Welcome back to the Proje’ blog! Now, you might have heard some people say that ceramics are superior to older methods of adding protection and shine to your car, but we don’t totally agree with this at Proje’. Sure, times change and methods update, but in the case of ceramics vs. clay, they are more like a Venn diagram than ceramics being a like-for-like update. In fact, there is certainly room in your life for clay and ceramics – as long as you respect both processes and use them correctly.
How Does Clay Work?
We use clay in conjunction with a quality lubricant to glide along the surface of your car. As it does, it sticks to the small contaminants on your paintwork and lifts them off. It is the stickiness of the clay that is so important, as it can lift away elements that have actually bonded with your paintwork but the lubricant prevents friction and heat from building up, and ensures that there is no harmful abrasion.
Clay process is the first thing after washing the vehicle surface in detailing. After clay application you may go through multiple stages of paint correction. If desired you may continue with a ceramic or wax application.
What About Ceramics?
In contrast, ceramics are a polymer that bonds to your paintwork, creating an extra protective layer between contaminants and paintwork. For this reason, it is typically better used on smooth surfaces, and cars that are new and well-maintained, while clay is better for high-mileage, older, or dented vehicles. Ceramic coatings also last around 12 months.
And because ceramics bond while clay removes bonded elements on your paintwork, we don’t typically use them together, as it is easy for claying to damage or introduce swirl marks to your ceramic coating. So, consider what kind of vehicle and driving life you have, then make your choice.
So, Clay Isn’t Dead?
All of this shows you that claying is alive and well. So, if you want to get into claying and see how brilliantly it works, take a look at our Complete Clay Kit.
In the box, we’ve got:
Vital Car Wash Soap is a unique handpicked blend that is designed to softly release dirt from the painted surface of your car while maximizing the protection that lies underneath. Its unique blend can be used in a traditional bucket or in a foam cannon that produces incredible suds. It is designed to softly release dirt while maximizing protection.
Throwback Clay Lube is specially formulated with wetting agents to increase lubricity and reduce friction, making your claying process more effective while ensuring you do not scratch your paint. Throwback Clay Lube also helps to extend the life of your clay bar by giving it the lubricants it needs to last for multiple applications. Works perfect with traditional clay bars, clay mitts, towels and even clay disc.
1 x Clay Bar
The Proje' Traditional Clay Bar gently and effectively decontaminates the paint, freeing it from oxidation, over spray and industrial fall out, creating that silky-smooth surface you were hoping for. After your vehicle's paint is free from contaminants, properly apply waxes, sealants and coatings directly to the paintwork, giving maximum protection and longevity. They say not to mess with a classic, and we haven’t here. The Traditional Clay Bar is everything you expect from a clay bar; it’s sticky, pliable, and incredibly effective.
1 x Big Giant Drying 25 x 36 Towel
This is the ultimate drying towel. A huge 25" by 36", it can hold up to 7 times its weight in water. Rated at a premium 480 GSM, making it the softest towel that Proje' offers, the high GSM rating ensures that you will never introduce swirls or scratches to the paintwork when used correctly. Fold it into many sides or use it wide open - the choice is yours. Either way it's the perfect size for any car.
How to Use Your Clay Kit
Step 1
Start off by using Vital Car Wash Soap to get your car super clean. Check out the product page to find out about how to use the two-bucket method if you want to get the results possible. Washing your car with Vital Car Wash Soap is fun, foamy, and fast.
Step 2
Once you’ve rinsed off the soap, reach for the Big Giant Drying Towel and make sure your paintwork is super dry before you start to clay.
Step 3
Now it’s time for the good stuff! Remember to always work out of direct sunlight. Then, moving one panel at a time, saturate your clay bar with our Throwback Clay Lube. It’s impossible to over-lubricate, and this is the key step to the process. A lack of lubrication could cause your clay bar to stick to the paintwork.
Step 4
Then, use your clay bar and glide across the surface of your vehicle. You don’t need to use force – the clay is powerful enough. Move in a horizontal direction for the most effective coverage. When you first move your bar, mitt or disc across the paintwork, it will most likely cling a bit. Don’t panic – this is the clay bar pulling all the dirt out from the paintwork; it means it’s doing its job.
Step 5
As you apply the clay bar with your working hand, keep the Throwback Clay Lube in your other hand and constantly reapply so that the surface is fully saturated.
Step 6
As you move back across the same surface, you’ll find that the clay bar moves more easily. This means that you have removed all the debris and contamination. Once the bar slides across with ease, this area of your paintwork is done and you can move to the next part, repeating the process. It’s important to exercise patience – you don’t want to rush and fail to lubricate the area enough.
Step 7
Once you’ve worked your way across the whole car, step back and admire! We predict you’ll be happy with the result!
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this week’s blog – stay tuned for more tips and tricks next week. We’re going to feature more of our kits each month too, so keep an eye out for more great all-in-one deals and some incredible discounts!
If you have any questions about any of the techniques or products that we’ve mentioned in this post, just add a comment below and we’ll post a reply! Remember that we stock only the best auto detailing supplies, so why not click some of the links in this blog post, or visit our products page to find out more? From all of us at Proje’, Enjoy the Process!