Detailing: How to Claybar/Favorite Product

Favorite Clay bar Product


  • Total voters
    197

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Trupiano

Registered User
Joined
Jun 27, 2010
Posts
10,981
Reaction score
725
Location
Hometown : Puyallup,WA Stationed : Little Rock,
Ram Year
2010 Ram 2500 6.7L CTD Crew Cab
Engine
6.7L CTD
This thread is soley to explain proper and helpful ways to claybar. If you want to add a video, make it a video you, or another RF member made, no outside stuff. If you know some great tips/tricks, make a vid and post it up here, or explain your processes to help out members thinking of claybaring!

:********:

[yt]EtkQYGhl2Wk[/yt]
 

Stangshcky12

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 26, 2011
Posts
9,047
Reaction score
941
Location
Oshkosh, WI
Ram Year
2007
Engine
5.9 Cummins
When I detailed cars for my cousins dealership I always used a purple clay bar
At home I use the mothers kit
Can't tell any difference between the two

I also just use regular water rather then a spray detailer, wash the vehicle after with a wax based car wash and finish with a fresh coat of wax
 

Pull Ya

U.S. MARINE VETERAN
Supporting Member
Military
Joined
Jan 16, 2012
Posts
15,787
Reaction score
23,056
Location
Cedar Creek, Tx
Ram Year
2015
Engine
5.7 Hemi
I like the video!!!! Please remember that there is a possibility that you may leave some small scratches when you clay bar. Check for scratches after you clay bar and if there are any, you must polish them out before your seal or wax your truck. Polishing is a seperate step before you seal or wax your truck. Sealant and or wax will not correct(remove) the scratches.
Jay
 

res1551cue

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2012
Posts
285
Reaction score
50
Location
Scott AFB, IL
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7 Hemi
I clay barred my truck today and I gotta say I have never felt it so smooth. Will be going in for a wax in a few minutes.
 

MK12RAM

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2012
Posts
164
Reaction score
14
Location
Georgia
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7L Hemi
Make sure to spend a little extra time on the rear end of the vehicle. As a vehicle goes down the road it kicks up dirt and dust and it sticks to the back (think about everytime you have gone down a dirt road and see how much more dirt and dust is on the back of the truck than the rest of the vehicle). Sure the front as more bugs and what not but everytime I've clayed a vehicle the back end (truck lid and bumper) was the place I picked up the most dirt on the bar. You can clay your windows and chrome bumpers and really make them pop when you throw a coat of wax on after. A Claybar is really good for overspray as well.
 

res1551cue

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2012
Posts
285
Reaction score
50
Location
Scott AFB, IL
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Yeah I noticed that too. Do you recommend polishing and waxing right after or is it okay to wait a few hours. Right now its like 9pm and there is no light outside so I cant really see to wax the truck.
 

MK12RAM

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2012
Posts
164
Reaction score
14
Location
Georgia
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7L Hemi
You can probably get away with just claying seeing that your truck is 2012. If you have any swirl marks or small scratches then go ahead and polish. I usually do 2 stages of polish, 1 with some mild grit and then a cream polish. Make sure and use a orbital buffer. They won't leave any swirls. I use a 15lb orbital and everything comes out perfect everytime. Polishing by hand is gonna be a ***** so just prepare yourself if thats how you have to do it. Like I said though, if everything looks good and the surface was just dirty but no swirl marks or scratches, clay and then wax.
 

res1551cue

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2012
Posts
285
Reaction score
50
Location
Scott AFB, IL
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7 Hemi
You can probably get away with just claying seeing that your truck is 2012. If you have any swirl marks or small scratches then go ahead and polish. I usually do 2 stages of polish, 1 with some mild grit and then a cream polish. Make sure and use a orbital buffer. They won't leave any swirls. I use a 15lb orbital and everything comes out perfect everytime. Polishing by hand is gonna be a ***** so just prepare yourself if thats how you have to do it. Like I said though, if everything looks good and the surface was just dirty but no swirl marks or scratches, clay and then wax.

Yeah. I just polished the drivers quarter panel by hand. lol. As soon as the auto part store opens up I am going to get a buffer.
 

res1551cue

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2012
Posts
285
Reaction score
50
Location
Scott AFB, IL
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7 Hemi
You can probably get away with just claying seeing that your truck is 2012. If you have any swirl marks or small scratches then go ahead and polish. I usually do 2 stages of polish, 1 with some mild grit and then a cream polish. Make sure and use a orbital buffer. They won't leave any swirls. I use a 15lb orbital and everything comes out perfect everytime. Polishing by hand is gonna be a ***** so just prepare yourself if thats how you have to do it. Like I said though, if everything looks good and the surface was just dirty but no swirl marks or scratches, clay and then wax.

Here's how she turned out. Ended up doing it all by hand.

526008_3895035254354_1889543848_n.jpg
 

MK12RAM

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2012
Posts
164
Reaction score
14
Location
Georgia
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7L Hemi
Yeah. I just polished the drivers quarter panel by hand. lol. As soon as the auto part store opens up I am going to get a buffer.

Here's how she turned out. Ended up doing it all by hand.

526008_3895035254354_1889543848_n.jpg

Looks good! Good choice on color! Just wait til you get it in the sun, it should look something like this...

IMAG0481.jpg

Make sure you wax the door jams and the cross hair part of the grill. Water and dirt gets into the door jams and you want to make sure that you can clean them easily. Clay and Wax the headlights (this will help prevent them from hazing over), taillights, and even the side view mirrors (the mirror itself, not the black plastic). Hell, even wax the wheels. Anything with wax on it will bead water and will clean easier.
 
Last edited:

res1551cue

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2012
Posts
285
Reaction score
50
Location
Scott AFB, IL
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Looks good! Good choice on color! Just wait til you get it in the sun, it should look something like this...

IMAG0481.jpg

Make sure you wax the door jams and the cross hair part of the grill. Water and dirt gets into the door jams and you want to make sure that you can clean them easily. Clay and Wax the headlights (this will help prevent them from hazing over), taillights, and even the side view mirrors (the mirror itself, not the black plastic). Hell, even wax the wheels. Anything with wax on it will bead water and will clean easier.

She looks good. I wish the sun would shine here. I like the flame red color. Really stands out agains all of the other trucks.
 

Sagebrush2500

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2012
Posts
1,457
Reaction score
168
Ram Year
2013 2500 Big Horn
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Truck looks beautiful...

TW ICE does a great job shining the black plastic parts of the vehicle.

As for the clay bars, I have diffficulty finding any difference between the different types I've used.

A friend mentioned a "window claybar" to me the other day... anyone hear of anything like this and how would it be different???
 

res1551cue

Senior Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2012
Posts
285
Reaction score
50
Location
Scott AFB, IL
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Truck looks beautiful...

TW ICE does a great job shining the black plastic parts of the vehicle.

As for the clay bars, I have diffficulty finding any difference between the different types I've used.

A friend mentioned a "window claybar" to me the other day... anyone hear of anything like this and how would it be different???

Ive heard of the window claybar but I have not been able to find it.

Here is the only thing I could find. http://www.griotsgarage.com/product/glass+cleaning+clay,+3.5+ounces.do
 
Last edited:

MK12RAM

Senior Member
Joined
Sep 23, 2012
Posts
164
Reaction score
14
Location
Georgia
Ram Year
2012
Engine
5.7L Hemi
Its all the same. Just use the same clay, it won't hurt it.
 

[email protected]

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 16, 2011
Posts
142
Reaction score
7
Location
Horsham, PA
Ram Year
2009
Engine
Cummins
Clay is made by one company, as the patent prevents competition. All clay on the market comes from the same place. The patent is to end soon, so expect some new products and hopefully a price drop.

First thing to do before claying is determine if you need to clay the vehicle. I stick my hand in a very thin plastic bag and feel the paint. The bag will magnify the sensitivity of your finger tips and you will be able to feel deposits you could not feel with a bare hand. Once you have determined there are deposits, clay the vehicle until you can no longer feel any deposits.

Remember to use a good lubricant, such as Adam's Detail Spray!
 

Chewy

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 7, 2012
Posts
2,366
Reaction score
455
Location
Bettendorf IA
Ram Year
2013
Engine
V8
I buy my clay from the UK. MUCH better than here. Don't tell Adams that! lol


Sent from my miniaturizer via tap dancing...
 

SmokedRam

Supporting Member
Supporting Member
Joined
May 1, 2012
Posts
6,468
Reaction score
453
Location
Zephyrhills, Florida
Ram Year
2005
Engine
4.7
I used the Mothers California Gold kit for the first time on Sunday. It worked amazingly well.
 

BAILEY1

Senior Member
Joined
Dec 21, 2012
Posts
4,906
Reaction score
502
Location
St Tammany Parish, LA.
Ram Year
2017 RAM 2500
Engine
Dat Cummins!
I use the medium. It works really good. I have a heavy duty bar, but I only use it during love bug season, and I'm very careful with it.
 

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
194,902
Posts
2,863,861
Members
155,252
Latest member
radikio
Top