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  1. #1
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    which clay bar to buy for mobile detailing business?

    Im deciding which clay bar i want to buy for my mobile detailing business...i obviously want something that will not scratch, thats cost efficient and that works pretty well. i dont want to use multiple clay bars or different aggresiveness, just one that works well.

    any suggestions?

  2. #2
    Super Member C. Charles Hahn's Avatar
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    Re: which clay bar to buy for mobile detailing business?

    Do you have much experience working with clay? Or even with detailing in general?

    I'm not trying to sound rude, but if you answered no to either of these questions I would highly recommend you start off detailing your own vehicle(s) or friends/family/neighbors vehicles and get some experience before you try working as a professional on customers' vehicles. I think you'll discover that it is beneficial to keep at least one or two more aggressive products on hand in case you run into something stubborn.

    That said, for a general-use clay, I would highly recommend either the Meguiar's pro-grade (mirror glaze) blue, or my personal favorite go-to AutoMagic ClayMagic blue.
    Charlie
    Automotive Appearance Specialist - Serving Greater Lansing, Michigan
    http://www.cchautoappearance.com/

  3. #3
    Super Member James K's Avatar
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    Re: which clay bar to buy for mobile detailing business?

    Why are you so worried about mulitple clays. They do not take up much room, and it is better that have something and not need it, then need it and not have it. Store the clays in something like this, sort by aggressiveness and label each bin.

    The "artist" formerly known as M.P. Cobra Fan.

    Bonita Detailing.

  4. #4
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    Re: which clay bar to buy for mobile detailing business?

    Quote Originally Posted by Shiny Lil Detlr View Post
    Do you have much experience working with clay? Or even with detailing in general?

    I'm not trying to sound rude, but if you answered no to either of these questions I would highly recommend you start off detailing your own vehicle(s) or friends/family/neighbors vehicles and get some experience before you try working as a professional on customers' vehicles. I think you'll discover that it is beneficial to keep at least one or two more aggressive products on hand in case you run into something stubborn.

    That said, for a general-use clay, I would highly recommend either the Meguiar's pro-grade (mirror glaze) blue, or my personal favorite go-to AutoMagic ClayMagic blue.
    rudeness is good if i learn from it:P

    thank you, no i have actually never used a clay bar before, i have semi- detailed my car and family cars before, with the products i had on hand, but as soon as i buy everything i will most definately practice on a few cars before i charge for it. My car, family cars, and 3 friends, ranging from sedans to a severely severely severely severly
    x100 neglected work van.

    ill be finishing with a AIO like poliseal, or poorboys polish and sealant, so i wont have all that much correction ability if i scratch the paint with a more aggressive clay bar.
    do i have to worry about scratching if i use something more aggressive? when do i need to use an aggressive clay bar?

  5. #5
    Super Member C. Charles Hahn's Avatar
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    Re: which clay bar to buy for mobile detailing business?

    Quote Originally Posted by ride5150 View Post
    rudeness is good if i learn from it:P

    thank you, no i have actually never used a clay bar before, i have semi- detailed my car and family cars before, with the products i had on hand, but as soon as i buy everything i will most definately practice on a few cars before i charge for it. My car, family cars, and 3 friends, ranging from sedans to a severely severely severely severly
    x100 neglected work van.

    ill be finishing with a AIO like poliseal, or poorboys polish and sealant, so i wont have all that much correction ability if i scratch the paint with a more aggressive clay bar.
    do i have to worry about scratching if i use something more aggressive? when do i need to use an aggressive clay bar?
    Glad you didn't take my comments the wrong way

    To address your questions:

    1) There is definitely an increased chance of causing marring with a more aggressive clay bar, however for the most part you aren't going to be using the aggressive clay on an entire vehicle unless you are working with an extreme amount of overspray or other stubborn bonded contaminants -- at which point you would need to inform the customer that a more in-depth correction process will be necessary as a follow up to decontamination.

    2) I tend to treat aggressive clay as a spot-treatment. Always start with your standard mild or medium grade clay and go over the entire vehicle with it, checking your results as you work. If you come across an area where the mild clay isn't removing contaminants effectively, grab a small piece of your aggressive clay and just hit that small area. This way if you do cause marring, you only have to use a more aggressive polish on a small spot before proceeding with the AIO.

    Just keep in mind that you may run into some vehicles with soft paint on which even mild clay may cause marring. In those instances an AIO product may still be all you need, but it's good to be prepared that you may have to go further (if the client is interested in spending the money to have you do so).
    Charlie
    Automotive Appearance Specialist - Serving Greater Lansing, Michigan
    http://www.cchautoappearance.com/

  6. #6
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    Re: which clay bar to buy for mobile detailing business?

    Quote Originally Posted by Shiny Lil Detlr View Post
    Glad you didn't take my comments the wrong way

    To address your questions:

    1) There is definitely an increased chance of causing marring with a more aggressive clay bar, however for the most part you aren't going to be using the aggressive clay on an entire vehicle unless you are working with an extreme amount of overspray or other stubborn bonded contaminants -- at which point you would need to inform the customer that a more in-depth correction process will be necessary as a follow up to decontamination.

    2) I tend to treat aggressive clay as a spot-treatment. Always start with your standard mild or medium grade clay and go over the entire vehicle with it, checking your results as you work. If you come across an area where the mild clay isn't removing contaminants effectively, grab a small piece of your aggressive clay and just hit that small area. This way if you do cause marring, you only have to use a more aggressive polish on a small spot before proceeding with the AIO.

    Just keep in mind that you may run into some vehicles with soft paint on which even mild clay may cause marring. In those instances an AIO product may still be all you need, but it's good to be prepared that you may have to go further (if the client is interested in spending the money to have you do so).
    this seems like a much better idea than going over the entire car with more aggresive clay. So i should get a fine, mild, and aggresive clay? i dont know if there is a point of getting ultra-fine as well?

    i guess ill have to keep an aggresive clay on hand, but stick to the fine and mild clays on most cars. i really dont want to cause marring and have to polish later, ill be using a PC 7424XP and dont want to create more work for myself, especially if the customer wont want to pay more for spot polishing after aggressive clay.

    can you recommend some clay bars to use that wont break the bank?

    thanks for your help i really appreciate it

  7. #7
    Super Member BorisC's Avatar
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    Re: which clay bar to buy for mobile detailing business?

    Quote Originally Posted by Shiny Lil Detlr View Post
    Always start with your standard mild or medium grade clay and go over the entire vehicle with it, checking your results as you work.
    I use that as a general rule with everything. Pads, compounds, clay, etc. Start with the least aggressive on a small 'test' area. If that produces the results you want then you should be ok on the rest of the car. (Except for any trouble spots)

    If not, go the next step up in aggressiveness & check again. No sense in using a yellow pad when an orange will do. Also no point in doing the whole vehicle when a small area is not coming out the way you want.

  8. #8
    Super Member RTexasF's Avatar
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    Re: which clay bar to buy for mobile detailing business?

    can you recommend some clay bars to use that wont break the bank?
    He already did in post #2 ----------

    That said, for a general-use clay, I would highly recommend either the Meguiar's pro-grade (mirror glaze) blue, or my personal favorite go-to AutoMagic ClayMagic blue.
    There are no really cheap ones unfortunately.
    This may be helpful to you:


    Many folks, myself included, cut the clay into 2 or 3 pieces (depending on the size of it) and flatten it out. If you drop a piece, which you will, you still have more. If you drop the whole thing it's kaput. Mike, the gent in the video, has unlimited access to clay since he works for Autogeek.....you & I have to buy ours. Make sense?
    Rick....now in North Texas

  9. #9
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    Re: which clay bar to buy for mobile detailing business?

    I have used Megs aggressive clay and didn't notice any marring that wasn't possibly already there. It is IMO a very gentle, aggressive clay. I used plenty of lube and it made a the job go very quick. I clayed a whole VW Rabbit in about 30 mins. It make the job go quicker with an aggressive clay because you don't have to work at it as much to get it clean. The megs hold together very well is very soft from the get go unlike cheaper clays that have to be worked for a while before they soften, or be put in hot water. I have used wolfgang and DP clay as well. They are very similar in aggression yet the WG clay seems to be a better quality and doesn't need to be worked as much to get a uniform clay patty. Once they DP clay has been worked for several minutes after being put in warm/hot water it smoothes out. I believe the best way to prevent marring with any level of clay is to keep it and the paint lubricated. This will allow you to work faster as well. Like stated in prev post, it is good to have more than one type of clay if not three or more. Keep them in containers, labeled as not to confuse which is which and keep contaminates off clean clay. I wrap my in plastic wrap and put them in on clay box/container to have more than one clay with me. I just purchased Pinnacle clay for light/delicate claying. Having multiple levels of clays allows you to customize each detail to the level of the vehicle you are detailing. Options are always good
    Think I will grab some more clays while the Spring sale is going on) I suggest everyone does!
    Shaun Shines Automotive Detailing, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA. http://www.facebook.com/ShaunShinesDetailing

  10. #10
    Super Member C. Charles Hahn's Avatar
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    Re: which clay bar to buy for mobile detailing business?

    Shaun makes a good point about using plenty of lubrication to make the job quicker and easier. However it is also important to make sure you're not over-lubricating the surface because the clay bar will hydroplane over the contaminants instead of picking them up as it is supposed to be doing.
    Charlie
    Automotive Appearance Specialist - Serving Greater Lansing, Michigan
    http://www.cchautoappearance.com/

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