Claying question and iron remover

[tasdisr]

I want to clay my car before winter sets in and was wondering if I am going to clay it do I need to use an iron remover. I thought that is what claying was for.

[noorth]

I want to clay my car before winter sets in and was wondering if I am going to clay it do I need to use an iron remover. I thought that is what claying was for.

I used an iron remover last week on my fathers white rogue it was littered with these little rust spots which the iron remover turned purple and most where rinsed off but a few days prior to that i just used the clay, it took twice as long to get all the little rust spots off with clay only.

I detailed the car in sections. It was my first real good experience with an iron remover on paint work.

[tasdisr]

What iron remover did you use? I was thinking of trying Griots.

[noorth]

I used a brand that i don't think autogeek sells, i'm sure Griots would work. Carpro's ironx is another popular option.

[Coatingsarecrack]

I’ve tried Griots, Gyeon, Meguiars ultimate wheel, CP Iron X, Eagle one black and plast dip and Black Fire.

All worked pretty much the same. The two tire cleaners (both iron color change) worked fine too. I now buy what’s on sale.

The Griots and BF are nice as they are gel’ish and seem to cling better. Don’t know if that’s better but i like it


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Bobby B.]

I use both products before paint correction. Iron Remover will help dissolve ferrous contaminants and the Clay Bar will help pull embedded contaminants from the paint surface.

BLACKFIRE Iron Remover (https://www.autogeek.net/blackfire-iron-remover.html)

BLACKFIRE Poly Clay Fine Grade (https://www.autogeek.net/blackfire-fine-clay.html)

[2wookies]

Best practice is Iron remover first, then a tar remover on the lower sections rinse and then clay entire vehicle. Thats if you want that perfect prep for the surface, just remember this will pull any sealant or wax off the vehicle.

[Eldorado2k]

I used an iron remover last week on my fathers white rogue it was littered with these little rust spots which the iron remover turned purple and most where rinsed off but a few days prior to that i just used the clay, it took twice as long to get all the little rust spots off with clay only.

I detailed the car in sections. It was my first real good experience with an iron remover on paint work.

So you’re saying the clay got all the rust spots off but took twice as long?

You also say the iron remover got the rust spots off and they rinsed away? Please clarify.

[noorth]

I found the iron remover really helped to remove this light looking rust spots. I assume its iron or something. T

They were all over certain sections of the car. I used a fine clay and they would come off relatively quickly but when i broke out the iron remover it certainty got rid of a lot of the little spots before i put the clay back on the paint.

I used iron remover on my blue car few times before and i never seen a difference only wheels.

[Eldorado2k]

I found the iron remover really helped to remove this light looking rust spots. I assume its iron or something. T

They were all over certain sections of the car. I used a fine clay and they would come off relatively quickly but when i broke out the iron remover it certainty got rid of a lot of the little spots before i put the clay back on the paint.

I used iron remover on my blue car few times before and i never seen a difference only wheels.

Did you notice a difference with the iron remover in the sections you used the clay beforehand? Was there still iron that needed removing? Or had the clay pretty much removed it all?

[noorth]

Did you notice a difference with the iron remover in the sections you used the clay beforehand? Was there still iron that needed removing? Or had the clay pretty much removed it all?

I never used any iron remover on the first 2 doors. I still got all the spots out it just took more effort in this case.

The rear end and other 2 doors were treated with an iron remover and really helped with the claying. It was a mild clay, started with the mothers speed pad 2.0 but switched other to a mild grade traditional clay. Its 3 years old and it was the first time i clayed it. Parents car. It was never clayed before.

I'm sensing you have a dog in this fight? :)

It worked. It was the best experience i've had with an iron remover. I never used any iron remover on my personal car this year and one of 2 coatings i have on my car is doing fine since may, CQUK.

[Eldorado2k]

I'm sensing you have a dog in this fight? :)


Not at all, but it’s making me want to do some 50/50 tests to see whether the claybar can do everything the iron remover can do.

[noorth]

Not at all, but it’s making me want to do some 50/50 tests to see whether the claybar can do everything the iron remover can do.

Go for it.

It certainty helped in this case. I don't think you need an iron remover frankly but again it really helped.

I don't do this professionally. Just a hardcore enthusiast. :)

TMI: Covid has prevented me from travelling for over 2 years now. I got obsessed with machine polishing lol I'm living in a smalltown right now, it's safe to say i have the most shiny car around. :D

[2black1s]

Not at all, but it’s making me want to do some 50/50 tests to see whether the claybar can do everything the iron remover can do.

I'd be interested in the results if you ever go ahead with that test.

Without ever doing such a test here is how I think it will turn out... Like the OP has said, I think using an iron remover first will make the claying step easier/faster (assuming there is iron contamination to begin with). But if you were to only clay the car (no iron remover), the end result would be the same, although it will be more work and time for the clay process.

Another way of looking at it... As long as you do a thorough job during the claying process step, you can skip the iron remover altogether. The end result will be the same.

[Eldorado2k]

I'd be interested in the results if you ever go ahead with that test.


Done.


Ok so here I’ll be testing claybar vs. iron remover to see if the claybar can do everything the iron remover can do. Lets begin.

1st I get the panel prepped by giving it a quick wash. Tape it off, now I’m ready to begin claying the left side of the hood.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/8f9ee13f85368af597a6babb29fb1495.jpg

I want to point out that this was a very easy claying. So much so that I thought it would render this test a dud. This is what the claybar looked like afterwards.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/d07d5e1473d6e82cb524fe8a2ca9bf6d.jpg


Ok, so I remove the tape and spray down the entire hood with Meguiars Ultimate Wheel Cleaner.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/8857ef0039ebc37cb90a87c4fa7d29d5.jpg


After 1 min.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/8f0928a2a250eb3aa3bacf371237b036.jpg


After 4 min.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/101f3ca6a9436845f9a27ded9a3deece.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/071e9a05b3a31c890dd6bdbd8c6826b5.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/55bf038e4b73fe3ad592af4cfcae773e.jpg


After 5 min.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/7ddc6476ceb5e62849cbebe0de19f047.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/367c50aa2d5ad89e2ca180b8feaa9fa0.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/94b42c644b32fe4ef1078158fcea8299.jpg


Just to make sure it wasn’t a fluke, I washed the entire rear of the vehicle, and clayed only the left side. This time there was a significant amount of contaminants on the claybar.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/9fbb80b586f642f9ef786614d4983d50.jpg


Sprayed the entire panel with iron remover.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/3695cc939a109b58866839f8ba91318d.jpg

5min. later.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/056e7cff811b395f1a137f0ea9c5f13d.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/bdde66bcbf2921bc3532c11018b4ca28.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/be2026ad67b4e030ea02d770853dc9eb.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/b8f239e13350fb48da9c5f3975540c22.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/369718da7f012701a6bd05621bd0d406.jpg




Notice the difference in the left side of the emblem where I had clayed.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20210907/1c710719e111e038ec2132eca7c5fa54.jpg


Conclusion: Are iron removers overrated? I’d say they are. It could be argued that they’re pointless if the claybar is going to do what it does and more.. It’s not as if an iron remover can do what the claybar can do.

Btw, this test cost me $14 dollars. I feel like I could’ve just saved the money and simply used my claybar.