the key is to make sure that you keep the area and the clay bar wet/ lubricated so as not to scratch/ damage the paint...always check your clay for even the slightest contaminant it has some contaminants fold it and keep the clay bar clean at all times...inspect your work and make sure your paint is free from dirt/ contaminants before proceeding...sometimes you have to go back and clay the some parts but a clean area is what your aiming for before proceeding ( sometimes it takes me at least 3 hrs just to clay the car)
Chris,
Does it take 3 hrs for each clay session or is this more just for the first time?
I got the Meguiars Clay kit as a gift, but just looking at the surface area of the car and looking at the size of the clay bar it seems too small. Does one bar actually last the whole car?
Just observing your comments about refolding the bar. It just seems like there is an opportunity to eventually fold the bar such that old contaminants show up. Does that happen often?
Thanks in advance.
__________________
Kenny the "D"
///M Power (Wheeeee...)
MY2002 E39 ///M5 Carbon Black (Pictures of Pixie)
MY1997 Honda Accord EX
It totally depends on the condition of the paint (on how many hours you need)...as this is critical in the end result of your detail...one clay bar should do the whole car (split it in half) and you have to keep on kneading and checking the clay as i have stated for contaminants...sometimes i pick the contaminants on the clay so as prevent from scratching the paint...My goal when detail is ''Detail a car like it's the last time you'll detail it" so take your time and work on small areas so as not to be overwhelmed with the task at hand...hope this helps and if you need any advise let me know...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wi_KeD_M5
Chris,
Does it take 3 hrs for each clay session or is this more just for the first time?
I got the Meguiars Clay kit as a gift, but just looking at the surface area of the car and looking at the size of the clay bar it seems too small. Does one bar actually last the whole car?
Just observing your comments about refolding the bar. It just seems like there is an opportunity to eventually fold the bar such that old contaminants show up. Does that happen often?
Thanks in advance.
__________________ Mods: 91 octane with occasional 100 octane
"Illegitimus non carborundum"
" Despite its supercar attributes, the M5 still doubles as a soberly practical, spacious saloon - only with the ability to scare four passengers in comfort all the way to the local coronary unit". Top Gear
for me
1) wash with dawn
2) clay
3) wash w/ dawn again
4) meguiars #80 speed glaze with porter cable 7424 and Lake Country orange pad
5) wash w/ dawn again (i know, i know)
6) zaino Z-PC with Lake Country gray pad and porter cable 7424
7) wipe down and then zaino Z-5 PRO and ZFX
8) wipe down and hit with zaino Z-6
9) zaino Z-2 PRO and then wipe down
10) alternate Z-5 then Z-2 multiple coats
11) lots of beer and rest afterwards
12) occassional wash and then zaino z8
by the way all the washing with dawn after removes left over clay residue and then on step 5 removes "filler oils" left by meguiars product. zanio Zpc is just not abrasive enough and the meguiars won't let the zaino z5 and z2 stick, so hence all the washing. www.autopia.org for more info than you can stand.
www.zainostore.com for ordering zaino
www.autogeek.net for porter cable 7424, meguiars, and pads
__________________
2001 Imola Red M5 on black
6000k HID fogs
6000k Headlights
HD DIY Sink drain CAI
Gloss Black Kidneys and Sink Drains
Thermal Wrap Intake (105*F outside as of 7/16//08)
x-pipe and magnaflow 14816 Who Dat!!
Last edited by lsuslu; 24th February 2008 at 18:03.
no new pics yet, this is the process i did on my black tahoe except i did not use zaino zpc just the meguiars. i buffed the truck 2 times with different pads and it came out incredible. the paint was dull/oxidized, and had spiderwebs and hairline scratches all over it. unfornately i found out the "filler oil" problem first hand after a couple of weeks hand washing the truck. so as soon as i have a day or 2 too devote to the M i will post pics. it takes me a LONG time to detail a car. with the tahoe coming in as number 1 with 3 days in it, inside and out.
Wash 0: Examine paint, note major swirl (minor scratches) areas. Figure if scratch/major swirl can be buffed out. Wash with dawn soap, starting with top, sides, front, then back. Rinse well.
Clean wheels with Griot's wheel cleaner and rubber cleaner for tires. Use rubber cleaner for window seals and other rubber/vinyl components.
Dry with microfiber. Into the garage.
Note areas with bad swirl/scratches. Use Meguire's fine cut cleaner with hard foam pad on random orbital first. If good, finished. If bad, move to medium cut cleaner. If still bad, move to medium cut cleaner on rotary high speed buffer. If still bad, stop.
Spray trim with "adhesive/wax remover" by 3M. Clean with nylon brush.
Clay bar with Griot's clay with speed shine. Polish entire car with Griot's #3 polish. Apply Griot's paint sealant using soft (red) pad. Apply 3 coats wax (best in show by griot's). Use 3" random orbital for harder to reach areas. Hand polish hardest to reach areas.
Time: 8 hours
Subsequent washes: Wash car with Meguire's gold class shampoo. Clean wheels. While still wet, apply Griot's spray-on-wax, and dry with microfiber.
(Wheeeee...)
Speed Dry!!!
Who Dat!! 
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