Claying Detailing

What is Claying?

Claying / Clay Bar is a process used to remove paint contaminants on the paint such as bugs, tar, road grime, fallout, tree sap, some paint over spray, and other contaminants that washing cannot remove. The Clay Process actually cleans below the paint surface to remove the contaminants that grip to the paint. 

Does your car need the clay bar process before a detail? 

YES! Claying is one of the most important steps in cleaning the paint, and actually cleans the paint better than a wash alone. It cleans deep into scratches and pits and removes deep lodged dirt that may have been there for the life of the vehicle. There is no other way of cleaning a car as thorough as claying.

A car clay bar is an essential car detailing tool that targets the common enemy of every car finish: pollution that causes automotive paint contamination. It relentlessly pursues your car from the second it leaves the factory until your car meets its ultimate demise. It's in the air we breathe, it's on the roads we drive, and it attaches to your car's paint, where it bonds and begins a process of oxidation.

Surface contamination, as shown by this diagram, is difficult to clean or polish off, yet paint cleaning clay removes it with ease.

When contaminants get a solid grip on your car's paint, washing alone may not be enough to remove them. Pre-wax cleaners also may not be able to exfoliate large particles.

In this case, you have two choices: use a polishing compound, which removes a lot of paint material, or use a clay bar. A clay bar isn't a polish or a compound, it is asurface preparation bar that smoothes the paint and exfoliates contaminants.

HOW DOES DETAILING CLAY WORK?

Clay removes above-surface bonded contamination through the mechanical action of the clay bar rubbing against the vehicle surface. Detailing clay abrades the contamination, wearing it down in some cases, as a result of this mechanical action. However, detailing clay is not abrasive to the paint. The use of an approved clay lubricant prevents marring of the paint. The removed contamination sticks to the clay and is removed from the paint

CAR CLAY BAR FORMULATIONs

Detailing clay formulation determines the optimal function of the clay and its potential to do damage when used improperly.

As an example, a professional grade clay bar that’s designed to remove paint overspray is very firm and contains abrasives equivalent to heavy rubbing compound. Used properly it will remove heavy overspray without damaging the paint. Used improperly, it can leave some pretty significant surface marring. That’s why it’s a professional product.

CLAY MAGIC ERASER BAR LIGHT DUTY

Fine grade clay is formulated to remove surface contamination without an aggressive approach, leaving a clean slick smooth surface. Universal for all colors, Recomended especially for Darker Colors. 8 oz bar.

CLAY MAGIC ERASER BAR MEDIUM DUTY

Medium grade clay is the most aggressive clay available. Suitable for more serious surface contaminants and will leaves the cars painted finish as slick as glass. Removes fallout, tree sap, bird droppings and of course paint overspray. The easiest way to describe what the clay does is it cleans all the dirt out of the pores of the paint, thus giving you a glassy slick feeling. Ready for Wax or Teflon. Recommended for Light Colored cars. 8 oz bar.