Meguiars Clay Bar.......again!
 

I used the clay bar and gold wax a few days ago with very impressive results, car looks brand new. Is the clay bar OK to use at every wash or should it only be used a couple of times a year when contaminants build up? I had a quick look on the Meguiars site but I havn't got a Chevvy pickup or a gun, so gave up!

Like any abrasive product, only when necessary.

Support Corradoboy view - use at most couple of times a year, regular washing and waxing should minimise contimination.

Kevin

I thought they claim its none abrasive? Have just bought some will check again

Ive got one of these but cant figure out how to use the thing? it doesnt seem to do anything.

after you have washed your car, if you feel the paint, it can feel slightly rough to the touch. go over it with the clay (spray on the luqid and gently move the clay over the paint) and after when you touch the paint again it will feel like a sheet of glass as the clay has taken all of the stuck on grime off.

twice a year is fine. all you should need to do if you use a decent wax.

Ta, I will give it a go but do I need to use the quick detailer stuff or will something else do the trick?

Just use a bucket of warm soapy water ( whatever you wash your car with). I just splashed this over the paintwork to keep lubricated as I used the clay. Also keeps clay warm and pliable. I used the quick detailer for worst bits where bugs had welded themselves to paintwork. The clay is the best product I've found so far for removing bugs, even wing mirrors became smooth and clean.

amazing thing. I was so impressed by it. Yes seems to do nothing but then you run your hand over the paintwork, difference is amazing, I didn't know my car was so dirty!

How can you tell when the clay is worn out?

...when there's no clay left??

I'll get my coat :D

So do you just break a bit off, use it then chuck away or can you reuse it?

errr I'm only going on what I've read, so I'm not really qualified to answer that.

I'm sure Maurice (original poster) will answer that...

I tore mine into tiny bits in warm soapy water. Left it for a while then drained out the water.Then put it back together and its like new. the water I'd used to " Clean " it in was filthy and full of dirt....I always spray some detailer on the bar before I store it in a plastic bag

AFAIK the clay bar is not abrasive (speaking with regard to the Swissol one anyway), it is basically sticky and plucks the contaminants from the paint, which is why it goes all dirtly looking.

On My sti 5, the clay bar went a horrible rust colour, but the paint was much smoother afterward. Car is cool grey, so it wasn't paint being abraded away.

You use it by peeling abit off and working it to warm up, then work it accross he paint. If you want to know more as one of the many valleter types on here, they should be able to explain it a bit better. ("Roy." for example)

You need to use it all I would have thought as its not a large amount you get with Maguiars. It does seem to clean quite well left in soapy water. I've just used it on our Fiesta which gets a bit neglected in the cleaning department and was quite scarey the amount of goo that came off. Don't want to ruin it for cleaning the scoob - so sounds like a good idea breaking it into small bits and soaking in soapy water.