I had heard of clay bar before but I never really knew what it did exactly. Well, if you want buttery smooth paint buy it!! We used it on my wife's 2001 Honda (which at one point it had been sitting outside for over a year without being driven). Before the clay, gliding your hand over it was like touching sandpaper (even after a good thorough wash). It's night and day difference. Now, after the clay and wax, it feels like wet glass: totally awesome! I did the STi too... bling blang!

If you have the feeling of grittyness after washing your car, you need clay bar. I bought a McGuiars kit and it includes all you need: clay, quick detailer, wax cleaner and microfiber towel.

I would post pics but my camera isnt good enough.... plus its difficult to catch the waxy gloss of silver.

 

i tell folks, if you are not going to polish your car, at least clay it.

not only it would be much smoother, your wax would lay better as well.

 

i would have to agree. great stuff

 

this man speaks the trooof!

 

I clay bar my car twice a year at least.

Usually once right before winter so I can lay down 3-5 coats of wax before winter. Then once right after winter. I'm in the middle of doing it right now actually. I did the front fenders and the hood and bumper and it's got a couple coats of wax on it. Probably gonna knock out the rest tonight.


Just remember...
if you drop it, throw it away.
it won't last forever so keep an eye on it.
i don't recommend doing it without following it with a couple coats of wax.

 

I need to find something to take out the water spots/calcium deposits(?) that are slowly etching their way into my paint.

 

if they're that bad you're gonna need to mechanically polish the car most likely but you can always try and clay bar it first.

 

I'm trying to remember, but I believe you are supposed to wash the car with Dawn first to really get all the old wax and build up off the car first. Then you clay bar the car. Then you lay down the fresh new coat of wax (Do NOT leave your car unwaxed after you clay bar the car).

There are some good YouTube videos on how to clay bar a vehicle if you have never done it before.

 

Yep, this was the most intense car washing I have ever done.

Washed wheels
Washed car
Dry
Cleaner (bumper above my catless exhaust)
Clay bar
Polish
Wax

Took me and my wife about six hours split between two days to do the Honda and the STi.

 

DetailAddict - is there a product to bring out the black trim, to make it really oil black? Like for the black trim by the windows... I'm thnking of something similiar to shoe polish.

 

There are several... To be honest, it really all depends on the material and condition of the trims. Adam's VRT works well for those are in decent shape. Then there is Mothers Back to Black and Black Wow. Adam's VRT has a wider range of use (tires and dash). So you buy a 16oz and use it on many surfaces. Black Wow is pretty expensive and you only use very little. Mothers you can get from Autozone and Kragen but seems to be hit and miss.

Leo

 

Thanks! Also, are you able to remove dents? I have one about the size of a quarter.