Clay bar question

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jejb

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I've had my new 22 for about 3.5 months. I decided I wanted to clay bar it and put a finish on it. It's not been driven much, just turned over 1000 miles last weekend. So I washed it yesterday and clay barred the hood and about half of the drivers side, using Mother's detailing spray. I never felt any roughness while clay barring and the clay didn't pick up anything.

Is it a waste of time and effort clay barring a new vehicle? Sure seems like it so far.
 

nlambert182

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Not at all. Almost all vehicles have some sort of contaminates (fall out, debris from being on a truck or rail dust from a train, etc...) embedded in the paint. It could be possible that the dealership had this done (though it would be surprising) before you bought it, but it doesn't hurt to do it again. It will at least ensure as clean of a base as possible before you coat it with whatever coating you choose.

What kind of clay bar are you using? I did find that a cheap Amazon clay bar that I once tried didn't pick up anything at all. Followed it up with a quality clay bar and removed all kinds of contaminates.
 
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jejb

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I like Mother's products, so using one of their bars. I'm quite sure the dealer didn't clay bar it. I may continue to do it, I guess. Doesn't take long when it's not picking anything up.
 

CanuckRam1313

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Well worth it!
My baby was done right after I bought it, and every year since in the late sprig/early summer. Then I seal and shine her up.
 

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combatgrunt

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If your going to put a true ceramic coat on it clay bar it and iron remover as well then polish and coat no matter how new
 

BossHogg

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Is it a waste of time and effort clay barring a new vehicle? Sure seems like it so far.
It is a waste of time and material if the paint surface doesn't need to be clay bared.

I run the back side of my hand on the horizontal surfaces, like the hood and roof. If there are contaminates on the paint, you will feel them.
 

Downzero

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It is not a waste of time. It can pick up contaminants that you can't see or feel. Don't forget to clay bar the glass also.
 

bigdodge

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Not something you should do real often. Best way to test is put your hand in a sandwich bag and go over the paint slowly. You will definitely feel any contamination. Try that in a couple months.
 

1979PowerWagon360

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I also notice it in the feel of the paint more than on the claybar. So as suggested, feel the painted surface prior to claybar, then afterward. Should feel much smoother. Sometimes I do see it on the bar and it's usually a greenish color for me because I park under my Oak Tree for shade.
 

Tray Burge

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I've had my new 22 for about 3.5 months. I decided I wanted to clay bar it and put a finish on it. It's not been driven much, just turned over 1000 miles last weekend. So I washed it yesterday and clay barred the hood and about half of the drivers side, using Mother's detailing spray. I never felt any roughness while clay barring and the clay didn't pick up anything.

Is it a waste of time and effort clay barring a new vehicle? Sure seems like it so far.
No it's not. My quick test, run your hand across the clean clean surface, if it's rough it's time. If it's slick your good to go.
Personally, I use the synthetic clay bay every spring under running water right after its just been washed and rinsed.
Detail spray is just to keep it wet and use more of their product, water does the exact same thing and a helluva lot quicker and easier.
 
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Keasy

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It is a waste of time and material if the paint surface doesn't need to be clay bared.

I run the back side of my hand on the horizontal surfaces, like the hood and roof. If there are contaminates on the paint, you will feel them.

Took feel fir contaminates ,and you can do before or after you have washed your vehicle. Get a clean sandwich bag and insert your hand and spread your fingers slightly to expand your surface feel.
Check both flat and vertical surfaces, brake dust from all the cars around you is a big culprit. Also rail dust, and truck hauler dust and contaminates during shipping, if you do do clean these off they will cause swirls, and fine scratches into your paint that will allow salt air and other chemicals under your clear coat.
You paint a boat load of money for this truck treat it right. Try going to work for a few days without a shower....
 

Keasy

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To do a quick test wash and dry your auto. Use a liquid agent as a lube ,car wash soap, instant detailer and spread out your clay bar and work a section about 2 by 2. Dry off and then run your hand across that just clayed area, and move over a couple feet and feel that surface in the same manner. If you can not feel a difference then you do not need to clay,but do this test on the sides,and roof also. There should be a very large difference in the surface feel in improved smoothness.
 

Alweeja

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It is not a waste of time. It can pick up contaminants that you can't see or feel. Don't forget to clay bar the glass also.
Did not know about the glass….will try
 

lgjhn

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Definitely not a waste of time....
Take a thin plastic bag (Walmart style), put your hand in it, go to the roof, or hood, of the vehicle, use your fingers inside the bag to lightly drag em across the surface.
You should feel the kind of "grit" that the clay bar will remove. It's almost invisible to the naked eye, but it IS there....
 
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jejb

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To do a quick test wash and dry your auto. Use a liquid agent as a lube ,car wash soap, instant detailer and spread out your clay bar and work a section about 2 by 2. Dry off and then run your hand across that just clayed area, and move over a couple feet and feel that surface in the same manner. If you can not feel a difference then you do not need to clay,but do this test on the sides,and roof also. There should be a very large difference in the surface feel in improved smoothness.
That's one of the things I did before starting this thread. I could feel no difference. I did go ahead and clay bar the truck, but I really think it was a waste of time in my case. The Mother's CMX I followed up with sure made the truck shine though.
 

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jejb

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Pretty sure he meant "too feel for".
 

Ratman6161

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That's one of the things I did before starting this thread. I could feel no difference. I did go ahead and clay bar the truck, but I really think it was a waste of time in my case. The Mother's CMX I followed up with sure made the truck shine though.
Also depends on where you live. Where I live it was -14F this morning and we got 12.4 inces of snow yesterday. It will be pointless doing anything with my truck other than give it a rinse off once in a while until about May. On thre good side, that's more time to ride my snowmobile :) But, when the weather finally allows, definitely clay bar.
 
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