http://www.car4play.com/forum Car4play forum en-gb Sat, 16 May 2026 17:14:53 +0100 Copyright: Car4play webmaster@car4play.com (Technical) 5 car4play688913 Sat, 16 May 2026 17:14:53 +0100 >> Your attitude towards shoestring motoring are frankly boring...xx Just trying to be helpful, Paul. But......'shoestring motoring'? Owning two cars, one a 2 litre sports car and the other a 20mpg 12cylinder 6 litre German sports saloon? Plus Mrs F's top-of-the-range brand new (6yrs ago) Peugeot 2008? Come on!! PS Here is an extract from my clay bar research...... '....what goes into a traditional detailing clay bar.......Pulverized Abrasives: Microscopic, uniform abrasives (such as fine silicates) are mixed into the resin.....' i.e. clay! http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688913&v=e car4play688887 Fri, 15 May 2026 16:26:15 +0100 A clay bar is used with a wetting agent and yes it's abrasive but it won't remove much of the surface, it picks up the things stuck to it by shearing them off. I clayed my 6 months old MX-5 8 years ago and removed a surprises amount of muck. Because it's kept clean and waxed it hasn't really need doing since and an experimental patch yields hardly anything. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688887&v=e car4play688850 Wed, 13 May 2026 21:32:18 +0100 Oh John you Really are a odd one, you really need to research what a clay bar is exactly, I well remember you stating on the old forum you only ever "clean" your cars using water from your water butt and a old t shirt. Your attitude towards shoestring motoring are frankly boring...xx http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688850&v=e car4play688844 Wed, 13 May 2026 16:19:43 +0100 Was the colour of the 'crud' the same as the paintwork? Clay consists of tiny mineral particles which are abrasive. A similar result would probably be obtained by using T-cut or Brasso. I would never use an abrasive on a car's paintwork which these days has a thin topcoat of lacquer, which, as it is only a few microns thick, you have probably removed. It'll certainly look good after a coat of wax, but not for long. I only ever use rainwater to clean our cars, and have just waxed Mrs F's 6yr old Peugeot for the first time. Very occasionally a dab of WD40 for those pesky tar spots. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688844&v=e car4play688839 Wed, 13 May 2026 13:47:00 +0100 Strangely enough I have also gone through the same process with SHMBO's Soul. Spurred into action by a small paintwork job on a rear bumper corner. A lot of the paintwork had a slightly rough feel due to paintwork rectification done prior to purchase (second hand) and insufficiant masking off allowing overspray to settle. I used a clay bar. In the worst areas some fine wet and dry with soap lubricant and then a machine polish. Looks really good. A bit of work involved in using a clay bar but it does lift the contaminants stuck in the paint and you can feel the difference immediately. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688839&v=e car4play688833 Wed, 13 May 2026 06:38:19 +0100 I clay twice a year, your right in saying they leave the paint like glass, try it on your windows, you'll be amazed how much cack that it will remove. http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688833&v=e car4play688832 Tue, 12 May 2026 23:38:21 +0100 Heard of them, and what they do, which is remove contaminants on paintwork. 18 months ago i was given an Autoglym detailing kit, put in a dark corner and forgotten about. I suddenly remembered it, and in a rush of blood decided to clean the Vitara, something i do three times a year. Snow foam, hose off, car shampoo, hose off. This time used my ‘white’ Bilt Hamner clay bar, kept the paintwork damp with a water spray bottle, and couldn’t believe how much crud it lifted off. Then waxed, left for 15 minutes, and polished off with a micro cloth. It’s come up like glass, but does show all the minor stone chips. A labour of love, two consecutive evenings work, total 6 hours, but kept me away from early doors beer. Very impressed with the result http://www.car4play.com/forum/post/index.htm?m=688832&v=e