My first clay bar session

[S.Speed]

Hello and good evening (well it is here)..

Today I took the plunge and bought a maguires claybar kit...
I started off doing just the bonnet (as you do) and ended up doing the total car.
I am absolutely knac**red..
I have to say it has made a heck of a difference and in truth it wasnt as hard to do as I feared..BUT there was such a lot of car to do.
By far the worst area was the roof, followed by the boot and then the bonnet.
For some reason all the vertical surfaces were nothing like as bad.
Some photos attached of the finished article..
Its even more gorgeous now..
What do you think ??

 

[Xtractorfan]

Class finish there my man.. I know someone who will be up late tonite polishing his fleet...

 

[M80]

Looks fantastic .

I bet you a fiver you can't get mine to look like that, but you'll have to come to me

 

[Cole@MBS]

Do look a nice motor Simon.......

 

[Dosco]

Good Evening! it is per per piddlin it down here so not good and certainly not a claying evening however a good job done on that car brings up the colour so well - nearly as good as your red C270

A certain 'Scottish Member' will no doubt be burning the midnight sun and giving his rivets a good old going over.

 

[E320mark]

Looks very well!! Nothing like standing back and admiring your work after knocking your pan in for 4 or 5 hours!!

 

[S.Speed]

Looks very well!! Nothing like standing back and admiring your work after knocking your pan in for 4 or 5 hours!!

Thanks Mark..
Yep almost 5 hours but it doesnt half feel smooth now...
I have some micro stone chips to sort out on the bonnet (Now I know why silver grey mercs are soooo popular)..
Tomorrow, weather permitting I shall wax her..
Thats right..I havent even waxed her yet and she is aglow...
Mmmm I may have to go for "High Gloss" for when we meet at haynes..

Its a very nice example of the 203 C series.

You may scoff but the sound she makes when you put your foot down is not a million miles off a SL500 growl..
Except for Mic.. His sounds far nicer...

 

[whitenemesis]

Thanks Mark..
Yep almost 5 hours but it doesnt half feel smooth now...
I have some micro stone chips to sort out on the bonnet (Now I know why silver grey mercs are soooo popular)..
Tomorrow, weather permitting I shall wax her..
Thats right..I havent even waxed her yet and she is aglow...
Mmmm I may have to go for "High Gloss" for when we meet at haynes..

Its a very nice example of the 203 C series.

You may scoff but the sound she makes when you put your foot down is not a million miles off a SL500 growl..
Except for Mic.. His sounds far nicer...

Quite right Simon. Now imagine how it sounds with the Sport exhaust

 

[mikestrivens]

it looks very blue.

 

[GreyCLC]

It looks fantastic, Well done,

but how do you ''Claybar'' and would it worth doing on a car that's only 18 months old?

 

[Mic]

The horizontal surfaces will always take the greatest ''hammering'' from the elements and require double the attention of the vertical surfaces......road tar excepted.
Given that you have gone to the trouble of claying the car and it is six years old I would consider giving it a polish.
Skip the glaze coat but the seal coat is very worth while before waxing.
One really brilliant product is Chemical Guys New look Trim Gel.....brilliant for tyres but more importantly for ''trim'' generally......''Back to Black'' is rubbish by comparison and the results are longer lasting.

Car looks great.

Mic

 

[whitenemesis]

As Mic says use a good sealant before the wax. I recommend Car-Lack 68. Easy to apply (use very sparingly!) and give tremendous gloss.

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/sealants/carlack-sealant-kit/prod_358.html

Finnish off with a couple of coats of Collinite 915 wax for long lasting beading..

http://www.cleanyourcar.co.uk/wax/collinite-915-marque-d-39-elegance/prod_281.html

 

[S.Speed]

It looks fantastic, Well done,

but how do you ''Claybar'' and would it worth doing on a car that's only 18 months old?

Hi GreyCLC,
After you have polished your car, gently caress her paint work (I am talking about your car now Sir !!)..
Does it feel as smooth as glass literally ?
Or does it feel gritty and slightly rough..
If the lateer then you will benefit from the clay bar traetment.
I bought the maguires kit from Halfords for about £25..
The kit consits of 2 blocks of clay the maguires detailer, some polish and a large micro fibre cloth..
Cut one of the lumps of clay in half..It feels like thick playdo / plastacine..
This amount believe it or not will do you whole car..
1. Wash your car.
2. work the clay between your fingers to loosen it up and then make a sort of flat pad area about the size of half a playing card..
3. Spray the detailer / lubricant onto say half of the bonnet and then using the claybar work it in circular movements (a bit like T cutting) but make sure you keep lifting it and re applying it..You do this so it doesnt work on a dry surface..
After a couple of minutes look at the clay bar pad.. If its gone grubby looking then knead the claybar and sort of mash it to create a new clean surface.. (You will need to do this many times)..
My very worst area was the roof..
You dont need to apply massive pressure nor do you need to do it for ages in the same area...
4. Dry and buff with the supplied micro fibre cloth. It will come up really well.
Feel the area you have just done..Does it feel like glass?
Are there the odd little bits you missed?

Basically thats the process.
Its advised not to do it in direct sunlight, or on bodywork thats hot from the sun (Hot Engine)..
I have neve done this process before but I am glad I now have.
Its a very worth while £25 IF YOU CAR NEEDS IT !!
Yours might not..

 

[S.Speed]

Thanks to both Mic and whitenemisis for the advice..
I will buy some of what you have suggested tomorrow.

 

[S.Speed]

Good Evening! it is per per piddlin it down here so not good and certainly not a claying evening however a good job done on that car brings up the colour so well - nearly as good as your red C270

A certain 'Scottish Member' will no doubt be burning the midnight sun and giving his rivets a good old going over.

Hi Roger..
I remember Malcolm commenting on my Red C270, saying "That would look far nicer if it was clayed"..
Actually I never clayed that car.. I wish I had now !

Now its done I think on reflection (lol) I enjoyed the process.

 

[GreyCLC]

Cheers Simon, I will have a feel tomorrow and may well try it.....

thanks for the instructions

Dave

 

[television]

You have made it too blue Simon, very well done apart from that

 

[st4]

Good evening Simon

I bought the same Meguirs kit as you a while back and did the shed.

Use some of the quick detailer to keep her good. After this you only need to wash and wax for about 6 months.

Either use a sealant and/or a wax to keep her paint protected. Claying takes every bit of protection (previous wax etc off) so its vital to reapply it.

Otherwise, splendid job.

Whitenemesis, I know its not much coming from me as a driver of a mobile tip, but colinite 915 is brilliant and 3 weeks in, it still beads brilliantly.

 

[S.Speed]

You have made it too blue Simon, very well done apart from that

But Blue is my favourite colour !!

It was grey blue before the muck came off

 

[Alex M Grieve]

Will this

make it easier to get the flies off when you stop to give your car a final once over, just minutes before the grand arrival at Haynes?