably 95% mitt. Much easier and faster.

[PaulMys]

Don't forget the Nanoskin sponges. I love mine.

[Toolhead]

nanoskin and not looking back at a clay bar....faster..easier and just rinse off to get back to clean skin

[FUNX650]

•CLAY MAGIC:
-Red; Blue; Polymer

•Griot’s Garage:
-Paint Cleaning Clay
-IMO...Good Buy:
{>226 grams @$22}


Bob

[Hermes1]

I too have had great success with Nanoskin, specifically the sponges. So easy to do and love the fact if you drop it which I do often, it can be rinsed and keep on going.

[SWETM]

You have gotten great options above which clay alternatives and clay bar to get. So I will recommend you one thing many oversee when claying and that I think it's most important to have a great one. And that's claylube! Sure if you are going to polish after the claying why bother with the little clay marring and scratches. Clay is abrasive by nature and there are different ones of these too. But if you use a fresh clay bar and a not weared down clay alternative and a great claylube. You won't be always need to polish afterwards. The best claylube I know of is Dodo Juice Born Slippy Clay Lubricant Concentrate. Which also gets economical with a concentrate. And as you don't clay every wash and use when needed you are going to be fine with clay bar or clay alternatives and claylube. When claying became known to the detailing people and the ocd detailing people. The ocd could get carried away with a over use of the clay. And accually marring the paint pretty bad in the end when doing it to often. Then you have those that use the same clay bar to often and marring and scratches. Because of a dirty and contaminants full of clay. This is also to be thorough with when useing a clay alternative to clean it often when claying. The clay alternatives has become better quality but can be quite aggressive and I think it's more aggressive than the clay bar. And I still use a claylube when claying with a clay alternative. Have a soap solution in a bucket to clean the clay alternative. Get the most of the soap solution out of it and spray the section you are going to clay with claylube. And rinse it and clean it and move to the next section. Don't forget to break in the clay alternatives on your windows of your car first. Otherwise you need to polish afterwards. Don't rubb your paint because that's how you do it. Get a feeling when you are getting the contaminants off. You will feel a slight draging and if alot of contaminants your clay can stop at the spot and your hand goes away from it lol. But when you have moved the clay over the section and you feel it's gliding smoothly. Stop and knead or rinse the clay and wipe of the residue with a mf towel. Many already know this and so do you to maybe, but it's good for those that don't know about it.

Dodo Juice Born Slippy Clay Lubricant Concentrate, born slippy clay lube, detailing clay lubricant, clay lube concentrate (https://www.autogeek.net/born-slippy-clay-lube.html)

There is even a mild clay bar that you can spot claying if you get a bonded contaminant and keep your LSP on the paint afterwards. It's the Sonus SFX Ultra-Fine Detailing Clay bar. I would not use on a coating. But on a sealant that is not to it's end it works good. And also here is either Sonüs claylube or dodo juice born slippy the ones I would use with it.
There is also a clay out there that you can clay their coatings with. But Sonüs was made for sealants so I would only test to clay a ceramic coating with it if I is ready to recoat the car. And so also when claying other lsp the first time and see how it works. Just for precaution.

Sonus SFX Ultra-Fine Detailing Clay, clay bars, auto clay, paint cleaning bar (https://www.autogeek.net/sonus-sfx-detailing-clay.html)

/Tony

[LEDetailing]

I had good luck with Meguiar’s fine clay bar kit until the last bar I got. The clay was a very porous/airy, prior to that the fine clay bars were very dense and IMO good quality.

I love my Nanoskin towel. As the above comments state the Nanoskin products work very well but most important they work quicker as well.

I still like the ability to see the contamination in the clay, but on the daily driver’s the Nanoskin product is just to easy.

[Lamented]

Has anyone tried the Griots clay alternatives? Any other opinions on best clay lube and what is least likely to marr the paint?

[PaulMys]

Has anyone tried the Griots clay alternatives? Any other opinions on best clay lube and what is least likely to marr the paint?

I have the Griot's Brilliant Finish synthetic clay. Sadly, I bought it on sale directly from GG right after my last full detail. So, I have yet to try it.

That being said, if it works anywhere near as well as every other Griot's product I have tried, I'm sure I'll be very happy with it.

As far as clay lube, you can buy it, make your own with rinseless products, or use a good wash product. All work well. Just use it as directed, and use plenty. Don't skimp.

[Hermes1]

I have used Griot's clay and it worked very well, but went to Nanoskin only for the ease and quickness.

[Toolhead]

Has anyone tried the Griots clay alternatives? Any other opinions on best clay lube and what is least likely to marr the paint?

onr diluted..makes a ton of clay lube for pennies cost..

detailer spray is expensive given how much you use during a decon rub (clay/nanoskin)