Hello guys,
Noticed a few references to using a claybar on paintwork - bought myself some, but am confused as to what to use for a lubricant. I have been told methylated spirits, soapy water, plain water or to go for the mega-expensive McGuirs lubricant.
Can somebody who has successfully used a claybar steer me on the right path?
Thanks in advance

Meguiars quick detailer is your best bet. Or if you must... heavily soaped water (carwash solution).

Hello guys,
Noticed a few references to using a claybar on paintwork - bought myself some, but am confused as to what to use for a lubricant. I have been told methylated spirits, soapy water, plain water or to go for the mega-expensive McGuirs lubricant.
Can somebody who has successfully used a claybar steer me on the right path?
Thanks in advance

Dont think you can stuff it up

My theory is, when you claybar its the first process, so whatever you put on the paintwork will be washed away/polished up afterwards
I just use soapy water, no chance im paying $13 per bottle to just wipe it off my car BEFORE a major detail

']Dont think you can stuff it up

My theory is, when you claybar its the first process, so whatever you put on the paintwork will be washed away/polished up afterwards
I just use soapy water, no chance im paying $13 per bottle to just wipe it off my car BEFORE a major detail

Sometimes people dont machine polish after claybarring. So its best not to scratch the paint.

yep, its a waste of money using quick detailer..

just use a stong car wash solution in a spray bottle..

be sure to wash your car again afterwards and follow up with a polish and a wax as you will definatley strip off whatever protection your car has on it while claying..

*hint* i like to soak a microfibre cloth in prepsol and wipe over the entire car before claying it as it helps to remove a lot of tar spots etc before you clay it - therefore your clay picks up less contaminants and lasts longer..

edit* using plain water wouldnt work, nor would metho.. it needs to be slippery to allow the clay to glide across the paint as easily as possible or you will only create more damage..

Sometimes people dont machine polish after claybarring. So its best not to scratch the paint.

regardless of whether you use car wash in a spray bottle or dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle or quick detailer - a claybar is going to cause some form of marring or very light scratching to your paintwork..

you definatley need to polish (whether by machine or hand) after claying to remove this marring then follow up by a sealant or wax..

regardless of whether you use car wash in a spray bottle or dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle or quick detailer - a claybar is going to cause some form of marring or very light scratching to your paintwork..

you definatley need to polish (whether by machine or hand) after claying to remove this marring then follow up by a sealant or wax..

Very true, but i also think it depends on which grade of clay is being used, and what colour car it is... as the micromarring may not be visible to the eye in many cases.

']Dont think you can stuff it upOh, I disagree! My first experiment with a claybar resulted in the odd time where the claybar would catch on an area that wasn't lubricated well enough, leaving behind a chunk of clay that's damn near impossible to get off!:rant:
Used soapy water, but obviously not soapy enough. Did a vague run the other week in the middle of the night at a carwash, left the foam on the car and went for it, worked a treat that time.

Warm soapy water is the best thing you can use.. always keep it wet.:)

also, you can sit your clay in a cup of warm water to help soften it..

annnnd... never use a full clay bar straight off.. cut it up into at lease 4 pieces..

sit the rest in the warm water while you are using the first bit - once that has become contaminatied or dropped, trow it away and get a new piece..

once that has become contaminatied or dropped, trow it away and get a new piece..

Or keep it to use on dirty old wheels. :)

theres a liquid claybar u can use in a bottle, cost around 40 bucks though, from supercheap and other auto shops.

theres a liquid claybar u can use in a bottle, cost around 40 bucks though, from supercheap and other auto shops.

Yeah.....
New product we got in.....was always sceptical of it, says it also removes swirls which i think is ridiculous...

it does to an extent, depends how long you work the stuff for, and if uve used a medium cut on the surface to get scratches out befroe using the clay bar. By hand or using a rottary buffer it comes up ok, but u need to wax the surface after youve used it, then it comes up very shiny. used it in the final stages of cutting back adams (ADZA27) new paint job. But your prolly right TUFFTR, your the car detailer here :). taken note of that useful advice under "car detailing thread"

it does to an extent, depends how long you work the stuff for, and if uve used a medium cut on the surface to get scratches out befroe using the clay bar.

you're wasting your time doing any polishing before claying.. you need to remove all bonded contaminants FIRST then proceed to worrying about scratch and swirl removal..

Turtle Wax does the liquid clay bar.. havent tried it but i think it would be rubbish, therefore im not wasting $40 on it.. prepsol is way cheaper and probably does a better job as i reckon thats all it would be anyway..

Thanks for all the replies - I'll go with the general consensus and use a strong solution of soapy water. Will try it on an "inconspicuous" part first and report back next week.