Clay disaster??

[briarpatch]

As always, I will forever enforce the belief that clay is for POLISH PREP ONLY. It is not and should not be treated as a stand-alone service.

I have had bad marring from the towel clays. I use standard clays now as I have never had bad marring(still some, obviously) from a standard clay just wipe the butter off your hands and don't drop it. That said I always have a couple extra bars around, just in case.

My experience has been the same with clay mitts. I've gone back to traditional clay....Griots (mild) and 3M Perfect It (slightly aggressive). I've always used Griots Speed Shine as a clay lube.

[02whitetundra]

If you watch the DIY Detail youtube channel, they claim their clay towel, even though they call it a ridiculous name, doesn't marr the paint. I call BS everytime I hear it.

[raysaint]

Thanks for all of this. Sure wish I had this info before wasting $45 on the clay towel. I had a fresh bar and a half of regular clay, but my research told me the towels were mild. And with the car being brand new, it probably needed a claying once. And I'll assume that with all the marring, I can be sure most of the contamination and microscopic bits have come off; so no clay in the spring.

But from all that you guys have said, I feel better knowing a polish in the spring will fix this hopefully. I'll seek your advice then, on product and technique.
Thanks to all. I can breathe now.

[dlc95]

I had the Nanoskin clay blocks, mild and aggressive. I couldn't tell a difference. They both scratched up the paint really thoroughly.

I use the Meguiar's clays, mostly the fine C-2000. The aggressive will mar the paint. The fine doesn't seem to impart damage on it's own.

[Setec Astronomy]

LOL, this seems to be universal dislike for the clay substitutes.

[briarpatch]

LOL, this seems to be universal dislike for the clay substitutes.

I never really cared for the feel of the clay mitt on the paint anyway. And, being an old fart, I have a tendency to dislike anything new. The regular clay felt better, and I like to see what I'm removing from the paint.

[Setec Astronomy]

I like to see what I'm removing from the paint.

Excellent point, I never understood those charcoal or black wheel towels, or black wash media, you have to see what's coming off and if your media is dirty, right?

[PaulMys]

LOL, this seems to be universal dislike for the clay substitutes.

They were pretty much a fad for me. Although I still like the Nano-Skin sponges for tight areas.

Most of mine are now collecting dust somewhere......

[Setec Astronomy]

Most of mine are now collecting dust somewhere......

But at least you can wash the dust off, amirite? You can't do that with clay.

[PaulMys]

But at least you can wash the dust off, amirite? You can't do that with clay.

How ironic would it be if I clayed the dust off??


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