Protecting Car Paint Surfaces

Preparing your car for polishing

It should be simple, buy some polish and polish your car.

It is not quite so simple unless your car’s paint is in good condition, even and you use the right products.

Anyone who wears glasses quickly (or slowly) works out that if there is dirt on your glasses, that dirt needs to be removed to avoid scratching your glasses. It is a bit more complex with paint and your car.

Note here is where you may say I am going to use a professional car detailer and be done with it.

Using a Clay Bar Kit – Claying

The cause of a rough surface on your car paint is usually embedded or bonded paint contaminants. That is small, microscopic particles that work their way into the painted surface of your vehicle and bond themselves to a point where a typical hose & bucket wash will struggle to remove them.

Supercheap autos have a video on Using a Clay Bar Kit. The purpose for using the kit is to safely remove contaminants. The products Supercheap recommend are -:

• Clay Bar Kit, including a Clay bar and lubricant (Quik Detailer) $29.95
• A bug and tar remover
• Soft microfiber cloth (Microfiber is a blend of two different materials; polyester and polyamide.)
• Foam applicator pad

You start by giving the car a good wash and dry. Place it in the shade and apply the above products depending on specific instructions.

There is a technique for keeping the clay bar clean and effective by kneading it.

At this stage you have your car ready to polish and have removed tar and contaminants from the paint surface it is dry and clean.

A Clay Bar won’t, remove swirl marks oxidation stains or chemical etching.

Using a Clay Mit

In auto or car dealing the Clay Bar is giving way to more durable synthetic materials that mimic the natural “grabbing” action of the Clay Bars.

To determine if your car needs a Clay treatment you can use a plastic sandwich bag on your hand a run it over your paint. This will highlight any need for Claying.

Both a Clay Bar and a Clay Mit require a lubricant to work effectively and not damage your car.