clay bar before drying car?

[honda.crz.nsbp]

Hi, all. I was hoping to get some opinions on this. This is in regard to clay barring a car.

Normally, before I clay bar a vehicle, I'll wash and dry it first. Would there be any detriment to not fully drying the car before I clay it? After I finish clay barring the car, I'd then give it a quick rinse via the pooling method and then fully dry it before applying a sealant.

I'm looking to save some time but I'm not entirely sure if this would be a bad thing. I've decided to winterize my car and my fiancee's car this weekend and I'm looking to save some time.

Thanks in advance, all.

[Circa40]

When its cool and the car is in the shade I usually clay while the car is still soaking wet. It saves a lot of time and spray lube.

[WRAPT C5Z06]

I clay 99% of the time right after a wash when the car is still wet. Use your clay lube as you normally would and go to town! Make sure you're not working in direct sunlight.

[rmagnus]

+1 w/ Circa40, but if its hot or in the sun dry to prevent any chance of waterspots. I use a leafblower followed by a waffle towel and can dry a car pretty quickly. Doesn't need to be perfect because the next step is claying. I look at it this way drying give you the time to inspect the paint to see if there are any trouble areas to address later.

[Andr3wilson]

I have always dried the car before claying it.

I have a hose on the exhaust of my shop vac to blow all of the water off then a quick towel dry

I have found if you clay the car when its wet, your towel for drying up the clay lube gets saturated faster and i find that more annoying than taking the time to dry it first personally.

BUT if you plan to wash it again after claying, then you don't even need to wipe.

But give claying the car wet a try! You will really save on clay lube!

[rider9195]

The only fact I don't like about doing that method is if you miss a spot while washing and then when you clay over it, you're just rubbing the dirt in. I would rather take time to dry the paint and see if any spots need to be touched up.

[WRAPT C5Z06]

BUT if you plan to wash it again after claying, then you don't even need to wipe.

I always do a quick wash after claying.

[Johny B]

I always do a quick wash after claying.

+1

[Scott@IncrediblyDetailed]

I clay right after washing, usually do half a panel at a time then rinse the area right after claying. Then, I dry the whole car after a final rinse to make sure all the clay lube is off the vehicle.

Saves time, and clay lube, as others have posted.

[FUNX650]

Normally, before I clay bar a vehicle, I'll wash and dry it first. Would there be any detriment to not fully drying the car before I clay it?

I see no detriments as long as you do what others have said:
Keep the vehicle in the shade.




After I finish clay barring the car, I'd then give it a quick rinse via the pooling method and then fully dry it before applying a sealant.


I realize that you're trying to save some time...But:

After I have clayed a vehicle...
I find it's always best to polish the vehicle before the LSP application.

:)

Bob

[JAF06SE]

Every time I clay it's right after the wash. I pull it out of the sun into the garage. Saves some lube and a towel.