Clay bar?

[Shawn F.]

Some people say polish is compound. Not sure what the correct terminology of that is but to me it's NOT. Compound is compound... Polish is polish, it fills scratches like a wax and removes some swirls.
You can use a wool or foam pad. I like wool. Like mentioned, clay bar, compound, swirl remover, swirl eliminator, sealant, wax. that is the order you should go in. Use a black or dark 3M wiffle polishing pad to apply the swirl remover and swirl eliminator on a lower setting than you would with a compound.
Do this and keep a fresh coat of wax on your truck and the paint will last a very long time. Now you cannot just do this once and think it doesn't need buffing again. I do the entire process and buff my vehicles and customer vehicles about 3 times a year (depending where you live and how much it rains, snows, etc. Contaminants will build back up, wax needs to be stripped after a while, etc.

[blazed00]

shawn f. were are u from, what part of NC.

[Shawn F.]

Near Charlotte. (15 minutes from 74) I go near Wilmington once in a while (Oak Island to be exact).

[wagonproject]

Quote: Originally Posted by Shawn F.

Some people say polish is compound. Not sure what the correct terminology of that is but to me it's NOT. Compound is compound... Polish is polish, it fills scratches like a wax and removes some swirls.
You can use a wool or foam pad. I like wool. Like mentioned, clay bar, compound, swirl remover, swirl eliminator, sealant, wax. that is the order you should go in. Use a black or dark 3M wiffle polishing pad to apply the swirl remover and swirl eliminator on a lower setting than you would with a compound.
Do this and keep a fresh coat of wax on your truck and the paint will last a very long time. Now you cannot just do this once and think it doesn't need buffing again. I do the entire process and buff my vehicles and customer vehicles about 3 times a year (depending where you live and how much it rains, snows, etc. Contaminants will build back up, wax needs to be stripped after a while, etc.

Couple things. Most polishes (given were not talking OTC products) don't contain fillers. If you want fillers I suggest you use a glaze. And yes I would say if your doing a 2 step or 3 step buffing use a wool pad for the first pass to remove the majority of swirls, buffer trails, etc. Wool is good for a beginner on a rotary as it takes more time for it get heated up. And some people like the 3M pads, I myself have always used LC pads. And if your going from wool I wouldn't suggest a somewhat stronger pad then the black. And Im not sure why you can't do that once a year? If you keep your wash routine good (2 BM, grit guard etc) and use proper drying techniques it should last you a while. I usually do FULL corrections on my customers cars once or twice a year. Mostly right after winter and then just the usual maintenance throughout the year.

[Shawn F.]

Everyone has their own way and like I said, it depends where you live, how you store your vehicle, etc. 2 to 3 times a year is what I recommend anyone. Some people do it once and then put a coat of wax on the vehicle 30 times before they decontaminate it again. As far as customers go I have my own routine that I suggest to them, they can either accept it or not. It's their vehicle, I give them my advice but they tell me whether they will agree with me or not.
Every vehicle is different. I have some vehicles I do that sit out in the sun under trees all the time and get tree sap and junk on them, some sit in a garage that only need a full buff about 2 times a year, some are outside, driven in the rain, kids putting their hands all on it, etc. Like I said, it all depends on the vehicle and where you live or store your car/truck.

[Shawn F.]

wagonproject, what is the name of your company? Do you have a website?

[Fannatick]

I just picked up Meguire's Clay Bar from Wally World for $15. I'm waiting for a cloudy day and I'll clay bar my truck. I'm going to take pics before and after, to show the difference.

[sykominitrkr]

I wash, wax, and clay my truck all the time...

(Pictures in various types of lighting, and all taken with various types of cameras)

ht

[lowNslow666]

heres a stupid question....how would a clay bar effect a flat paint job? My bro's truck is flat purple and he wants to clay bar it cause it feels like sandpaper...

[98layinframe]

wont work.. a clay bar is only for cleaning contaminants off nice paint before a good buff or wax job, its not a serious finish restoring product.

[ForeverScorned]

your beater has a the front end i want 98layinframe lol, Ill take pictures of my truck this weekend I plan on using the bar and waxing it as well.

[Fannatick]

I am currently in the process of clay barring my truck. I took a lot of pics and will post them later tonight. Should I make it into a "How-to" or just post in this thread? I'll have like 10 pictures (before wash, washed, after clay barred, washed, waxed).

[zack]

i clayed mine yesterday...worked reeeeaaaaly well...can't wait till i get my porter cable and get restore it back to showroom....