Claybar: Before or After drying?

I know most people say to dry car off first, but I've always done it when the car is wet and have never run in to any issues.

Is it really that important to clay after you dry the car?

 

I have always done it when the car is wet. I make sure to wash it again before drying it. I always marr the paint no matter how careful I am. I use ONR as my clay lube.

 

I have done it both ways, but I usually dry it first. I have been using CG Luber as clay lube as of late but will be switching to Ardex WSR once the CG is gone.

 

it depends...if its a hot day, I'll do one drying pass to get most of the water out. then I clay and 2x IPA wipedown.

 

Have you tried

• Dipping the clay in bucket of warm water
• Keep spraying lube while claying

I find those two help minimized marring from clay...

 

GDal...are you using an ultra-fine clay? I've never had any issues with ultrafine (Adam's, Uber, etc).

 

I mainly use Riccardo and Gliptone Clay. I use ONR in a Kwaazar bottle and most of the time use the entire bottle on a single vehicle. Keep in mind that the most of the cars I deal with are Japanese cars. The marring is not excessive, but noticeable. I always polish after clay. I was using poliseal, but I've been using D301 and I like it a lot.

 

I just tried the CG luber and it works well, why the change?

 

I always dry my cars off before claying. Unless your washing and drying inside a sealed unit, you are still going to get airborne grit on the surface of the paint. Even if you can't see it, theres probably going to be some on there.

I havent (yet) got the facilities to wash and dry inside yet, but I always pull cars into the unit dripping wet and dry them off in the unit. Its important to get the dust off the car with a plush towel rather than trying to clay the car with these types of contaminants on. Once the car is dry, i start claying, then dry again and also dry with compressed air.

 

I personally remove only about half the water on the vehicle just so it isn't soaked, but I leave water there to aid in lubrication along with the lube. I always do a degreasing wash afterwards and then dry it off before I begin work.

 

Since I wash in my garage, i generally clay when the car is wet........i was using LUBER, but ONR is more cost effective. I also use dawn diluted to clay lube as well.

 

Not a bad idea with the Dawn. I can see me going through Luber like crazy.

What's your dilution for the Dawn?

 

Wash, rinse, pull into the garage, mist ONR to neutralize water (at QD dilution), clay with ONR at clay lube dilution.

 

I do the same as Luke. After washing and rinsing, I would mist the entire car with ONR so that I will not run into water spotting while a clay bar. I use to dry the car first and then clay but figured i can save some time by drying the car as I'm claying.

 

1-2 oz per 32? it gets really slick if its more.

as for misting the car with ONR, i do that with CG detailer, ill try that with ONR good tip

 

So would something like Riccardo Yellow clay marr the paint on a 2006 honda accord se? didn't think the yellow clay was that abrassive

 

It has marred the black CRV I drive. Very light M205 on black took care of it nicely. Basically, I wouldn't want to clay anything I don't polish, unless I'm using OTC light clay.

 

So would you guys recommend an ultra fine clay bar or just something like mothers claybar from Canadian Tire, I plan on doing a clay and seal as one of my packages and obviously don't want to cause
marring to the paint because I don't have a da to buff it out and obviously don't want to deal with the extra work!

 

^^^^^^

 

Yes if you want to avoid marring then get some Sonus Ultra Fine, Griot's Clay or Mothers Clay.