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What Is A Clay Bar?
A popular question that is asked amongst car detailing hobbyists is what is a clay bar and how to use a clay bar.
To find out more about clay bars and how they can maximise the results of the car cleaning process, read our guide below to learn how to achieve the contamination-free finish that every car detailer desires.
What Is A Clay Bar?
A clay bar is exactly how it sounds. It is a clay-like substance that aims to eliminate contaminants from the surface of your vehicle. At Duel Auto Care, we will use the clay bar following the decontamination stage. The reason being is that the clay bar can remove contaminants that cannot otherwise be removed with chemical decontamination products alone.
That is not to say that the decontamination stage is void - it is still a necessary step toward getting the best possible outcome for cleaning your vehicle. When it comes to using a clay bar, however, you can use it on the paint surface of your car as well as on glass and also your wheels. We recommend that you use the clay bar after you have finished the decontamination stage.
What Does A Clay Bar Do To Your Car?
Simply put, a clay bar is used to eliminate contaminants from your vehicle(s) paint. Arriving at the clay bar stage of cleaning your vehicle, you may have the notion that you are nearly finished with your clean. This is in fact the opposite as the shine of your vehicle can be rather deceiving.
The reason being is that there are still thousands of microscopic contaminants of different levels, some that can be seen or more often felt on the surface of the car as well as those that are microscopic or can not be seen with the naked eye. This is how a clay bar comes into effect.
Using a clay bar on the car paint will remove all of the built-up contaminants which will make the paint of your vehicle look as fresh as ever before. It will also make the paint of your car feel like glass.
Does A Clay Bar Make A Difference To Your Car?
If you are looking to use a clay bar for the first time, you will be stunned by the results. In order to merge the decontamination and clay bar stages together, we strongly recommend that you take a look at our decontamination kit.
This kit will serve as a great way to witness the difference a clay bar makes first-hand. Featured in this kit are the:
There is no required step as to which remover you should use first, however. The reason being is that the removers are the fallout remover and the blackjack tar remover. This is simply down to preference. The Decontamination kit is available in 500ml or 1-litre.
How To Use A Clay Bar?
Regarding how to use a clay bar, we recommend that you generously spray the clay with your lubricant and also the panel you are working on, for larger panels like the roof or bonnet it's advisable to break the panel down into sections, this way you won't miss any areas.
You should begin by applying light to medium pressure on the clay and work in an up and down motion across the panel, ensuring the panel and the clay is well lubricated at all times.
When you start to notice the clay picking up contaminates, it's crucial that you regularly fold and kneed the piece to reveal a clean clay surface. Replace the whole piece when heavily contaminated, and you can no longer fold and see a clean clay surface.
Take a fresh piece and repeat the process until all paint surfaces have been treated. Our clay bars can be used with water as a lubricant. However, we strongly recommend that you add a splash of shampoo to the water. This way, you obtain more lubrication. A great choice for this is our extremely popular Bahama Blue - High Concentrated Shampoo.
After using your new clay bar on your vehicle, you may wish to wash your car to remove potential lubricant film. This can happen when opposing surfaces are separated due to the lubricant film coupled with no asperities in contact with each other. Although, if you are planning to use a pre-wax cleaner polish - this will remove the clay residue. Therefore, there is no need to rinse your vehicle. The last stage is after using your clay, you should then seal your freshly cleaned paint with your choice of wax or sealant. This will guarantee the best results.
A Summary Of What Is A Clay Bar?
In short, a clay bar is a fantastic substance that effectively removes contaminants from all exterior surfaces. Proving to be a necessary component to get the maximum results for your newly cleaned vehicle. Get the most out of the decontamination stage for cleaning your car by opting for a clay bar.
The differences that you will see compared to not using the clay-like substance are night and day. Alternatively, if you are interested in finding out more about the decontamination stage, take a look at our post regarding safely decontaminating your car. Here you will find all of the necessary products required to get the best results - as well as tips on how to use said products
Be sure to check back for the latest tips and information that will help you to get the most out of washing your vehicle.