Just used Mothers Clay Bay kit to do my 2003 S2000. Turned out nice. Before using the kit, I washed with a strong dish detergent to remove wax then used the clay bar over the detailing spray (lubricant) that came with the kit. Paint feels smooth and shines. (Now I have to touch up paint chips then wax). BTW if you ever thought clay baring was some sort of special art, it ain't, it is easy as washing your hands with a bar of soap.

After doing this I wondered if the expensive Mother's kit was worth the $20 so I Googled. Turns out you can buy clay from most hobby/craft shops (even Walmart craft section) and use a spray bottle with mild liquid soap and water or a detailer spray (as a lubricant) to to the same job for 1/10th the price.

Reference (CARGUY123 POST IN THIS THREAD) : http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/ever-use-a-clay-bar/1646/page2/

Edited April 23, 201113 yr by Blue

I agree---a claybar session will get the paint on your car the cleanest it has ever been.

I have done it several times on my Pearl White 90 300zxtt and it really helps keep the paint like new.

I've used the Mother's Kit, but bought several of them on sale at my O'Reily parts store when they discontinued it. (seems most folks never use it--not a hot seller)

Mainly purchased the kit for the Detailing spray, (love the smell of that stuff!) as the clay bar doesn't get used up. You just have to make sure your car is clean to begin with so the bar doesn't pick up coarse dirt and crap that could scratch the finish.

It'll make her shine and smooth as a baby's butt!

Jim D.

"Zup"

Claying does make a huge difference (and is a must before any buffing with an orbital or DA). I would be cautious with modeling clay though.

I can't say it wouldn't work but I would worry about abrasive levels and quality control. The automotive clay can be found in different abrasive levels so I'm not sure what the modeling clay level would be and if it would be the same from one brand to another.

The other area would be quality control, if a bar of modeling clay has some slightly larger chunks of grit in it nobody will ever notice, but your paint will. I'd just recommend testing it in an area that isn't going to show as bad.

I'm all for saving money and hate the thought of paying 20x too much for something just because it has a fancy name on it but since claying is a once a year at most job for me I may stick with the fancy stuff.

I agree that using the clay bar does a great job removing particles prior to waxing. I also agree that the pricing is rediculous. They would sell much more of the product at even $8.00-$10.00 than they do at $20.00-$28.00. I'll have to do more reading though before I use model clay on the car.

I would also caution the novice about using claybars. The reality of it is that you are removing paint when you clay. I have always liked this site for information about car care. http://store.carcareonline.com/oversprayclays.aspx

Well maybe some paint or clear coat gets pulled but the yellow clay bar just looked a little dirty in my hand. If the bar was removing a lot of paint, I would expect to see more of it on the clay.

I just used the Turtle Wax ICE wax. So easy to apply and buff. Looks nice. Final product is not much different than old fashion Carnauba wax I am used to doing but the new stuff is so much faster and easier.

I'll try el cheapo claybars on my trucks in a few weeks when back in Canada and report back with results and photos

I've been using the Turtle Wax Ice Liquid Clay Bar on my cars for a while now. I'm not sure its any easier than a solid bar of clay, as I've never used one, but I do know it gets the paint very, very smooth and shiny. I follow up with their Ice Wax. I do this twice a year, in the spring and fall. The coat of ICE I put on my truck last fall still beads up great this spring. I credit this twice a year routine with keeping the burgundy paint on my 10 year old Tacoma looking like new. Well, that and the fact that it is garaged.

In theory the clay should mostly just be grabbing contaminates out of the paint. I've used clay several times on single stage paints and they don't pick up much if any paint color. If the paint is properly washed prior to claying and when a good amount of lube is used the clay just glides across the paint. Don't put pressure on the clay. It shouldn't leave any marks on the paint. I don't have any really dark colored cars but I've never seen it leave any marks even in soft paint. You just have to keep the paint lubed and fold the clay a lot to bury the contaminates deeper into the clay.

All of the detailing forums I used to read got bought up by companies selling supplies so they aren't quite as good anymore.

Datsun 240Z links and info

I use clay on all my cars. Easy, fast, and great results. Careful you don't drop the clay though. I did, and instantly ruined an expensive bar of Blackfire.

I have never picked up any color on my clay - I'm sure there are different quality and weights out there - this is my preferred brand for all my cars - free shipping for spring!

http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/car+care/car+polishing/paint+cleaning+clay/paint+clay+%26+speed+shine+kit.do

I'll second the clay from Griot's Garage. They pretty much only sell top-quality products.

and their speed shine makes a great lube. But as has been mentioned the lube does make the clay slippery and it does like to fly out of your hand.

Trevor

http://240Z.me