clay bar after use : discard to reuse??

Tallest · 03-24-2009, 09:32 AM

here's a stupid question from someone who never used a clay bar on car. You go over the car surfaces with it, but what happens to all the dirt it picks up - does it get 'moulded' inside of the clay, are you supposed to wash it off, or what? If you used a little piece of clay bar on surfaces and the bar is dirty, do you throw it away or it can be reused? I saw on some website that said clay bar comes with packaging that you can put the bar back into it after use.... Isn't reusing it will scratch paint or something? I thought clay bar was like a one time disposable thing you use, and once done you throw it out.

sorry if this is totally dumb questions, I really dont konw what im talking about here but dont wanna screw it up when I start claying my car now that we are into spring...

zaxjax · 03-24-2009, 10:02 AM

I keep kneading the clay until it looks really contaminated. If you break the clay into pieces you can get more uses.

Tallest · 03-24-2009, 10:08 AM

so basically its ok to reuse it. I've got a friend with a big Estate Merc Eclass and plus my E90. I wondered if 200g of clay would be enough for both cars...

zaxjax · 03-24-2009, 10:15 AM

Yes cut it into pieces and you should be good

ansch · 03-24-2009, 07:09 PM

I read somewhere old dirty clay that you wouldn't use on paint is good for claying glass windows as well.

blue2fire · 03-24-2009, 11:48 PM

I use it for the wheels after a lot of work on the body.

bierry · 03-28-2009, 03:43 PM

reuse until really dirty. Just use plenty of lubricant and work on small areas as it tends to dry quickly

darkphantom · 03-29-2009, 06:36 PM

when do you know you're done claying? I've clayed once before, but no clue if I did it right.

montreal red · 03-29-2009, 08:41 PM

i've used clay quite a few times... usually 200g will be enough for 2 cars or 2 sessions of claying. again this depends on how contaminated the car is. when i clayed my car, it wasnt that contaminated so i could keep folding it and kneading it repeatedly multiple times since the clay was still relatively clean. to reduce the amt of clay you use, make sure you give the car a good wash. i washed my car twice over before claying. soap and water is much cheaper than using more clay.

335iPaul · 03-29-2009, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkphantom

when do you know you're done claying? I've clayed once before, but no clue if I did it right.

When you start claying an area, you will feel some resistance or rough spots as it is picking up the contaminants, after you rub the clay bar over it a couple of times, it will become slick. When the area is slick, you can move on to the next area.

darkphantom · 03-29-2009, 09:31 PM

hmm...ok, sounds good. one or two passes should be enough then?

J BONE · 03-29-2009, 09:53 PM

You will be able to tell when you are done. You will not have that "grit" sound. Watch a video on this. Very easy to do and hard to mess up.

ansch · 03-29-2009, 11:52 PM

while we're on clays. I was claying my wife's e90 and I can see and feel these small specs of what I'd describe as tree saps. However, the claybar failed to remove them. I had to pick at them with my fingernail slightly and they come off. Is it possible for deposits like that to be so 'bonded" to the paint that the clay bar won't remove them? What's the alternative?

arabbmw · 03-30-2009, 04:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ansch

while we're on clays. I was claying my wife's e90 and I can see and feel these small specs of what I'd describe as tree saps. However, the claybar failed to remove them. I had to pick at them with my fingernail slightly and they come off. Is it possible for deposits like that to be so 'bonded" to the paint that the clay bar won't remove them? What's the alternative?

if you have a dual action polisher like a pc or anything like that do this:
Wash the car
clay the car
then get a good cleaner wax, Klasse AIO is good or Zaino AIO, and give that a go with your machine.

If they still dont come out, youll have to use a polish.

BK · 03-30-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ansch

while we're on clays. I was claying my wife's e90 and I can see and feel these small specs of what I'd describe as tree saps. However, the claybar failed to remove them. I had to pick at them with my fingernail slightly and they come off. Is it possible for deposits like that to be so 'bonded" to the paint that the clay bar won't remove them? What's the alternative?

In addition to arabbmw's advice above, you can spot treat with sap or bug & tar remover, then clay. Claying usually helps get the little residue that might be left behind even after clearing away sap, bugs, or tar.

arabbmw · 03-30-2009, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BK

In addition to arabbmw's advice above, you can spot treat with sap or bug & tar remover, then clay. Claying usually helps get the little residue that might be left behind even after clearing away sap, bugs, or tar.

Oh, haha, i almost forgot such products were available for cars. I would try this method before mine. Sorry about that.

Detailers Domain · 03-30-2009, 06:52 PM

great advice guys.

typically on a full detail where the car is in bad shape I usually throw out the piece of clay I'm working on.

Its definitely a smart idea to cut the new bar into 3-4 pieces...

After your done with the big job and the bar is shot throw it out or use it on wheels.

(definitely throw it out after the wheels!)

03-24-2009, 09:32 AM	#1
Tallest Major General 1587 Rep 6,437 Posts Drives: 911 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sweden iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 911 [10.00]	clay bar after use : discard to reuse?? here's a stupid question from someone who never used a clay bar on car. You go over the car surfaces with it, but what happens to all the dirt it picks up - does it get 'moulded' inside of the clay, are you supposed to wash it off, or what? If you used a little piece of clay bar on surfaces and the bar is dirty, do you throw it away or it can be reused? I saw on some website that said clay bar comes with packaging that you can put the bar back into it after use.... Isn't reusing it will scratch paint or something? I thought clay bar was like a one time disposable thing you use, and once done you throw it out. sorry if this is totally dumb questions, I really dont konw what im talking about here but dont wanna screw it up when I start claying my car now that we are into spring... __________________ 997.2 F30.F11.E86.E90.E90.E36
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03-24-2009, 10:02 AM	#2
zaxjax Major 44 Rep 1,210 Posts Drives: 2008 Crimson Red 335i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Annapolis iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 335i [9.00]	I keep kneading the clay until it looks really contaminated. If you break the clay into pieces you can get more uses. __________________ Detailed Image
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03-24-2009, 10:08 AM	#3
Tallest Major General 1587 Rep 6,437 Posts Drives: 911 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Sweden iTrader: (1) Garage List 2011 911 [10.00]	so basically its ok to reuse it. I've got a friend with a big Estate Merc Eclass and plus my E90. I wondered if 200g of clay would be enough for both cars... __________________ 997.2 F30.F11.E86.E90.E90.E36
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03-24-2009, 10:15 AM	#4
zaxjax Major 44 Rep 1,210 Posts Drives: 2008 Crimson Red 335i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Annapolis iTrader: (2) Garage List 2008 335i [9.00]	Yes cut it into pieces and you should be good __________________ Detailed Image
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03-24-2009, 07:09 PM	#5
ansch Captain 34 Rep 646 Posts Drives: SGM 135i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia iTrader: (1)	I read somewhere old dirty clay that you wouldn't use on paint is good for claying glass windows as well.
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03-28-2009, 03:43 PM	#7
bierry Private 0 Rep 54 Posts Drives: pondering which tune again Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: us iTrader: (0)	reuse until really dirty. Just use plenty of lubricant and work on small areas as it tends to dry quickly
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03-29-2009, 06:36 PM	#8
darkphantom Banned 656 Rep 5,945 Posts Drives: E93 335i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The place for Bimmers iTrader: (4)	when do you know you're done claying? I've clayed once before, but no clue if I did it right.
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03-29-2009, 08:41 PM	#9
montreal red chris 294 Rep 12,141 Posts Drives: White Boat Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Toronto iTrader: (31)	i've used clay quite a few times... usually 200g will be enough for 2 cars or 2 sessions of claying. again this depends on how contaminated the car is. when i clayed my car, it wasnt that contaminated so i could keep folding it and kneading it repeatedly multiple times since the clay was still relatively clean. to reduce the amt of clay you use, make sure you give the car a good wash. i washed my car twice over before claying. soap and water is much cheaper than using more clay. __________________ Current: 2013 F10 M5 & 2016 Mini JCW 2013 GLK350 (gone), 997.1 GT3RS (gone), 2009 WRX STI (gone), e92 M3 (gone)
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03-29-2009, 09:31 PM	#11
darkphantom Banned 656 Rep 5,945 Posts Drives: E93 335i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The place for Bimmers iTrader: (4)	hmm...ok, sounds good. one or two passes should be enough then?
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03-29-2009, 09:53 PM	#12
J BONE The Boss 113 Rep 4,948 Posts Drives: %E2%80%9816 F15 X6 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Illinois iTrader: (12) Garage List 2008 E92 335xi [9.00]	You will be able to tell when you are done. You will not have that "grit" sound. Watch a video on this. Very easy to do and hard to mess up. __________________ 2016 F16 X6 2015 F15 X5- Retired 2013 F10 535xi- Retired 2011 E92 M3- Retired 2011 E90 335- Retired 2008 E92 335- Retired
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03-29-2009, 11:52 PM	#13
ansch Captain 34 Rep 646 Posts Drives: SGM 135i Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Brisbane, Australia iTrader: (1)	while we're on clays. I was claying my wife's e90 and I can see and feel these small specs of what I'd describe as tree saps. However, the claybar failed to remove them. I had to pick at them with my fingernail slightly and they come off. Is it possible for deposits like that to be so 'bonded" to the paint that the clay bar won't remove them? What's the alternative?
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03-30-2009, 06:52 PM	#17
Detailers Domain BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 2490 Rep 7,050 Posts Drives: 20 M2C, 22 X3M, 25 M2, 01 740 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (24)	great advice guys. typically on a full detail where the car is in bad shape I usually throw out the piece of clay I'm working on. Its definitely a smart idea to cut the new bar into 3-4 pieces... After your done with the big job and the bar is shot throw it out or use it on wheels. (definitely throw it out after the wheels!)
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