Welcome back to the Proje’ blog. This week, we’re going to look the process that probably causes the most fear for new and less-experienced detailers. That’s right – it’s claying.
Now, it’s not exactly a secret that the claying process produces the smoothest possible finish on your paintwork; polish simply can’t compete! You’ve got all that contamination from brake dust, general pollution, sprays, debris and just the quality of the air around you. Contaminants cause tiny chips in your paintwork meaning that dirt can penetrate below the surface, which can lead to nasty oxidation and rust issues in the long-term. Claying is sometimes the only way to remove this deep-set contamination. The light friction cause by rubbing the clay across your bodywork drags all the deep dirt out and keeps it out as you move the bar across your paintwork.
Friction
But it’s friction that’s the “fear word” really, isn’t it? So many people are worried that they’ll get it wrong. Relax – you won’t! The secret is lubrication. When using a clay bar, lubrication is required so that friction is reduced and the clay bar doesn’t stick to and remove the paintwork. This will keep your bodywork completely safe from any scratching. We’ve spent so long designing our Throwback Clay Lube so that it yields maximum lubricity, so your clay bar or mitt will move easily across your paintwork without any risk of scratching. What’s more, the versatility of our lube means that you can use all kinds of clay bar, from soft to hard, on your bodywork with no problems. You can even apply our Clay Lube to your glass surfaces to create an unbelievably shiny and smooth effect all over your vehicle’s exterior.
The Tools
You’ve got two options when it comes to tools – the bar or the mitt. Let’s take a quick look at both.
First, the traditional way – the bar. Our Proje’ Traditional Clay Bar will remove all roughness and dirt extremely easily with just a couple of passes, leaving your paintwork feel as smooth as crystal. A clay bar is the perfect way to remove all the contaminants we talked about earlier, leaving a perfectly smooth surface to work on for your future processes. Think of it like an exfoliator, but for your car. All the dirt that has collected on your bodywork is literally sucked out by a clay bar, and ours also has some flexibility so that it stays flat against your car even when claying over a curve. The key to the perfect clay bar is not to go too heavy-duty. A good clay bar like the Proje’ Traditional Clay Bar will remove all roughness and dirt extremely easily with just a couple of passes, leaving your paintwork feel as smooth as crystal. It’s great – and it’s only $9.99! But we’ve found an even better way to get it right…
The Proje' Clay Mitt is without doubt the easiest way to remove airborne contaminants, overspray, water spots and more. Mitts are rubber-based and last longer than traditional clay bars. The clay mitt is like a mitten; it fits directly over your hand, so you can move around flexibly and keep the mitt flat to the car surface. It also gives you that extra feel; you can tell when you’ve finished one area because the area will feel smoother to the touch and pass from within the glove! If you don’t have the time for a traditional clay process, this is the perfect solution, delivering superb results in less than half the time. You can also accidentally drop the mitt and the fact that the clay mitt works using a rubber design means it won’t be ruined by coming in to contact with the ground. It is also a great way for beginners to get in to the process of claying. We know that using a clay bar can be daunting because it has to be used correctly, but a clay mitt offers an introduction to lubing and wiping without the concern that you might stick to the paintwork of your car. Ok, the mitt is $48 compared with $9.99, but you get extra safety, extra feel and far more uses than you do with a clay bar – and that’s a powerful set of reasons to go for the mitt.
The clay mitt is like a mitten; it fits directly over your hand, so you can move around flexibly and keep the mitt flat to the car surface. It also gives you that extra feel; you can tell when you’ve finished one area because the area will feel smoother to the touch and pass from within the glove! If you don’t have the time for a traditional clay process, this is the perfect solution, delivering superb results in less than half the time. You can also accidentally drop the mitt and the fact that the clay mitt works using a rubber design means it won’t be ruined by coming in to contact with the ground. It is also a great way for beginners to get in to the process of claying. We know that using a clay bar can be daunting because it has to be used correctly, but a clay mitt offers an introduction to lubing and wiping without the concern that you might stick to the paintwork of your car.
How to Clay Your Car
Let’s take a look at how to use the mitt then. First, it goes without saying that the car must be washed and thoroughly dried before use. Now get some of that throwback clay lube and apply it to the mitt. Be generous here – even though the rubber won’t stick, extra lube equals extra effectiveness. Work in small areas and go back and forth in straight lines rather than circles. As you would with a clay bar, you may need to make multiple passes, but you can afford to move more quickly with the mitt, so this takes less time. Don’t forget to wipe away residue from your car, and keep checking the mitt for any large contaminants that might cause issues as you continue to rub it across your paintwork.
Clean and dry the clay mitt after use, and then store in a box with a lid so that it isn’t contaminated by particles and dust in the air, which will make it less effective when you next come to use it. But don’t sit back and relax just yet - remember to take advantage of your good work; wax your car with Carnauba Wax or our Rapid Quick Wax within 24-48 hours after you’ve finished, to avoid any new contaminants settling. The claying process will strip off previous wax coats, so while your car will be pristine, it will be exposed to potential airborne contaminants. Certainly don’t take it out before you’ve re-waxed!
Two Last Words
Remember to check if your car needs claying using our simple plastic bag technique; just put your hand inside and rub it over the bodywork. If you can feel any roughness, it’s time to clay. And don’t forget – if you’ve clayed well but you can still see a scratch, it’s time to get serious and use a buffer to try and get it out. More on that next time!
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this week’s blog – stay tuned for more tips and tricks next week.
If you have any questions about any of the techniques or products that I’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!
