Are all detailing clay bars the same?

Is there any type of clay bar that is better than others?

Thank you

 

Nope they are not all the same. Different grades out there. My favorite I got from Adam’s but They have since replaced it. I currently use Nanoskin wash mitt.

 

Is there some type of tests that verify the best detailing clay?

 

Also have an adams claybar and it is definitely superior to what you can find at your local auto parts store. Better texture and really does seem to cut imperfections faster.

 

I have only used a clay bar once on my paint, but I do regularly wax and polish. Take care of the cheap paint job on your truck and it will last a very long time. I bought my truck Oct of 2011. Check out that paint. Like glass.

 

Agreed and Pyrite Mica for the win

 

Nice, that looks great.

 

Blackfire Paint Sealant is awesome. Going to use Blackfire Ceramic Coating next

 

Back to the clay are there any comparisons that have been done on them?

 

I still wash my truck every week if its not covered but after countless arizona pinstripes and one good pre slider scrape i dont wax or claybar nearly as often as before i started wheeling it a bit harder.
I am grateful my clear coat is still good though. I saw a 3rd gen last week with slight clearcoat failure that has to be under warranty.

 

Im pretty sure as long as you get a claybar from a reputable detailing company you should be good.
My vote goes for adams simply because i havent encountered anything better.

 

I haven’t seen anything other than random YouTube videos. I would suggest joining Autogeeks forum.

I learned from trial and error.

 

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Good thread ...

Getting ready to clay bar soon ... first time to do it too.

Any hints ?

 

I use the Eagle 1 Prep Mitt. Works great. For really bad contamination like visible sap, or if a vehicle hasn't been clayed in 5 years, I'll use a clay bar. But for routine detailing the prep mitt is awesome. Soooo much easier than clay.

After washing, I get a new bucket if soapy water and just real quick go over the truck with the mitt. Results are just like clay. Easier, faster, and equally effective if you use it 2-3 times a year.

You can usually find these at auto parts stores. Mothers makes a palm sized version that is also nice. But I like the eagle one because it's bigger and you put your hand inside. It wraps over body curves better.

 

A little long winded but here is some comparison:



Personally I prefer the synthetic mitts/towels/sponges.

 

That looks interesting. Do the soapy bucket wipe down and rinse the vehicle again? Do you clean the mitt occasionally like folding the clay bar or is dunking it in the soapy bucket enough?

 

Yep, clean sudsy water (after washing the truck). Dunk the mitt, do a door, rinse and agitate the pad a little bit in the bucket, then do another door. Rinse/agitate, then do half a hood, then rinse/agitate. Etc. super easy.

Basically just like you're washing the car a second time. Don't use pressure or scrub. You're simply sliding it across the surface. That's it.

Takes 10 mins max. You can feel the difference after a single pass of the pad. It just gets instantly more slippery. The resistance from the invisible surface build-up disappears.

The first time I tried it, I was sold. So much easier and just as effective as clay if you're not super contaminated.

 

Using them and seeing which ones you like best.

There are different weight clays, that go from light jobs to heavy duty jobs. A car that is clayed several times a year probably just needs a light bar. A 2005 Tacoma thats never seen a clay bar in its life is going to need to be doused with Iron-X and clayed probably 2-3 times with a heavy duty bar lol

 

I bought a 5-pack of clay bars off e Bay and got a great deal, but I should have been suspicious. They were purely synthetic (obvious by texture and chemical smell) and they left lots of streaks on the surface of the paint. I used one for about five minutes before tossing it, and picking up one from Mother's.

Lesson learned: Don't cheap-out on paint care items.

 

I would highly recommend a synthetic clay mitt. Nanoskin fine grade is what I have now and I love it, but there are a few good brands out there. I lean toward using a QD spray as a lube but you can use your wash soap too. I do keep a mother fine grade clay bar around but now that I have the mitt I rarely ever use the real clay anymore. The mitt is superior IMO, faster and it can be cleaned if you drop it.
Get yourself a fine grade mitt and skip the bars. You'll be much more likely to actually use it.