What happened??

[FancyStancy]

I decided to clay my truck today, which is pretty normal for me. I usually clay about once a month and always get great results. But today, I don't quite know what happened. I was around 1/2 way done with my truck and I was working on my tailgate. I was using the mother clay bar kit with the Showtime quick wax as my lubrication. I had done fine on every other panel of the truck. The truck wasn't that rough, so with a lubricated panel and lubricated clay bar, the clay bar was just gliding over the paint. But for some reason on the tailgate, it felt very rough. It didn't feel like resistance from not having enough spray wax, it felt like a car that had never been clay bared before. I quickly took my clay bar off and inspected the clay bar, looking for something on the clay bar that was making things so rough... Nothing! And the clay bar had only been used 1 time before I used it today. Here's a picture of the damage it left on my truck. I'm very confused lol. Not sure what I did wrong. It almost looks like I have really bad water spots or etching in my paint. You cannot feel them. The tailgate is smooth as glass. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Also, I have read on some other forums how Meguiars Ultimate Polish remove the damage, but it didn't to me.

 

[kkreit01]

First of all, claying 1/month is extremely excessive. 2x per year should be the max needed for claying (unless you work in a rail yard, or nuclear fallout facility).

I can't really tell what we're looking at in the pic? I do not like Mother's clay bar at all. It's very picky with lubes, and tends to stick/grab if it doesn't like the lube. Quick Wax may not be very good to use as a lube. I'd use a quick detailer. I know Mother's clay bar does not like Griots QD at all.

 

[NYCruiser]

Monthly clay bar? Maybe no clearcoat left?

 

[WhiteExpress]

I really don't know what the picture illustrates unfortunately.
I would no use a spray wax as lube. You want something that stays wet.

Can you describe the 'damage' you have?

 

[RAtmosphere]

So no other part of the truck had that kind of damage? Question...you ever had that tailgate repainted at any point or maybe was it repainted before you owned the truck? And when you were claying the tailgate, you didnt notice any red on the claybar or in the quick wax on the truck? I mean I may be seeing things but that pic looks like the clear has wore off somewhat, or somehow....

 

[PaulMys]

Monthly clay bar? Maybe no clearcoat left?

Lol! This is what I was thinking. I do mine once a year in the spring.

 

[swargo]

Clay bar doesn't work like a polish, it doesn't remove clear (besides overspray). It simply removes contaminants that have bonded with it. While once a month is excessive, I doubt that is the cause of the damage. Perhaps a better photo will help.

 

[FancyStancy]

I understand monthly claying is a little over the top, but because of half of my tires sticking out of my fender wells, everything gets thrown down the side of my truck. Keeping it "show car" smooth is almost impossible. I found out that I had marred the paint with the clay bar, and that's why the paint has what looks like water spots in it. I solved it by using a meguiars clay bar and meguiars quick detailer, and a small amount of ultimate compound and polish. Looks fine now. Thanks


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Silvercreek]

Monthly clay bar? Maybe no clearcoat left?

That's what I was going to say.

 

[AdamsPolishes]

I understand monthly claying is a little over the top, but because of half of my tires sticking out of my fender wells, everything gets thrown down the side of my truck. Keeping it "show car" smooth is almost impossible. I found out that I had marred the paint with the clay bar, and that's why the paint has what looks like water spots in it. I solved it by using a meguiars clay bar and meguiars quick detailer, and a small amount of ultimate compound and polish. Looks fine now. Thanks


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

I was just going to pop in here and say that it looks like marring and a polish will take care of it, then I see you handled it. Glad you got it taken care of!