What motion do you use when you clay?

[Mantilgh]

What motion do you use when you clay?

Straight lines or circles?

After watching Fahad from Robust Auto Detailing video on "How to Clay Your Car" I watched another video listed right under it about the EagleOne Surface Prep Mitt.

In both videos the clay product was used in a circular motion, buffing style. I have never thought about using it this way and made me wonder what other people do, or if there was any difference.

[FUNX650]

When claying by hand:
I go only in one direction (<---)...and back (--->);
never ever in circles!

Note:
That may just be me though.


Bob

[Souldetailer]

What motion do you use when you clay?

Straight lines or circles?

After watching Fahad from Robust Auto Detailing video on "How to Clay Your Car" I watched another video listed right under it about the EagleOne Surface Prep Mitt.

In both videos the clay product was used in a circular motion, buffing style. I have never thought about using it this way and made me wonder what other people do, or if there was any difference.

Back and forth or side to side, Period!!!!! Good luck and take care.

Peace,

Darrin

[Paul A.]

I'll make it unanimous up to this point...straight lines also. If i'm going to marr the paint i don't want swirlies! Although i am going to buff after claying anyway i still don't want to inflict any damage or at least if i do the sun has to catch it just right.

[Mantilgh]

I would think it would want to grab, or "stick", more when constantly changing direction.

But, they do make them for DAs now.

[irvsmith]

Straight lines here as well.

[Paul A.]

I would think it would want to grab, or "stick", more when constantly changing direction.

But, they do make them for DAs now.

Ya know? That's a good point. Plus like i said, i'll be machining after i clay anyway so what's the harm from circles. I am more interested to hear if there's a logical science reason why you should clay in any direction.

[conman1395]

Especially if you're not polishing afterwards (which you always should anyway) straight lines. It minimizes the visibility of marring.

I'm used to straight lines so I do straight lines. It may reduce marring, but it still induces some marring no matter what. I always use clay substitutes now - which marr more - and again, I jse straight lines because it's what I'm used to.

Honestly though, if you're machine polishing just get the surface decontaminated and polish on. I inspect anything before it touches my paint each time whether it be a mitt every time out of the bucket, a pad every time I clean the pad and before it touches the paint, AND a clay bar or clay substitute. So the risk of you doing serious damage goes down to almost nothing.

[FUNX650]

For the polishing process(es),
that will always occur, after I clay:

I prefer to induce straightline clay-marring.

Yes:
-the clay-marring that inevitably comes from
auto-clay's very own self-contained abrasives;
-as well as from the various paint contaminates
that auto-clay is purposely designed to either:
"pick up, pick out, or shear off".

Again:
This may just be me.


Bob

[Mantilgh]

I am more interested to hear if there's a logical science reason why you should clay in any direction.

That's what I was wondering. Maybe there's more of chance to pick up contaminates going over them from different directions.