Blurb about clay in Classic Motorsports Mag

I just read this, and found it...um...interesting? Puzzling? I'll let you guys come to your own conclusions.

Classic Motorsports Magazine, November 2008, page 115

Helping Hands
Strip Dirt, Save Money

Restoring a car's finish with a clay bar is an effective way to clean and remove contaminants from the paint. However, you don't need to spend a lot of money on the prepackaged kits.

First, go to the local craft store and buy a package of wax-based clay. A package usually runs about $3 and contains a lot of clay - enough to last quite a while.

The liquid that comes in the store-bought detail kits is simply a detergent and water that provides some lubricant for the clay. You have two options here: Mix water with either car wash or dishwashing soap. (Some experts recommend using a dishwashing soap to strip away old wax, so choosing this option can save a step.)

"I've done it this way for years and my cars look great," says Classic Motorsports reader David Bennett of the craft clay method. David is one of several readers who have been sharing tech tips on our online message board.

 

First i heard of this procedure, one way to verify though.

 

It may look great to him but it probably looks like crap to us... to each his own I guess.

 

The crafts clay mostly made me chuckle :lol: The notion of using dish soap + water as clay lube did, I admit, kind of capture my attention. You know, cost effectiveness and all that.

Agreed.

Although...although...on the beater CRX - which is really more "pink" than "red," and there's nothing I can do but repaint it anyway - I might try it. Just for grins. Who knows, maybe this guy found a way under the US monopoly on clay, right down the road at Michael's.

(I kind of doubt it though)

 

Hehe, maybe he is wiser than us!

 

Hmmmm.........I have been thinking about trying that type of clay for a while now. I guess I'll go to Michaels tomorrow to check it out.

 

I would rather be buying other detailing products other than clay. That works for me...:thumb:

 

The problem with dish soap is it will disintegrate the clay rather quickly.:sorry:

 

Thats what I was thinking.. the dish soap will make the clay disintegrate..

Maybe that the idea.. if it disintegrates it can mar the paint?

 

It'd be cool if this works. I guess it wouldn't hurt to try on a beater car, after all who would have thought a rubber block could remove contaminants as well.

 

Ah, crap. I was afraid of that. Well, ONR clay lube is still pretty cost effective.

I went to the art store tonight, but didn't get there in time to just poke around before they closed. I'm going back tomorrow, with a small piece of "our clay" in one hand, and a Swisswax wheel brush in another. There were lots and lots of different clays there, in differing degrees of hardness. Let's see if I can find some cost savings.

(And talk to the cute girl who was helping me out :giggle

 

Good luck bro, let us know.

 

Yeah please let us know...i wouldnt doubt that it would work...the clay lube can just stay the way it is...i dont find much clay i like besides riccardo...could solve some problems...

 

"Our clay" is not actually clay. It has an abrasive in it that shears the contaminants off. The "clay" part of it merely holds onto what the abrasive has sheared off. A regular piece of modeling clay is not the same thing and will not perform the same function.