Clay Bars - Toyota Yaris Forums

RogueYaris · 03-01-2007, 02:06 AM

I just did some searching on this site and the internet about clay bars because I have some nasty swirling where I had debadged my Yaris.

I'm wondering, what's the best/most inexpensive clay bar out there and where would I get one?

Razr · 03-01-2007, 06:54 AM

Clay bars are great for safely removing things *on top* of the paint surface (e.g. overspray, dropping residues, diesel stains etc), but for swirling you'd normally want to be looking at a polishing compound.

For heavy swirling I normally use a product like Meguiars ScratchX which has diminishing abrasives that will safely remove the swirls without cutting all the way through the clear coat layer. If the swirls are light, you can normally hide them pretty well with a good synthetic wax.

RogueYaris · 03-01-2007, 11:01 AM

It says you can use that ScratchX with a polisher or by hand. You think my arm would fall off or should I get a polisher?

Razr · 03-01-2007, 07:17 PM

I wouldn't normally recommend using ScratchX to do large areas/panels, as its deminishing abrasives will deminish right near the start of the panel, so there'll be little rouge left by the time you get to the rest of the panel.

It's cutting power breaks down *really* fast, which is one of the things that makes it safe.

So pretty much I'd only recommend for spot jobs. If you have swirling covering large areas I'd normally recommend starting off with a chemical paint cleaner like Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner, which will get rid of finer swirls 100% safely, and if the doesn't do it, go into a mild professional grade cutting compund - the latter is probably best done by a pro though.

RogueYaris · 03-02-2007, 12:20 AM

When the weather gets a bit nicer and it stops freakin' snowing all the time, I'll go out with some marker tape and tape off the area to show you guys. Until then, it's just a matter of collecting info.

Pavel Olavich · 03-19-2007, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RogueYaris

I just did some searching on this site and the internet about clay bars because I have some nasty swirling where I had debadged my Yaris.

I'm wondering, what's the best/most inexpensive clay bar out there and where would I get one?

I've had great results with a clay kit bmy Mother's brand products. The bar is yellow and it comes with a spray....the difference in paint feel with from slightly gritty to silky slippery smooth after just one application...and this is before I waxed! The cost is around $14 for the kit.

jamal1984 · 03-19-2007, 02:02 PM

so you want to keep your exterior clean and shine you have to follow these step?

Wash, Clean, Polish, Clay, Wax, Detail? Did i missing something? man that is very hard to keep your car clean. Sometime i really getting very tired to keep my car clean.

Pavel Olavich · 03-19-2007, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jamal1984

so you want to keep your exterior clean and shine you have to follow these step?

Wash, Clean, Polish, Clay, Wax, Detail? Did i missing something? man that is very hard to keep your car clean. Sometime i really getting very tired to keep my car clean.

Wash,
Clean the paint IF REQUIRED.
Polish the paint IF REQUIRED.
Wax the paint IF REQUIRED.
Clay the paint IF REQUIED, but do FIRST after washing, NOT after waxing.

This is really simple....the number of steps one does depends upon how dirty the paint is....most people do all the steps too often...it makes them happy, and it makes the makers of the products especially happy too (more $$ for them)....the benefits are often all in their heads...don't get sucked into this dillusion....just do the steps as required and no more. Save your money! lol

03-01-2007, 02:06 AM	#1
RogueYaris View User's Garage Drives: 2015 Abs Red Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: JAX Posts: 374	Clay Bars I just did some searching on this site and the internet about clay bars because I have some nasty swirling where I had debadged my Yaris. I'm wondering, what's the best/most *inexpensive* clay bar out there and where would I get one?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
using clay bar on new car for salt residue?	aznbabiegrlx0x0	Wash, Wax, Detailing, Exterior Repairs	22	08-12-2007 02:21 AM
Strut bars	C2AUTOSPL	Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack	31	06-24-2007 09:35 PM
NEW ITEM Tanabe Sustec Front strut bars	C2AUTOSPL	Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack	5	04-27-2007 09:54 PM
Tower bars	dngz	Wheels, Tires and Suspension Forum sponsored by The Tire Rack	2	11-11-2006 06:35 PM
c one motorsport performance bars	badhabitz	Performance Modifications	17	08-23-2006 10:31 PM

03-01-2007, 06:54 AM	#2
Razr YRS WHOR View User's Garage Drives: White 2007 Yaris E-Limited 5dr Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chiangmai, Thailand Posts: 359	Clay bars are great for safely removing things on top of the paint surface (e.g. overspray, dropping residues, diesel stains etc), but for swirling you'd normally want to be looking at a polishing compound. For heavy swirling I normally use a product like Meguiars ScratchX which has diminishing abrasives that will safely remove the swirls without cutting all the way through the clear coat layer. If the swirls are light, you can normally hide them pretty well with a good synthetic wax.

03-01-2007, 11:01 AM	#3
RogueYaris View User's Garage Drives: 2015 Abs Red Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: JAX Posts: 374	It says you can use that ScratchX with a polisher or by hand. You think my arm would fall off or should I get a polisher?

03-01-2007, 07:17 PM	#4
Razr YRS WHOR View User's Garage Drives: White 2007 Yaris E-Limited 5dr Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chiangmai, Thailand Posts: 359	I wouldn't normally recommend using ScratchX to do large areas/panels, as its deminishing abrasives will deminish right near the start of the panel, so there'll be little rouge left by the time you get to the rest of the panel. It's cutting power breaks down really fast, which is one of the things that makes it safe. So pretty much I'd only recommend for spot jobs. If you have swirling covering large areas I'd normally recommend starting off with a chemical paint cleaner like Deep Crystal Paint Cleaner, which will get rid of finer swirls 100% safely, and if the doesn't do it, go into a mild professional grade cutting compund - the latter is probably best done by a pro though.

03-02-2007, 12:20 AM	#5
RogueYaris View User's Garage Drives: 2015 Abs Red Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: JAX Posts: 374	When the weather gets a bit nicer and it stops freakin' snowing all the time, I'll go out with some marker tape and tape off the area to show you guys. Until then, it's just a matter of collecting info.

03-19-2007, 02:02 PM	#7
jamal1984 The Beautification of Car View User's Garage Drives: Toyota Yaris S Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Georgia, USA Posts: 967	so you want to keep your exterior clean and shine you have to follow these step? Wash, Clean, Polish, Clay, Wax, Detail? Did i missing something? man that is very hard to keep your car clean. Sometime i really getting very tired to keep my car clean.