First timer with clay bar

[Trevolly]

Gave my A3 S Line a really good clean today. When I started the BBC's weather app said it was gonna rain at the weekend so I though I'd better take advantage of a dry, cloudy day. After a pre clean of Valet Pro Citrus cleanser (pressure washed off) and then a good wash with Bilt Hamber Auto Wash shampoo, I decided to try out Bilt Hamber's Auto Clay.

Chose it as it work with water rather than a specific lubricant (and its got pretty good reviews).

It bought it up a treat!! Well worth the £12 (used half a bar and that was only because I dropped the first quater I cut off!!) Didnt get loads of muck off but the paintwork gleamed and was silky smooth! Pictures below are after claying / pre wax.

Then I gave it a good wax with R222 100% Carnauba wax and although it wasn't the brightest day it gave the car a real gleam and got some great reflections!!! Well worth the 4 hours it took me to clean it inside and out!!
(Waxed pics below....)

 

[DarkBunny]

Good job. It certainly wouldn't have had that much to take off (with it being a brand new motor), though there will have still been general grime and factory contaminents.

 

[Phil-1]

Looking good.
I use a clay mitt found it a lot quicker

 

[DommyR]

I clayed my S3 a week after i got it and could not believe how much grime it took off. The paint on the 1st quarter of the car was rough like sandpaper, now its as smooth as anything.

I also thought my paint had a few imperfection (looked like air bubbles in the clear coat), a couple of passes with the clay removed them so it must have been the transport wax/layer.

 

[Lewisj91]

£12 for a clay bar :s, five 100g bars is only £8...Nice car though

 

[Duggy72]

Lewis, where can i get the 5 bars for £8?

 

[Lewisj91]

Ebay mate, comes from china but it doesn't matter as all clay bars on the market are the same at the moment

its £10 now but here's the link http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/5x-3M-Car...938?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item20f7247c4a.

 

[fanta]

Just filled my ebay basket thanks to this thread cheers lads.

 

[Dtwm1]

I've used this stuff, not bad at all just remember to use plenty of lube

 

[Blue Oval]

And if you want a cheap source of lube I strongly recommend diluted ONR in a spray bottle, you can make gallons of the stuff for much less than regular clay lubricant. Of course this is only much use if you have ONR ready for general washing I suppose...

 

[S32B]

When I next pass I'm getting one of these, I believe they get good reviews! http://www.halfords.com/motoring-tr...iling-products/farecla-g3-body-prep-clay-mitt

 

[Duggy72]

Thanks guys.

 

[scotty76]

When I next pass I'm getting one of these, I believe they get good reviews! http://www.halfords.com/motoring-tr...iling-products/farecla-g3-body-prep-clay-mitt

Won Detailing World Innovation Product of the Year 2014. Having used traditional clay and the mitt, I much prefer the mitt and will be using that from now on.

 

[Lastkill21]

I used this mitt at the weekend on a 24 year old Figaro and it brought the paint up a treat, The paint looks like new.

 

[Rhencullen1989]

Do you need to use any lubricant on the clay mitt? I fancy giving this a go on the Cab!

 

[Lastkill21]

@Rhencullen1989, Its always a good idea to use some Lubricant, I ended up using Autoglym Rapid Detailer

http://www.theultimatefinish.co.uk/...variant=3109&gclid=CJuUsvvyz8UCFeLLtAodiBAArQ

Worked a treat and the smell is loverly

There was no specific reason i used this one just what i could get local to me at the time.

 

[scotty76]

Do you need to use any lubricant on the clay mitt? I fancy giving this a go on the Cab!

I just used a slightly stronger shampoo mix. If you look on YouTube there are several videos.