1st time claying anything!

[JRs_Z71]

Tried out claying for the first time ever. Some weird things happened though.

1. Maybe I was using too much S&W lube. Didn't want to mar or get residue on the paint.

2. Only did my hood and it took a long time. 3 hrs for me to take off the bug deflector, wash the front clip and tires, dry it off, clay just the hood and then polish/was the hood! Turned out very nice but I couldn't make living detailing.

3. Seemed like I had to stop a lot and roll my clay around after just small sections of the hood. I guess my hood was filthy. The clay was covered with a lot of brown colored residue.

4. After I was completely done and the hood was nice an shiney clean it really make the imperfections stand out. Its a catch 22. All the rain spotting, spiderwebbing, swirling and scratches really stood out.

One thing that impressed me was how well the PB PwS made my metallic paint look really good.

[LuxuryDetail]

did you use the pinnacle clay bar? if you did, it's a super super mild clay bar. Takes forever to get crap off the car. You can buy a more harder hitting clay bar.

After a gnarly clay bar treatment like the "3 hour" one you just did. (shouldnt take that long) you probably put some extra swirlys in your clear coat.

But it's nothing your Porter Cable buffer with an orange pad cant get out.
top it with a nice glaze and a good wax and your set.

NOTE: after a clay treatment you have to wax. You didn't mention if you did that or not.
If you dont have a buffer to take out swirlys. then just use a glaze to hide the swirls and a good wax on top.

[JRs_Z71]

Thanks for your feedback & suggestions

Used the Poorboys claybar with no pressure and kept the area lubed up with S&W. My first time doing any claybar'ing but I watched Blackyukon's video's to get an idea what I was supposed to do.

Funny thing is I didn't claybar the surface very long. Most of the time was taking the claybar and rollin it up in a ball and then flattening it again. I was trying out one of those polishing pals and doing the hood in sections. Everything section I did I cleaned up the clay cuz it looked like it needed it

Really seemed like it did a nice job. I bought this truck used about 7 weeks ago now. Don't think the original owner took very good care of the finish. I 'll take a couple pictures when I get a chance.

I used Poorboys Polish w/ Sealant. Read that Sealant would help bring out the best of my metallic charcoal finish and I think it did. I can't do any buffing with a PC for now. I have a torn rotator cuff in my left shoulder. I'm going in for surgery in 3 wks but my truck had no wax on it at all. I just wanted to do something to hold me over until I'm able to buff my paint.

Someone else suggested I try using PB Black Hole to hide some of the swirlies and then finishing with EX.

[bigron62]

when im claying i listen for the crunchy sound/feeling of clay removing contaminents. when it gets quiet/smooth i move on ... glad it worked out for you

[Reddwarf]

Amazing how much crud the clay bar gets off the paint, isn't it? I like the PB clay.

[JRs_Z71]

Originally Posted by Reddwarf

Amazing how much crud the clay bar gets off the paint, isn't it? I like the PB clay.

Yea it was really surprising. I found myself tryin to listen and feel the clay cleaning. I think this slowed me down some too. I didn't want to screw up. I don't know why but I was a little worried how it would go.

Any idea how much use you can get out of a clay bar? I'm just wondering cuz I'm cleaning a truck with it and it seems like its pulling off a lot of crud.